Ross Embleton – What went wrong?

Yesterday, Leyton Orient dismissed manager Ross Embleton, just 30 minutes after their defeat against Tranmere Rovers.

The defeat extended the O’s winless run to seven games, and saw them slip to 14th in League Two.

It had been a bright first half of the season for the O’s, who had found themselves flirting with the play-offs at the midway stage. However, having only won three in 13 since mid-December, with two of those wins coming when Embleton was having to self-isolate, and the current form of one win in 11, the hierarchy at Orient decided that time was up for Embleton, and that someone else is needed to try and push the O’s back into a play-off position.

Refusal to change things up

A key element that has led to Ross being moved on was his refusal to change his tactics. Orient have spent all season playing 4-3-3, which, although it worked for parts of the season, made Orient predictable.

In recent weeks, Orient have been found out, and teams have found ways to overcome them. Ross and his determination to play this system despite form dropping, started to turn parts of the fan base against him.

Orient were suffering with injury problems, which many fans hoped would lead to Ross making some changes, and try new things out. However, he persevered with ‘his’ system. Whilst some considered this admirable, and respected that he stuck to his guns, it came across to many as though he was out of ideas, and also out of his depth.

Ross also seemed hesitant to mix it up mid game. His substitutions were often like for like, until it was desperate. Changes in games were often late too, which did nothing to help his case with a fanbase that was growing more and more frustrated, and games seemed to slip by before action was taken.

Selection Problems

When you look at the O’s this season, one of their standout performers, has been James Brophy. He has technical ability, and can run at an opposition defence. In games where Orient have struggled to create, Brophy has been an positive outlet. However Ross has continued to play him at left back.

Brophy in this position has really divided fans. Defensively, there were question marks over Brophy, but going forward, he is Orient’s most natural winger, which begs the question, why not play him where he is most effective, especially when the O’s have been struggling to score.

Brophy has registered six assists this season, which is joint-top with Jobi McAnff. Fans wonder how their goal drought would have changed with Brophy being pushed further up the pitch.

There has also been a big question mark over the performances of Ouss Cisse. Cisse shone in a loan spell last season, and his permanent signing was welcome news to O’s fans, who had been calling for it throughout the summer.

His form this season has been poor, however Ross persisted when there were suitable replacements on the bench. Young Hector Kyprianou has impressed this season, but has played second fiddle to Cisse, which on top of the poor form, and growing frustration towards Ross, did not help his case.

Firing blanks

Danny Johnson has been a sensation at Orient this season, however his goals seemed to be papering over the cracks. Early in the season, his late goals earnt the O’s a lot of points, and often meant that they got something out of games that they looked poor in. Now that his goals have stopped, Orient have struggled to win, or even draw games.

Johnson’s injury, and dry spell, has coincided with the O’s only netting four times in eight games. This is a big concern for any side, but links back to Ross and his persistence. The system stopped working, and he did not change it up to help his sides chances.

What Next?

Orient have a lack of experience in the coaching team. Ross was inexperienced in a managerial role, and with ex-players Dean Brill and Matt Harrold forming the main bulk of the coaching team, experience is lacking. Danny Senda is the only one with any sort of coaching background, however the majority of this was at youth and academy level, or in Non-League.

When the club announced that Senda was appointed as Embleton’s No2, fans felt it was a good appointment, but it still meant that Ross didn’t have someone tried and tested to bounce ideas from, which was apparently needed the longer he was in charge.

O’s fans have already called for a fresh face to be given the role, rather than promoting from within. Danny Senda and Jobi McAnuff have been mentioned as early candidates, but these do not seem popular choices with the O’s faithful.

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