Leyton Orient made mistakes during the January transfer window that may have lost them a League One play-off berth.
Orient were more concerned about the relegation zone around Christmas, but a spectacular run of form after the new year had their fans dreaming of a top-six finish.
In just a few weeks, the O’s defeated Cambridge United, Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, Carlisle United, and Port Vale, rising to eighth place in the table.
However, a recent run of poor form has seen Richie Wellen’s side slide out of play-off contention, and the five remaining games are now almost meaningless.
The first of Orient’s mistakes occurred in the center-back position, which had been a strength in the first half of the season.
The O’s entered the January window with Dan Happe, Omar Beckles, Brandon Cooper, Ed Turns, and Adam Thompson on the roster.
Inexplicably, both Turns (who returned to parent club Brighton before joining Crewe Alexandra) and Thompson (who was loaned out to Barnet) were let go, leaving Wellens with only three central defenders to select from as the season neared its finish.
This almost immediately proved to be a mistake by the club’s administration, as Happe was injured, forcing Wellens to start Beckles and Cooper.
Despite conceding three goals against Northampton Town, two to Burton Albion, and two to Peterborough United, the pair have yet to be dropped.
Former Bournemouth and Rangers defender Jack Simpson arrived on a free transfer in February, but has missed all six games due to suspension.
Despite backline concerns, Orient’s main problem has been a lack of creativity in the final third.
To be honest, the board is not totally to fault for this, given Wellens’ team has suffered several injuries this season.
Jordan Graham, a former Birmingham City winger, had a patella tendon injury in October that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Dan Agyei, who was signed to replace Paul Smyth, has appeared in only 12 league games, seven of which as a substitute.
And, weeks after the January transfer window closed, Theo Archibald had surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament.
However, if the Orioles had made the appropriate signings over the winter, these injuries might not have been felt as strongly.
Ollie O’Neill, who formerly played for Fulham in the Premier League, appears to be a good acquisition.
However, the signings of young players Daniel Adu-Adjei and Khayon Edwards on loan from Bournemouth and Arsenal, respectively, have not worked out.
Given that summer recruit Joe Piggott had provided little to nothing, and Agyei was suffering with fitness, the O’s wanted to add a proven goalscorer to the squad.
Instead, they took a chance on two young players who had not yet played at senior level, and neither had scored for the club.
In fact, the club has scored only three goals in their last seven games, costing them a shot at promotion.
The Orient supporters will be hoping that their transfer department has learned from their mistakes (leaving the squad lacking depth and experience), since they must avoid making them again this summer if they are to finish higher in the standings next season.
Following an outstanding first season back in League One, there is plenty of optimism for 2024/25, but continued progress will require a club-wide commitment.
