So the 16/17 season is underway, and although we are yet to see the O’s win a game there is plenty to be cheerful about.

Saturday's match featured many new faces lining up in an Orient shirt for the first time in a competitive match such as Callum Kennedy, Tom Parkes and Jordan Bowery (who all got promoted out of league 2 last season), Yvan Erichot, Harry Cornick, Robbie Weir, Gavin Massey and Liam Kelly.

The big omissions from the starting line up were Jay Simpson (last seasons top scorer, who was rumoured to be in talks with Southend Utd who was ‘unavailable for selection’), Dean Cox (recovering from injury and named on the bench) and Paul McCallum (recovering from injury but not in the squad, despite scoring 2 goals in a friendly earlier in the week).

It was one of the new players Gavin Massey who signed from Colchester who gave us a dream start on Saturday scoring only 3 minutes into the season, as he finished well from a Sandro Semedo cross.

As we have said on previous podcasts Massey looks like a great signing at this level and the assist from Semedo was sublime, who has had a superb start to the season. 

 After dominating much of the 1st half we were somewhat unfortunate to go in at the break with only a 1-0 lead with Semedo and Atangana taking most of the plaudits.

The 2nd half was a familiar story for O’s fans as Cheltenham came back into the game and started piling on the pressure, which was eventually rewarded in the 76th minute as Cheltenham equalised as our defence stood static.

The game finished 1-1 and despite not winning the game the point was seen as a fairly positive result by the majority of the feedback we got on our social media accounts (thanks for all your feedback).

With no developments on the Jay Simpson front, we went on to Tuesday night in the EFL Cup against Fulham.

Again a few surprising omissions from the line up (Cox and McCallum on the bench) and a new formation from the O’s as Hess went for a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The first half came and went and despite some good spells we found ourselves 1-0 down at the break as Fulham took the lead through Dennis Adenrian who was unmarked from a corner.

An unfortunate start to the 2nd half saw the O’s 3-0 down by the 54th minute from a Cauley Woodrow double, the first a sensational free kick which left Sam Sargeant with no chance, and then outmuscling Aron Pollock before finishing well.

Just past the hour mark Hess made 2 substitutions which changed the game introducing Dean Cox and Paul McCallum and going for a 4-4-2 formation.

This had an instant impact and lifted the crowd which seemed to inspire the players.

In the 73rd minute we pulled a goal back as Cox’s corner was met by McCallum.

The corner had such quality the keeper was in no mans land and a slight glimmer of hope remained.

The same combination then pulled another goal back in the 81st minute as another superb cross from Cox (this time from the right) was met bravely by McCallum who headed in for his 2nd of the match.

Despite Orient pressure and an exciting last 10 minutes there were no further goals and the match finished 3-2.

Strangely, the end of the match felt like a win as it was great to see Cox back on the pitch and the brave and spirited fightback that at times was missing from O’s performances from last season.

Going into Saturday's game Hess has some big choices to make.

Surely Dean Cox and Paul McCallum must start following their performances on Tuesday night.

But who else will start in midfield, with the presumption that we will play 4-4-2 and Massey will be on the right of midfield, then Hess will only be available to select 2 from Weir, Kelly and Atangana.

Up front presents another headache as who should start up from with Paul McCallum?

Ollie Palmer is a massive fans favourite and has a work rate that can't be touched, but should he start on Saturday and if he does where does that leave Jordan Bowery who started against Cheltenham on Saturday.

We mentioned on our pre season podcasts that due to the size of the squad there will be some big choices for Hess to make and Saturday is the start! Up the O’s!

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