“We’ve improved the squad. If you look at the players who have come in, I think they are levels above the players who have left” – that was the assessment of Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens when asked to reflect on this summer’s transfer window.
And it’s hard to disagree with the 42-year-old as, over the course of the past few months the O’s recruitment team, headed by Wellens and Director of Football Martin Ling, have built a squad that looks well placed to compete at the top end of League Two.
Overall, Orient have added quality and competition for places, while also importantly keeping hold of their key men from the previous campaign.
As a percentage of league minutes played throughout the 21/22 season, the O’s retained 69.8% of their squad from the previous season – the third highest total in the division.
The foundations were laid early into the off season when the likes of Tom James and Ruel Sotiriou extended their stays in E10 by signing new two-year deals before Theo Archibald became the first ‘new’ signing shortly afterwards, putting pen to paper on a permanent deal following a successful loan spell.
Arguably the only key man who departed in the summer was promising academy graduate Hector Kyprianou with the Cypriot U21 international joining League One Peterborough after they triggered a release clause in his contract.
However, the money generated from Kyprianou’s sale allowed the club to go big with their marquee signing of the window in Hull City’s George Moncur.
Son of West Ham United legend John, Moncur had been angling for a move closer to home and Orient managed to tempt him back to East London where he started his career with the Hammers.
After making 14 appearances in the Championship last term, Moncur brings considerable quality and goal threat from the ‘number 10’ position, something the O’s have lacked for some time now.
Moncur proved to be the first addition of what turned out to be something of a midfield overhaul, with Wellens displaying his ruthless side by offloading January signings Ethan Coleman and Otis Khan while both remained under contract.
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Following these departures, the Orient boss made it clear his main priority in the window was a ‘number four’ to sit at the base of the midfield. And after a few weeks of searching they eventually got their man in Ipswich loanee Idris El Mizouni who has brought a real mix of quality and tenacity to the midfield.
Stephen Duke-McKenna completes the new look midfield, bringing versatility and, despite being signed on loan from QPR on Deadline Day, is someone the O’s hierarchy have had their eyes on for some time now.
Orient’s burgeoning relationship with QPR was also on display with the loan signing of Charlie Kelman – the American brought in initially as cover up top while Aaron Drinan and Harry Smith recovered from pre-season injuries.
However, he has quickly established himself as first choice with three goals and two assists in his opening six appearances which ultimately saw Smith head out on loan to Exeter on Deadline Day in search of regular first team football.
This meant Jayden Wareham, the National League’s youngest ever goal scorer, arrived in E10 from Chelsea as Smith’s replacement, with Assistant Manager Paul Terry putting his family connections to good use to secure a loan deal.
Another area where Wellens sought an upgrade was at left-back where Rob Hunt, a player the O’s gaffer has worked with previously at both Oldham and Swindon, joined on a two-year deal.
This left Connor Wood out in the wilderness with Wellens admitting that he’d be open to offers for the full-back.
Interest in Wood failed to materialise though, leaving the 26-year-old likely to have to look to the National League in a loan deal in order to find some game time.
It’s a simple premise but all you can ask for at the end of a transfer window is to have improved upon your existing squad and Saturday’s game against Tranmere provided a good litmus test of how far the O’s have come.
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Micky Mellon’s side defeated Orient on the final day of the season at Brisbane Road back in May.
But with the help of six new players who have joined the club over the summer, Orient managed to exact revenge for that defeat, comfortably beating Tranmere 2-0 to continue their fine start to the season.
At the moment, it’s hard to pick holes in this Leyton Orient squad – the quality is there but so is the strength in depth, something the O’s have lacked since their return to the EFL.
Currently sitting unbeaten at the top of the table and three points clear of second-placed Stevenage, everyone connected with the club will be hoping it’s enough to finally secure a return to League One.
George Moncur image provided courtesy of Leyton Orient.