Football Season Guide

Following one of the O’s most successful seasons in memory, Russell Slade was denied permission to discuss terms with a Championship team over the summer and will remain at Brisbane Road again this year. This small East London club won many admirers with their record-breaking league run and money-spinning cup exploits last year, but with success comes heightened expectations. The O’s fans will want to taste success again this year and Slade will be expected by many to deliver a push for a top six place this time. Surprise is a huge weapon and the O’s are unlikely to have that this time around. But Slade has kept most of his closely-knit squad together, with veteran Scott McGleish the only significant departure, while making some very decent looking acquisitions such as Marc Laird and Leon McSweeney. The O’s will again focus on being very hard to beat while playing a fairly attractive style of football, and they could be able to challenge the top sides for promotion.