I've listened to the Orient Hour podcast for the past year or so, and I downloaded this week's episode (S11 E13) as usual. It's only about 20 minutes long, and the description says it features "our new team of pundits - Mark, Steve and Katie."

Within a minute it was obvious something was off. Robotic-sounding voices, three "pundits" running through what feels like an automated review of the week and a preview of the next game. No surnames, no regulars, none of the usual back and forth. Honestly it sounds like an April Fools' joke, except it's October.

I had a look at Phoenix FM's site and a few things stand out:

- The Orient Hour isn't on the radio schedule for Wednesday 14 October. The 7pm slot went to other programming, and later Wednesdays show The Playlist (uninterrupted chart hits) where the show used to be.
- The episode was posted at 6.50pm, before the old 7pm broadcast slot. Previous episodes went up after the live show.
- The usual line about hearing the team "every Wednesday at 7pm on 98.0FM, DAB and online" has been replaced with one saying a new podcast appears on Spotify every Wednesday at 6.50pm. No mention of radio.
- Every previous episode names the real panel in full (Rich Priest, Andy Gilson, Barry Galvin, Terry Howard and the rest). This one doesn't.

So it looks to me like the live show may have been dropped and the podcast feed is being filled with a synthetic replacement, but I haven't seen any announcement either way.

Does anyone know what's happened? Has the live show ended, or is this a stopgap? And has anyone else actually listened to it? I'd be curious whether it struck you the same way.

Episode page: https://phoenixfm.com/2026/10/14/the-orient-hour-s11-e13-14-oct-2026/
Schedule: https://phoenixfm.com/schedule/

I am going to my first Leyton orient game tommorw against Plymouth visiting on vacation from Denmark. I am sitting in the east stand upper D. Anything I should try (food, drink, etc.)? I am also thinks of getting a el mizouni jersey, is that valid?

First time to a futbol match anywhere in the world. I’m from the US and planning on going to the game Saturday. Is standing against the back wall in any of the stands allowed?

I’m late to the purchase and don’t want to make buy in the wrong stands. Currently south stands west side is available. I plan on watching from afar and enjoying the atmosphere. Not so much hugs and singing. Too out of shell for that.

Thank you everyone.

Also, where do I get a scarf and jersey? What colors do I wear for Saturday?

One nil and three points to the Orient

Is it possible that the supporters on the east stand are allowed to stand at the back of the stand. I've talked about this before. We are forced to sit in our seats at the back of the east stand whereas those all around the stadium are able to stand at the back.

The game against Sheffield Wednesday we were allowed to stand, the atmosphere was brilliant. Last week against Wycombe the stewards were out in force making sure everyone was seated. I don't see the problem in standing there is no trouble, this is football not the theatre let's exercise some common sense.

We're having a bit of discussion about it at the moment, thought I'd try and gauge how the fanbase as a whole (at least on Reddit) is feeling

Interested in seeing how we're feeling about our manager, at this early point in the season. I didn't want to post this after the game yesterday, to avoid any knee-jerk reactions. Please keep it civil folks, let's focus on the footballing side of things.

In spite of the fact that he's joint with Slade as the best manager we've had in my lifetime, I've regrettably got to join in with the minority of fans who think it's time for us to part ways with Richie.

The set piece situation has always been poor, we only ever looked threatening with gimmicky short-corners against weaker opposition in L2. We've really struggled with set-pieces defensively, which led to so many dropped points last season. Defensive organisation in general has been terrible, which suggests poor tactics and coaching. Our press has been incredibly disjointed, which makes us so easy to play through. It looks so easy for teams to pass through our midfield and get possession in and around our box. There was a 10 minute spell after Wycombe scored, where we made them look like Barcelona because of this issue. Players generally want to press, but they don't know their triggers, whether they're man-marking or going zonal, whether to push up the pitch or sit in.

We look confused playing out of the back, which is also a coaching issue. The truth is that we've never been able to pass out of the back in L1, unless we played through Ethan Galbraith- who is currently one of the best midfielders in the league above and will be in the Premier League soon. Good managers do not need talent from a level above to implement their ideas. Not saying I'm a fan of Craig, who we've loaned out to the national league, but he played well as an inverted full-back in poor Reading side 2 seasons ago- at the age of 21. He couldn't get in the team for us, in the same position and same role. What changed?

In the past we could look to our below-average budget relative to the rest of the league, and excuse some of these short-falls. But times have changed, our owners are spending and we no longer rely on free-signings and loan-deals.

In addition to this, the whole situation with his sons is very weird. I think Charlie Wellens would be a good League 2 player, and can play a role from the bench for a bottom-half League 1 team. The amount of minutes he receives is irresponsible, and cannot be helping the atmosphere in the dressing-room. He's been played as a wing-back (ridiculous), a winger (silly), defensive midfielder (lightweight) and no 10 (ok!). There is absolutely no reason why he should have stayed on the pitch yesterday, he really struggled and was clearly out of gas by the 60th minute. Keeping him on the pitch, and taking Oluwo off for Scarlett's league debut in the 81st minute- was completely bizarre. I actually feel for Charlie, he's not a bad player and probably suffers the most because of this dynamic. God knows what will happen if his younger son gets good enough to receive minutes for us. There are probably some managers out there who would have the professionalism and maturity to manage this dynamic, but Richie is not one of them.

Nothing will happen until late November (at the earliest), but I think we need new ideas and a new voice in the dug-out. I'm not saying that we'll be in relegation trouble this year, though we all know it's a possibility, but with this squad we should be looking at 10th place and above. Will be interesting to see if the board will match the level of ambition that has been expressed through our budget.

It simply cannot go on like this. Season and after season we continue to be one of if not the worst teams in terms of defending set pieces.

There's no excuse for a manager who has been with the club for this long to justify how he has not been able to improve this glaring weakness.

Hey!

Im looking for a George Marsh or Anthony Georgiou Orient shirt. Does anyone here happen to have one or know of someone? :)

Not managed to get to a home game for a while as I've moved away, but will be at the Stevenage game in a few weeks - just wondering what the best pubs are for pre and post match pints - I've heard some stop allowing football fans in after a certain time but not sure which. Cheers

Leyton Orient have signed former Middlesbrough midfielder Alex Gilbert on a three-year contract.

Will our Spurs boy be like the others?

Will the record-sum striker get going?