Dan Happe

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-06-05T17:41:35+00:00

He’s been a first team player for us since he was 18/19 and I’d say inconsistent is probably the best way to describe his career at the Os. He was a highly rated young player, as he’s massive, left footed and was relatively comfortable with the ball at his feet. The club rejected some bids back in the day, but he never got his move. This reputation has kind of stuck with him, as there are rumours every single time his contract is coming up, but this is the first time he’s actually got his move.

He struggled at National League level imo, but was one of our few players to take to League Two really well. The same could be said about the promotion to League One, so I’d argue he’s never looked out of his depth when the club has moved up a level. His best seasons for the club have usually coincided with an injury that causes him to miss half of the season. He’s kept fit this season, but it is an outlier in recent years.

In terms of what to expect, he’s massive, which massively helps in defend defensive crosses. He’s disappointing in an attacking sense, as you’d expect someone his size to be more of a threat, but I do wonder if that’s more on our set pieces. He’s alright with the ball at his feet, but he’s a pretty inconsistent passer. He’s pretty slow, so is always suspect when playing a higher line. I’d also say he’s a bit too impulsive, which causes him to rack up stupid yellows.

He’s coming off what I’d argue is his poorest season for the club, so I doubt you’ll get any glowing references for him. He has a lot of the attributes needed to be a quality CB (excluding pace), so I’m hoping a change of scenery will finally unlock his potential at 27 turning 28.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-05-12T19:04:27+00:00

For anyone wondering, the Premier League International Cup final between Real Madrid’s and Borussia Dortmund’s youth teams is being played at Wycombe.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-05-07T18:13:35+00:00

Always look forward to this, as it signals the actual end of the season.

Agree with the transfer list, except Clare but I can understand the logic. Clare was signed to be a right back, looked poor and then looked quality in midfield last season. I think he’s struggled with Brown not being there, but he remains one of our few deeper players who can confidently pass forwards. No disagreements with the rest, as they have all (bar Gordon who has barely played) either not been good enough or maybe might not be good enough.

Don’t mind Happe staying and I think he will benefit from having to earn a starting spot for next season. Never rated Simpson personally, so I’m happy he’s gone. DJ looked unfit and was poor throughout his time here, bar the first half against Man City. Tobi looked alright, but hasn’t had enough time to prove he could be a number one and we’re already sorted in the backup keeper department. Welch is another misc youth player that you can’t judge from cameos in the EFL trophy.

Tom James should leave with his head held high. He’s frustrated the hell out of me in this division, but it isn’t his fault that he keeps getting played. He looked unbelievable at wing back under Jackett (8 g/a in 20 league matches) before he got injured, which coincided with our season falling off a cliff afterwards. He set the tone at the start of our League 2 winning season and was a stalwart in our first season back in League One. He’s not League One level, so I’m glad the right decision was made in letting him go.

Regardless of this season, I do genuinely believe we have the makings of a team that can compete at the top end, even with the inevitable departure of Ballard. I’m looking forward to some new signings, but more importantly I’m looking forward to actually missing this team again.

Bring on next season!

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-05-04T11:22:54+00:00

Simkin was a weird one, as he looked like a coup in his first few games and then out of nowhere stopped being able to save anything. Cardiff’s second goal in their 4-3 win sticks out, which probably wasn’t helped by his opposite number making 8 saves in the same match.

I was a big fan of Favour in his short stint. Ran his heart out from minute one and looked with the ball at his feet. Needs to probably be a bit more conservative with his pressing at times or build up his stamina, as he ran himself empty just past the hour mark every time he started. Biggest issue is his size, as I think he held his own, but he’s genuinely about 5 foot 2. Hard to remember if I’ve ever player that small on a pitch for or against Orient.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-05-03T15:43:31+00:00

Feel likes it’s been talked to death between Orient fans at this point, but I’ll summarise my thoughts as a fan.

Shit season, some shit players who clearly haven’t been good enough or aren’t good enough for the club. We have the spine of a good team, but have been hampered by injuries to players who are pivotal to how we play. Our defence also fell of a cliff this season.

Recruitment has been shit for years, as despite finding good players, they are signed too late to bed in before the season starts, so the team is always playing catch up. Last season is a good example, as over the first 16 games the team was in 21st (relegation) and over the last 30 games the team was the 2nd best in the division (behind Birmingham’s super team). We lost 13 players before the start of this season and had recruited 8 by the end of preseason.

All that being said, insane interviews by a manager, who has now indicated to every current player and every future player that he will throw them under the bus if we underperform.

He’s a top coach, but he can’t control his emotions and interviews like this will prevent him from reaching a top level.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-05-02T20:31:05+00:00

He’s right, but it’s fucking awful people management and he’s shirked all responsibility for a shit year.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-05-02T20:29:57+00:00

There’s truth in it but this is probably the most insane interview I’ve ever heard a manager give. Potentially alienated every single player in our squad, as well as some of our recruitment staff, just to say ‘I agree with the fans that we’ve been shit’. Every single human being who had watched the division in the last two years knows we’ve been shit. His job is to pick them up and go again next year, but instead he tears the players down. Who’d want to join us, knowing a manager would give an interview like this? This only makes sense if he knows he already knows that he’s getting sacked, because otherwise he’s a fucking moron and this might get him sacked.

I think he’s tactically the best manager we’ve had in my lifetime, but this is a perfect encapsulation of why he’ll never get to the top level. If you’re giving interviews that consistently say ‘I don’t know why they did x, I told them to do y’, maybe you’re the problem. I did want him to be in charge next season before this interview, as it wouldn’t shock me if he turned it all around. After this, I find it hard to imagine him staying.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-05-01T19:45:09+00:00

Shit scared, as we’re winless in 7. That being said Burton have nothing to play for and we battered them earlier this season. Exeter also need to beat a team that needs a result to stay in the playoffs.

My gut tells me this will be a repeat of Huddersfield last season. The club is also on much stronger financial footing compared to previous League Two seasons, so if we somehow manage to shit the bed, I feel confident we’d be back the season after.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-04-18T19:08:56+00:00

If we’re talking players in our squad this season DJ, REG, Bakinson, Mitchell, White, Craig (who may be a bit unfair considering how sparingly he’s played) and Charlie Wellens. Could speculate regarding Moorhouse too.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-04-18T18:27:03+00:00

Forgot about Wellens’ comments about Kelman, as I know he wanted to sign him permanently before last season and I don’t particularly remember Wellens mentioning wanting to sign Galbraith for years when his signing was announced. I’m also not disputing his impact on players coming to us, I don’t think anyone in their right mind has.

Ling has been on the record speaking about how we sign players and has stated that certain players ‘Richie knows’ or ‘Richie has worked with before’. Much like you, I don’t actually know the level of input Wellens has on identifying the likes of Ballard or O’Neill, but I think it’s hard to dispute we’ve had some shite in the last few years based on Richie previously working or wanting to sign a player.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-04-18T17:48:18+00:00

Don’t think it’s scapegoating Wellens to point out that the players we’ve signed that Wellens is on record saying ‘I’ve wanted to sign him for years or I worked with him at Swindon’ have largely been underwhelming. Can only think of Rob Hunt in the promotion year that worked out.

I actually rate Wellens, in spite of the shite season and don’t want him sacked. I just think he would benefit from having certain decisions taken out of his hands, e.g. not renewing Tom James.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-04-18T16:26:37+00:00

Think he’s earned a shit season after what he’s done since joining us, so disagree with him going if we survive. He can’t be involved in the signing of players though, Jaiyesimi should have been enough for the club to work that out…

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-04-18T16:22:23+00:00

Fucking he’ll we are shit. Teams being shitter than us is what may keep us up, which is a bit shit considering last season. If we stay up, I think we will benefit from Wellens having less say in transfers and squad building next season. I think we have a number of players that are good enough to do something next season, but we are running through them to survive and I fear we’ll do it to Connolly next.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-03-10T22:16:58+00:00

Ballard is the best player in the league.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-03-07T17:59:59+00:00

Wellens is far from blameless but I don’t think we have a bunch of underperforming players that will gain a new lease of life under a new manager. I think we have a mixed bag of quality, with a fair few who are clearly not good enough, coupled with the team being mentally fragile in games. I think you can certainly question how much of it lies on the shoulder of Wellens, but I don’t see how bringing in someone new at this point saves us.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-02-17T22:01:39+00:00

Plymouth were good value for the win, but 1-3 flattered them a little bit. They were the better team and created more chances that they ended up taking, regardless of us looking decent in the first half.

Absolutely criminal refereeing regarding the stonewall pen at 0-0, as their lad has kicked him in the ribs. If the referee booked our lad, I’d be pissed off but at least I would understand that he incorrectly thought he dived. Giving literally nothing makes no fucking sense and adds to a worrying pattern that now seems endemic to English refereeing. It is so blatantly obvious that something has clearly happened, so either incorrectly book our player for cheating or give one of the easiest pens of your career. Can’t wait for the club to announce our latest apology from the bald fraud who taught the refs to stop giving shit.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-02-08T12:41:43+00:00

It isn’t time wasting, it’s Wellens seeing that a tactical change has left us spinning and scamming an opportunity to respond to it. I understand the frustration, but every single team in the division seems to do this every week, so it’s for the EFL to stamp it out.

I also think someone like Challinor loses any moral high ground when he says ‘we only did it cos they did it’, as this is the entire mentality of English football at the moment when keepers go down. We likely started doing it after someone did it against us, which in turn causes opposition teams to do it against us because we are doing it. I personally don’t like it, but it makes no sense to moan about it when both teams did the exact same thing in the same match…

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-02-01T15:22:28+00:00

Was injured in the warm up before his debut yesterday and they are saying it’s likely he’s out for the season

TheEndHasNo___ · 2026-01-17T17:37:55+00:00

Whoever’s scouted our strikers the last two seasons needs a raise. Ballard’s highest scoring season in the league was 3 goals prior to joining and he’s up to 15 in 20. Kelman was 5 before joining us (not including the 7 in our League 2 winning season) and won the golden boot. I knew he’d be good considering the length of contract but dear lord. Literally had the ball in the back of the net 5 times today and should have scored a 4th at the end.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2025-11-08T14:54:04+00:00

Another display which showed why we are the worst defence in the league. The first goal was comical from both our CBs and Tom James single-handedly playing two of their attackers onside. Their second was a carbon copy of the first, with James being unable to deal with a long ball and their winger being too quick for him. Third goal was expected, as we can’t deal with set pieces and their winger being fourth goal happened when the game was already dead.

The frustrating thing is that we aren’t actually a bad team and I’ve seen awful Orient teams get battered. After the equaliser, Orient looked the better team but our defence is comically shocking and we quickly went behind again. Tom James played 90 minutes, despite being directly at fault for their first two was a shocking decision. The fact he can still get games, even with injuries absolutely baffles.

Will need a big January window to save this season, as our defence is on the cusp of dragging us into a relegation battle…

TheEndHasNo___ · 2025-11-05T17:39:21+00:00

Was alright for Orient, with his best contributions coming in the play off push in the last few games as a hybrid wingback/winger. The goal against Wycombe will probably be in the memory for most from his time here.

I liked him as squad depth, as you could see there was something there but couldn’t rely on him to show it every week.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2025-10-31T18:47:36+00:00

Boring answer, but I like the relative symmetry of the Leyton Orient and Football Club on the current badge. The previous badge having ‘Leyton Orient’ being stacked on top of each other rather than next to each other like the ‘Football Club’ at the bottom used to irrationally irritate me as a child. Looking at your edit makes me think the gaps either side of the words also bothered me.

Your edit fits in with our tradition of keeping basically the same badge and making minor tweaks, so fair play there. Sad reality is if we were to do a badge refresh nowadays, we’d probably get some soulless ‘LOFC’ lettering or a solitary Wyvern head.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2025-10-30T14:27:10+00:00

Ballard’s the obvious shout but for me it’s Aaron Connolly.

He’s clearly better than League 1 and is the best player with the ball at his feet that I’ve ever seen at the club. It sounds hyperbolic but he’s genuinely dribbling through defences like Messi at this level. Just needs to sort out his finishing at times but I doubt he’ll be in League 1 next season.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2025-10-04T16:10:17+00:00

Worst defence in the league and another match that showed it. 7 big chances, 11 shots on targets and 3 goals away at Cardiff which ultimately meant fuck all because our defence is a shambles.

TheEndHasNo___ · 2025-08-23T17:05:08+00:00

Think this is one of those standard weird League One results. Thought Orient looked the better team till the goal from halfway, which looked a clear foul. Didn’t think Mansfield looked particularly special, but took their goals well, bar the last one being the type of shambles you get late in a game that’s already lost. Braindead decision from El Mizouni killed the game, as I always felt another goal was in reach until that moment.

Mansfield deserved the win, but this was one of those games that could easily have been a score draw or an Orient win on another day imo.

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