"He made some costly mistakes" - Leyton Orient recruit singled out for negative impact | OneFootball

FLW has been speaking with our Leyton Orient fan pundit to discuss one player who's performances have been a surprise, for good or bad...

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Leyton Orient have endured a disappointing start to the 2024/25 League One season, as Richie Wellen's side find themselves among the relegation candidates through the early stages of the campaign.

The O's enjoyed a strong return to the third tier last season, registering an 11th-placed finish back in the division after a decade-long absence, which had seen them fall as far as the National League.

But after storming to the League Two title in 2022/23 with 91 points, Orient appeared to have cemented themselves back in League One last term, and will have been looking to build on their mid-table finish this term.

However, three wins, two draws and eight defeats from their opening 13 fixtures has seen the club sit just one point above the relegation zone in 20th, and have won just once in their previous seven league outings.

Leyton Orient fan pundit critical of Zach Hemming

"He made some costly mistakes"

We asked our Leyton Orient fan pundit, Lee Goulding, if there was a player who has been particularly surprising with their performance levels so far this season, either positively or negatively?

Goulding said: "At the start of the season, I was expecting good things from the new goalkeeper we'd signed on loan from Middlesbrough, Zach Hemming.

"There was obviously positive stuff mentioned about him, he had a good loan last season in Scotland. But when he started the season, he made some costly mistakes really.

"He's never really given me any confidence after that. He's since been replaced in the team, and it's a shame because I expected him to come in and hit the ground running, but it never happened."

Hemming faces uphill battle to win back his spot

There's a lack of trust there

Having began the season as Orient's number one goalkeeper, Hemming's inconsistency appears to have cost him the starting gloves, and indeed the trust of O's supporters.

From excellent displays against Wrexham and Reading respectively, to forgettable afternoon's vs Birmingham and Bolton to name a few, the 24-year-old has now been replaced in the lineup by fellow loanee, Josh Keeley.

With 14 goals conceded in 10 league appearances, and only two clean sheets during that time, Hemming just hasn't been able to prevent the ball from hitting the net regularly enough, even if he hasn't been receiving the greatest of support from his defenders at times.

However, with Keeley being just 21, and he too yet to look consistently convincing in his first three starts as the new number one, Hemming could well get his chance to reclaim his role in the Leyton Orient side soon.

Hemming impressed at St Mirren

That will only add to Orient frustrations

When it was announced that Hemming would be joining up with Leyton Orient for the season, fans were generally excited with the addition given his exploits in Scotland last term.

Hemming played in every single one of St. Mirren's 38 Scottish Premiership games, whilst also making a further eight appearances in cup competitions, as the Buddies finished in fifth place in Scotland's top-flight.

That ensured that a 37-year absence from European football was over, as the club qualified for the Europa Conference League for 2024/25, and Hemming played a leading role in helping secure that.

The Middlesbrough academy graduate kept 10 clean sheets in the league, as well as a further five in the cup, and was a player who St. Mirren supporters were largely desperate to see rejoin the club for this season.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson even confirmed that the club had tried to get him back, but that Middlesbrough wanted to give him the chance to win the backup role at the Riverside Stadium this season.

Clearly then, Hemming is a goalkeeper with talent and potential, which has manifested itself at times with Leyton Orient this season. Consistency is key though, and with the O's appearing set for a long struggle this year, he must prove he can be the reliable shotstopper that Wellens requires.