LOFC-CM-CH10 | Season 3 Prologue
As Leyton Orient enters its second Championship season, manager Filippo Inzaghi faces high expectations for automatic Premier League promotion and domestic cup semi-finals. Player ratings have surged, with Will Lankshear's overall increasing by 12 points. The chapter also unveils the new 2026/27 kits and discusses player movements, including Omar Beckles' retirement and Dele Alli's career focus. The team's pre-season success and the need for smart summer transfers are highlighted.
Chapter 10: Season 3 Prologue
Introduction
As we march into our second Championship season, the board’s expectations are soaring after last season’s incredible journey! Filippo Inzaghi faces a formidable challenge with a set of season objectives that truly reflect our ambition:
- Secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.
- Reach the semi-finals in one of the domestic cups.
This marks a significant step up from last year’s mid-table objective, highlighting the scale of the task ahead!
Player Upgrades
With the new season dawning, Inzaghi eagerly delved into the updated player ratings – a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our squad!
EA FC 25 Career Mode’s dynamic player potential has truly blessed the O’s, with individual player performance and ability now reflected in their refreshed overalls.
The standout story has to be Will Lankshear! Our prolific striker has exploded onto the scene, his overall rating surging from a promising 67 to an incredible 79 (+12!) in the last 12 months!
This massive leap confirms what we already knew – Lankshear is ready to lead the line and strike fear into Championship defences.
We’ve seen a fantastic collective surge across the squad, with several players seeing improvements in their overall ratings:
- Peyton Miller: 65 to 72 (+7)
- Jamie Norman: 61 to 65 (+4)
- Harrison Armstrong (away on loan last season): 66 to 70 (+4)
- Omari Kellyman (away on loan last season): 66 to 69 (+3)
- Mikey Moore: 74 to 76 (+2)
- Marko Stamenic: 77 to 78 (+1)
- Luka Vušković: 75 to 76 (+1)
- Jamie Donley: 72 to 73 (+1)
Crucially, the most significant improvements have come from our youngest players, who are rapidly catching up to the rest of the squad and are now valid competitors for starting spots, not just backups.
Slightly older players like Jamie Donley and Marko Stamenic need to continue to raise the bar to push the team forward.
The improvement aren’t just about numbers; they about our players maturing, gelling, and proving they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. These upgrades are a huge confidence boost and set the stage for an electrifying season!
Other Notable Player Movements
The end of an era: our stalwart defender, Omar Beckles, has retired from professional football.
Farewell, Omar Beckles
Omar Beckles is an English-born professional footballer of Grenadian descent. He played as a defender for Leyton Orient in EFL League One at the time of Inzaghi’s appointment. Born on 25 October 1991 in Leytonstone, London, Beckles enjoyed a diverse club career spanning Spain, non-league English football, and the English Football League. He was the veteran in the club and a leader in the dressing room.
Throughout his time with the O’s in this save, Beckles has been a solid rotation option at the back. Despite his overall rating seeing a natural decline over the past two seasons, his presence remained commanding, consistently winning crucial headers and providing invaluable leadership to our defence.
Dele working his way back to his former self
On the other hand, Dele Alli has unfortunately passed his prime despite all the attention he’s received and can no longer improve. Our focus with Dele will now shift to maintaining his current level.
He also sadly missed out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, the national team call-up that he had tirelessly trained for since joining us.
As Dele chatted with Inzaghi, it’s clear his career focus is now firmly set on leading the O’s into the top flight.
New Season Kit: Unveiling Our 2026/27 Armour!
The wait is finally over, O’s faithful! Get ready to feast your eyes on the threads that will carry us into the Premier League!
Crafted with precision and pride, our stunning new kit for the 2026/27 campaign embodies the spirit and ambition of Leyton Orient. We can’t wait to see the lads don this new armour as they battle for Premier League glory!
Prepare to be captivated by the full collection.
Now, let’s take a closer look at each masterpiece that our squad will wear with pride:
The Home Kit: A Timeless Classic, Reimagined!
Our new home kit is a powerful nod to tradition, reimagined for a new era of success. The iconic red and white stripes boldly stand out, a beacon of our unwavering identity. Designed for both performance and passion, this kit will inspire fear in our opponents and pride in every O’s supporter.
The Away Kit: Striking Out in Style!
Venturing beyond Brisbane Road, our away kit offers a fresh and distinctive look. The deep emerald green, accented with subtle detailing, exudes confidence and sophistication. This kit is built for breaking barriers and making a statement on the road, ensuring the O’s stand out in every away fixture.
The Goalkeeper Kit: Our Last Line of Defence, Dressed for Dominance!
Guardians of the net, prepare for battle in our formidable new goalkeeper kit! This striking gold and white design, with its dynamic patterns, reflects the agility and command of our shot-stoppers. It’s a kit designed to intimidate attackers and inspire confidence, ensuring our last line of defence is always dressed for dominance.
What’s next?
An exciting new season lies ahead, full of challenges and opportunities, and we’re more ready than ever to make our mark!
The pre-season has been nothing short of spectacular, culminating in a dominant display to lift the pre-season cup. This early silverware is a clear indicator of our intent and the incredible progress we’ve made as a squad.
Smart business in the summer transfer window will be critical for success in the new season. Significant squad strengthening is essential if we’re to truly charge for Premier League glory.
At the same time, many clubs are already eyeing our top-performing players, and depending on who gets poached, we’ll need to find suitable replacements.