LOFC – Goalkeeper Curse Continues

Orient will play their sixth different goalkeeper of the season tonight when Paul Rachubka makes his Orient debut. The American will take the place of Czech stopper Marek Stech, who has suffered an ankle complaint.

Stech, on loan from West Ham United, was the fifth different stopper employed by Orient this season but afterr just two games of his loan spell, has suffered an ankle injury. Rachubka has been snapped up quickly by Russell Slade to cover the loss of the young Czech.

Rachubka, 30, joins on loan from Championship side Leeds United on a one month loan deal, which will expire after the Notts County home game on April 6th.

Rachubka had been dropped by then Leeds gaffer Simon Grayson after a string of poor performances and has since spent time on the Wirral with Tranmere Rovers.

Rachubka becomes the sixth keeper used after Lee Butcher, David Button, Ben Alnwick, Marek Stech and the use of defender Scott Cuthbert, who tended goal for a few minutes against Scunthorpe United.

Remarkably, Rachubka becomes the twelth loan signing of the season after the temporary signings of David Button (Spurs), Ben Alnwick (Spurs), Marek Stech (West Ham), Tony Craig (Millwall), Adam Chicksen (MK Dons), Ryan Dickson (Southampton), Soloman Taiwo (Cardiff), Michael Richardson (Newcastle), Lee Cook (QPR), Tom Clarke (Huddersfield Town) and Calvin Andrew (Crystal Palace).