It never fails to surprise me how footy fans, and I've been guilty of it myself in the past, make themselves feel better after a hammering by slagging off the other team.
How does saying a side that has just beaten you off the park 3-0 was rubbish in any way justifies your own team's performance?
Even Freud himself would give up on this one, easier to blame Mummy.
But here they were, several Orient fans, making the journey back to the East End in real pain, and the main source of that pain was not only had they been beaten off the park, by their local rivals Southend United no less, but that the victorious Shrimpers were, "shit".
The trouble was, we weren't.
Police dog speaks: 'It's dangerous biting Orient fans, but I've been vacinated'
Leaving the ground as the management and a few players soaked up the well deserved applause from the home crowd, there was time for a pint and a burger in the Railway before the next service back to Liverpool Street. A quick flash of the season ticket gained entry.
Inside the warm and welcoming pub one could only look out at the defiant Orient supporters singing their songs, but being kept from entering the station by the old bill along with some very nasty and loud dogs.
It really felt as we were visitors to a local zoo with the eastenders the star attraction.
Sadly, some of us had to leave as the train was a couple of minutes away but as we entered the last carrige a couple of veteran BT coppers warned us that was where they were dumping the Borient and we might want to move. Most stayed.
As the collection of orphans and strays made their way down the platform it seemed the Essex constabulary had maybe overreacted. The only bodily harm this lot were going to cause was to themselves. Though the wait for them led to a near ten minute delay.
Then the moaning began: "Williams is a nice bloke and a good coach but that's not what I want in a manager."; "Why does he continue to play Daniels at left back?"; Why did Chambers go off, he was the only one getting stuck in?"; Oh, and "they were shit!".
This was good sport, rather like buying a pint in an Aussie bar after the Ashes win at the Oval, they were in full flow and we hadn't even reached Wickford!
They came and went, these poor Orient fans, many got off at Shenfield, one joined the group who had left at half-time. "Crap ground doesn't even serve a pint, (sadly for him they do, but in the home stands, sorry mate), so I left, and when I heard the cheers decided to stay in the pub." "Wish I had", said another! Oh dear.
Eventually they started to lose the will to talk about the game anymore and it turned to more mundane footy matters, like a trip to Tranmere. "Remember last time, we might have well not turned up, that bloody own goal."
At last lads, something I could relate to, but not Birkenhead, somehow away trips and own goals seem to always bring back memories of a certain side from the east of London.
Of which we now were, most leaving at Stratford with Liverpool Street only seven minutes away.
Here's the thing boys, it might make you feel better, but I'm afraid Southend weren't "shit" that night, they certainly started a touch nervous after the week's excitement, but your heroes were not good enough to take advantage, and I appreciate the injuries, but in the second half we just had to go up a couple of gears to play you off the park.
We've been pretty good all season, at last on Friday we got some breaks.
What we can't afford is breaks in any of the players limbs, it's all hands on deck until a couple of loanees can come in, please Uncle Ron.
And if we are poor, what are Leeds and Charlton going to do to you?
Talking of Leeds.......