As always, Laurie Cunningham was ready for the ball and everyone dared to read which way those dancing hips could wave, and tied around his neck with a red-white scarf for the occasion.
A young Leyton Orient -supporter moved through the drizzle of the coronation gardens with an inflatable FA cup, put it on the plinth next to Cunningham's feet and shot a volley of questions while he posed for a photo.
Who is he? Who did he play for? Is he dead? How did he died? “He played for the Eastern son, read that,” he was told and he did.
He read the plaque under the statue, and they turned to the stadium with a conversation building around the first Englishman to sign for Real Madrid, a free spirit and a groundbreaking talent, a natural dribble tempo, outfox defenders and an audience.
And they went to Jack Grealish, another English football player who can do all those things and have done in the past. It just doesn't seem to happen that much anymore.
He hardly plays, for example. And when he does that, he often seems to be suppressed in a team-of all, whatever it is like, who trust his talents mainly to retain ownership, drive opponents back to their own goal, pull defenders to him and free kicks to win.
At Orient, Grealisk flashed like a creative power. He ran with the ball, threatened goal, created opportunities. He cut the pass of the game in Kevin De Bruyne's run to win the draw.
That looked like a sort of progress and then Pep Guardiola spoke warmly about him as a football player 'From the Streets' – in contrast to the modern academies – and yet still demanded more end product from him. Perhaps there was a touch of frustration of a manager who believes that Grealish is no longer maximizing his talent, that his appetite is saturated and that he has arisen challenges through the arrival of Savinho and Jeremy Doku.
There is an argument that Grealisk would be more suitable for playing more centrally. With his head up and his eye for a pass, he will find better corners if he is not attached to the left wing.
He did it successfully in Aston Villa. He wore the ball and wore the team occasionally, but he does not fight against the will of De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush for that role.
Grealisk has won the lot in Manchester City. He has grown up and evolved into a better team player without a doubt under Guardiola despite the burden of the price tag of £ 100 million. He has learned to play with the discipline that is at the very top.
But come in the summer, he will approach 30 with two years on his contract in the Etihad Stadium. This season he only started six Premier League matches. None since Christmas.
If he wants to be part of the future, part of the reconstruction operation Guardiola has started by spending £ 180 million on four players last month, then this is the time to do something about it.
City could do with a hero who steps out of the ranks while trying to save something tangible from a disappointing season. Why not start with another Champions League duel with Real Madrid?
If he doesn't, it is just as understandable. Perhaps he itches to escape from the control of Guardiola and find a place to perform with more freedom in a team that is willing to work with a greater risk. Maybe he would enjoy his football more.
Most Premier League teams would find a place for him in their team, was not an object, but every next step must be taken with care. Raheem Sterling should serve as a warning for anyone leaving Manchester City.
Leyton Orient blooms back like a club
The last time I was on Brisbane Road was a fruitless striving for Francesco Becchetti for an assignment about everything that went wrong in Leyton Orient.
The demolition of orders were in place and the staff became unpaid and terrified of talking and fans were deeply protested.
Almost a decade after the relegation after the first year of Becchetti's disastrous ownership, and they are back where they were when he bought Barry Hearn's club, the play-offs and promotion to the championship.
The FA Cup on Saturday against Manchester City gave them the chance to show the world what a thriving urban club in the heart of his community looks like, alive with local passion, and with so many of the best things about football that even can be seen in the defeat.
Five things I learned this week
1. Arne Slot wants 12 in the bank for domestic competitions, including cup tires, such as in Europe. He claims that it will mean more minutes for Academy players. It really means more flexibility for richest clubs with the biggest squadrons and the best academies. Send talented children when you look out. Send senior stars for a lifebaan. How much more help do these clubs need?
2. Freddie Woodman is happy on the spot in Deepdale. The former England under the 21 keeper has confronted this season with 24 penalties: 17 against Fulham in an Epic Carabao Cup Shootout, three in the championship and four more on Saturday when Preston Wycombe defeated penalties to reach the FA Cup fifth round.
3. The old argument that is presented new for three on the National League and further on from League Two is entirely logical considering the development of the fifth layer. While they are busy, they should not make three four up and down between competitions one and two. Vier is a remnant of the regionalized division three that was abandoned 65 years ago. I am even about that.
4. First Josh Windass and then Jamie Donley via the back of Stefan Ortega. Two goals I have seen live live from extreme distance in 40 days this year nothing that I can remember from the previous 50 years of watching football. Pure Chance – Or a response to fashion for higher defense lines and wipe machine keepers?
5. I find it increasingly difficult to even think about the lens boss still without picking up an earwig before the Maudlin Smiths Classic still sick. We can't stick to those dreams … am I just?
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