Mohsni: Yes, that's two red cards this season Bilel
Southend United have been busy already in the first week of the January sales picking up two players in Swindon Town's striker Elliot Benyon and Derby County's Dave Martin, while former loanee Michael Timlin should be made a permanent signing any day soon, and there still could be more!
Just where is all this money coming from?
Jemal Johnson's saved wages help, but it was only in the summer that CEO Tara Brady was telling us that:'we know the squad is too big.'
Well, it's getting that way now and a lot of the fringe players may soon be seeing their football elsewhere; blimey, Matty Patterson is still with us!
Moreover, two of the senior players in our favourite French Tunisian Bilel Mohsni and son of Luggy Blair Sturrock have still to have their future decided.
So let's start with Bilel, as we always seem to do.
I'm certain that Luggy would rather not have him around at Roots Hall, a squad member informed us that Mohsni once went into the changing room in a strop and slung his boots through the air narrowly missing two players heads!
Crickey, that would have made an interesting injury update!
And as for the foot injury so he couldn't train with the lads, let's just say I'm suspicious!
So we awaited for news of who the fourth division club that's been 'alerted' of his availabilty was, and it's been finally revealed, surprise, surprise, it's the moneybags of promotion rivals and currently top of the table Crawley Town, no prizes for that one!
In this division they were the only ones who could afford the six-figure sum the Shrimpers say they are looking for, though even Crawley may have to sell one of their top scorers, Matt Tubbs or Tyrone Barnett, to find that sort of dosh. (Derby were showing interest in Barnett, and they are getting rid of a player or two!)
And only a year ago the then Premiership Blackpool were sniffing around!
Anyway, that club source, kudos for the championship winger tip yesterday, so let's listen to him, told
www.echo-news.co.uk:
"Crawley are definitely in for Bilel. There has been some discussions taking place between the clubs but Southend have told them they want a six figure fee and even then an offer may not be accepted.”
Interesting last bit, I bet it would be!
Still, what a team talk before the game come Tuesday, March 6th, as fat boy Evans winds Bilel up, he comes out on to the floodlit Roots Hall pitch in front of a packed crowd, and as soon as the whistle blows an x-rated challenge on Peter Gilbert smacking him up in the air. An early bath, Evans shouts at fourth official, 'what did he do?'
Worth going to see, maybe not for Gilbert, who would probably be out for the season.
Queen's Square, Crawley; somewhere nice for Bilel to do his shopping
Trouble is he's a nutter, (four red cards in 52 apearances over a season and a half), yet two thirds of our readers would like him to remain our nutter.
He can also change a game in a way hardly any player in the fourth tier can do from any position, sometimes for bad as well as good, and maybe Luggy's spent enough time, along with some of his fellow team members, seeing the former outweigh the latter.
But Crawley!!!
Sturrock still not signed for Sturrock
In striker Blair's case his last contract ended on Monday, and no word yet he's going to be offered another one.
He may well remain but with the forwards at the club growing he may also be surplus to requirements.
Still, supensions and injuries happen and as Barry Corr seems lost to us for a reasonable time yet, and if he's happy, Blair is a decent enough option on the subs bench.
He can't be at the top of the wage structure as well!
Squad too big: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
A bid for Bilel?: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Still need more signings?: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
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