Sturrock favours old faces to rebuild Shrimpers: Corr, Gilbert and Zaaboub spotted at training

Sturrock to turn Shrimpers into Swindon B team? Beggars can't be choosers you know!

Let's face it, he's got history!

In alphabetical order; Steve Adams, Hasney Aljofree, Barry Corr, Craig Easton, Peter Gilbert Jon-Paul McGovern and Sofi Zaaboub are among the names Paul Sturrock managed at either Dundee United, Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon Town and Plymouth Argyle.

And we haven't even mentioned his son Blair, who we hope is safely stuck in Mansfield for the foreseable future.

Not sure about St. Johnstone, and as the players decided they didn't like the cut of his accent down at Southampton in the six months he was there, Paul didn't really have a chance to sign any of them.

Anyway, after yesterday's first training session with the new management team both Barry Corr and Sofi Zaaboub were seen on the gallery posted yesterday on the official site and yes, breaking news, Peter Gilbert, formerly of Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday and Northampton, has now been officiallybeen seen at Boots and Laces this morning after the S24 report Tuesday that he would be Paul's first signing for the club.

So are they any good?

Our spies are out re Gilbert, but he was part of Sturrock's Plymouth League Two Championship winning side circa 2004 and Leicester felt he was worth £200k.

As for the Swindon duo, the feeling down Wiltshire way is that Corr is very good as long as he can stop getting injured with Wikipedia telling us he's similar to Peter Crouch!

Zaaboub was OK and a popular Robin before he fell out with the new management teams once Sturrock left.

He's down on Wikki at left back, the same as Gilbert and, of course, our own Johnny Herd.

Now we know Paul wants cover but 3 left full backs. At Swindon he was mainly used as a left midfielder who like to attack, a position we've not filled well since Mark Gower left, so that would be a good start for him.

The three of them though have suffered many injuries over the years.

Nobody can sign of course until the transfer embargo is lifted of course, but hopefully, if Ron is to be believed, I know but we have to try, we'll get a chance to take a look at Dartford Friday week.

The transfer news that S24 covered Tuesday about Peter Gilbert:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/
sturrocks_first_signing_for_shrimpers_set_to_be_a_favoured_son_535452/index.shtml

The Corr Files

Personal information
Full name	Sofiene Zaaboub
Date of birth	23 January 1983 (1983-01-23) (age 27)
Place of birth	Montereau-Fault-Yonne, France
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Left Back / Midfield
Club information
Current club	Unattached
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2000-2003 2003-2004 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2008 2008-2009	Saint-Étienne B Modena → A.S. Sora (loan) Real Jaén FC Brussels Swindon Town Walsall	064 (0) 010 (0) 06 (0) 00 (0) 20 (1) 56 (1) 29 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:52, 3 May 2009 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

(Player information supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofiene_Zaaboub)

The Gilbert Files

Personal information
Full name	Peter Gilbert
Date of birth	31 July 1983 (1983-07-31) (age 26)
Place of birth	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Defender
Youth career
-	Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002-2003	Birmingham City	0	(0)
2003-2005	Plymouth Argyle	78	(1)
2005-2006	Leicester City	5	(0)
2005-2006	→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	7	(0)
2006-2009	Sheffield Wednesday	34	(0)
2007	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	4	(0)
2009	Oldham Athletic	6	(0)
2009-2010	Northampton Town	29	(0)
National team‡
2004-2005	Wales U21	8	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:58, 5 July 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10:17, 11 February 2010 (UTC)

(Player information supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gilbert)