Angell Delight
Life President
.....was fit enough to go straight back into the side on Friday (I know he isn't and won't but hypothetically speaking) I'd actually have still given us a slight glimmer of hope of gatecrashing the top 7. I think all the past 6 weeks has shown us is just how vital Bilel is to us (aswell as the fact that RM is unwilling to allow Sturrock to bring in loanees). Our record of points gained with Mohsni in the side to the amount achieved without him indicates that you could argue he is as vital to this team as Eastwood was to Tilson's.
With Mohsni in the X1 there is a far greater chance of a Southend goal winning the game instead of being enough for a point or nothing at all. Add to this the fact that he pretty much has everything - pace, aerial ability, strength and passion. Other players in the squad have already alluded to just how much of a boost it gives them to play alongside someone like Bilel and forwards must hate playing against a player like that. We've also missed him hugely in both penalty areas, this is the 1st season for a while now that I've felt confident of not conceding every time the opposition get a corner or dangerous set-piece from wide areas. This isn't the case without him, the 2 goals at Morecambe being prime examples. Add to this the fact he causes chaos at set-pieces of our own, and when we have a player like Ryan Hall who can deliver quality into the box regularly you begin to realise just how important Mohsni is to us in an attacking sense too.
I find it incredible that a player plucked from the Paris park leagues and who arrived not speaking a word of English can become so invaluable to a side like us in such a short space of time. Sturrock must take a large amount of credit for finding him through his scouting network. IMHO our season pretty much ended the day Harrold put Bilel out of action, if he'd remained fit I think we'd quite possibly be sitting in a play-off place right now.
Hereford and Stockport up next, my question would be this. IF we were to somehow take 6pts from our next two is it conceivable that Sturrock would think about throwing Bilel into the side for the last 8 games as a last throw of the dice? A potential back 4 of Clohessey/Mohsni/Coughlan/Barker looks as strong as any in the division - granted it would almost certainly still be too late with another 6 wins from 8 needed but we'd have nothing to lose at that point if the big man was fit......
Having said that I really don't see us picking up 2 wins from the next 2 anyway even against weak sides, we are conceding too many goals at the moment. Sturrock has done a superb job and I've seen enough to realise he's tactically astute but I do wish he'd stuck Morris back in a few weeks ago (note that I'm not blaming our problems on Rhys Evans I'm just stating a point that IMHO Morris is definitely a more solid goalkeeper).
With Mohsni in the X1 there is a far greater chance of a Southend goal winning the game instead of being enough for a point or nothing at all. Add to this the fact that he pretty much has everything - pace, aerial ability, strength and passion. Other players in the squad have already alluded to just how much of a boost it gives them to play alongside someone like Bilel and forwards must hate playing against a player like that. We've also missed him hugely in both penalty areas, this is the 1st season for a while now that I've felt confident of not conceding every time the opposition get a corner or dangerous set-piece from wide areas. This isn't the case without him, the 2 goals at Morecambe being prime examples. Add to this the fact he causes chaos at set-pieces of our own, and when we have a player like Ryan Hall who can deliver quality into the box regularly you begin to realise just how important Mohsni is to us in an attacking sense too.
I find it incredible that a player plucked from the Paris park leagues and who arrived not speaking a word of English can become so invaluable to a side like us in such a short space of time. Sturrock must take a large amount of credit for finding him through his scouting network. IMHO our season pretty much ended the day Harrold put Bilel out of action, if he'd remained fit I think we'd quite possibly be sitting in a play-off place right now.
Hereford and Stockport up next, my question would be this. IF we were to somehow take 6pts from our next two is it conceivable that Sturrock would think about throwing Bilel into the side for the last 8 games as a last throw of the dice? A potential back 4 of Clohessey/Mohsni/Coughlan/Barker looks as strong as any in the division - granted it would almost certainly still be too late with another 6 wins from 8 needed but we'd have nothing to lose at that point if the big man was fit......
Having said that I really don't see us picking up 2 wins from the next 2 anyway even against weak sides, we are conceding too many goals at the moment. Sturrock has done a superb job and I've seen enough to realise he's tactically astute but I do wish he'd stuck Morris back in a few weeks ago (note that I'm not blaming our problems on Rhys Evans I'm just stating a point that IMHO Morris is definitely a more solid goalkeeper).
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