The Mohsni Saga

[Crawliano]

And one other thing he is one of the only players I would say in the last 5 years excluding Eastwood or Hall that has the ability to turn and win a game on his own!

And the ability to screw a game up on his own...

 

[dodgeblue]

Please see final posting on "Mohsni at Wickford train station" I claim my prize as a clairvoyant :smile:

 

[Mick]

And the ability to screw a game up on his own...

Remind me how many games he's "screwed up" on his own in his 71 appearances. If you're talking about the Oldham cup replay, the first caution was harsh and also Sturrock contributed to that defeat with his team selection.

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

I think you are mistaking the word "legend" for "character". Mohsni is a character, no-one is doubting that but a legend? Really? :nope:

Hope this helps clear up the confusion...

Probably a bit harsh to be fair, and I'll miss the excitement of having a nut in the team

 

[Crawliano]

Remind me how many games he's "screwed up" on his own in his 71 appearances. If you're talking about the Oldham cup replay, the first caution was harsh and also Sturrock contributed to that defeat with his team selection.

I've enjoyed many a Saturday afternoon watching us chasing a game at home, Bilel getting frustrated and trying pathetic shots from just about anywhere on the pitch when simple passes were available. He lets opposition players get to him so that he's got to have the likes of Harris calm him down, all while we're chasing games.

I'm not even mentioning Oldham here.

If he thinks he's a Billy Big Bollox then he can kindly do one, I'll look forward to seeing his career flourish. Talk of the town to whisper of the village.

Just my opinion.

And for the record, his hat trick v Barnet was mustard. I can't argue that, but he's so hot and cold that I'm going to now hit up youtube and watch some Katy Perry.

 

[united we stand]

121 posts , one person says legend , one person says 'maybe a legend' and everyone jumps on the 'his not a legend' as though this was the majority view !

All the info we are getting is from a small piece on the OS ,which is being treated as gospel. His agent has arranged a trial at a premiership club. If his agent is capable of doing this can you really blame Bilel for asking hiim to do it . Who else in our squad could an agent do this for ?

Bilel is putting himself first , hardly a first for a footballer in a short career. It would be interesting to know how many 2nd division footballers get the opportunity of a trial with Premier league clubs ?

If we get a fee for him then Sturrock has done a great job , and everyone who wanted him sacked should remember that. If we really can sell to a premiership of Championship club then the fee would be higher than if we were selling to 1st /2nd division , and he would not play against us when he would be sure to score

Peronally I would love to see him on MOTD and to remind people that he used to play for us and we got xxxx in sell on fees for him which helped us in our own move up the leagues :smile:

 

[Bromley Blue]

OK after reading through the various replies there seem to be a few themes developing and thought I'd add my thoughts on this.

Firstly I think its very early to form rash opinions on Bilel's motives and say things like "Do one Bilel", etc. There have been no direct quotes from BM as yet and as others have said player agents can have a big part to play in these situations and the released press stories. If it is true that he doesn't wish to return here then its best for all concerned if he moves on.

I disagree with those that have said the club extended his contract as he was in the plans for this season. I think the club were doing this so that they could command a fee. If you have a think about the positions where Bilel has been used for us in his two years at the club:

Centre Half:

We have Barker and Phillips as last year's first choice central pairing and Ryan Cresswell was signed to compete and IMO replace one of these 2 (probably Barker). With Luke Prosser and Graham Coughlan also available to fill in here that's 5 players for 2 positions. More than enough cover, especially at our level.

Winger:

Last season Luggy used Mohsni more and more further up the pitch as an impact player. A great deal of these were from the left wing. However this summer Kevan Hurst was brought in and with Ryan Hall and Dave Martin still at the club 3 wingers should be enough for a club with our budget.

Forward:

With Barry Corr returning and Eastwood and Tomlin signing we now have 5 decent strikers at League Two level. So he'd be well down the pecking order here too.

Therefore I put it to you that Luggy was planning for life without Mohsni all along and to be honest who could blame him? Bilel is on his day a matchwinner and clearly has a lot of talent but he's also disruptive and no doubt has a negative effect on team spirit. I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen Timlin and Ryan Hall especially get ****ed off with him during games for losing his cool or concentration when the adulation from the stands occurs.

Those that are calling him a legend need their head testing. He's just another player to have played for us that has talent to possibly play at a higher level. Add to that the fact he's been great entertainment and they definitely broke the mould when they made that guy and he will be missed. But more from an entertainment point of view than on the pitch IMO.

Now Freddy's back we have another player who can turn a match in a second with a bit of magic and he's a lot less trouble to manage.

Lets wish the lad all the best but now is the time to say goodbye to him.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Therefore I put it to you that Luggy was planning for life without Mohsni all along and to be honest who could blame him? Bilel is on his day a matchwinner and clearly has a lot of talent but he's also disruptive and no doubt has a negative effect on team spirit. I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen Timlin and Ryan Hall especially get ****ed off with him during games for losing his cool or concentration when the adulation from the stands occurs.

Lets wish the lad all the best but now is the time to say goodbye to him.

Absolutely spot on, all of your post, however these two bits are what's important for me. I don't think anyone should wish him ill as such, but it's definitely time to move on.

 

[Mick]

I've enjoyed many a Saturday afternoon watching us chasing a game at home, Bilel getting frustrated and trying pathetic shots from just about anywhere on the pitch when simple passes were available. He lets opposition players get to him so that he's got to have the likes of Harris calm him down, all while we're chasing games.

I'm not even mentioning Oldham here.

Well that's hardly a catalogue of "screwed up" matches. A few optimistic and wayward shots and getting embroiled with opponents (but not that much, as evidenced by just one caution in the second half of the season).

 

[GrumpyBlue]

121 posts , one person says legend , one person says 'maybe a legend' and everyone jumps on the 'his not a legend' as though this was the majority view !

All the info we are getting is from a small piece on the OS ,which is being treated as gospel. His agent has arranged a trial at a premiership club. If his agent is capable of doing this can you really blame Bilel for asking hiim to do it . Who else in our squad could an agent do this for ?

Bilel is putting himself first , hardly a first for a footballer in a short career. It would be interesting to know how many 2nd division footballers get the opportunity of a trial with Premier league clubs ?

If we get a fee for him then Sturrock has done a great job , and everyone who wanted him sacked should remember that. If we really can sell to a premiership of Championship club then the fee would be higher than if we were selling to 1st /2nd division , and he would not play against us when he would be sure to score

Peronally I would love to see him on MOTD and to remind people that he used to play for us and we got xxxx in sell on fees for him which helped us in our own move up the leagues :smile:

Good post - yes we are all relying on info from the OS and how reliable is that :nope:

The truth is Bil is an entertaining presence amoungst all the plastic players of this era (stand up Timlin, Kane etc) - he is not a legend - if he goes he goes - we move on - supporting the Blues

Perhaps the mods should close this thread as it is going round and round in circles :'(

 

[Crawliano]

Well that's hardly a catalogue of "screwed up" matches. A few optimistic and wayward shots and getting embroiled with opponents (but not that much, as evidenced by just one caution in the second half of the season).

Well on that note then you can't really call his contribution a catalogue of inspired games where he single-handedly carried us across the line with a full on sleeves rolled-up performance either.

 

[BTS]

Post Deleted

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

He definitely has the talent to play Premier$hite football and it's laughable that people are thinking that he can't. Six foot four and cleans up in the air, with decent pace, a good touch and under Sturrock's tuition the nous to play centre-back, wing and centre-forward. Of course he's going into interest premier$hite clubs in a way that Ryan Hall, despite being arguably more productive at this level, isn't going to. He still needs to sort out the mental side, but there won't be a shortage of clubs willing to take that gamble.

It may even help his development to be a small fish in a big pond where he can't always blame the teams shortcomings on his teammates' failings (obviously this won't apply if it's W*** H** he's going to).

People get far too wound up about the PR surrounding the way a player departs. Nicky Bailey gave his all for Southend in every game but one in which he asked to be left out as his head wasn't right and is called a ****. Kevin Maher put in minimal effort for five years but that's all forgiven as his last seasons were good and he's called a legend. I know which one took the **** out of me more.

 

[GrumpyBlue]

He definitely has the talent to play Premier$hite football and it's laughable that people are thinking that he can't. Six foot four and cleans up in the air, with decent pace, a good touch and under Sturrock's tuition the nous to play centre-back, wing and centre-forward. Of course he's going into interest premier$hite clubs in a way that Ryan Hall, despite being arguably more productive at this level, isn't going to. He still needs to sort out the mental side, but there won't be a shortage of clubs willing to take that gamble.

It may even help his development to be a small fish in a big pond where he can't always blame the teams shortcomings on his teammates' failings (obviously this won't apply if it's W*** H** he's going to).

People get far too wound up about the PR surrounding the way a player departs. Nicky Bailey gave his all for Southend in every game but one in which he asked to be left out as his head wasn't right and is called a ****. Kevin Maher put in minimal effort for five years but that's all forgiven as his last seasons were good and he's called a legend. I know which one took the **** out of me more.

Hear Hear :thumbsup:

 

[BTS]

OK after reading through the various replies there seem to be a few themes developing and thought I'd add my thoughts on this.

Firstly I think its very early to form rash opinions on Bilel's motives and say things like "Do one Bilel", etc. There have been no direct quotes from BM as yet and as others have said player agents can have a big part to play in these situations and the released press stories. If it is true that he doesn't wish to return here then its best for all concerned if he moves on.

Bilel has confirmed on Facebook that he will be leaving;

Alec 'sufc' Hitchman
Please don't leave!!!! Stay at Southend! We all love you here!!! :(
Like · · 13 hours ago ·
2 people like this.
Bilel Mohsni Its Time for me to leave my friend thanks my friend
12 hours ago via Mobile · Like

 

[Jam_Man]

Well on that note then you can't really call his contribution a catalogue of inspired games where he single-handedly carried us across the line with a full on sleeves rolled-up performance either.

You two can argue all day, but you are both right.

On a good day Bilel was the best player on the pitch, and on others a sulking waste of space. Whether you can justify the former when the latter is true I dont know, although at this level you have to live with inconsistency.

Personally grateful for the entertainment he gave us as other than Hall we had the most uninteresting team we have had in years, Bilel for all his faults at least made it interesting, but he is a player Im happy to lose for a fee.

 

[Bromley Blue]

Bilel has confirmed on Facebook that he will be leaving;

Alec 'sufc' Hitchman
Please don't leave!!!! Stay at Southend! We all love you here!!! :(
Like · · 13 hours ago ·
2 people like this.
Bilel Mohsni Its Time for me to leave my friend thanks my friend
12 hours ago via Mobile · Like

Yeah I wasn't really doubting the fact he wants to leave. I was saying that people are saying stuff like "Do one" and "good riddance" and similar because they are angry at the way Bilel has gone about it. Like saying he doesn't want to come back to Southend. The way it was stated on the OS was in a negative way but if it had been phrased differently such as "Bilel has enjoyed his two years here but feels he can play at a higher level and thinks now is the time to move on" it would have been different. Bilel didn't write the article on the OS so I'm saying don't hang the guy for not leaving the club in a respectful way when he hasn't had the chance to say his piece yet.

 

[Crawliano]

You two can argue all day, but you are both right.

On a good day Bilel was the best player on the pitch, and on others a sulking waste of space. Whether you can justify the former when the latter is true I dont know, although at this level you have to live with inconsistency.

Personally grateful for the entertainment he gave us as other than Hall we had the most uninteresting team we have had in years, Bilel for all his faults at least made it interesting, but he is a player Im happy to lose for a fee.

Yep. I can go with that. I think the Barnet game was the best indicator of that. 1st half, unplayable. 2nd half, couldn't be bothered to play.

If we get cash in, great. But I still think the way it's all gone is a bit ridiculous. It's only on a par with handing in your notice at work and then not bothering with turning up during the notice period.

 

[RHB]

Too much has already been written about Bilel's qualities, ggod and bad, for me to add anything meaningful, so to a more important point. Assuming he goes, how much is a 'good fee'?


I think we will be lucky to get much more than £200k, thoughts?

 

[madaboutblues]

This Legend or no Legend thing is interesting....

To me he will be a legend not because he achieved particularly much compared to others at the club, but because he is memorable and I think will still be remembered in 10, 20, 30 years time because of the way he was discovered from nowhere , his antics on and off the pitch, his flashes of brilliance, his petulance, going AWOL, his relationship and rapport with the fans and basically for being a bit of a lunatic.

To me a legend is someone who leaves their mark on a place and whose story is worth telling and re-telling (which I think is probably the literal definition). The Bilel Mohsni story fits the bill on this score.

It is a shame that it has ended like this, but that probably befits the man and his story (can't wait for the film to come out!).

He has certainly brightened up the last couple of seasons - you have to admit that!

I must admit this is how I feel too. For me, I thought that Bil was one to watch for the future. I also got to know him through my daughter and he is a lovely person. I hope it all goes well for him.