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Trialists

TheSouthendUnitedRunner

The poster formerly known as BoyWonder2 ⭐🦐
With pre-season starting for some, and us very soon, it’s almost into the time of year for trialists.

Thought would be a place to discuss, try and find out who they are etc etc.

Just a reminder, for those that believe every trialist is here with a view to signing….

Trialists are broken down into a few categories and I think a few of us will be the first one:

1) Players minutes are worked out in advance. Normally starting with 45 minutes for everyone, working up to 60/75/90. So you may see GSM play 60, and Wind play 30, then it being reversed and so on. As we have a small squad, players minutes will need to be managed. A knock to GSM (using these two as examples) would mean Wind would have to play more minutes then scheduled. So we will contact agents for a RB to fill in for the minutes to save Wind playing too much.

2) A genuine chance of signing. We all say we need a CB for example, so we may see one or two CB come in for a trial with a few to signing. We may not be 100% sold on them, so want to see them up person. Our DD on them may highlight an issue and we bring them in to test it out etc.

3) Doing an agent a “favour”. We want to sign a CB who is looked after by agent A, something that may sweeten the deal is to give a CM a trial to put his name out there again and in the shop window.

4) Doing a player a favour. It’s tough being at the start of pre-season and not having anywhere to train. We may see one or two people come in who know management here, players here or whatever come in to do the training and keep themselves fit should a chance arrive.

I do like the pictures up on the official site of training and trying to work out who these mystery players are, but bear in mind they could be here for any number of reasons.
 
Leonard is probably the best one of recent times.

Rohan Ricketts was one I thought we missed out on, but didn’t do much after his hattrick against Great Wakering was it?
Yes it was at GWR- dodged a bullet IMO as didn’t go on to do anything much. Loads of talent but not the best attitude shall we say.

Lenny yes- popped in a couple of 40 yard strikes I seem to remember. A long time ago and didn’t Luggy know of him from his Plymouth days so it wasn’t entirely speculative?

Wasn’t Bilel a “proper” triallist?
 
Kargbo definitely was.

That's the also the issue with playing against the lesser sides in pre-season, some players can look amazing in a one-off game and lots of fans clamour for us to sign them.

I also remember Dan Mooney looking unbelievable against Canvey. I was so excited that we'd signed a real 'gem' of the league.
 
With pre-season starting for some, and us very soon, it’s almost into the time of year for trialists.

Thought would be a place to discuss, try and find out who they are etc etc.

Just a reminder, for those that believe every trialist is here with a view to signing….

Trialists are broken down into a few categories and I think a few of us will be the first one:

1) Players minutes are worked out in advance. Normally starting with 45 minutes for everyone, working up to 60/75/90. So you may see GSM play 60, and Wind play 30, then it being reversed and so on. As we have a small squad, players minutes will need to be managed. A knock to GSM (using these two as examples) would mean Wind would have to play more minutes then scheduled. So we will contact agents for a RB to fill in for the minutes to save Wind playing too much.

2) A genuine chance of signing. We all say we need a CB for example, so we may see one or two CB come in for a trial with a few to signing. We may not be 100% sold on them, so want to see them up person. Our DD on them may highlight an issue and we bring them in to test it out etc.

3) Doing an agent a “favour”. We want to sign a CB who is looked after by agent A, something that may sweeten the deal is to give a CM a trial to put his name out there again and in the shop window.

4) Doing a player a favour. It’s tough being at the start of pre-season and not having anywhere to train. We may see one or two people come in who know management here, players here or whatever come in to do the training and keep themselves fit should a chance arrive.

I do like the pictures up on the official site of training and trying to work out who these mystery players are, but bear in mind they could be here for any number of reasons.
You might as well delete this. It'll be forgotten by the time this thread reaches 2 pages.
 
I always loved it when a completely random trialist would turn up who was a completely unknown quantity. Like Prince Rajcomar or Abdi Abdul who didn’t speak a single word of English but scored a worldie at Great Wakering!

EDIT: looks like Prince Rajcomar never made it! Wiki says:

“He was due to go on trial with English League One side Southend United having been recommended to the Essex side, however he missed his flight from Germany to the UK after turning up at the wrong airport and missed out on the opportunity.”

Who am I thinking of in that case? I swear we had a Dutch striker on trial under Tilly who played a couple of times and disappeared. I’m sure his name was Colin/Collins or something?
 
Last edited:
Kargbo definitely was.

That's the also the issue with playing against the lesser sides in pre-season, some players can look amazing in a one-off game and lots of fans clamour for us to sign them.

I also remember Dan Mooney looking unbelievable against Canvey. I was so excited that we'd signed a real 'gem' of the league.
The games also lack intensity- look good when the games pedestrian but at full intensity some players lack speed of thought, skill, ability under pressure etc etc.
 
Anyone remember we had a player called Stéphane Pounewatchy on trial, turns out Ronnie Whelan didn't sign him due to his lack of fitness and love of food (over indulgence).

Carlisle signed him and was their player of the season...
 
We've had loads on trial - David Roche, Nile Ranger, Michael Timlin...
Ranger yes..Timlin was a loanee from Fulham. Don’t think he trialled- might have been training with us before the loan was announced.

Barks was playing pre-season games for us as a “triallist” but the deal was already agreed. As said in original post sometimes players are with training or trialling but actually the deal is done but there is a reason to delay announcement or actually sign until a certain time (normally contractual/financial)
 

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