With Southend United’s year-long transfer embargo seemingly only weeks away from being lifted, I thought now would be a good time to start thinking about where we may look to strengthen.
We have been restricted to a maximum squad size of 16 players for the entirety of the season, and have also been unable to fill our substitutes bench for any fixture so far due to a number of injuries or suspensions. Despite this, we have won an incredible 24 points from our opening 15 matches, and are only not currently making up one of the play-off places in the National League due to being penalised with a 10-point deduction.
When we consider this, I want to point out that wholesale changes are not needed. We have performed very well so far this season with the players that we have, and there are a number of players on non-contract terms who should be rewarded for their loyalty first and foremost. However, a few players will be needed to give us more squad depth in order to compete over the rest of the season.
Non-Contract Players
Currently we have captain Nathan Ralph, Jack Bridge, Jason Demetriou, Brooklyn Kabongolo and goalkeeper David Martin on non-contract terms. Mauro Vilhete is also on a dual-registration with us and Hayes & Yeading United.
The first three in this list were all here last season, and have all shown incredible loyalty to help us out when we needed it the most. These players should be rewarded with new contracts at the earliest opportunity.
Kabongolo has recently signed on non-contract terms, and I expect him to sign a longer-term contract once he is able to. This will provide us with more depth at the heart of the defence.
Vilhete is currently on a dual-registration. In his time here so far he has shown good versatility by playing in a number of positions, particularly in either wing back position. Vilhete possesses speed and directness, and has good 1v1 ability – something we lack a bit of out wide, with the exception of Jack Bridge. If he doesn’t stay beyond the lifting of our transfer embargo, he will need to be replaced as we’d lack depth, particularly on the left side if Bridge were to become unavailable.
Goalkeeper
Our current goalkeeping options are Collin Andeng Ndi, David Martin and Nick Hayes. Andeng Ndi has been injured since mid-September, and was replaced by Martin who was signed on non-contract terms. He picked up an injury and was replaced last weekend away to Woking by Hayes – who has signed on a month’s loan.
Once Hayes’ loan has expired a decision will need to be made as to what is the best way forwards. Hayes has only made one appearance so far, so it’s too early to judge his performances.
It’s been well-documented that we were interested in bringing in an experienced goalkeeper during the Summer. However, Andeng Ndi has made over 30 appearances for us so far despite only turning 20-years-old in August, and has been a part of a solid defence. We have one of the most promising young goalkeepers in the lower leagues, and if another first choice were to be signed, it could slow down his progression. However in terms of current level, I believe there may be better options out there. Whether these would be available or not, I don’t know, but it could be an area of the pitch that we may look to improve in.
Left-Sided Centre Back
One area that I would definitely be looking to add to is on the left side of our back three. Our captain Nathan Ralph is clearly first choice, but is currently unavailable and has had a history of injuries in his time here. Louis Lomas would be the next option there, but he has been injured all season.
Cav Miley and Jason Demetriou have both played there this season out of necessity. Demetriou is doing a fine job there so far, but he doesn’t have the same speed as Ralph to defend counter-attacks, or aerial ability. He is also right-footed as opposed to Ralph who is left-footed, and this presents him with different passing angles, and it isn’t ideal when it comes to overlapping Jack Bridge – who is also right-footed. In fact, Ralph is the only left-footed player in the whole squad who is capable of playing in this position, with the exception of Cav Miley, but he is arguably the best #6 in the National League, so ideally you’d keep him in the middle of the pitch as the deepest midfielder.
I think that the next permanent signing that we make in this area of the pitch has to be the right player who is going to nail down this position as his own in the next few years. If no options are currently available on the market then a loan option may have to do until one presents himself. Either way I think a left-footed centre back should be very high up on our list.
Central Midfielder
From the above squad depth chart, we can see that Cav Miley is our first choice #6, with Noor Husin, Wes Fonguck and Oli Coker as our box-to-box options at #8. Harry Taylor can also play in either of these roles, however I feel that he is far more suited to his current right centre back role, as there’s less reliance put on him when we’re in possession of the ball. Mauro Vilhete and Dan Mooney have also featured as #8’s, although I think Vilhete is more suited to a wing back role for us, and Mooney lacks the physicality to defend in a midfield block, so should only be used there in certain game states.
First of all when we consider the requirements for Miley’s #6 role, it’s clear you need to be able to both regain and retain possession well. Lots of passes will be going through this player from the back three, as Miley operates as a single pivot in our midfield ‘diamond’. This means that the pass from the back three to our #6 is the obvious one, as our other players are usually a bit higher up the pitch, so it’s vital that this player is comfortable on the ball and can play a high volume of passes.
Husin has played there when Miley had to fill in at left centre back. When we consider that Miley featured in every match last season, it makes little sense to go out and purchase another specialist #6 (when the requirements for a #6 and #8 are different), when we already have possibly the best one in the league already, who so far has shown incredible availability. Although Husin isn’t a perfect fit for that role, he’s a good back-up option there.
Slightly further forwards, we have Husin, Fonguck and Coker as our #8 options. If just one of these players is unavailable then our selection is forced, and we’d have to use players out of position if one of these players were to become unavailable as well.
All three of these players have had good seasons so far, particularly Coker who has proven himself to be a legitimate option in this area of the pitch after a breakthrough start to the season. However I would like us to bring in another option here just for more depth. This player would have to be comfortable in and around both boxes, excelling in both ball-winning and progressing play.
Centre Forward
At the top of the pitch we have top-scorer Harry Cardwell in the #9 role. Just behind him as the #10 options we have Callum Powell, Dan Mooney, Jack Wood and Daniel Kanu. Powell has just been ruled out through injury for an extended period, and he has been replaced by Kanu – who has signed on a month’s loan.
Assuming Kanu’s loan is extended until at least January, we actually have good depth in this area of the pitch. If a situation arises where we are without both Kanu and Powell, then someone will have to be brought in, but three or four options at #10 is good.
Finally at #9, Cardwell is obviously our first choice option. He has scored 11 goals in our first 15 matches, gives us a target to aim for from crosses due to his height, is useful during both offensive and defensive set-pieces, allows us to play long passes both to him due to his strength, and over opposing defences due to his speed, and he is a relentless presser of the ball when we’re out of possession. Obviously as you go up the leagues you will always find better players, but Cardwell has the perfect profile to play as a #9 in our system.
Nevertheless, he is the only option we have in that area of the pitch. Kanu could probably play there, but he is a different profile so it will change our style of play slightly. In my opinion we need someone as similar to Cardwell as possible in terms of profiles – not just goals.
Shrimper Stats 
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