Embargo lifted, shackles off. Can Southend United compete again?

Well, yes.

You might be thinking I am getting a bit ahead of myself, after all the Shrimpers still occupy the 24th spot in the league table.

But if we turn to the form table (I so much prefer viewing this one at the moment), the blues have picked up 10 points from a last possible 18 and Mark Molesley’s side are now undefeated in three matches.

So yes, still bottom of the league, but breathing down the necks of Stevenage, Barrow, Bradford, Grimsby and Mansfield, all who are now within touching distance.

There is an alien feeling around the fanbase. Hope. The state of the club in recent years has left it entirely devoid from any real positive emotion, and this season was very much heading that way too.

Until the player registration/transfer/maximum 23 players embargo or whatever you want to call it finally got cleared, in my opinion what should be the turning point in the Shrimpers’ season.

Us fans knew it was crucial, to have Simeon Akinola playing when we desperately need a front man, and Sam Hart on the pitch when we were crying out for a bit of quality. Two good signings and two signings that can finally step foot on the pitch.

What we have seen since is what every blues fan was hoping for exactly. Building on the increasingly resilient performances under Molesley but with the extra bit of quality to ‘nick’ a game.

That was very much the case against Scunthorpe, the extra experience on the pitch kept blues in the game and James Olayinka had the moment of quality to win it at the death. Suddenly Southend are three points closer to the pack and have another very winnable fixture against Grimsby three days later.

Such game showed even more promise as it was the strength in numbers of the squad that pulled the team through to another three points. Squad depth is not something the Shrimpers have been able to boast up until now, but with the embargo lifted, immediately there are more options. Better late than never Ron Martin.

This leads me to a quick tangent but a very much deserved one for Alan McCormack, who has been instrumental to this mini spike in form. He is a Championship player on 36-year-old legs. In truth, he is the type of player Southend have needed for years, he absolutely controls the middle of the park.

The squad is very likable, there is certainly no lack of desire amongst the players. Molesley now has all his options to call upon and he himself is a young manager who, before coming to Southend had winning in his DNA.

I am not going to claim some miraculous turnaround (although I may have taken advantage of some good odds for Blues to finish in the top seven.) There is so much work still to be done.

But Southend can compete again, and that is all that us fans were asking for.

words Leon Imber, D3D4 Southend writer