Listen to the podcast here

The first podcast of the new season sees Andrew, Steve, Jai and Martin discussing, among other things, the start to the season, the new players, and Paul Sturrock’s beard. There’s also a cautionary tale on watching what you buy from the food stalls at Roots Hall.

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Four on trial at Stevenage

Southend boss Paul Sturrock will assess four trialists during a reserve match at Stevenage tonight.

French midfielders Alexandre Tabillon, 19, and Walid Bouslimani, 21, will both play alongside former Aldershot hitman John Grant, 29, and Cardiff City youngster Nathanial Jarvis, 18.

Both Tabillon and Bouslimani played in the French amateur leagues last season. Grant was released by the shots having scored 47 goals in 127 games.

Jarvis is a highly-rated young forward who top scored for the Bluebirds’ academy side last season.

All four will start at Broadhall Way in the reserve clash that kicks off at 7pm. Reserve team boss Graham Coughlan is fielding a young side which only includes a handful of Blues’ first-team squad.

Southend: Evans, Osifuwa, Coughlan, Prosser, Nesbitt, Ferdinand, Bouzid, Bouslimani, Tabillon, Grant, Jarvis.

Strikers don’t grow on trees – Sturrock

Blues boss Paul Sturrock has urged Southend fans to be patient over the acquision of a new striker.
The 53-year-old hinted in an interview following the Morecambe game that Southend could not compete financially with fellow League Two sides.
And although he is attempting to try and bring in a new forward player, he has admitted that his quest is “difficult”.
Many fans are eager to see a new forward player at the club.
However, it is the defence that has come in for criticism in recent weeks following the 3-2 home defeat against Morecambe and the 2-1 reverse at Northampton.

Sturrock: Striker quest is "difficult"

Mohsni signs new deal

Exciting centre back Bilel Mohsni has signed an extension to his contract after impressing Paul Sturrock during his short time at Southend.
Sturrock plucked Mohsni from total obscurity in the French amateur leagues from a club called Saint-Genavieve, but the French-Tunisian, 23, has put in a number of excellent performances in the heart of the Southend defence and is showing signs of becoming a cult hero amongst the fans.
His contract will now expire in June 2012.

Timlin joins on loan

Midfielder Michael Timlin has joined Southend on a month’s loan from League One Swindon.
Paul Sturrock moved swiftly to snap up the former Fulham player following an injury to skipper Craig Easton.
Easton suffered a calf injury during Saturday’s defeat to Northampton Town and looks likely to be out until mid-October.

Podcast due for release on Friday

The latest edition of the All At Sea podcast will hopefully be available to download from Friday evening.
Andrew Roach is joined by guests Jamie Forsyth, Steve Dadds and Martin Cass to give their thoughts on the new-look Southend side and Paul Sturrock’s little beard.