Will this new signing take Southend United to the next level?

Add as preferred source on Google

Phil Brown is often full of surprises and in recent months his surprises of declaring his love for Bolton, touchline bans and dressing room fall outs haven’t always been well received by the Roots Hall faithful, but with the signing of Simon Cox, he’s put a smile back on Southend fans’ faces.

The experienced forward arrives on a free transfer from Reading and will be hoping to put an end to Brown’s striking woes over recent years. Cox endured a frustrating season in and out of the side at the Madjeski, featuring a brief loan spell at Bristol City, and will now return to League One for the first time since he notched 32 goals in 50 games for Swindon Town in the 2008-09 season.

His signing has been a priority for the club this summer, with Noel Hunt released and Jack Payne moving on to Huddersfield, the Shrimpers had only one recognised first team striker in the squad. There was reason to be concerned too, Brown’s most successful forward signing to date is that of David Mooney, signed from Orient on a free last summer, who scored just eight goals last season and failed to endear himself to the club’s fans.

Embed from Getty Images

However, with a record of a goal every two games in League One throughout his career, Cox gives reason to be cheerful for Blues fans.  With a record of a goal or assist in one of every three games in the Championship and with four goals in 28 international appearances, his record, whilst not quite prolific, gives reasons to be looking forward with optimism.

As a player who likes to hold on to the ball, playing short passes to play others in and defending from the front, he is exactly what Brown has been after to fit his style of play for the Essex club. Similar to the backup option of former loanee Tyrone Barnett in terms of style, Cox is strong and capable of winning aerial battles, but not as injury prone as the likes of Noel Hunt was previously during his Roots Hall spell.

There is also hope that Cox will use his experience to help improve the players around him. With Jason Williams seemingly in what will be his last season with an attempt to earn a first team place, and the controversial trial of former Newcastle striker Nile Ranger, such experience will be vital, and is sure to help should Brown be forced to look for cheaper, younger signings or loanees to fill out the squad depth up front.

Cox is the latest in a long line of ‘experienced’ strikers brought in to improve the Shrimper’s front line over the past ten or so years, with few proving successful. The most successful was undoubtedly the first, former Manchester City striker Shaun Goater. Signed in 2005 from Reading, like Cox, Goater was older, 35 at the time, and considering retirement when then boss Steve Tilson convinced him to sign. The Bermudan formed a terrific partnership with young Freddy Eastwood and the pair fired the Blues to the League 1 title at the first time of asking.

Embed from Getty Images

Since then, such signings haven’t been so effective. The following season Tilson tried to replace the then retired Goater with ex-England striker Michael Ricketts. Ricketts signed a two-year deal, but following two substitute appearances, both in 3-0 defeats, he was released in October well overweight. In 2008, former Chelsea striker Paul Furlong  was signed, already aged 40, but made just three appearances before being shipped out to Barnet.

The next two to sign up were returning heroes, in the form of Freddy Eastwood and Lee Barnard, who had both previously become fan favourites before moving on to bigger things. In their second spells, neither enjoyed similar success, amassing 14 goals in 102 appearances between them before being released.

Last summer, hope returned. With the signing of Noel Hunt, fresh from a Championship play-off campaign with Ipswich, the experienced forward role had a new candidate. Hunt impressed early on, with his footballing brain clear for all to see, scoring two in his first five games, but then injuries took their toll. Making just 22 appearances and allegedly one of the club’s highest earners, Hunt was offered a new deal on a pay as you play basis but is now on trial at Portsmouth.

Embed from Getty Images

Cox does not quite fit into the same category as these forwards, he is younger, not quite at the stage of hoping for a final pay day before hitting the golf courses, but there are similarities. An experienced pro, having spent most of his career at a higher level and coming to the club with a big reputation in the footballing world.

Cox’s arrival is the latest in several upgrades by Phil Brown this summer as he slims down his squad in the hope of avoiding a repeat of last season, where a number of dressing room bust-ups led to several young loanees being brought in whilst experienced players were shipped out.

The signing of Walsall right back Jason Demetriou is another signing which provides an improvement on both existing options, John White and Luke O’Neill, but following the loss of the likes of Daniel Bentley, Jack Payne and David Worrall, Brown has a tough job on his hands this season. One thing is for sure, though, if Southend are to repeat their form from the first half of last season which saw them pushing for the playoffs, Simon Cox is bound to play a key role in it.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by namjaideemak.