Abdi Mssassi

[C C Csiders]

I think the consensus of opinion on here is that Mssassi looks worth being given a deal at the club.

However, I would doubt very much whether he would be given a work permit. The only possible way he would be given one is if he has manged to wangle French citizenship which is sometimes the case for North Africans.

 

[loz]

i'm assuming the club would have checked up on his WP status before offering him a trial? is that just blindly optimistic of me?

 

[DTS]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ July 24 2006,09:08)]I think the consensus of opinion on here is that Mssassi looks worth being given a deal at the club.

However, I would doubt very much whether he would be given a work permit. The only possible way he would be given one is if he has manged to wangle French citizenship which is sometimes the case for North Africans.

If he was played a lot for Morrocco under 21's then i think you will find he can still get a permit.

Tottenham secured one for some bloke who plays for them and he is not a full international either.

I can only assume Tilly must have checked this out before offering him a trial as it would be a bit daft getting a player fit we cant actually use.

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

Am I the only one who doesn't think much of him? A tidy passer, but is a bit laid back for me...

 

[Jam_Man]

Im sure he wouldnt be on trial if there were problems with permits.

From what Ive heard he looked poor against Orient ?

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

He's OK(looked better against Chelmsford than against Orient), but I'm not sure what he offers more than Pettefer who was a settled member of the squad. However I trust Tilly & Brush on these matters.

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

Not been overly impressed by him to be honest, would not get ahead of Maher, Gutts or Smith in my eyes. His passing is okay, likes to be on the ball and has a decent strike on him. Has played a lot of stray passes in the two pre-season's I've seen so far, and stray headers as well.

Overall impression is that his okay, possibly would have taken him in League Two or One, but not quite Championship quality but if Tilson thinks his good enough, then thats good enough for me.

 

[shrimperian]

I cannot see how anyone can say Mssassi looked poor against Orient. He just has so much class on the ball. He from time to time will hit a pass that the intended recipient isnt expecting and it may look like a dud pass. Believe me, I sat at the back of the East on Saturday and fromthere got a good vantage point of his passing. His close control is sublime and if he looks laid back, isnt that what we want, instead of the likes of Wilson and his hot potato passing. Likening him to Pettefer is crazy! Pettefer never passed the ball forward, never looked in control and never had a shot!! I would say the opposite of all three about Mssassi, but then again, it's all about opinions...maybe I just want us to sign someone who is comfortable on the ball. Our current midfield, Guttridge apart, are lacking this one virtue.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Quote[/b] (shrimperian @ July 24 2006,13:42)]...maybe I just want us to sign someone who is comfortable on the ball.  Our current midfield, Guttridge apart, are lacking this one virtue.

I would have said that both Maher and Gower are more comfortable in possession than Guttridge.

Mssassi, from what I saw, has what a majority of foreign imports have and that's a better technique than British players. Whether he can show that sort of ability on the ball under heavy pressure in the way that Maher can will be the real test and we won't know until the season starts how he'll cope there. I say give him a monthly rolling contract until you can see him properly tested.

 

[Andy_S]

Quote[/b] (sufcintheprem @ July 24 2006,14:34)]Whether he can show that sort of ability on the ball under heavy pressure in the way that Maher can will be the real test

He's seemed alright so far. He got put under a fair bit of pressure at Chelmsford and continually picked out a good ball. He wasn't afraid to get stuck in either and what I really like about him, other than his quality with the ball, is the fact that he never stops running and always seems to be there to mop up. A very useful talent to have in a player.

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

Orient's the only friendly I've been to so far and although he didn't do a lot in the short time he was on, I do recall one world class long ball across the pitch to JCR. I'm not convinced we should give him a contract though. He can play well against Great Wakering and Chelmsford but what about the likes or Birmingham and Sunderland? I'd like to see him again against Pompey maybe that'll change my mind.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Quote[/b] (Andy_S @ July 24 2006,19:18)]

Quote[/b] (sufcintheprem @ July 24 2006,14:34)]Whether he can show that sort of ability on the ball under heavy pressure in the way that Maher can will be the real test

He's seemed alright so far. He got put under a fair bit of pressure at Chelmsford and continually picked out a good ball. He wasn't afraid to get stuck in either and what I really like about him, other than his quality with the ball, is the fact that he never stops running and always seems to be there to mop up. A very useful talent to have in a player.

It's funny cos I would say in that game he had it really easy. We ran their midfield ragged in the first half and I thought they looked tired in the second.

Apart from that, I agree. He does seem to work hard but, as I say, it might be because he's playing for a contract against people who are playing for fitness.

 

[andrew_sthnd]

Quote[/b] (Andy_S @ July 24 2006,19:18)]always seems to be there to mop up

I also noticed that against orient. Whenever we looked poor at the back or the midfield wasn't functioning he was there to collect the ball and give others time to find themselves space

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

He is crap, i hope we do not try and sign him, nowhere near good enough to play for us.