Keeper Dan Bentley has signed on the dotted line for Brentford and a four-year deal.
So what have Bees invested in?
This lot for starters...
and...
Bring on the penalty shoot-outs
Bentley has a great reputation for stopping a spot-kicks at sudden death - three times so far and counting.
The most famous was the Wembley save from Wycombe’s Sam Wood that sent Southend to League One just over 12 months ago.
But he also made sure the Shrimpers progressed in the FA Cup on a freezing December night in 2012, when he saved two Bury sudden-death efforts.
He was brought on in the 90th minute to replace former Brentford keeper Paul Smith in a Football League Trophy southern area semi-final against Oxford United in 2012 - just for that reason.
Smith was spitting blood because he had done nothing wrong. But Blues boss Paul Sturrock knew Bentley’s growing reputation for stopping penalties.
It worked. Bentley stopped one - and Southend won.
He’s no fancy Dan
Bentley has been spotted more than a few times pushing a trolley around his local Asda and Co-Op back home in Wickford, Essex. He stops for autographs and pictures at all times - note below.
Southend fans are gutted - but none are bad mouthing him
Such is the reputation he’s built up, Bentley goes to Griffin Park with all the best wishes of Southend fans. One assumes Jake Bidwell can only watch and grieve.
So why didn’t Bentley go to QPR last season for £1.25m?
He’s that good, Southend gambled Bees new keeper might be a major reason they would survive in League One after promotion.
The only reason Bentley would be allowed to leave 12 months ago, went the Roots Hall reasoning, was for a big fee.
Rangers weren’t prepared to pay that much, and in any case, the Essex club get a compensation fee for a player under 24.
Rs signed Wycombe's Matt Ingram instead.
Any weaknesses?
Southend fans point to Bentley’s diffidence with crosses on occasions, but as a shot stopper, he’s the finished article.
He’s also quick to close down one-on-ones and at 6ft 4ins he has a terrific arm reach.
