Francis' interview

[OldBlueLady]

His general behaviour, lambasting colleagues at every opportunity, his whining at refs, constantly kicking opponents, his woeful shooting. Would not be a big miss if he went.

What is a disgrace is that you fail to recognise passion and a desire to win. He has an attitude which annoys and irritates some of you, I understand that but to call him a disgrace is simply showing a complete lack of understanding of the words you chose to use.

Furthermore, as far as I am aware, he has not been "stripped" of the vice-captaincy, reasons were given for him being overlooked for the armband which he seems to have accepted.

I find it utterly distasteful the language used by "supporters" in describing some of our players, especially ones that have been wholehearted in their commitment to the club.

 

[pickledseal]

Furthermore, as far as I am aware, he has not been "stripped" of the vice-captaincy, reasons were given for him being overlooked for the armband which he seems to have accepted.

I'd be pretty miffed if I was in his shoes as VC. I know it's not fair to ask you to reveal if you know, but even if various reasons were presented to him, I'd be asking why the hell make me VC in the first place?!

 

[ibwiajwa]

It's a fair point for this season, definitely, but that argument doesn't hold for seasons previous.

Barrett and Clarke were essentially the same player. Fully committed defenders who are neither quick nor aerially dominant whose strengths lie within their ability to read the game and tackling. I never felt at ease with those two together at the back, and Tilson should have addressed this... We leaked goals like crazy with these two.

IMO, we've never looked stronger as we did when Dervite was signed. Obviously, a lot of that is contributed to Dervite's ability, but with Barrett pushed out onto the left hand side we looked considerably less likely to concede.

Barrett does need a commanding CB as a partner to dominate strong, aerial threats that he struggles with. But, at this level, defenders like this are snapped up very quickly, very easily. Look at Michael Nelson... Hartlepool's best defender signed as cover for Norwich.

League Two should, in theory, be a breeze for Barrett. Pacey strikers aren't as prevalent and a lot of the football is played in front of you rather than behind you, and this has always been an area Barrett has excelled in.

I seem to see a different player from you. The Barrett I see IS aerially dominant. He's not tall but he is very, very good in the air at this level and times his headers beautifully. In fact, in the last two games Herd's long throw in was considerably less effective because Barrett wasn't there and M'Voto and Baldwin failed to impose themselves in the box. For me, Barrett's problems are on the floor. He ends up on it too often for a start!

 

[smudgster]

For four consecutive seasons Barrett hasn't had a suitable partner alongside him. This season he hasn't had a permanent partner alongside him at any point. How is he supposed to hold a backline together when he has a new person next to him every other week?

Cant be easy for Mildy either. I think its a big reason why we have struggled at the back. Basically its been Barrett, and a permutation of full backs, midfielders, and loanees playing at the centre of defence with him.

 

[chris3449]

Simon is always totally committed to every team in which he plays. Herd will get better. Simon debuted in the championship at 17. He learnt from coaching and from the experienced professionals with whom he played. Jonny can do this if he gets the chance to learn.
Class is permanent, form is transient.

 

[EastStandBlue]

I seem to see a different player from you. The Barrett I see IS aerially dominant. He's not tall but he is very, very good in the air at this level and times his headers beautifully. In fact, in the last two games Herd's long throw in was considerably less effective because Barrett wasn't there and M'Voto and Baldwin failed to impose themselves in the box. For me, Barrett's problems are on the floor. He ends up on it too often for a start!

That's true, he also has a rather disturbing habit of dragging defenders to the floor in and around the box.

I don't see Barrett as aerially dominant. Efe Sodje was aerially dominant, as was Spinner and to a lesser extent Dervite... Three defenders who partnered Barrett during the spells where we've looked strongest at the back. You knew with these three that the majority of balls into the box would be headed clear of danger before a defender could pounce on them.

Being aerially dominant isn't just about winning headers. It's about imposing yourself on the front line, easing them off the ball, standing your ground and never letting it slip past. Probably the only performance like that I've seen this season was M'voto against Beckford.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

The only reason Macca will leave is if Mayhem closes down!.

 

[BoyWonder2]

Whilst I tend to agree with that, it's also fair enough to say that Adam Barrett is no better than Peter Clarke.

Barrett has shown himself to be an excellent centre half for us. He performed very well alongside the likes of Spencer Prior, Efe Sodje and Andy Edwards. The biggest mistake Tilson made during his time here, in my opinion, was the signing of Peter Clarke.

Having seen the likes of Morrison, Heath, Baldwin and M'Voto lining up alongside Barrett at different stages of this season has shown exactly the type of player we should have signed instead of Clarke. Clarke and Barrett never worked because they are two similiar, yet both have done very well for us when not partnered together. For Barrett and Prior, see Clarke and Dervite.

The £300K spent on Clarke should have been spent on a tall, commanding centre half, not a clone of Adam Barrett.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Barrett has shown himself to be an excellent centre half for us. He performed very well alongside the likes of Spencer Prior, Efe Sodje and Andy Edwards. The biggest mistake Tilson made during his time here, in my opinion, was the signing of Peter Clarke.

Having seen the likes of Morrison, Heath, Baldwin and M'Voto lining up alongside Barrett at different stages of this season has shown exactly the type of player we should have signed instead of Clarke. Clarke and Barrett never worked because they are two similiar, yet both have done very well for us when not partnered together. For Barrett and Prior, see Clarke and Dervite.

The £300K spent on Clarke should have been spent on a tall, commanding centre half, not a clone of Adam Barrett.

Completely agree with that, apart from Barrett being an "excellent centre-half"... Dervite was excellent, Barrett is merely good, however with that you have to bring Tilson and his scout reports into question. Surely it must have crossed their minds that spending the bulk of our transfer budget on a defender must be entered with extreme caution?

Buying Peter Clarke wasn't Tilson's biggest mistake per se, it was more failing to realise that the two wouldn't compliment eachother... Something he has evidently learn from because the players we've brought in since then have complimented what we already have.

 

[Eastblack]

I haven't read all posts, but I was surprised Chairman Ron didnt extend Francis' contract when he opted to stay in Jan.

 

[AdamTheShrimper]

Will ron fork out his wages in league 2? or will he be forced out for the money......

very glass empty stuff, I wish he would stay but Ron keeps banging on about our high wages.

 

[BoyWonder2]

Completely agree with that, apart from Barrett being an "excellent centre-half"... Dervite was excellent, Barrett is merely good, however with that you have to bring Tilson and his scout reports into question. Surely it must have crossed their minds that spending the bulk of our transfer budget on a defender must be entered with extreme caution?

Buying Peter Clarke wasn't Tilson's biggest mistake per se, it was more failing to realise that the two wouldn't compliment eachother... Something he has evidently learn from because the players we've brought in since then have complimented what we already have.

Okay, maybe excellent was a bit much. I meant more, has done excellent for us.

Clarke shouldn't have arrived at the Club to be honest. When you bring in a player to the Club you look for two different things. 1) Will they improve the side? 2) Will they compliment the players already there? Clarke, in my eyes, didn't tick either box. He is a good defender, don't get me wrong, but he was basically the same player as Clarke, and therefore we shouldn't have been spending £300k on him. He couldn't even get into the side at first, and had to be used in midfield.

The whole defensive issue has been massive in recent years. Even when we won back-to-back promotions, our defence was hardly solid. The two remaining factors in that are Barrett and Francis. We have tried the route of bringing a commanding goalkeeper in, and its worked to a certain extent.

What he need is a proper commanding centre half, like Sodje was. Like Prior was. M'Voto looked it before his injury, but has returned a different player, although he is improving.

 

[mattytheshrimper]

i will definitely hold my hands us and say i think Francis along with grant as been our best player in the second half of the season.

first half i think he was terrible but fair play to him he's stuck at him and really done well.

 

[Holy Joe]

I really hope he stays, he's been a good servant to the club and showed committment by rejecting Peterboro in January.

Not sure if it was commitment or that Peterborough couldn't/wouldn't meet his wage demands.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Eastwood aside, Sodje was the best piece of business Tilson made. Cost us a pittance, revitalised our defence.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Okay, Even when we won back-to-back promotions, our defence was hardly solid. .

Have to disagree there. In one of those seasons we only let in 3 goals once throughout the season, a 4-3 win at Chesterfield.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Have to disagree there. In one of those seasons we only let in 3 goals once throughout the season, a 4-3 win at Chesterfield.

But out of 46 league games, kept only 14 clean sheets. Obviously, we'd snatch someones hands off for that now, but it's not the best of records for a title winning side.

 

[BoyWonder2]

Have to disagree there. In one of those seasons we only let in 3 goals once throughout the season, a 4-3 win at Chesterfield.

But we was still letting in ones and twos.

Our defence was strong back then, I wouldn't have said it was solid. Infact the only time I'd have said our defence was solid was with Dervite in there alongside Clarke and Barrett out at left back.

 

[Davros]

Oh yeah also something else not so good, the playoffs aren't at Wembley next season, I forget why, but they aren't!

So damnn!

Automtic it is then :)

Its only the league two and conference play-offs that arent.

I think its because it would only be 2 days b4 the champions league final (which is at Wembley), and they dont want the pitch wrecked, or some tosh like that.

 

[united we stand]

Not everyone will agree but to me Francis is the most important member of the current squad and POTY.

it would be great to let him know this , and not just by voting.

At the same time I have never been for getting on the players backs as I don't think it works, but we are doomed now so letter of some anger at some of them would not be bad idea. Combing the above we get
to the tune of 'lets all have a conga'
'Put some xxxxing effort in, out some xxxing effort in
like Granty and francis,like Granty and francis (change+add names as appropriate)'

or even before Kick off just a simple
'put some xxxing effort in, put some xxxing effort in
na na na na , na na na na .

After all they have now been paid.

sorry- like many still angry at where we find ourselves and trying to channel it somewhere
crap idea ?