Francis - what's up with him?

[South Bank Hank]

Not lloking to disagree again but Lewis Hunt was in my book a decent defender. My main critism of him was his appauling attacking play - something which Francis offers in abundance.

On his day, Francis has the potential to be one of the best players in our squad - way, way beyond Lewis Hunt. Unfortunately, as we've seen, he's not having too many of his days at the moment.

As for Lewis, if I recall correctly, a large reason for him moving on was his inability to set himself up for a regular starting position. It was partly his choice.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I agree that Franno is potentially one of our best, if not our very best player, but he's not showing that because there's no competition for his place. Lewis Hunt does not have the same ability, but he is certainly a decent alternative and was good enough competition for Tilly to pick him ahead of Franno in many games. Once Franno returned, he looked a better player, he obviously needs a kick up the arse at times.

I know Lewis wanted more first team football, but I think the club should have tried harder to keep him.

 

[Skyblue]

Sorry if its been mentioned before,but what about converting Moussa to a full back. He is good on the ball can tackle and would adapt well im sure if he had a few run outs at reserve level first.

 

[South Bank Hank]

I agree that Franno is potentially one of our best, if not our very best player, but he's not showing that because there's no competition for his place. Lewis Hunt does not have the same ability, but he is certainly a decent alternative and was good enough competition for Tilly to pick him ahead of Franno in many games. Once Franno returned, he looked a better player, he obviously needs a kick up the arse at times.

I know Lewis wanted more first team football, but I think the club should have tried harder to keep him.

I agree Rusty, but only in hindsight. I think our mistake was not in releasing Hunt (although, like you, I would have liked us to keep him), but in not bringing in anyone better to put pressure on the players currently wearing the shirts. We knew coming into the season that a shortage of players was going to bite us somewhere and it always looked likely to be in our defence.

Ah well, there's talk of transfer activity/loanees coming in January. Let's hope Franno either finds form or we find someone to take the pressure off.

 

[RobM]

Francis was absolutely shocking tonight. At one point he was skinned twice and nutmegged in less than 20 seconds. And that's from someone who seldom criticises a player.

 

[ozzy-shrimper]

Nothing wrong with Francis, he scored tonight! ;)

 

[Ricey]

Nothing wrong with Francis, he scored tonight! ;)

Only thing he did do!

 

[Blueshrimper]

He's a lazy ****e. Partly Tilly's fault for putting him in such a comfort zone where he has nobody to push him for a first team place.

 

[Ricey]

He's a lazy ****e. Partly Tilly's fault for putting him in such a comfort zone where he has nobody to push him for a first team place.

His style of play comes across as very lazy and laid back anyway even when he is playing well but this season he has been shocking. We really need to give Sankofa a go in his place to hopefully get Francis to buck his ideas up.

 

[dashman]

100th & a goal
Fair enough in my book

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Lewis Hunt was one of the most undervalued players of the Tilson era. I can't believe that even now, having seen how Francis has been playing all season, people can't appreciate what Hunt brought to the side.

 

[Tilly N Brush]

Lewis Hunt was one of the most undervalued players of the Tilson era. I can't believe that even now, having seen how Francis has been playing all season, people can't appreciate what Hunt brought to the side.

i agree with this 100% and although im one of a very few if there is anyone else but there were times last year where francis should have been replaced by hunt and wasnt. problem is dropping francis means bringing in sankofa who is only as good as a poor francis. I think someone urgently needs to be sorted out during the january window for both left and right backs as hardings wages are too high for us and francis is not a fraction of the player he was when he first signed

 

[Irish_Shrimper]

Lewis Hunt was one of the most undervalued players of the Tilson era. I can't believe that even now, having seen how Francis has been playing all season, people can't appreciate what Hunt brought to the side.

Macca said to me last year he thought Hunt was one of the best players at Southend, and couldn't understand all the guff he got from our fans. I do wish we had held on to him - as the lack of competition at the back is worrying.

 

[Scottish_Shrimpers]

Only thing he did do!

only thing hes done all season! and lets face it he was only 4 yards from the goal... he even missed a good chance 5 mins before from similiar distance!

 

[Scottish_Shrimpers]

He's a lazy ****e. Partly Tilly's fault for putting him in such a comfort zone where he has nobody to push him for a first team place.

absolutley spot on! and hes not a team player, clearly doesnt give a rats arse about playing for southend, personally i dont want a player like that in a southend squad! give sankofa a go, he might actually want to play for the shirt!

 

[WESTY_SUFC]

His style of play comes across as very lazy and laid back anyway even when he is playing well but this season he has been shocking. We really need to give Sankofa a go in his place to hopefully get Francis to buck his ideas up.

Sonkofa is nowhere near up to standard. Think Tilson knows this as he only uses him when he really has no other option. Im pretty certain we'll see at least 1 or 2 defenders come in at the transfer window......well i hope

 

[Electric Blues]

Agree Francis is not hitting anything like his top form but wonder if some of this is down to the lack of anybody in front of him making a run. Last night for example he would look up and nobody would be looking for a pass, so he would hesitate/lose concentration whilst he decided wheter or not to lump it upfield aka Clarke or pass it inside. IMHO Francis is a better player when those in front of him make themsleves available for a quickly laid off pass.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Agree Francis is not hitting anything like his top form but wonder if some of this is down to the lack of anybody in front of him making a run. Last night for example he would look up and nobody would be looking for a pass, so he would hesitate/lose concentration whilst he decided wheter or not to lump it upfield aka Clarke or pass it inside. IMHO Francis is a better player when those in front of him make themsleves available for a quickly laid off pass.

Francis has always been prone to the hoof forward. Lewis Hunt use to get slated for his distribution but there's nothing wrong with the square ball to a midfielder.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Francis was great in the second half of last season but so far this season he has been crap, I can't recall seeing him have one good game! I think we need another right back but I can't see it happening because we have too many other positions to fill.

 

[Feathers]

Francis has always been prone to the hoof forward. Lewis Hunt use to get slated for his distribution but there's nothing wrong with the square ball to a midfielder.

I agree and never understood this criticism. Lewis Hunt is a very solid, if somewhat unexciting, defender. He also knows where his strengths lie and rather than go for the 40 yard defence splitting pass would make a simple pass to a midfielder. How often did Lewis Hunt lose possession when playing for us compared to the say more popular Peter Clarke or Simon Francis?