Simon Francis

[Scottish_Shrimpers]

absolute lazy c*** so far this season... was one of our better players last season particulary at the end but what a joke he is so far this season..

dont get me wrong hes great going forward and does add something to th team in a attack... but defending!!!....

he strolls and walks about to get into a position

he doesnt mark his man

he never looks round to see where the danger is just ball watches the whole time

blames others for his mistakes!!

just whole attitude stinks when having to do a defensive duty but when we get the ball and go on the attack hes sprinting away to get upfront.. he would make good right winger but as for right back get him dropped and replaced by someone else who wants to play until he shows he wants to play! because at the moment he knows his position is pretty much safe because of the lack of competition and so simply doesnt care!

or am i the only one that has this opinion...

 

[ozzy-shrimper]

I do believe it is the way he plays mate. When I worked at Boots And Laces last summer we were helping him get back into fitness and he worked very hard, absolutely nackered after this regime we helped him through. After he had a kick around with some sprinting and he still looked to play calm and not rush anything. Not lazy, just his playing style.

 

[JoshC]

I do believe it is the way he plays mate. When I worked at Boots And Laces last summer we were helping him get back into fitness and he worked very hard, absolutely nackered after this regime we helped him through. After he had a kick around with some sprinting and he still looked to play calm and not rush anything. Not lazy, just his playing style.

He gives up far too easily when he is beaten, it may be they way he plays but it is still lazy and wrong. I think he should be playing right midfield.

 

[SaLsSuFc]

absolute lazy c*** so far this season... was one of our better players last season particulary at the end but what a joke he is so far this season..

dont get me wrong hes great going forward and does add something to th team in a attack... but defending!!!....

he strolls and walks about to get into a position

he doesnt mark his man

he never looks round to see where the danger is just ball watches the whole time

blames others for his mistakes!!

just whole attitude stinks when having to do a defensive duty but when we get the ball and go on the attack hes sprinting away to get upfront.. he would make good right winger but as for right back get him dropped and replaced by someone else who wants to play until he shows he wants to play! because at the moment he knows his position is pretty much safe because of the lack of competition and so simply doesnt care!

or am i the only one that has this opinion...

Totally agree!
I have said this from last season as well, if he doesn't have the ball at his feet he can't be bothered. He is a good player when he can be bothered which is not often. He needs to change his attitude big time!! :thumbdown:

 

[mattytheshrimper]

he's one of those players that could just be so damn good but looks like sometimes he doesn't really want to. to tiring.

 

[maninasuitcase]

Good job we've got Hunt to act as back....oops.

 

[Scottish_Shrimpers]

never thought i would say it.. but bring back Hunt! least francis would have some competition and could help pull his finger out and get his attitude sorted!

 

[Andy_S]

Pick of the back 4 tonight so yeah lets single him out for a rant.

 

[duncan bulgaria]

He'sobviously a good footballer but he is not a good defender , as said, with the ball at his feet and going forward he is dynamite at times but on the back foot and positioning really needs to be worked on . Also he strikes me as a big confidence player and at the moment he is on empty.

 

[ozzy-shrimper]

never thought i would say it.. but bring back Hunt! least francis would have some competition and could help pull his finger out and get his attitude sorted!

Agreed, good idea

 

[Scottish_Shrimpers]

Pick of the back 4 tonight so yeah lets single him out for a rant.

im talking about the whole season so far.. not just tonight... and i certainly wouldnt call him the pick of the back 4 tonight either!

 

[Chaz SUFC]

It's annoying as he has so much ability yet he is our laziest player!

 

[shrimpled]

He'sobviously a good footballer but he is not a good defender , as said, with the ball at his feet and going forward he is dynamite at times but on the back foot and positioning really needs to be worked on . Also he strikes me as a big confidence player and at the moment he is on empty.

I disagree with the point about him not being a good defender. I think he can be a fantastic defender and is more than capable in this division. But i agree on the confidence thing. He really doesn't look like he has any at the moment, he cut a frustrated figure all evening. i believe him to be the most gifted member of our squad technically but at the moment something isn't there. He'll come good again, and to be honest he's not the only one in a poor run of form.

 

[Tilly N Brush]

he is also hesitant getting forward at times in my opinion there is to many times ive seen this season and last where he has been happy enough to release the ball to a midfielder then hover on the half way line even when there is yards of space in front of him to run in to , i dont know if im the only one with this view but personally he is not a favourite however i wouldnt drop him as there is no one any better to take his position, emergency loan ? lol

 

[Scottish_Shrimpers]

completely agree.. because end of last season he was easily one of our best players and over the summer i thought even if we dont get mulgrew then at least i know that our right back position we were strong with... and so far to me.. hes been such a dissappointment.. and this is isnt just tonight this has been all pre-season and so far all season... thats 6 competitive matches hes had to get back into playing and performing to the standard we know he can and simply he hasnt!

all players work off confidence, agreed.. and i cant blame him for having a lack of confidence atm because the whole back line looks weak but 1) hes not taking responsibility for his own position or inspiring his team mates and 2) surely at whatever level of confidence your at.. you should be able to do the basic defending of getting in the right position and and marking your man and tracking runners!

 

[sufcalways]

I completely disagree, I feel Francis has been a great player this year, he gets up a lot and if his crossing was to a midfielders standards he would be an amazing player, he is a fast player and i think he has a great touch as well as a perfect short 10m pass

 

[Scottish_Shrimpers]

I completely disagree, I feel Francis has been a great player this year, he gets up a lot and if his crossing was to a midfielders standards he would be an amazing player, he is a fast player and i think he has a great touch as well as a perfect short 10m pass

ok and now what about his defending..?

all you've done is say what i initially posted saying he is good going forward! i aint complaining about is attacking.. its his defending thats the major problem here!

 

[sufcalways]

ok and now what about his defending..?

all you've done is say what i initially posted saying he is good going forward! i aint complaining about is attacking.. its his defending thats the major problem here!

Very true, but I must be missing something because I dont know what to say wrong about Francis even in defence. I havent seen him do anything disastrous or spectacular at that. So why are we singling out Francis?

 

[Scottish_Shrimpers]

Very true, but I must be missing something because I dont know what to say wrong about Francis even in defence. I havent seen him do anything disastrous or spectacular at that. So why are we singling out Francis?

i suppose the reason im singling out francis is because of just pure attitude and disappointment...

the likes of clarke and barrett may not be playing well but they still give 110% passion and commitment... at the moment francis doesnt seem to show and real passion or committment

the likes of sankofa .. well.. he aint great.. hes not bad but hes not anything special and he wont be a first team regular

and as i previously posted.. francis was really good last season and had a lot of potential to be one of the better players this season.. and in my opinion is one of the worse... its the things like the amount of time he gives the opponents winger, the number of crosses that go into our penatly box from the area that francis should be patrolling, its the sometimes horrendous way he leaves his man and/or doesnt match the run of the person hes marking (something i saw at least 3 times in the second half tonight)... yes technical things like passing and dribbling he is good at.. but i'd rather if i was a manager to have my full backs able to defend first before they advance up the field and help support the attack

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Very true, but I must be missing something because I dont know what to say wrong about Francis even in defence. I havent seen him do anything disastrous or spectacular at that. So why are we singling out Francis?

The first goal at Walsall for starters. He's been pretty iffy defensively most season.