Apologies if we're all bored with this debate by now, but I think it's one worth having. My question is simply, who should be first choice right back this season? Francis - the fall guy for many of the failures last term, associated with the worst days of the Parkinson era, sometimes without justification, sometimes very much so. His passing is poor and he can be caught out of position (Mckail-Smith's consolation for Peterborough at The Valley for example). He can look cumbersome and slow, but showed glimpses of quality, and his crossing is for my money better than Solly's. Surely there is more to come from him (or to put it another way, surely he can't be as bad as last season?) Solly - viewed much more positively for being 'one of ours', his lack of height is potentially his great weakness, but he looks able to make up for it with one hell of a spring. This may no longer be relevant if Green signs and Waggy is dropped, but he and Solly have a better understanding down the right than Francis provides. Solly's crossing, however, often leaves a lot to be desired, and it can seem (harsh though it probably is) that he is a little boy playing with an oversized football. His enthusiasm and commitment cannot be doubted, unlike Francis. That is, I hope, a vaguely balanced view of the two of them. Would be interesting to know what your views are.
My opinion is that neither of them are good enough. Would love frazer back if he isn't playing at saints.
Solly every time for me, Captain B - just wish he'd put on a few pounds to make himself a more imposing physical presence. Don't really want to comment on Francis. Did enough of that last season.
I think that Francis is definitely the more experienced league player. I know a Southend Fan, who rated him highly, and it's a shame that he's not been able to perform for us. The problem with last season was that the team we had was just slapped together at the last minute and nowhere as good as our previous teams. Given the problems, the team was still able to win games. Given more competent midfield (I HOPE) this season, I hope to see him become a better defender, and get stuck into the game more often (given that we might have some more competent CBs). Think that players like Francis, McCormack and Benson, irrespective of how poor they played last season, should be judged on the performance of this season. They've integrated into the team, and they know what is expected of them.
I would seriously consider Francis as a centre back, alongside Dailly - if he stays! He is tall, strong and committed and has played there before. He needs to be reigned in, though, because his bombastic charges forward either led to a wonderful cross, but more often with us exposed down the flank. Solly is the better defender and hopefully now his injury woes are behind him. I would rather our own loyal youngster than Frazer Richardson, any day!
The voting's close so far, clearly both have their admirers and detractors. PondersEnd, if we still haven't signed any centre backs before the pre-season friendlies then I would expect Francis to be tried in that role. It's his ability to go to sleep that worries me though - he's never yet filled me with confidence when on the pitch, and it would adversely affect the rest of our defence to have such a liability. TYC - do you think Francis' passing is better than Solly's? I would say the opposite - Solly is more suited to the aggressive, quick-moving passing game Powell wants than Francis, who isn't the most mobile. As others have said, Richardson was better than both of them, but he's not an option sadly.
Francis any day of the week and twice on a Sunday. Solly can't pass or head the ball, he's weak, he's short, his control is terrible. Can tackle a bit. Never gets forward. Francis gets caught out of position every game, but can cross and create, can head the ball & add height to set pieces, does appear to know the aim of the game. I think his weaknesses are easier to correct with a strong centre-back partnership. BUT I'll repeat that Francis gets caught out of position every game, which means unfortunately he's not good enough on last year's evidence, but Solly should be nowhere near a promotion chasing side.
Based on last season - neither !!! hope that Francis can prove me wrong, but would not be surprised if we buy a RB as well
I think Francis just had an off season last year, maybe due to a missed pre-season... Theres signs that he's a real player though his positioning is woeful I'm more than happy to have Solly though, he's very tenacious and strong, has excellrnt throw-ins and is versatile I rate him more than I did Jenkinson
I assume this is a joke Ponders...? Francis imo is simply awful, a poor excuse for a professional footballer... I for one would be like a dog with two dicks if he were to never again pull on the red jersey of the club I love so much...!!
No, Franco, not a joke. It was an opinion based on a player that is signed up to play for our club. I did not say that I rate Francis, because I don't, not by a long way, but he is a Charlton player and will be considered for selection by Chris Powell. Would it hurt to try him out in the middle? He can't be worse than any of the other dross, surely?
Voted Solly, as think he is far better than Francis. Francis is a lower league one defender at best, as last season's final league standing proved. Solly was brilliant in the opening match of last season and was good when he came on against Orient in the away fixture, a real shame he got axed by Parky in place of Francis and then got injured. Don't think he fully excelled when he returned from injury but hopefully after a full pre-season, we'll have a similar player on our hands to the start of last season.
Didn't he come on with about 3 minutes to go vs Orient? Albeit he scored, and credit for that, but hardly a compelling argument!!
Agreed, but that was very early last season. They've obviously seen plenty in training as he has a new contract, so happy to see him develop, but bearing in mind Francis has no pre-season last year I think it's only fair to give him a fresh slate as well... and both suffered from having incompetence in the middle. And I still wouldn't cry if we replaced them!
Sorry Ponders I genuinely thought you were on a wind up... For me it's completely out of the question to even consider playing Francis at Centre Back. After all he is utter cack in his preferred position at Right Back so I see absolutely no reason to believe he'll be any good whatsoever playing elsewhere and out of position...!! Imo Solly is a far better RB. Who at 20 years old can only get better with games and experience. Francis at 26 is supposedly at his peak, which in itself is a frightening thoughtâ¦!!
