Last week Simon Francis celebrated his 33rd birthday and Eddie Howe was pleased to highlight the key role that the defender has had in shaping wins for the team since joining the club in AFCB's league One days. Then it was season after season that Francis was rightly made the fans' choice for player of the season, but it hasn't been as easy for him in the team this season.
Many will be saying that Francis is not the player he was and it's true that he can't make those amazing right wing runs from right back and has had to be adaptable to play more as a central defender. But he will know he has made mistakes and will want to play better not only to play the captain's role, but just to prove he has the same desire he has always had to lead the side to wins. It was a stunning stat I heard that AFCB have not won a Premier League game without Francis in the team, and it kind of knocks those who point the finger at Francis for some of the defeats. I can't explain the stat as the team should be capable of winning games without their captain, but it does make you think that what will happen when the time comes when Francis is not able to force his way into the team?
It was a transition for the team when Tommy Elphick left the club and when Simon Francis hangs up his boots the change may be more difficult for the squad to get used to. The senior members of the squad are the pillars of a team and with Simon Francis and Andrew Surman entering the later years of there playing careers there will have to be some new blood brought in and Eddie Howe has to decide when that is going to be. It could be as early as this summer, but I don't feel that Francis is ready to stop playing yet and will want a fourth season in the Premier League. Still, he may find it harder to play quite so many games in the future.
The disciplinary record that Francis has had is not so great and he is now just one yellow card away from picking up 10 this season. Whether this is a case of Francis losing a bit of his speed and timing his tackles not as well rather than anything else will be a cause for concern. We know Eddie Howe will be as loyal as he can to his players and will always give Francis a fair crack at keeping his place in the team, but Francis has now got to do all he can to keep his performance levels high as people are going to point towards his age when things don't go well. It's unfair and it's human nature, but just like when payers are viewed as being too young to play, it can be more of a battle to get in the team each week.
Francis has been a player that has been top class for AFCB and he deserves the plaudits for what he has achieved, but he will know himself when he has to slow down and will know what his body can do. I hope that his 34th year gives him even more to smile about.
 |
| Simon Francis has been struggling to find form but Eddie Howe is sure Francis continues to be a valuable member of the squad and a great captain. |
Advertisement
It was a transition for the team when Tommy Elphick left the club and when Simon Francis hangs up his boots the change may be more difficult for the squad to get used to. The senior members of the squad are the pillars of a team and with Simon Francis and Andrew Surman entering the later years of there playing careers there will have to be some new blood brought in and Eddie Howe has to decide when that is going to be. It could be as early as this summer, but I don't feel that Francis is ready to stop playing yet and will want a fourth season in the Premier League. Still, he may find it harder to play quite so many games in the future.
The disciplinary record that Francis has had is not so great and he is now just one yellow card away from picking up 10 this season. Whether this is a case of Francis losing a bit of his speed and timing his tackles not as well rather than anything else will be a cause for concern. We know Eddie Howe will be as loyal as he can to his players and will always give Francis a fair crack at keeping his place in the team, but Francis has now got to do all he can to keep his performance levels high as people are going to point towards his age when things don't go well. It's unfair and it's human nature, but just like when payers are viewed as being too young to play, it can be more of a battle to get in the team each week.
Francis has been a player that has been top class for AFCB and he deserves the plaudits for what he has achieved, but he will know himself when he has to slow down and will know what his body can do. I hope that his 34th year gives him even more to smile about.
No comments:
Post a Comment