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Saturday, 15 August 2020

Does Francis warrant another year at AFCB?

When I saw what relegation meant to Simon Francis I was even more gutted from him than almost anyone else at AFCB. He has been battling with injuries since he had that terrible cruciate ligament break a couple of seasons ago on Boxing Day and he knows very well that time is running out for him to play competitive games.


Simon Francis has the desire to keep going - will Tindall use his services?
Jason has a hard decision to make on whether to keep Francis going for another season. If any of the senior players such as Surman, Francis or Daniels runs out in an AFCB shirt again, I think most of the fans will be very impressed that they want to continue. Francis is the captain though and to lose him now might be a mistake with such a tough campaign ahead. If Bournemouth were still in the Premier League, I don't think Francis would find it so easy to make a case. However, his experience would be helpful in the Championship, even if the number of games he could play might be limited.

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With Nathan Aké leaving the club, there is more room in central defence. Steve Cook and Lloyd Kelly would be hard for Francis to shift, but he could probably battle with Jack Simpson for a place behind Chris Mepham. It is not much for an experienced captain but we know how injuries can mount up and being fourth or fifth choice might be enough for Francis if he makes five or six appearances in a season.

Tindall has similar decisions to make with Andrew Surman who has been a stalwart midfielder for Eddie Howe. Surman will also feel he is down the pecking order a little. That is not quite the same with Charlie Daniels who has been injured, but was the number on left back before his injury. Only time will tell if he is still the player he was before that Man City home game last season when he was last injured.

If Jason Tindall sees how much Francis and Surman want to keep playing for AFCB, I believe he ill give them contracts. If not to say thanks, then because he won't want to bring in three players just to replace them when he will probably already have to look for replacements for Aké, Callum Wilson and Josh King, if they go.

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1 comment:

  1. Gbwoody15 August 2020 at 15:28

    Unfortunately Franno is now far too slow to keep up with nippy wingers and forwards. He is still good in the air, so may useful if he is willing to take a substantial cut in wages (I can’t see anyone else signing an injured 35+ player).

    If he does stay Jason has to avoid shuffling the team around to fit Franno in (as Eddie appeared to last year). Many fans around me noted how Bournemouth’s poor run started when Franno returned last season.

    You can’t claim Franno doesn’t try but age is just against him!

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