What a great career he has had. Club captain of a solid premier league side. Quite ironic what he has gone on to achieve after leaving the madhouse - and Chris Solly will peak at mid table championship.
Nobody would have guessed that a few years ago
That is crazy, Solly's knee situation must be so gutting for him, he could have achieved so much more!
While we are the specialists in long term injury absences, Bournemouth have now lost 2 players (Francis and Lewis Cook) to long term ACL knee injuries in the last couple of months
One of many a player who moved clubs and became a better player, seen him for Bournemouth a few times and he was very good, shame about the injury that could be the end of his playing days, hopefully not for him but more than likely.
Sometimes it starts badly for a player, the crowd gets on his back as a result and it becomes one big vicious circle. The player then has to make a decision as to whether he "sticks or twists" and in the case of Francis he made the right call - or we made it for him.
Years ago it started horrendously for Mike "Flash" Flanagan. It was only when he converted from a left winger to a striker that his true worth was seen but, had that not happened and he moved on, we might never have witnessed one of the greatest partnerships in the history of Charlton Athletic.
Argh, I feel his pain. ACL injuries are a complete bastard. Hope he's able to recover and hopefully have a decent swansong that's almost inevitably down the leagues (actually not inconceivable that it would be with a side like - but not necessarily - us!).
Can he play left back?
Poor bloke, looked totally inconspicuous as it happened just seemed to plant his foot slightly turned out and went down immediately...
I always rated Simon Francis but he wasn't suited to the fairly direct style we were playing at the time. We had very little craft about us, so we saw little of him on the ball. We were a pretty poor team at the time.
Physically he was the real deal and very good in the air for a right-back. His best game for us was away to Spurs and he was one of the few that day, who looked remotely like they could cope at that level.
I always rated Simon Francis but he wasn't suited to the fairly direct style we were playing at the time. We had very little craft about us, so we saw little of him on the ball. We were a pretty poor team at the time.
Physically he was the real deal and very good in the air for a right-back. His best game for us was away to Spurs and he was one of the few that day, who looked remotely like they could cope at that level.
Agreed.
I was at that Spurs game, Keith Peacock's sole game as manager, and in the second half particularly it was men against boys. Waggy and Francis stuck out for me probably because they were the only two in the heap of dross we had playing that day with the pace to at least try to make a challenge.
I always rated Simon Francis but he wasn't suited to the fairly direct style we were playing at the time. We had very little craft about us, so we saw little of him on the ball. We were a pretty poor team at the time.
Physically he was the real deal and very good in the air for a right-back. His best game for us was away to Spurs and he was one of the few that day, who looked remotely like they could cope at that level.
Agreed.
I was at that Spurs game, Keith Peacock's sole game as manager, and in the second half particularly it was men against boys. Waggy and Francis stuck out for me probably because they were the only two in the heap of dross we had playing that day with the pace to at least try to make a challenge.
To be fair any 3rd division side would have struggled that day, especially when Modric came on at half time! And at 3-0 a better result than Powell's side managed the following season at Fulham (4-0)!
I always rated Simon Francis but he wasn't suited to the fairly direct style we were playing at the time. We had very little craft about us, so we saw little of him on the ball. We were a pretty poor team at the time.
Physically he was the real deal and very good in the air for a right-back. His best game for us was away to Spurs and he was one of the few that day, who looked remotely like they could cope at that level.
Agreed.
I was at that Spurs game, Keith Peacock's sole game as manager, and in the second half particularly it was men against boys. Waggy and Francis stuck out for me probably because they were the only two in the heap of dross we had playing that day with the pace to at least try to make a challenge.
To be fair any 3rd division side would have struggled that day, especially when Modric came on at half time! And at 3-0 a better result than Powell's side managed the following season at Fulham (4-0)!
Not arguing with that at all.
The point is that Francis was one of just two that day, in my opinion, that looked capable of better despite being our scapegoat at the time.
I always rated Simon Francis but he wasn't suited to the fairly direct style we were playing at the time. We had very little craft about us, so we saw little of him on the ball. We were a pretty poor team at the time.
Physically he was the real deal and very good in the air for a right-back. His best game for us was away to Spurs and he was one of the few that day, who looked remotely like they could cope at that level.
On top of us being a not exactly brilliant team, I think his confidence was eventually shot to ribbons by a significant number of twats in the toxic crowd who were happy to give him grief all game. I really didn't enjoy going to the Valley back then. The place might be empty now but at least it isn't poisonous any more.
I always thought his physical attributes were better suited to playing centre half. He was too long and not really agile enough to excel at right back as far as I was concerned.
I always rated Simon Francis but he wasn't suited to the fairly direct style we were playing at the time. We had very little craft about us, so we saw little of him on the ball. We were a pretty poor team at the time.
Physically he was the real deal and very good in the air for a right-back. His best game for us was away to Spurs and he was one of the few that day, who looked remotely like they could cope at that level.
On top of us being a not exactly brilliant team, I think his confidence was eventually shot to ribbons by a significant number of twats in the toxic crowd who were happy to give him grief all game. I really didn't enjoy going to the Valley back then. The place might be empty now but at least it isn't poisonous any more.
I always thought his physical attributes were better suited to playing centre half. He was too long and not really agile enough to excel at right back as far as I was concerned.
His confidence was definitely destroyed by the endless stick he got. I never thought he was that bad a player but it seems like a lot of fans had it in for him.
Has had a great career at Bournemouth where he has excelled under a manager who likes to attack. I did predict to his abuses at his last game against Preston for Cafc (he was very poor for 45 minutes ) that he would play at a higher level than Charlton. Personally I feel he's similar to Walker, better as a wing back but Eddie Howe also turned Simon into a CB which I didn't predict.
Comments
Years ago it started horrendously for Mike "Flash" Flanagan. It was only when he converted from a left winger to a striker that his true worth was seen but, had that not happened and he moved on, we might never have witnessed one of the greatest partnerships in the history of Charlton Athletic.
Poor bloke, looked totally inconspicuous as it happened just seemed to plant his foot slightly turned out and went down immediately...
Physically he was the real deal and very good in the air for a right-back. His best game for us was away to Spurs and he was one of the few that day, who looked remotely like they could cope at that level.
I was at that Spurs game, Keith Peacock's sole game as manager, and in the second half particularly it was men against boys. Waggy and Francis stuck out for me probably because they were the only two in the heap of dross we had playing that day with the pace to at least try to make a challenge.
The point is that Francis was one of just two that day, in my opinion, that looked capable of better despite being our scapegoat at the time.
I always thought his physical attributes were better suited to playing centre half. He was too long and not really agile enough to excel at right back as far as I was concerned.
I did predict to his abuses at his last game against Preston for Cafc (he was very poor for 45 minutes ) that he would play at a higher level than Charlton.
Personally I feel he's similar to Walker, better as a wing back but Eddie Howe also turned Simon into a CB which I didn't predict.
Tough at 33 to come back from ACL.