Question Francis on his way out?

[Sean 2]

Deputised for the relatively untried Sankofa at full-back.

Or was Tilly saving him for Crewe as he did for Freedman??


I think Ch£lsea were lucky we never played our "1st team" yesterday:cool:

 

[BoyWonder2]

Personally I think Tilly went with Sankofa over Francis as Sankofa appears to be better defensively and doesn't push up often meaning we had our 4 defenders back for the majority of the game.

Another right decision from Tilson that one.

 

[Skyblue]

Would like to see him given longer try out at centre half after all i've read on here about him following the Northampton game .

 

[OldBlueLady]

Centre half will only mean one thing for me now, that is that Clarkey is going.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Couple of weeks ago speculation was rife on here that Huddersfield were going to sign him.

 

[Irate Ian]

Personally I think Tilly went with Sankofa over Francis as Sankofa appears to be better defensively and doesn't push up often meaning we had our 4 defenders back for the majority of the game.

Another right decision from Tilson that one.

Just end the thread now. You have the answer in one.

 

[Sean 2]

If Sankofa was that good,then why has it taken him half a season to displace Francis? I don't buy into all that,i think Franny is on his way as it seemed harsh on the lad yesterday (although probably the correct decision) to leave him out.

 

[BoyWonder2]

If Sankofa was that good,then why has it taken him half a season to displace Francis? I don't buy into all that,i think Franny is on his way as it seemed harsh on the lad yesterday (although probably the correct decision) to leave him out.

I'm not saying Sankofa was or is that good, but he does make us more solid (Along with having Grant in middle and Jeff back) defensively which we obviously needed at Stamford Bridge.

If Francis had bombed forward at any stage during the game and the move broke down and Chelsea attacking down our right hand side, Clarke would have to come across to right back and Barrett and Herd would shift over as well if no-one from Midfield dropped back in the back line. Had a goal come from Francis being out of position that he'd get torn apart on here like he has done recently.

With Sankofa in there he doesn't bomb forward which make us more solid defensively. It was a gamble on Tilson's part, and one of a number he got right on the day.

Also, people have been calling for Francis to be dropped for a long time, then when he does why do people assume his off somewhere?

 

[leeblue]

northampton apart francis has been gash sankofa has earned the right back slot with some decent displays, I will just add that francis looks much better on the ball than sankofa.

 

[Smiley]

Sankofa went forward once or twice against Chelsea and looked nervous, at one point I was inches from screaming "Play it off his f*cking legs for a corner!" about Ashley Cole as he... basically stood on the far touchline (first half), and as he stopped, Cole simply realised he wasn't... going anywhere, pinched the ball and sprinted ten to fifteen yards away down the pitch.

Defensively, however, he's obviously superior to Francis I'd say. At least, this season's Simon Francis.

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Tilly played Sankofa because he is better than Francis

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Tilly just admitted on telly "we set up to not get battered" ... so Sankofa being more naturally defensive was the obvious choice ... it says nothing about Francis' long term future at the club at all imo

 

[haveaguiness]

i think if grant plays then sankofa has to play. Especially against teams with good wingers. Grant tucks in so much and goes missing from his wide right position. Sankofa was left exposed a few time against chelsea 2 on 1 but handled it well. There was a couple of times where he also looked to go forward but then had a look behind him saw kalou standing there and decided against it, showing he obviously cares more about his defensive duty's which for me is far more important.

And i tell ya what, it hasn;t been mentioned much on here that i have seen, but how good was his tackle when drogba was 1 on 1 with mildy, in from behind, won the ball without even touching the man, absolute quality