If Francis Had Been a Villa Player...

[darren woolley]

I couldn't imagine him in Villa colours perish the thought.

[E I Adio]

He was an extraordinarily naturally gifted player when he first burst into SHA's team when he was 16 or 17. As my Bluenose mate was apt to say, they tried hard to coach his natural ability out of him.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Terrific player who I resent not because he played for SHA, not because he always seemed to score against us, but because I saw him as the primary reason Brian got that derisory half a cap. Given that Keegan would always get picked, the other striker place went to Francis, and inexcusably Mariner or Pearson. Travesty.

Hang your heads in shame Revie and Greenwood.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I couldn't imagine him in Villa colours perish the thought.

Far too ugly.

[saunders_heroes]

What a horrible thought, and an even horrible thread.

[TheSandman]

It would not be so unthinkable had history proved different and Francis came through at the Villa and went on to play for us.

If he had a long period playing for us I'd say just about every reason for him to be so hated would be melted away.

[Damo70]

He only really stood out in a poor Blues side. His strike record with England was about one in four games, he had a couple of years at Forest and then the rest of his peak years were at Sampdoria with moderate success. I would say he was a very good player but I think only Bluenoses would use the word great. It would be interesting to see where Forest fans would put him in their list of greats.

[eastie]

I remember him scoring a hat trick for qpr at villa park and taking the ball in the air under control before volleying into the top corner - even a fair few villa fans around me actually applauded that goal.

[Brend'Watkins]

Had Francis signed for us instead of our friends Brian Little might not have become the player we loved and we would have had to think up another chant for any stray dog who randomly walked on the pitch.

Come to think of it, it's a long time since we've seen a dog (the canine variety)walk on the pitch.

[Larry Duff]

I'm intrigued Dave. Are you saying that TF was on Villa's books or am I getting the wrong end of the stick.

Although it pains me to say it. If he had played for us I am sure that Villa fans would have held him in the same regard as Blues fans do and he would be regarded by many as our greatest player of the last half century. 

[dave.woodhall]

I'm intrigued Dave. Are you saying that TF was on Villa's books or am I getting the wrong end of the stick.

Although it pains me to say it. If he had played for us I am sure that Villa fans would have held him in the same regard as Blues fans do and he would be regarded by many as our greatest player of the last half century. 

I said their greatest. I didn't say it was Francis.

[Larry Duff]

It wasn't Geoff Vowden was it?

[dave.woodhall]

It wasn't Geoff Vowden was it?

I said "turned him down." I didn't say "took him off their hands."

[gervilla]

I'm intrigued so i googled Birmingham City's greatest players and the second link on the list is http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2025420.ece.

[Stu]

What always confuses them is when you say "We let your best-ever player go."

Brian Little? I think he failed the medical there though...