Gerry Francis and Darren Anderton

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Myths and rumour more fun than the facts and truth. Mind you only Anderton really knows the truth of his injuries, but he certainly was loyal to Spurs and stayed when others ( Teddy ) fucked off.

I thought that we were generally always better with him in the team than not, and I was sorry to see him go.

Looking at his stats there was a 3 year period where he struggled badly with injuries and the 95-96 was especially bad, but by 98-99 season the worst of the injuries were behind him and he played 32 out of 38 that season. As an average he played 30 games a season across 12 years. That is not bad at all.

there is a Spurs Show live podcast you can download which has an excellent interview with Anderton. I think hearing what he has to say is a must if you question his desire to be a Spurs player. The David Howells episode is good too and worth a download.

Gerry Francis should never have been Spurs manager. Always worried about everyone else, never seemed to set up a team to dominate games, lots of passive play.
 
DSanditon

DSanditon

I was thinking back to Tottenham's past managers and I looked up Gerry Francis online.
On Wikipedia (admittedly, not always a 100% reliable site) it said that:

'Francis became resented by the fans over his handling of star player Darren Anderton. It has been argued that Francis is largely responsible for Anderton's recurring injuries, placing him in the team without sufficient time to recover'

Is this true? Because I don't remember this being an issue with the fans.

I never had much time for Anderton, anyway. He only seemed to get his arse off the treatment table when an international tournament was looming.
He made 8 league appearances in 95/96, yet played every game for England in Euro '96...

He made 15 league appearances in 97/98, yet played every game for France in Euro '98...

I thought he was a talented player who just took the piss.
 
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Not a fan of sick note, TBH, but then again didn't see enough of him to really make an opinion!
(Sorry being facetious, I was near enough an ever present round that time). The only thing that immediately comes to mind is the goal he scored against Leeds in the cup (and that was when GG was in charge).
 
I liked Sicknote just for his technical ability and the fact that he was total "Spursy". Moments of uncelebrated genius followed by a fortnight on the recovery table.
[Edit because I like the joke]: An unhappy Darren Anderton walks into a pub.
Landlord: Why the long face.?
Top player imho
 
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Roy Keane (13 years) average games a season = 25
Darren Anderton (12 years) average games a season= 25

Anderton left spurs 32 / Keane left Man U 33 --- only one is remembered a sick note.
 
DSanditon said:
Perhaps.
But that still doesn't explain why Anderton's injury record was still bad before Francis arrived and after Francis left.
Nor does it explain how Anderton managed to make miraculous recoveries immediately before Euro '96 and France '98.
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A bit wrong to have a go at the guy, was a great player for us and aside from the injuries, always showed up and brightened up some pretty awful displays during that period of Francis/Gross. 364 appearances not too shabby either and could have gone to Man United and Liverpool but turned them down.

All players want to play, being injured and out of the team must be pretty depressing for a player.

Should have had a testimonial.
 
DSanditon said:
I was thinking back to Tottenham's past managers and I looked up Gerry Francis online.
On Wikipedia (admittedly, not always a 100% reliable site) it said that:

'Francis became resented by the fans over his handling of star player Darren Anderton. It has been argued that Francis is largely responsible for Anderton's recurring injuries, placing him in the team without sufficient time to recover'

Is this true? Because I don't remember this being an issue with the fans.

I never had much time for Anderton, anyway. He only seemed to get his arse off the treatment when an international tournament was looming.
He made 8 league appearances in 95/96, yet played every game for England in Euro '96...

He made 15 league appearances in 97/98, yet played every game for France in Euro '98...

I thought he was a talented player who just took the piss.
Click to expand...
I have read his autobiography and from what I recall there is no resentment or blame towards Francis.
I think gross forced him to play while injured and the injury got alot worse. But he lays the blame with misdiagnosis. I think he had issues with Alasdair beattie I think but i ain't 100% on that
 
Ahhhh Gerry Francis the man who could never quite make full eye contact with a TV camera, would look absolutely everywhere but at it. As for Anderton, had all the ability in the world but no heart.
 
Matt1882 said:
Keane missed a huge chunk of games due to a knee injury as a result of that Alfe Inge Haaland tackle didnt he?
And suspensions.
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Tottenham Sean said:
Now that surprises me
Click to expand...

He was injured in the 9th game of the 97/98 season and missed the rest of it. This was the start of the Haaland grudge that, 4 years later, resulted in Keane smashing him badly.

Keane's United appearances each year

93/94 - 54
94/95 - 37
95/96 - 39
96/97 - 33
97/98 - 11
98/99 - 55
99/00 - 45
00/01 - 44
01/02 - 43
02/03 - 32
03/04 - 43

Take out the 97/98 season and his average is MUCH higher
 
Kid Chameleon said:
Francis had a lot of injury problems during his time with us and shortly after he left there was something in the paper about Gross claiming Francis created his injury crisis by overdoing it with the fitness training. At least, that's how I remember it.

We haven't had injury problems of that magnitude either before or after Francis so draw your own conclusions.
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Perhaps.
But that still doesn't explain why Anderton's injury record was still bad before Francis arrived and after Francis left.
Nor does it explain how Anderton managed to make miraculous recoveries immediately before Euro '96 and France '98.
 
Aside from the Leeds goal, I recall the Paxton giving him abuse when the rumours were that despite being injured, he had turned down an improved contract due to interest from Man Utd....still recall shaggy making a ssshhh gesture .......as he sat on the bench, injured!
 
He was very good player, talented and technical. He spent most of his career by the treatment table, no body to blame for if I remember correctly, he was just fragile.
 
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