Trevor FRANCIS | 1979-1980 | PES Stats Database (Golden Era Backup)

FRANCIS PES STATS | 1979-1980

Brezza Name: Trevor John Francis Trevor FRANCIS | 1979-1980 Club: Nottingham Forest Number: Position: *CF, SS, WG Nationality: English Foot: R Side: R Length: 177 Weight: 74 Attack: 86 Defence: 50 Balance: 78 Stamina: 88 Top Speed: 88 Acceleration: 90 Response: 86 Agility: 84 Dribble Accuracy: 86 Dribble Speed: 88 Short Pass Accuracy: 78 Short Pass Speed: 78 Long Pass Acc: 83 Long Pass Speed: 80 Shot Accuracy: 85 Shot Power: 84 Shot Technique: 84 Free Kick Accuracy: 73 Curling: 78 Header: 84 Jump: 85 Technique: 87 Aggression: 88 Mentality: 85 Keeper Skills: 50 Team Work: 82 Injury Tolerance: B Condition/Fitness: 6 Weak Foot Accuracy: 5 Weak Foot frequency: 5 Consistency: 6 Special *Dribbling *Reaction *Positioning *Scoring Trevor Francis, is a former footballer who won 52 caps for England. He was England's first £1 million player. England manager Fabio Capello labelled Francis as the best English player to have ever played in Serie A. Nottingham Forest, the reigning League champions and League Cup holders managed by Brian Clough, put in a bid for Francis which totalled just over £1 million. No player had ever been sold between English clubs for a seven-figure fee before (the erstwhile record was less than half), and the deal was sealed, with Francis famously being introduced to the media by a manager impatient to play squash - Clough was in his white gym kit and carrying a racquet as he addressed the press conference. While recognised as the first million pound player,[1] the actual transfer fee for the player was £999,999 - £1 short of the million mark as Brian Clough wanted to ensure this milestone mark did not go to the player's head, although with taxes the total fee exceeded £1.1m.[2] Nottingham Forest retained the League Cup shortly afterwards (though Francis was ineligible), and made progress in the European Cup to the extent that they reached the semi-finals, at which point Francis was permitted by registration rules to take part. They won their semi-final, and in May 1979 Forest took on Swedish side Malmö in the final in Munich, and a major instalment of the huge investment money was repaid just before half time. The ball was spread to Forest's lugubrious but skilful winger John Robertson wide on the left and he took on two defenders at once to reach the byline and curl an awkward, outswinging cross towards the far post. Francis had already begun to sprint into position, but even he had to increase his pace to reach the cross as it dropped, and ended up throwing himself low at the ball. He connected with his head and the ball diverted powerfully into the roof of the net. Forest won the match 1-0 and footage of the goal was used in the opening titles to Match of the Day for some years afterwards. A giant picture of Francis stooping to head the ball remains on display in the main entrance and reception area of Forest's stadium. Even though the season ended there, Francis duly headed back to Detroit for another summer playing in the NASL where once again he was named to the first XI alongside Johan Cruyff (LA) and Giorgio Chinaglia (NY) despite playing only half the season. In his brief NASL career Francis scored 36 goals in 33 regular season matches and had 18 assists, placing him one spot ahead of Pele on the all time scoring list, despite playing 23 fewer games. Francis arguably did not achieve his full potential as a Forest player. This may partly be due to Clough frequently playing Francis on the right wing, rather than in his preferred position as a central attacker. He was in the side which lost the League Cup final to Wolves in 1980 but missed the European Cup final against Hamburg SV due to an injury to his Achilles tendon. Somehow the success of his Forest career never quite reflected his huge fee, he scored only 14 league goals in the 1979-80 season and six in the eighteen games that he played for Forest in the next. Although still a regular for England (his Achilles injury prevented him being in the squad for the 1980 European Championships), his scoring record in club football was not spectacular. _________________ Alan Hansen wrote: How come Liverpool games are on last at the moment? Gary Lineker wrote: Midtable clashes aren't as exciting Trevor FRANCIS | 1979-1980 | PES Stats Database (Golden Era Backup)