What if footman made those AROUND them Faster? that way they would be more useful in like 10 different ways! Firstly having a footman is pointless once you can make them archers/Knights because they run way head of the group take a ton of damage other die or healers have to waste time healing them and not the tank.
If they made others faster you could have them all partoling the town making all units faster WHILE patroling! that way they dont have to be in a huddled group and would actually be better for them to just walk around or defend certain areas so that villagers can escape to safety!
Also having Herbalists Auto using potions would be awesome instead of having to click on them every 5 mins.