Adam Chicksen Incoming?

[Sid Bishop]

Hope not. Very minor upgrade on Widdowson who is barely adequate.

I disagree about Widdowson. He's a good LB and I think we've really missed him.

I would respectfully suggest that you are easily pleased. Widdowson is spectacularly limited and occasionally a liability due to his tendency to allow opposition players to run off his inside shoulder. He’s one of a number of last year’s title winners who should be plying his trade in non-league again come the end of his contract (cf. Clay, Coulson, Ling, Judd, Harrold, Gorman, Alabi, Dayton and Brill [before he retired]).

Completely agree with your summing up of Widdowson especially this observation e.g ''Widdowson is spectacularly limited and occasionally a liability due to his tendency to allow opposition players to run off his inside shoulder.'' Also very poor at crossing the ball on the rare occasions that he does manage to get near the opposition penalty box, often cannot seem to lift the ball so usually it is an shin high cross, but mostly when in the opposition half, he just does a negative pass inside either sideways or back to a central defender. A player who is ultra defensive minded.

[RedDwarf 1881]

So is Chicksen any better ? I wasn't that impressed with him the last time we had him

[Lucky7]

Last time he was here was under the Italian clowns tenure does that count?

Played 3 games in 2012
Played 6 games in 2016

[redintheface]

Hope not. Very minor upgrade on Widdowson who is barely adequate.

Agree on both counts.

[Thor]

Joe never gets skinned and only a few goals come down his side. Compare that to a certain individual on the right and you'll see a massive difference.

In my opinion Joe is a solid left back at our level. He is not a wing back, so why ask him to do it? Him defending solidly with Brophy running riot in front of him and we have a decent balance there. And this season surely people can see his forward play has improved as well.

[RedDwarf 1881]

Last time he was here was under the Italian clowns tenure does that count?

Played 3 games in 2012
Played 6 games in 2016

Point taken .I don't think any player played well during the circus era except maybe for Coxy , Buardy and Simpson .

[eagwgw]

Obviously some edited highlights here:


Can you imagine Widdowson or Ling doing similar? At least it looks like he has the engine to get up and down the line and some ability to beat a man. Both of our other full-backs look pedestrian compared to this.

He wouldn't have been a great signing in the past but then we are a much worse side now. He would improve us straightaway I feel and we may get away with a 6 month deal, and also allow Brophy back to his natural position (where he hasn't had much of a chance).

[Luckybay1969]

Looks ok solid enough - agree would improve squad and would be satisfied if true and give Widdowson competition with Brophy playing left wing..(wasted at LB) in my opinion.,

[Luckybay1969]

Looks ok solid enough - agree would improve squad and would be satisfied if true and give Widdowson competition with Brophy playing left wing..(wasted at LB) in my opinion.

[Sid Bishop]

Obviously some edited highlights here:


Can you imagine Widdowson or Ling doing similar? At least it looks like he has the engine to get up and down the line and some ability to beat a man. Both of our other full-backs look pedestrian compared to this.

He wouldn't have been a great signing in the past but then we are a much worse side now. He would improve us straightaway I feel and we may get away with a 6 month deal, and also allow Brophy back to his natural position (where he hasn't had much of a chance).

You have to realize that in these type of videos highlighting players skills, they always show the best moments !! Of course if Chicksen played 90 minutes consistently to the standard shown in this video, he would be worth a lot of money ! As it is, this video shows that when match fit and in best form, he is capable of going down the line beating his marker and putting in good crosses with both feet. Also good at defending, but be aware, this video is showing his very best games ! Even James Alabi would look great if you showed his best moments from flashbacks to his time at Chester ( 4 goals in one match ! ) and also some of his best games here for the Os, e.g for just one example, scoring after a solo run from the halfway line when we beat Grimsby Town 4-0 in October 2019. James had come on as a sub in the second half.