Most liked posts in thread: Adam Chicksen vs Conor Wood: Statistics

Caddis has Ball. I think they have a great understanding defensively. When we rae under attack down that side Ball is never more than a few yards away. That isn't taking anything away from Caddis by the way

 

All players make mistakes, true. And its a fair point - chicksen would have taken more stick. But..... I think that's mainly because we see quality and consistency from Caddis regularly. A tired and clumsy challenge seems more forgivable on that basis. People are less forgiving of players making mistakes when they happen more often and aren't compensated for by quality in other ways.

 

Chicksen is in the Josh Wright group of in terms of effort put in, bottling challenges left, right and centre. That's why I have a go at him.

As poor as players like Akpan, NKP, O'Connor, Mellor, Miller etc have been, the effort from them all have increased tenfold since Hopkin's arrival.

 

Ball works hard. He's a good player who does put a shift in. But he's not a defensive player. I'd expect any full back to be better protected when they have another full back playing in front of them.

 

That's because Caddis is a much better player than Chicksen. Everyone knows that. Caddis has been head and shoulders our best defender. Possibly even our best player. He's been a revelation. Our defence looked a completely different proposition from the moment he stepped on the pitch away at Posh. The comparison in this thread is between Chicksen and Wood. No one is suggesting that Chicksen is anywhere near the quality of Caddis.

 

You're right, Josh Wright is lazy which is why Hopkin doesn't want him here. Chicksen isn't lazy but as I said his effort when putting in a challenge, for a defender, is appalling. For me, that is as bad as Wright walking around on the pitch doing nothing.

 

Never knew about these. Will have a browse.

 

He put in a number of strong challenges on Saturday.
We'll have to agree to differ. He's far from great, but I don't see the lack of effort that you do. Clearly neither does Hoppy, or he wouldn't be playing.

 

I think we're talking at cross purposes. You said he lacks effort. 'Bottling' challenges is not the same a lack of effort.
Chicksen is very physically lightweight for a pro fullback. I agree that there are times when he doesn't attempt a challenge, I assume because he thinks he'll be outmuscled and lose it, or will get hurt. On other occasions he goes in quite hard and wins challenges. I think it's a timing thing - if he can size it up and get in early he goes for it - even against bigger opponents - but if he's not balanced, or being outpaced, he tends to hold off and try to cover rather than tackle. Sometimes that's the correct decision, but sometimes he gets it wrong.
I don't think it's lack of effort. I think it's lack of confidence in his physical strength.

 

Absolutely spot on @hippo but @JonButterfield won't entertain that his stats don’t hold up. He says he wanted to use them to encourage debate, but there is clearly no debate if you disagree with him...!

Those stats do not prove anything (even if he refuses to accept this). Maybe he should check out the stats referred to elsewhere (by Dimitri?)

 

I'd go along with all of that - if the game could be reduced to stats we might as well roll dice. They are always going to be a skewed snapshot used to prove / disprove a point of view.

 

But you have hand-selected your data. That is EXACTLY what you did. I have asked you many times why you have included games where Wood played elsewhere but left/back. Why would you do this if not to try to prove your point?

I have continued to say that you are simply taking out all other variables (as have other people), but again you insist that your stats stand up. THEY DON’T. The only way of doing this is to check how many crosses are put in and how many are blocked for each player.

You may not have SAID that your stats prove anything but your whole tone when questioned (not just by me but many others), suggests you desperately wanted them to be true and have vehemently INDICTED they are the only way of settling this.

 

See what I mean. How dare anyone suggest the stats you are using are irrelevant as to which left-back is better at stopping chances...!

I give up..!!!!

 

No, not necessarily and that’s the part you are not getting. If I was selected and was getting skinned time and time again, but my team mates were covering my ass, does that mean I have made a contribution to the clean sheet and win? Does it feck...!

I raised the point about crosses, because surprise surprise, that’s the frigging job of a full back. If he's not cutting out crosses, he's failing to do his job, irrespective of how his team mates cover up for him.

Get it now? No, I didn’t think so and on that basis, I’m walking away..!