Ox is getting there. I’d like to see him start on the weekend. I think he’s the next level this team takes - another attacking threat. This team’s already bursting with them - the FBs are legit attackers now, so that’s 5 players with the front 3. But if Ox is good enough defensively to be one of the 8s, we’ve also got another attacking threat, from a different area of the pitch. His ball carrying skills and long range shooting ability are key here. It’s another dimension to the attack, and actually makes up the last bit of what we miss of Coutinho; the threat he gave with his long range shots. He’s not supposed to score them all - he’s just supposed to get accurate shots off from deep areas. That threat is tactical; if it’s there, then a CB / deep midfielder *has* to cover him. That makes space for the front 3 and 2 attacking fullbacks. The bonus is, he’s got a world class shot from range. I loved how he buried three from outside the box in the last couple of weeks. So the threat’s more credible - those CBs and CMs will have to cover his forays towards the box. He’s scored enough of them now where it’s dangerous not to. It’s the kind of level we can’t really reach with our current 8s. Gini, Milner and Henderson are proven world class footballers and are still operating at the very highest level. But there’s that attacking threat that isn’t there on the level Ox brings. The best thing about it is he might not even need to be as good as those defensively. Because he’s so dangerous in the attack he’ll pin back the opposition. Something this team is doing very aggressively already these. It’s awesome to watch the team constrict the opponent into their own defensive third when they’re at full tilt. Ox in the middle of that adds a bigger attacking threat, and that should lead to more goals. I would love to see him start on Sunday - he’s scored some massive goals against them already. Would be fitting for that run to continue.