All it took for the Ox to start performing like this was us being linked to Riyad Mahrez. Just imagine, if just the thought of competition makes him this good, how good would he actually be if he had to fight that competition day in day out. All the more reason for us to sign Mahrez now. 
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Donāt really believe thatā¦ he was always a trier, he is just not a smart footballer. Maybe he has been coached up, but I chalk it more up to the level of competition (All-Star team - as disorganized an opponent as you will get, and Chivas) and small sample size than anything else. I think Ox has desire though.
If Ox can stay healthy he might produce offensively but what I donāt like about Ox is his work rate when he doesnāt have the ball.
Yeah, I was being facetious. He certainly has the desire and tries hard and it comes off sometimes, other times, he just messes up because he doesnāt seem to have a clear thought process on what he wants to do with the ball. More often than not, you see him burst through a few defenders with the ball, at top speed, and then just blast the ball towards goal. He needs to learn that he doesnāt have to run at full tilt always, that he doesnāt have to burst the ball every time he shoots it. Letās hope he comes good this season. Would hate to see him go down the path of Theo, Wilshere etc who just canāt seem to put together 1 good season, for whatever reasons.
Ox had a worldie of a pre season last year, didnāt build on it at all once the season started.
Last season Ospina and him were on a mission to get us out of the CL.
Pre-season is just practice game.
When the season starts, when we play against the real men, and the tackles are physical contacts are more harsh, see how long Ox can survive.
It is not about his football ability, it is about his physical health.
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Iād even question his ability tbh, everyone getting so high of a couple pre-season games in which yes heās been great and in an ideal world him being injury free would mean heād become an excellent player for us.
But the fact remains he has suspect football IQ and his decision making is poor. I think heāll be ultimately be a good squad player and thatās his ceiling.
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Cool looks like we donāt need Mahrez now, RW is sorted.
If used sparingly, he will perform much better imo. I just donāt think he can take on the mental strain of a high-pressure-full-game. And for that, I donāt want to see him in the starting 11. Everyone makes mistakes of course however, I remember him being culpable for losing the ball three quarters up the pitch and the opposing team would then counter and score. I think that was the itch with him.
Mahrez would be a solid signing and would lend a platform for Ox to truly shine in glimpses. He has to move on fast but itās a position we seriously need to rejig with a proper player. These fringe guys will have to take their chances when they can (given we actually sign this Mahrez chap).
I donāt know and not sure what kind of mentality that some of the fans have.
Like you said, a couple of good pre-season games, they are getting high. Ox is good enough and our RW position is sorter.
Signing Holding, they are high, like he is good enough to replace Per and will form a good partnership with Kos
Giroud had a couple of good games in the Euro, they got high, sound like we donāt need to search for a better striker.
Apart from Xhaka signing, we are still pretty much the same team of last season, not able to win the title while all other strong teams failed, and posting the lowest total points in 5 years. A few good games from a few individuals, then we are good enough.
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Ox would some player if you just judged him on preseason. Sanogo too.
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Iām ready to buy an Ox shirt if he comes good, but I am NOT banking on it at all. I fully expect to be pulling my hair out (whatās left of it) watching him and Theo bungle our attack over and over.
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Okay okay we get it.
He is only good during pre-season.
Can someone spout something new about Ox now?
Have you seen his video of training shots? He was painting upper 90 multiple times with an absolute cannonā¦ he is better technically than some give him credit.
I donāt think his technic is the problem either. How he uses that though.
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Iām pretty sure saying heās good is something new after the last few years.
Giroud probably does the same, itās training after all.
Technique isnāt his main issue anyway. He has ability sure but donāt think he has the requisite football IQ to use it to his full extent.
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Yeah I was responding to Trionās plea for ānew informationā and tbf Oxās strikes were unlike any I could imagine Giroud reliably performing (although he does catch one sweetly every so often).
Anyway, my issues with Ox are all about his intelligence and decision-making and with our record developing players on those grounds, I am not hugely optimistic.