The Large One
Who's Next?
Well I'm seriously struggling to remember a single positive contribution from Cox lately, or his last assist. He had a very decent season for us a couple of years ago, but since then I think he's done VERY little to justify his inclusion in the team. He's gone backwards, and never looked like recapturing his form.
The official stats say he has two assists (but then, only Bennett on eight and Forster on three have more). Even then the stats can be mis-leading. Supposing he puts in that magical 'lands on a sixpence' type cross, only for Dickinson or Forster to plant it on to the railway line...?
It's all about opinions, but for me, he is the sort of player who, even if he is not playing well, will still keep going for the team. His head doesn't drop and he doesn't cheat his team-mates by going missing.
His crossing can be hit-and-miss (but then again, whose crosses aren't?), but it's in making himself available for a Kuipers throw-out or keeping a move going where other players might be tempted to play safe and pass back, or covering a bombed-on left-back that doesn't necessarily get noticed.
There's more to his game than that killer-pass or the 25-yard screamer that many a demanding of him. He gets stuck in, has done so since he made his debut, and I appreciate his efforts even if he's not playing well.
None of that comes close to making out he's 'shithouse'.