Topic: Maxi Rodriguez song and praise

[BarryCrocker]

Then if thats the case then it has obviously backfired. You don't sacrifice a league campaign just to bed players in. Even still, there is no reason why Kenny couldn't have found a balance between giving Maxi more games and working on the long term integration of the team.

Has to be complete bullshit about giving players a chance to get into the squad. If that was the case, we’d have Coates for Carra, Sterling for Kuyt, and Shelvey for Gerrard on a regular basis.

IF, the owners did question Kenny about his benching they have every right to considering their investment. If my stockbroker is giving me returns less that what I’m getting from cash in the bank I’d be busting his balls.

[gazzathered]

In fairness though it was a criminal miss.

It's clear he gets into these positions, i hope Kenny gives him few more runs over the last few weeks
[/quote

True, such an intelligent player

[Sangria]

Has to be complete bullshit about giving players a chance to get into the squad. If that was the case, we’d have Coates for Carra, Sterling for Kuyt, and Shelvey for Gerrard on a regular basis.

IF, the owners did question Kenny about his benching they have every right to considering their investment. If my stockbroker is giving me returns less that what I’m getting from cash in the bank I’d be busting his balls.

If the owners did question Dalglish about Maxi's benching, I'd be more concerned about how Bascombe's getting the information.

[JackWard33]

If the owners did question Dalglish about Maxi's benching, I'd be more concerned about how Bascombe's getting the information.

The owners leak and use the media for fun in Boston I'd expect the same here.

As for Maxi if he doesn't get another year it's total mismanagement - it would take 12+ mil to buy a younger player of his quality and he's the best 'wide man' in the squad

[Sangria]

The owners leak and use the media for fun in Boston I'd expect the same here.

As for Maxi if he doesn't get another year it's total mismanagement - it would take 12+ mil to buy a younger player of his quality and he's the best 'wide man' in the squad

Leaking to Bascombe? Barrett or the usual I can understand, but the Sunday Scummer?

[Bob Loblaw]

We should be keeping him for another year if he's contracted. The wages argument doesn't wash as he's been as productive as anyone this season even with his limited appearances.

[Vidocq]

i can sort of understand why he's not playing so much.  i think there are certain game situations where he flourishes, but they're not all that common.

the bellamy/maxi combo is one of the better partnerships in our team though.  it's practically a brains trust by our team's standards.

Maxi can make great partnerships with anyone...he's great with Suarez, last leason with Meireles etc..he's great with anyone, and thats what i want to see from each player, thats intelligence

[penga]

If he is being phased out then why does Kuyt who is in a similar position in his career play so much more yet with much worse form in terms of general play and goals?

[barbudo]

Then if thats the case then it has obviously backfired. You don't sacrifice a league campaign just to bed players in. Even still, there is no reason why Kenny couldn't have found a balance between giving Maxi more games and working on the long term integration of the team.

Particularly when your (i.e. Kenny's)  job security depends on results. Same argument applies with Aurelio. I don't understand Kenny's seeming reluctance to play two of the most cultured (at least in footballing terms) players in the squad.

[ziggyy]

Maxi or Henderson  hmmmmm......give me 1 billionth of a nano second and I'll give you my answer

Of course it should be Henderson. He's English and we all know that if they don't play, their confidence Will be shattered.

[sideshowme]

Maxi or Henderson  hmmmmm......give me 1 billionth of a nano second and I'll give you my answer

as ever with football fans that's entirely the wrong question in a desperate attempt to make a facetious point.  it should be "in what sort of games should we play maxi?" and "in what sort of games should we play henderson?"  it shouldn't be a case of either/or, but when?.

to be honest against all but a few select opposition tactics and game situations i'd go with henderson all the way.

of course that's not even mentioning the stupidity of the comparison between a tidy, intelligent central/tucked in right midfielder and a wily, intelligent wide forward...

[Uruguayan36]

This is one the thing thats worrying me. Kenny seems to play favourites when picking the team rather than picking players on merit. This creates an environment where the favoured players have no competition and thus no reason to push themselves to that next level. While players like Maxi will get frustrated and will be thinkin what do I have to do get a shout in the team. It is very bad for morale.

Aside from that, our style of play has been great for a large part of the season. We just have lacked that intelligence and finishing in the final third. The finishing and intelligence that has been sitting on the bench most of the season in Maxi and Bellamy.

Probably Dalglish loves the British players...but Maxi plays for Argentina because he is inteligent and has a good finish in the final third.
Any player from the Argentina squad should be a good player for Liverpool...and Maxi is one of them.
One of the greatest goals i have seen in my life is the one that Maxi scored against Mexico during the world cup some years ago.

[woof]

Love Maxi - he's intelligent and makes all the good runs to score goals. However, due to his age, he can't be seen as the future for our starting XI. He can still contribute greatly coming off as a sub. The trouble is, we have only one orthodox winger in Downing. Henderson is not too effective playing on the left. With Kuyt seemingly departing, we need a solution on the left. IMO, it's time to play Sterling on the left

[DeclanYNWA]

Can't believe he missed that goal today!  That was his goalllllllll!!!!!!  Would've been classic Maxi to put that in.  Can't believe he didn't start.  I don't know what it would take for him to start the final if he didn't get in for the semi after those two goals against blackburn.  I really would like to see him and Downing in the next couple of games on the wings.   One to send in the crosses(downing) and maxi to cut in from the outside.

[BarryCrocker]

Love Maxi - he's intelligent and makes all the good runs to score goals. However, due to his age, he can't be seen as the future for our starting XI. He can still contribute greatly coming off as a sub. The trouble is, we have only one orthodox winger in Downing. Henderson is not too effective playing on the left. With Kuyt seemingly departing, we need a solution on the left. IMO, it's time to play Sterling on the left

I’m not really interested in the performances of our future starting 11. If Maxi makes a contribution towards us obtaining a CL place next year then we can worry about attracting or developing a replacement after that.

There is a massive gap between a 31 Argentinian International who’s been performing, a 27 Englishman struggling to justify a £20m fee and a potentially explosive unproven 17 year old.

[farawayred]

Keep Maxi, sell Kuyt, simples.

[nyctex]

Maxi is damn close to reaching Luis Garcia level of love. 

[nocturnalvin]

We should really keep him. Would be a real loss.

[simsim]

Ho come slur fergie hasn't got rid of his older players as soon as they hit 30? It's because they are still performing when needed. Maxi is still doing a good job so should given way more game time, that's the point in having a squad

[hugoboss]

At a time when we have so few goal scorers, it would be a shame to sell anyone we have. I have said several times he and Henderson should be rotated if they will both play in wide positions. Hendo can learn alot from Maxi and all this talk about us focusing on the players who will be here is rubbish. We are paying his wages atm so we need to use him and we have really struggled for goals this season when he could have added alot of goals for us

[simsim]

Fergie doesn't worry about whether giggs or scholes will be their in 2 or 3 years just plays them the same should apply to maxi if he is performing which he is

[LFC_4_life]

Love Maxi - he's intelligent and makes all the good runs to score goals. However, due to his age, he can't be seen as the future for our starting XI. He can still contribute greatly coming off as a sub. The trouble is, we have only one orthodox winger in Downing. Henderson is not too effective playing on the left. With Kuyt seemingly departing, we need a solution on the left. IMO, it's time to play Sterling on the left

Maxi just turned 31 a couple of months ago. Due to his style of play, he still has another 2-3 years to offer at the top level. Clubs like Man Utd and Milan have won league titles and European Cups with players who players in their 30s playing regularly.

Gerrard is 32 next month, so why do we still play Gerrard? Because minute for minute, Maxi has been far better than Gerrard in the last two seasons.

Age is a poor reason not to play Maxi.

[DanA]

as ever with football fans that's entirely the wrong question in a desperate attempt to make a facetious point.  it should be "in what sort of games should we play maxi?" and "in what sort of games should we play henderson?"  it shouldn't be a case of either/or, but when?.

to be honest against all but a few select opposition tactics and game situations i'd go with henderson all the way.

of course that's not even mentioning the stupidity of the comparison between a tidy, intelligent central/tucked in right midfielder and a wily, intelligent wide forward...

There is no situation at this point in time that I'd rather have Henderson out wide than Maxi.

[Cochise]

Feel sorry for the lad, getting dropped for a player who has been crap for 95% of the games he plays. Poor from Kenny.

[Strummer77]

We should really keep him. Would be a real loss.

Can't really see age hurting him too much next season either. He's not a player who relies on physical attributes as much as Dirk etc. He's just clever.

[jamieredders]

There is no situation at this point in time that I'd rather have Henderson out wide than Maxi.

Me neither.  Have been scratching my head all season with this.  Having said that I thought Henderson was superb at Right Back V Blackburn.

Kuyt and Maxi must have done something seriously wrong in Kenny's eyes.  Just can't see what it is they have done to be overlooked in the pecking order.

[Cid]

Sadly doesn't seem to be wanted 

He has the best attacking movement at the club.  I'd take him as a coach without a second thought.  Imagine if players like Downing, Henderson Carroll had his guile?

[buzzing]

Shame if him and dirk seem to be on their way

[Huytonian]

We should really keep him. Would be a real loss.

DEFINATELY

[simsim]

Shame if him and dirk seem to be on their way

Not fussed about kuyt but maxi yes

[Neil D]

Maxi and Bellamy must/should start the final. Downing and Henderson already had their chance in the Carling Cup and this significant semi.

Why? Downing was MOTM in the first final and did well in the second half yesterday, could/should have had two assists.

I'd play Maxi on the left & Downing on the right & use Bellamy as an explosive sub.

[Alf]

If Maxi had of tucked that chance away at the end of the game then our half of the ground would have been pandemonium,

[The Ghost of Titi Camara]

As for Maxi if he doesn't get another year it's total mismanagement - it would take 12+ mil to buy a younger player of his quality and he's the best 'wide man' in the squad

This. We've already been burned trying to pull silly manoeuvres like that last summer, it'd be beyond foolish to let it happen again. He should've started the majority of league games coming from the right or left in place of Henderson or Downing. A front four of Maxi, Bellamy, Suarez and Carroll always offers us maximum attacking threat, with Dirk as the other option to slot in across the four.

[yorkykopite]

Why? Downing was MOTM in the first final and did well in the second half yesterday, could/should have had two assists.

I'd play Maxi on the left & Downing on the right & use Bellamy as an explosive sub.

This is right. Downing did really well yesterday, especially as he got zero support going forward in the first '45 from converted centre back Danny Agger.

Maxi's a fine player. He'd make my first XI for sure. But I'm with Neil. There's room for both.

[bepoq]

Aye, me too. In fact I think that Downing opposite Maxi would far more closely replicate the Barnes/Houghton 442 that is really 433 than anything else we currently have. However, I those of you harping on about age have the wrong end of the stick. I doubt it is because of age that he's not playing, it is because he's headed home at the end of the season (speculation there, I don't have any ITKness). I don't agree with the principle there, but, once more, I can see, given our recent history, why Kenny is taking that line.

[1021]

Will be sad to see him go at the end of the season, another effective display from him yesterday.
Hopefully he will feature in the final and we'll get a repeat performance of the League Cup game against them this season.

[Bob Loblaw]

He's headed home because he's not really wanted and is being allowed to head home. That's been my take on it anyway. It's extremely short sighted for me, as this season has shown that the players brought in to improve on what we have have failed to do that by a long way. We need to know these players are good enough before moving on the likes of Maxi, Bellamy and even Kuyt.

[Gnurglan]

He's headed home because he's not really wanted and is being allowed to head home. That's been my take on it anyway. It's extremely short sighted for me, as this season has shown that the players brought in to improve on what we have have failed to do that by a long way. We need to know these players are good enough before moving on the likes of Maxi, Bellamy and even Kuyt.

Agree. The part in bold is crucial.

[Sangria]

Will be sad to see him go at the end of the season, another effective display from him yesterday.
Hopefully he will feature in the final and we'll get a repeat performance of the League Cup game against them this season.

There's a certain hole in our side, someone who's been the best player on the pitch the last 4 times we played them.

[leivapool]

There's a certain hole in our side, someone who's been the best player on the pitch the last 4 times we played them.

I think people are seriously under-estimating what a hige hole this is for the final.  It should also be noted that Maxi has played 2 matches against Chelsea this season and scored 2 goals.  HAs GOT to play.