Maxi Rodrigues scored his second goal in nine days against Chelsea on Tuesday night as Liverpool recorded a comfortable win at Stamford Bridge, yet despite his fantastic record over the last nine starts, the Argentinean still struggles to get into the team.
Let's look at the facts: In the last 9 starts, Maxi has scored 10 goals and provided 1 assist. No other player at Liverpool comes close to that record.
As a comparison, let's take a look at the records of some other attacking players over the last 9 starts:
* LUIS SUAREZ: 4 goals/1 assist
* WAYNE ROONEY: 2 goals/1 assist
* EDIN DZEKO: 6 goals/2 assists
* SERGIO AGUERO: 4 goals/2 assists
* EMANUEL ADEBAYOR: 6 goals/5 assists
* ROBIN VAN PERSIE: 10 goals/2 assists
* LIONEL MESSI: 10 goals/1 assist
* CRISTIANO RONALSO: 11 goals/2 assists
All of these players start most games for their clubs, and all of them bar Messi and Ronaldo are out and out strikers, but the majority have not managed to score as many goals as Maxi.
I'm not suggesting that Maxi is on a par ability-wise with the players highlighted above, but when it comes goalscoring, he is up there with the best at the moment.
With this in mind, surely Maxi should be starting every game for Liverpool in order to capitalise on his rich vein of goalscoring form??
If Maxi had started any of the five home draws Liverpool have suffered this season, it's probable he would've scored a couple of goals, and the club would consequently be higher up the table.
Maxi was (unfairly) dropped after scoring against Chelsea in the league recently, but if players are genuinely played on merit at Liverpool, then Maxi must start the next game.
You don't see Arsenal, Barcelona or Real Madrid dropping players who score in every game they play, do you?
Jaimie Kanwar
Let's look at the facts: In the last 9 starts, Maxi has scored 10 goals and provided 1 assist. No other player at Liverpool comes close to that record.
As a comparison, let's take a look at the records of some other attacking players over the last 9 starts:
* LUIS SUAREZ: 4 goals/1 assist
* WAYNE ROONEY: 2 goals/1 assist
* EDIN DZEKO: 6 goals/2 assists
* SERGIO AGUERO: 4 goals/2 assists
* EMANUEL ADEBAYOR: 6 goals/5 assists
* ROBIN VAN PERSIE: 10 goals/2 assists
* LIONEL MESSI: 10 goals/1 assist
* CRISTIANO RONALSO: 11 goals/2 assists
All of these players start most games for their clubs, and all of them bar Messi and Ronaldo are out and out strikers, but the majority have not managed to score as many goals as Maxi.
I'm not suggesting that Maxi is on a par ability-wise with the players highlighted above, but when it comes goalscoring, he is up there with the best at the moment.
With this in mind, surely Maxi should be starting every game for Liverpool in order to capitalise on his rich vein of goalscoring form??
If Maxi had started any of the five home draws Liverpool have suffered this season, it's probable he would've scored a couple of goals, and the club would consequently be higher up the table.
Maxi was (unfairly) dropped after scoring against Chelsea in the league recently, but if players are genuinely played on merit at Liverpool, then Maxi must start the next game.
You don't see Arsenal, Barcelona or Real Madrid dropping players who score in every game they play, do you?
Jaimie Kanwar
where is the flying bullshitman?? (karl Plikington) hahaha
ReplyDeleteI think Maxi is a more intelligent player than downing, he knows where to position himself to be effective going forward. I dont think he is that good with his defensive duties. This is why I dont think he is getting picked.
ReplyDeleteWe beat Chelsea 2-1 and 2-0 in Maxi's last two starts, and one of those games was a clean sheet. I didn't see any defensive issues there, did you?
ReplyDeleteYES Maxi should Start because he can finish. (What a player)
ReplyDeleteAlfred Wynne
it's simply his positioning. half of the goals were a 6 yard shots. His positioning is second to none.
ReplyDeleteSo... based on the stats, Maxi is as good as Messi ;)
ReplyDeleteMessi.. Messi Rodriguez run down the wing for me...
I agree Jaimie, stats can be made to look a certain way but he definitely deserves a start, but, I know your thoughts on Downing and I know you haven't mentioned him but it's a matter of time before he comes up, he could have had a few this season and he could have had ten assists If players started to put away chances. Downing is still taking on volleys and is improving and as we saw at Villa when he was their player of the season (ahead of young, bent and agbonlahor) he can finish and assist. Both are different types of player but I think it's good to have options an there is a part to play for Downing and Maxi this season and hopefully future ones.
ReplyDeletethe manger see fits to to pick whatever XI he wants to beat the team that is put in front of them. Who said that Liverpool had applied a merit based policy. This doesn't, if it did then Michael Owen would be a starter for Utd, given his goal to game ratio. Your article shows that you are a good statitician but know little about the actual game of football.
ReplyDeleteYes, and the team Dalglish has chosen has failed to win in 5 home games. This shows that his team selection has not been up to scratch when it comes selecting players with the capability of burying chances; if it had, Liverpool would've won a few of those games
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. It is baffling. His goal scoring form is even more impressive when you consider that he isn't playing week-in-week-out and can often go for weeks without any first team football, then produce the goods! YNWA
ReplyDeletebecause he is rafa's flop
ReplyDeleteJaimie,
ReplyDeleteSo based on 9 games you've created an article. Good work.
Excellent article mate. You can't deny the facts. You really should be playing your best players, that's what I keep hearing.
ReplyDeleteHopefully he will get a run of games now.
I don't think Maxi play very well. But he is good finisher. Much better compared to Dirk Kyut and Henderson.
ReplyDeleteGood finishing is exactly what we need right now, no?
ReplyDeleteMaxi has given "maximum" performances ... he scores goals and that what LFC needs !!! SO, PUT HIM IN THE FIRST XI !!!
ReplyDeleteWe would've won? Sure thing mystic meg!! What a ridiculous comment. You edited my comment to suit your reply, unbeleivable, that says it all. I'm not saying that Maxi shouldn't get more game time but, just because he has scored a few does not mean that he should be selected. People seem to forget the games that he went missing in last season. There is nothing wrong with having decent winger/attacking midfield on the bench. Look at the other top teams.
ReplyDeleteHow can management insist on statistics being not quite but ALMOST everything since they arrived yet here we have an outstanding statistic on a player and he isn't played on a regular basis? There appear to be double standards on this!
ReplyDeleteNo, I edited your comment because it contained needless derogatory comments. If you can't post without sniping then don't bother in the first place.
ReplyDeleteDo you realise that even in being the Villa player of the season he still scored only 7 goals from 38 league games and Maxi scored 10 from 28 league games.
ReplyDeletethis season, Downing has no goals in 13 league games while Maxi has 1 goal in 2 league games.
Fans have been furiously reeling of excuses like if other players took chances , Downing would have more assists or if he was lucky he would have more goals but the reality is every player will miss good chances but the better player will still score a few goals other than these misses. Going by that reckoning it could also be said that Suarez could be approaching 20 goals if they all went in.
While lucky can play a role in a player scoring, players also need to create their own luck by putting themselves in positions where they can take their chances just like Maxi has been doing when he has played for most of this calendar year.
Near misses ultimately count for nothing because no-one wants to be comforted that LFC came close to winning the premier league on a few occasions in the last 20 years.
The fact remains that LFC paid £20mln for a supposed finished article who has clocked over 33% of a 38 game season without scoring or assisting while he keeps out Maxi who has played only 2 games but has shown he offers more.
Thanks for the great read, Jaimie. I absolutely agree Maxi should be getting more starts this season, though maybe not in every game.
ReplyDeleteMaxi is comfortable on the ball and very suited for the pass and move football we all crave: his pass completion rate is usually north of 90%, while his clever and intelligent moves result in his exceptional positioning in goal-scoring areas and also create space for his teammates. Maxi also tends to move inside which opens up space for the attack-minded and attack-capable Enrique.
Your post highlights his accuracy and proficiency in front of goal and the facts shout even louder.
I really rate him high, yet I think he should not be starting every game. Downing offers a different option on the left by staying out wide and stretching the play, making good crosses (unfortunately not all converted by his teammates) and running at defenders . Rotation (call it competition or tactical savviness) between Maxi and Downing may be warranted but definitely Maxi should have been starting in much more games.
brilliantly said, jon
ReplyDeleteJon, yes I did realise, but do YOU realise that football isn't just based on assists and goals. Henderson released Bellamy for Maxi's goal and will receive no credit for it, I.e an assist. Obviously assists and goals are what attacking midfielders are judged on, but when a player is voted player of the year at a club like Villa ahead of Ashley Young and Darren Bent then surely there must be something about him? Besides his strike rate and assists he must have brought something to the team, and he must bring something to the England team so my point is that both he AND Maxi can bring something to our team. 2 players for a position. Both offering different things.
ReplyDelete"Goal return" and "impact" are two different things.
ReplyDeleteSome of those players list (Suarez most notably) impact games heavily even when they don't score. Other players can score goals and have little to no impact on the game otherwise...
I think there are a lot of politics in football clubs just as any other work places in the world. It might not be the best players getting picked every week for games. Also when transfers happened does not mean that a particular position is lacking quality players. Maxi scored 10 goals in the league for Liverpool last season does not mean he gets to start this season. Player playing the same position with no goal no assist to show for again does not mean that he will get replaced. It might just be a show of force by the new manager at the club. When there's no financial muscle to flex, of course he has to make do with the old set of players brought in by the previous manager. But if it's not that case, then new players will be brought in and put on display to its max to stamp authority of the new manager. Folks, please do not get the wrong idea, I think Kenny is an excellent manager and I respect him greatly both as a player and manager, but this kind of things happen all the while in all football clubs, with no exception in Liverpool's case. Am I right?
ReplyDeleteThis is always where JK and I disagree. I don't think it can be as simple as just goals and assists. They are obviously important but when players are on the pitch for 90 minutes they do much much more than just the 5 seconds requires to actually score a goal. If Maxi is getting these goals and assists because he is consistently doing very very good things for a full 90 minutes then I would agree that he needs to be played more often. But if he's simply popping up in good places every now and then I don't believe it can be relied on. Any player can go through a patch of good goal scoring form. Sometimes it can be pure luck. It doesn't always mean they are playing well. There are plenty of lazy strikers out there who do nothing but wait for the perfect pass that they can slot home. If that perfect pass never comes then they get nothing and contribute nothing. I'm not saying Maxi is lazy, he clearly works hard and plays well, but his goal return and assist return amounts to maybe a total of 2 minutes of actually playing time. If coaching staff think he's not being effective the rest of the time he's on the pitch then they are right to not play him. If has to be about the whole package, not just the highlights.
ReplyDeleteGood to have two good players. Neither are sparkling but are good at what they do. I reckon Maxi fits with a "1st 11" option playing pass-and-nove footy with other flair players like Suarez & Enrique. With the more direct English style, stick Downing on with Carroll. It's a good back-up option to have and the selection should depend on opposition and form. Nice we have a bit of depth nowadays.
ReplyDeleteIf you're saying so,then scoring goals are not important to the game where as 'the whole package' is more important?Absolute nonsense. Maxi has shown throughout last season that he could score goals if the game is played on the ground. I would compare him to our ex-player,Luis Garcia,smart little player that gets into the right place at the right time.Game intelligence is something cannot be bought by money.
ReplyDeleteThe running of the ball is something hugely benefited our game as Maxi always takes defenders out of their position and allows out players to get into the game.I'm not saying Downing does not do running off the ball,but the position he often gets into is to the byline instead of towards goal.That is why Downing does not score enough. Look at the position that Maxi got into the seasons where he scored those goals, he ran all the way into the penalty box and into the far post area, slot the ball home and bang,scored! I have only seen Downing making 1 and only those run in the Man City's game where he FAILED to score from less than 6 yards(pretty much says it all).Well, I see the importance of 'the whole package', but goal scoring is what football should be in terms of winning games/trophy.
All in all, if we play our game on the ground, Maxi should always get the nod ahead of Downing simply because it suits Maxi's play than Downing's.Or play 'em both as we're going for 1 striker upfront option nowadays.
Maxi is intelligent player, let him player every game.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is fair to say he was unfairly dropped for the Man City game since he doesn't have the fitness to play two games in three days and his strengths (ie his off the ball movement) would cause Chelsea's defence more problems than City's and Downing's work rate was more important against City than it would have been against Chelsea who don't move the ball so quickly.
ReplyDeleteOn current form obviously you would have wanted to pick Maxi for both games, but that just isn't feasible. I think Kenny played him in the right game. I do think he should start against Fulham and hope he does but if Carroll plays he might favour Downing (which is understandable). We'll see. I'm hoping for the back four from the City game (Kelly deserves to play but I'm hoping he's not get so many games at right-back because they've pegged him for centre-half) with Henderson and Adam in the centre, Maxi and Bellamy on either flank and Suarez and Carroll up front.
I think most of us agree that based on the records, Maxi shuld be in the starting line up or at worst as a supersub. But it's not happening. I guess Kenny has his reasons that we do not know.
ReplyDeleteMaxi in for the very disappointing Kuyt! that is all.
ReplyDeletemaxi knows where to be..he's always at the right place at the right time.
ReplyDeletewhy can't bellamy n suarez play forward and maxi takes downing's place.
Anybody else noticing that Downing and Enrique seem to be getting in each others way a lot? They make similar runs and it slows the play down. Another reason to play 4-3-3 for me is that we have the front three in Bellamy-Suarez-Maxi. It also lets Enrique and Johnson get forward. Very mobile formation with good interplay. Gutted about Lucas injury hope Gerrard returns soon.
ReplyDeleteI've given Downing the benefit of the doubt even though I never really wanted him. For me, so far, he hasn't done enough to secure a first team spot and other players have. Enough said.
Maxi has 13 goals in 48 games for Liverpool so hardly prolific as some make out. He has two hatricks last season which bump up the figure to seem like he scores in more games than he does. I am not discounting the hatricks but what im saying is that he has scored in 10 games our of 48. Just something to add a bit of perspective here.
ReplyDeleteI will add however that when Bellamy plays Maxi is the better option as they seem to be able to read each other game better when counter attacking. Than Bellamy and Downing do.
AGREE FULLY
ReplyDeletefor a winger its great record! he is not striker!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Maxi should start, intelligent player!!!
ReplyDeletethink matt means overall, you being bit picky. i like your posts, but you are a bit defensive an argumental. it's a forum for OPINIONS
ReplyDeleteYes, and I gave my opinion. What's the problem?
ReplyDeleteExactly the point I've been trying to make about Carroll and why he and Suarez shouldn't play together too often. I've said somewhere on this forum before how Carroll or Torres would flourish at Spurs - because they play the English kick and chase style which suits them to a tee, but it's a good attacking option to have, given we've got midfielders to play either style. It is that option that cost 35m, Carroll's wages aren't in City/Chelsea proportions and yet people like judging his performances based on his transfer fee instead of how much he is paid.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Maxi is a brilliant fit with Suarez, Kuyt, Bellamy and Enrique. Someone said Maxi disappeared in games last season. That is true. He was largely ineffective under Hodgson and barely saw half a season under Rafa. He has however been magnificent ever since Kenny returned. Footballers who know how to play with greater freedom tend to excel for Kenny, but I suspect Carroll is struggling to come to grips with it because that's not how he was taught to play. The Dutch and South Americans shouldn't have an issue with it though.