Keep Maxi! Why I Choose the Argentine Over Cole & Aquilani

WHEN a new manager takes the reins at a club, there is always a sense of inevitability that some of the old guard will be moved on for various reasons whether it be for financial or football reasons.

Whatever the rationale, different fans will have different opinions on who should be kept by the new man.

The three names in the spotlight at the moment seem to be Joe Cole, Alberto Aquilani and Maxi Rodriguez.

Out of those three players, the player I would like to see given a shot by Brendan Rodgers would be Maxi. His intelligent style football as well as his killer instinct in front of goal will be key in the new Brendan Rodgers set-up. Intelligent use of the ball is something the Northern Irishman looks for in a player and he has alluded to before.

His magic touch in front of goal in recent seasons is also a major reason to keep the Argentine. After a slow start in a red shirt, Maxi became a major source of goals for then manager Kenny Dalglish. Two hat-tricks at the back end of the 2010/2011 season against Birmingham City and Fulham proved he had a pedigree in front of goal and the following season he proved it was no fluke.

One of Kenny’s major mistakes in his one and only season in charge was not using Maxi more. Last year, when he rarely got in the starting line-up, he done what other players were failing to do, he put the ball in the back of the net. Many people will put that down to his lack of playing time meaning he couldn’t quite possibly keep that form up if he played every week.

I think a thing that many people don’t realise with Maxi is that he had a vast experience from playing at the top level. If it’s true that Brendan Rodgers wants to bring more of a youth set up to the LFC first team then surely one of the more experiences pro’s to keep hold of would be Maxi?

He has played in numerous Copa America and a World Cup for Argentina. He has scored vital goals in these tournaments which have often been the difference between his country going out and staying in. He has captained one of Spain’s biggest clubs in Atletico Madrid. Surely this experience is invaluable and can be passed onto any young player trying to make it in the game.
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However, there are still disadvantages to keeping the Rosario born midfielder at Anfield. A stick that is often used to beat him with is that he often goes missing in games. And this is true to a certain extent. In his first full season in England, he often looked to hide on the left wing. But, this was under Roy Hodgson, who often set his team up in a defensive manner which didn’t entirely help Maxi.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to keeping him at the club is his wages. It is reported that he is one of the highest paid players at the club. It cost a lot of wages to bring him to the club when he was at the Vicente Calderon and if he is going to be only a squad player next season then his wages are very steep then it may be wise to let him go.

However, for me, the positives outweigh the negatives on this particular subject. From what I have seen from Maxi over the past 2 years it has persuaded me that he is player we should not be letting go. He can be a vital part of our season next time out. If he wants to move back to Argentina then fair enough, but we should not be actively looking to sell him. Alberto Aquilani and Joe Cole on the other hand….

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