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Hodgson on Maxi & Lucas

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Frogfish

Frogfish

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Roy Hodgson today highlighted Maxi Rodriguez's role in Liverpool's impressive run of form, describing the Argentine as a 'revelation' for his side.

Maxi's strike against Aston Villa on Monday night took his tally to three goals in his last seven appearances from his left-wing berth.

It's a sequence that Hodgson believes has not received the plaudits it deserves outside of Anfield - and the boss is eager to sing the praises of the 29-year-old.

"People have not spoken much about Maxi but he has been a revelation," said the Reds boss.

"He is a bit of an unsung hero at the moment, he's not getting a lot of credit but he's doing a great job at the moment.

"He has taken on board the work we have tried to do and embraced the role I have given him and interpreted it so well both offensively and defensively.

"Suggestions that he goes missing in a game are very harsh and I can produce statistics to prove he doesn't go missing.

"His positional play is very good, his technical ability is very good and, at the moment, with three goals he is right up there."

Meanwhile, Hodgson believes heightened confidence has been a contributing factor to Lucas Leiva's imperious performances in recent weeks.

"Lucas is working hard on the tactical side of his game and working hard on the shape of the team," added the manager.

"He is a very intelligent player and I think he is very much happy in his role.

"He knows what we are looking for from him and feels confident he can deliver it.

"On top of that he has that bit of extra confidence which being selected for Brazil brings - confidence for footballers is a vital ingredient."
 
Regardless of what people think about these two (and they have performed well over the last few weeks), the players themselves in interviews have put alot of emphasis on our shape in recent weeks and how cohesive we've looked, and the partnership in the middle has gone a long way towards that.

Whatever Lucas' shortfalls, I kept saying last season that whenever he (or Masher) played alongside a more offensive player like Stevie or Aquilani, we and they looked better for it.

There's alot more balance in the side right now but it's got to continue, if we'd been more clinical against Spurs and Maxi and Torres hadn't wasted good opportunities, we'd be in a healthy position. Hopefully we can continue the good form tonight, it won't be easy though.
 
I agree with all of that, but Lucas (and probably Maxi too) would be a squaddie, no more, at a club with realistic title ambitions. Fair play to them for the improvement they've shown, but we still need better even if they stick around.
 
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=43134.msg1231906#msg1231906 date=1292061436]
I agree with all of that, but Lucas (and probably Maxi too) would be a squaddie, no more, at a club with realistic title ambitions. Fair play to them for the improvement they've shown, but we still need better even if they stick around.
[/quote]

Of course we do yeah. The only thing I'd say about Maxi though is that he looks shit as a squaddie and offers nothing, he got a run last season and started to look good, and the same this season, but it's taken time. If he's in and out the side I doubt it'd be worth the wage.

It's Kuyt I'm worried about now though, he looks a yard off the pace and well off form.
 
I haven't noticed the defensive improvements in Maxi's game, but going forward, it's obvious that he's getting much closer to the strikers and getting into the area more than he used to. He looks fitter and quicker too.

I think, like it or not, that we'll probably have to give Hodgson some credit for those improvements. Maxi needs to show it in more away games, but he's definitely been a pleasant surprise in recent weeks.
 
He has improved a lot on earlier on in the season where he can only be described as appalling.

He's been consistently good for weeks now. Fair play.
 
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=43134.msg1231922#msg1231922 date=1292067294]
He has improved a lot on earlier on in the season where he can only be described as appalling.

He's been consistently good for weeks now. Fair play.
[/quote]

He's obviously a good player between the lines, but I definitely think he's a bit of a maverick and a confidence player, so yeah, fair play to Roy for coaxing some good form from him.

I'm pleased with some of the football we've been playing of late, some of our attacking play has been good.
 
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=43134.msg1231929#msg1231929 date=1292068638]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=43134.msg1231922#msg1231922 date=1292067294]
He has improved a lot on earlier on in the season where he can only be described as appalling.

He's been consistently good for weeks now. Fair play.
[/quote]

He's obviously a good player between the lines, but I definitely think he's a bit of a maverick and a confidence player, so yeah, fair play to Roy for coaxing some good form from him.

I'm pleased with some of the football we've been playing of late, some of our attacking play has been good.
[/quote]

Agreed. It's all about consistency now, if we can manage that, who knows what we'll achieve.
 
Roy is starting to deserve some plaudits now in my eyes. Making babel actually run about for 90 minutes should earn him a 5 year contract alone
 
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=43134.msg1231909#msg1231909 date=1292062271]
I haven't noticed the defensive improvements in Maxi's game, but going forward, it's obvious that he's getting much closer to the strikers and getting into the area more than he used to. He looks fitter and quicker too.

I think, like it or not, that we'll probably have to give Hodgson some credit for those improvements. Maxi needs to show it in more away games, but he's definitely been a pleasant surprise in recent weeks.
[/quote]

Its not the improvements in the players, its the change of tactic from a defensive to an attacking side, that suits them better, I think.
 
[quote author=Asbo link=topic=43134.msg1231959#msg1231959 date=1292076858]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=43134.msg1231909#msg1231909 date=1292062271]
I haven't noticed the defensive improvements in Maxi's game, but going forward, it's obvious that he's getting much closer to the strikers and getting into the area more than he used to. He looks fitter and quicker too.

I think, like it or not, that we'll probably have to give Hodgson some credit for those improvements. Maxi needs to show it in more away games, but he's definitely been a pleasant surprise in recent weeks.
[/quote]

Its not the improvements in the players, its the change of tactic from a defensive to an attacking side, that suits them better, I think.
[/quote]

Much of the same really Asbo, he's applying the tactic that gets the best out of them. People were saying earlier in the season that we were defensive, I thought we looked caught somewhere in between and ended up looking lost and lifeless. Maybe it was because of the mindset of the players from the previous regime and Hodgson trying to instil his own views into them about how we should play. It takes time. I don't think he'll be here for the long haul but if we continue in recent vein then it could bode well as a step in the right direction, at least in terms of style.
 
[quote author=Asbo link=topic=43134.msg1231959#msg1231959 date=1292076858]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=43134.msg1231909#msg1231909 date=1292062271]
I haven't noticed the defensive improvements in Maxi's game, but going forward, it's obvious that he's getting much closer to the strikers and getting into the area more than he used to. He looks fitter and quicker too.

I think, like it or not, that we'll probably have to give Hodgson some credit for those improvements. Maxi needs to show it in more away games, but he's definitely been a pleasant surprise in recent weeks.
[/quote]

Its not the improvements in the players, its the change of tactic from a defensive to an attacking side, that suits them better, I think.
[/quote]

Then we'd have to give Hodgson some credit for that, wouldn't we?
 
Yes, although it would have to be balanced against criticism over what went before it, for which TBF he himself has put his hand up.
 
I'll give Roy some credit if/when he drags us up the league.

Until then I'm not interested in anything he may or may not deserve.
 
Yep. After the next 5 games, if we are not in the top 6, i don't think we will ever be in the top 6 under Roy.
 
The first thread I ever started was one that was desgined to slate Maxi, but I must admit over the last month or so he's been playing really well.

He's still a passenger in some away games and no matter how many stats Roy can show me, I'll still believe I am right. But it is pleasing to see him start to show the form which made him a one time Argentina regular
 
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