Does Jogi Löw hate Philipp Max?

After Germany's World Cup debacle in Russia, there were many rosters spots that deservedly should have been in jeopardy. With such an epic flame out, this represented the perfect opportunity to re-evaluate each position and see where tweaks could be made.

Not that Jonas Hector was bad by any means - more like undisciplined - but his backup, Marvin Plattenhardt, proved to be not quite ready for prime time. So, Joachim Löw did just that and he STILL found a reason not to give FC Augsburg left back an opportunity to prove his mettle with Die Mannschaft.

Instead, Löw opted to go with Hoffenheim's Nico Schulz, a formidable defensive option, and Thilo Kehrer, who ranks far behind Mats Hummels, Niklas Süle, Jerome Boateng and possibly even Jonathan Tah as a pure center back, but also behind Mathias Ginter in the hybrid "back-up center back / outside back" role.

With Hector ultimately deciding to stay home with FC Koln to get healthy, Löw could have had an opportunity to give the offensively gifted playmaker, Max, an opportunity to prove himself with the senior team.

That did not happen.

---

The case for Philipp Max

Max is a compelling at option at left back because of his offensive awareness and ability. Though not as gifted a defender as Schulz, Max is not exactly a slouch. His field vision, precision passing, and ability to pilot an offense from his outside back position is not often found; especially in a 24-year old.

Max is a good athlete and while size and and physical strength may not be his strongest attributes, he has an innate ability to create offense with his vision and passing. Last season, Max had two goals and 13 assists across all competitions for Augsburg.

At a minimum, Max would be a weapon as a substitute should Germany need an offensive boost.

Max just creates offense and problems for the opposition. That accounts for something.

---

The case against Philipp Max

Löw may have looked at far forward that Joshua Kimmich and Hector pushed up a the World Cup and decided that he needed to balance the offensively-gifted Kimmich with more of a stay-at-home presence like Schulz. Kimmich, like Max, is an absurdly talented offensive force, who can sometimes get caught too far forward, exposing his center backs to aggressive counter-attacking.

Without a sturdy and defensively committed pivot (which right now, does not exist on the Die Mannschaft roster---and which was also sorely lacking as Sami Khedira failed in that role in Russia), utilizing two, offensively minded outside backs could lead Löw to experience more of the same issues he encountered in June.

Max's biggest crime is being too similar to Kimmich. Like any gifted offensive player, Max needs to be free to play like himself and if he can't be afforded that luxury, then maybe Löw feels as if he doesn't want to carry a player whose abilities he can't maximize. .

---

Where to go from here for Philipp Max

Max's exclusion from this iteration of Germany's roster isn't the end of his hopes to eventually land a spot, but it is also not helping him get the exposure to Löw and the talent on the Die Mannschaft roster. Having a playing style so close to Kimmich, who nearly everyone agrees is a generational talent at right back for Germany, is truly Max's biggest fault.

At 24, though, Max has time to keep building his resume in the Bundesliga in hopes of establishing himself enough to force Löw's hand.

#DieMannschaft #Germany