Ponomarev: Maksimenko Lacks Qualities for Europe
Ex-CSKA defender Vladimir Ponomarev says Spartak keeper Aleksandr Maksimenko is too nervous and inconsistent to succeed abroad, ranking him outside Yashin-era top 10.
Vladimir Ponomarev, the former CSKA Moscow defender, does not believe Aleksandr Maksimenko has the qualities to play abroad.
Asked whether Spartak should extend the goalkeeper's contract, Ponomarev said: "Maksimenko is a decent goalkeeper, that's the good news. But the West won't take him — he lacks the qualities, he's nervous between the posts, unreliable. Of course, the last word will rest with Spartak's management."
Maksimenko is 28 and has kept goal for Spartak since September 2021. Ponomarev was asked directly whether he considers him an inconsistent keeper.
"Yes, I agree, absolutely," he said. "If his contract is extended, or if he moves anywhere, it should only be within Russia, because he won't settle anywhere in Europe, not at all. He'd get in goal and let in 10. Even here he plays unevenly. Watch him — he comes off his line and shouts 'I'm playing', then once he's out he shouts 'No, I'm not playing'."
Pressed on where Maksimenko would rank alongside the goalkeepers of Lev Yashin's era, Ponomarev set a low ceiling.
"He'd have made the top 10 at best. Ten was his limit. Back then we had a brilliant school of home-grown goalkeepers, real masters. Lev Yashin was number one, then Kavazashvili, Maslachenko, then Pilguy — masters of the goalkeeping school. What keepers they were. So for Maksimenko, there was no place higher than 10."
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