It goes without saying that Luis Suarez had a fantastic season last year. 30 goals, assists, a Player of the Year nomination and the constant presence of that creative spark that makes him the player he is. Many Liverpool fans would argue that he should have been awarded the Player of the Year accolade, and based on the quality of his performances last year, they would be right in arguing that point. However, as mentioned, that is based on his performances alone and not those idiosyncrasies of his that have been, and continue to be, the blot on his copybook. Barring one stupendous incident towards the end of last season, he had a relatively quiet season trouble-wise, but it was that one stupendous incident that cost him so dearly. Last season, Suarez carried the burden of the Liverpool team on his shoulders during certain periods of the campaign, but towards the end of the season it was that niggling character flaw burden that rested heaviest on his shoulders.
The incident I am referring to is of course Suarez’s infamous bite on Chelsea’s full back Branislav Ivanovic, when Liverpool hosted Chelsea at Anfield in May. In a performance which perfectly summed up Suarez as a footballer came the second biting incident of his career. Against the Blues that day he conceded a penalty for a handball which happened as a result of his arm flailing conspicuously in the air, he assisted Daniel Sturridge with a gorgeously weighted pass which the number 15 converted, he nodded in a 96th minute equaliser in front of The Kop, and, of course, he inexplicably took a nibble on the arm of Ivanovic. This, in a 90 minute nutshell, showed us everything that is right and wrong with Luis Suarez.
Suarez, throughout his career, has continuously placed himself on a towering pedestal with his footballing abilities, but emphatically knocked himself down off it with his numerous moments of madness. No one needs reminding of his previous wrongdoings but we all know there exists a litany of sins when it comes to Liverpool’s number 7. As a football enthusiast, and a Liverpool fan, there is nothing I love more than watching Suarez hone his undoubted skills in the red of Liverpool week in week out. Since his transfer from Ajax in January 2011, he has grown and grown as a player, catapulting himself to a platform where he is among the world class footballers of today. Many who dislike Suarez as a person would dismiss that claim, but, taking only his footballing ability into account, Suarez is world class. Yet, when its Luis Suarez you’re talking about, with the mesmeric good comes the soul destroying bad. The bipolar nature of the man is at times extraordinary; one moment, you are watching in awe of a genius touch or a great goal of his, the next you are shaking your head and asking the heavens ‘why?’ as he goes and does something idiotic. It is what Liverpool fans have adjusted to at this stage; accepting his mistakes because his positive contributions outdo them. However, given the latest calamity, I am not so sure if this can be a sustainable stance.
When the biting incident first emerged, I was singing from the same hymn sheet as most Liverpool fans in saying that what he had done was indefensible, which of course it was. Such an action is just absurd and not accepted in football, and rightly so. Given that Suarez had previous, there were some who thought that this should have been the last straw, and that Suarez should have been gotten rid of. Although I condemned his actions, I wasn’t so extreme. Knowing that Suarez would receive a hefty ban (10 games, as it transpired), I figured that the ban and the realization of the magnitude of his wrongdoing would help Suarez learn. I didn’t see the need for such cynical action as selling him- after all, he is at present Liverpool’s best player.
However, events since the bite and a good dosage of hindsight have made me change my viewpoint.
Prior to the first game without Suarez, against Newcastle away, there arose the inevitable questions about Liverpool without Suarez. Most questioned how Liverpool as a team would cope without him, their beating heart, their creative spark, their goal scoring extraordinaire. Many saw Liverpool as a toothless, average team without Suarez, so this game would always be intriguing. The toothless, average team ran out 6-0 winners. Granted, Newcastle were out of sorts and the game did take place at the stage of the season where players are asking ‘where are we going for the pre-season tour?’ more than ‘where are the markers for this corner?’, but the performance was still noteworthy. For a team who play a lot of their football through Suarez, Liverpool did excellent that day in his absence. In fact, it could even be argued that Liverpool play better as a team when Suarez isn’t playing. This is not over compensating the fact that we would do well without him, it is just my genuine opinion. When Suarez plays, he is the go to man. Get the ball to him, and let him work his magic. Yet what people don’t seem to realise is that while Suarez has worked wonders in attack, there are many occasions where he gives away possession rather needlessly, immediately putting the midfield under pressure. In a team without Suarez, there is more temperament to the play. The passing style which Rodgers is so keen to ingrain on his players ebbs and flows much more gracefully. Of course, a team with Suarez included is strong, but it’s not as if there is no life, no invention or no success just because he is taken out. I wouldn’t be heartbroken if he left. Funnily enough, a few weeks ago there was little reason for me or any other Liverpool fan to be contemplating him leaving, but since that, the idiotic genius has spoken- many times.
In all honesty, I was actually surprised at Suarez speaking out about his desire to leave. Surprised, but not shocked, because you can never really be sure with footballers these days- you’ll find footballers with the loyalty of Steven Gerrard hard to come by in the modern era. Having said that, I was taken aback a tad, as Suarez and his agent had on numerous occasions declared his desire to stay on Merseyside. However, nothing is guaranteed and Suarez changed his tune. While on international duty with Uruguay, the striker sensationally declared his desire to leave England for pastures new, citing the media’s treatment of him since he arrived, and concern for his family’s welfare in the country, as his reasons for wanting to leave. He then proceeded to talk up the opportunity of playing for Real Madrid, a possibility which has become more probable thanks to the media frenzy that ensued upon the release of these quotes. Amazingly, and much to the growing anger of Liverpool fans, Suarez has spoken furthermore on the matter, almost as if to manufacture a move. His latest waffle contained another cry for a move: ”If a team makes an offer, Liverpool will have to listen”. There has been the argument that some of his quotes have got lost in translation, and that may be so, but let’s get real here; Suarez has spoken on the matter on five occasions, the general message that anyone with common sense would get is that he wants out.
I find the fact that he wants to move a great pity as he is a fantastic player and one that anyone would want in their side, but what I find truly sickening is the manner in which he is orchestrating the move. To speak to the media about the subject five times off his own accord is bad enough, but the reasons he gives for wanting to leave are laughable. This is Luis Suarez, a player embroiled in controversy throughout his Liverpool career, who has always, always been backed 100% by the players, managers and staff at Liverpool Football Club, not to mention the fans. Blind loyalty has been shown to him. The club have put their reputation on the line in supporting him in the past, and he repays them with a shameful, laughable excuse for leaving. If Suarez wants to leave the club then he should at least list the proper reasons; Champions League football for example, as opposed to making up a sob-story about how he feels he is being ‘driven out of England’ by the press. Granted, his back must ache from the media hopping onto it at any opportunity they get, but Suarez is a thick skinned character; the media are not strong enough to make him yearn for a move. It would have appeased me if Suarez had handed in a transfer request, liaised with his agent about a move, and commenced talks with Real Madrid, or other suitors. That was not the case, however, and we now await news of developments in this proposed transfer. I am indifferent towards the sale of Suarez; if he stays we have an excellent player on our books, if he leaves we gain the financial muscle to invest in two or three top quality players. In all honesty, I think that Suarez has spouted his Real Madrid fantasy to the media a time too many, and with that, disrespected the club who have given him unbelievable backing throughout his time here. This has left me unimpressed, but it has also given me the initiative to mull over life without Suarez at Liverpool- I feel that with top quality replacements, we could do very well without him. I know Twitter is a hornet’s nest of people with varying degrees of sense, but upon observation of the infinite opinions of Twitter minions, I get the same vibe from fellow Liverpool fans.
To summarise, Luis Suarez has been a very foolish boy of late. Opening his mouth to bite an opponent and, on numerous occasions recently, opening his mouth to yap about his desire to move to Real Madrid. These actions have led to a will he/won’t he leave debacle among Liverpool fans and media alike. One thing is for sure, no player has been, nor ever will be, bigger than Liverpool Football Club, and if he is to leave, the club won’t sweat. Football does not come to a stop if he leaves. Why would it? He is one player, one player who can be replaced. If he does leave, I wish him the very best. I wish the hypothetical new club responsible for him good luck also. As us Liverpool fans know, it is hard to accommodate the idiotic genius.
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