Since arriving in England in January 2011, Luis Suarez has set the Premier league alight. He scored on his debut for Liverpool against, and then almost single-handedly dismantled Manchester United in the 3 - 1 victory.
In the opening six games of this season he has continued to bewilder defenders and wreak havoc in opposition goal boxes. His confidence and ability on the ball is fantastic, and his knack of wriggling and twisting in tight positions to get a shot away constantly amazes goalkeepers and commentators alike.
Case in point was his goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers; in a tight area in the box, being covered by two defenders, he feinted with his left foot, pulled the ball back onto right, jinked it back to his left where he unleashed a snap shot to beat Wayne Hennessey at his near post. Sheer brilliance.
But then there is another side to the Uruguayan striker; An impudent side who complains non-stop, who disrespects the officials, and tries to get opposition players booked (ala Lucas).
This side of him was also shown in he Wolves game: on 82 minutes, with Liverpool leading 2-1, manager Kenny Dalglish substituted him to bring on talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard who was returning from injury. Suarez was clearly unhappy with being taken off, shaking his head and muttering away, and then behind the manager’s back he took his frustration out by hoofing a water bottle, breaking it and soaking some nearby coaching staff. It was an idiotic act, reminiscent of Wayne Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo.
If Suarez can cut out this part of his attitude and lets his football do all the talking he will win the love and respect of a lot more fans, especially the neutrals, and he could easily become an Anfield legend down the years.
Suarez is prodigiously talented but comes with a baggage like the players you’ve mentioned. His disciplinary record at Ajax is more likely to make one wince in agony and the controversial handball incident at the world cup as well as the biting of an opponent’s shoulder trails him like a devoted puppy. I do think though that he’s in the right club and with a manager in Daglish who has the pedigree to steer him in the right direction. Having said that, He hasn’t yet struck me as a player who’s totally committed to the Liverpool cause and seems to have the potential to pull a strop and do a Tevez when the odds are against him.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've also had my doubts about his loyalty and staying at Anfield for the next 7 years. Somehow can't see it happening.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the likes of Gerrard, Carragher, Dalglish and Reina can keep him in check, and let the talk always be about his football, and not his behaviour.
- Wilson