Luis Suarez - Making an Arse of himself

[TLW]

When Luis Suarez first began shooting his mouth off about fancying a move away from Anfield, I was disappointed but not angry with him. If Real Madrid were in for him, how could he be expected to turn them down? For most Iberian and South American footballers, the ultimate dream is to one day play for Real Madrid or Barcelona, so if that opportunity presented itself to Suarez he was always going to take it.

That would have been the case regardless of the troubles he's had in his time in England, or indeed irrespective of Liverpool's league position. We lost Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano to Madrid and Barca, whilst Arsenal and even Manchester United have also seen key players lured away to the Spanish giants. Generally, Real and Barca get who they want, and there are probably only a handful of footballers around that given the opportunity would not swap their present club for a switch to the Bernebeu. If Cristiano Ronaldo was lured away from the English Champions and self proclaimed 'world's biggest club' to join Real, then what chance did Liverpool have of persuading Suarez to stay here if Madrid came calling?

The hope was that Madrid may have other priorities and that no other European giant came a knocking, meaning Suarez would be here for another year, if only by default. I assumed (wrongly as it turns out) that if Madrid, Bayern, Barca, Juve etc didn't make a move for him, he'd come back here and everything would be rosy for another year. Not an unreasonable assumption given that everything he had ever said and done up to that point suggested he was happy at Liverpool. He had signed a contract extension last August despite the team having just finished 8th the season before. He knew Champions League football wasn't on the immediate horizon yet he still signed an extension and collected a hefty - and well deserved - pay rise for doing so, and until very recently nobody at the club seemed concerned that the lack of Champions League football was going to result in Suarez pushing for a move as he had not led anyone to believe that was the case.

In fact, the prospect of him leaving the club at all only reared it's ugly head following the 10 game suspension and subsequent media frenzy that resulted from it. A situation that whilst overblown, was one created entirely of his own making let us not forget. It was only then that Suarez began to question his future, and he himself said repeatedly that this was more to do with life in England becoming increasingly difficult as opposed to any issue with the club and it's lack of success.

So with all this in mind, my belief until this week was that Luis didn't specifically want 'out' of Liverpool, he just wanted 'in' at Real Madrid, and if the Madrid deal didn’t come off he'd remain at Anfield and give his all, just as he's always done. I mean, why wouldn't he? We've regularly heard how his family love life on Merseyside and that he's settled and happy in the area. His team-mates all speak of how much he loves the club and how committed to the cause he is. We've even had the "I always used to play as Liverpool on Fifa when I was younger" spiel from him and he's often spoken proudly of how his daughter knows all the words to 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. He's one of us, is Luis, he wouldn't do what nasty old Fernando Torres did, that's for sure.

And just like a fool I bought into it all. Against my better judgement, I believed him. I believed him right up until Liverpool rejected Arsenal's inflammatory £40,000,001 bid for him and the reports began to emerge that he wasn't happy about it and wanted to talk to the Gunners. What? Why? What does he need to talk to Arsenal about? Maybe he might want to ask them when was the last time that they actually won something? Or maybe he needs to clarify whether London is actually in England, as after all, he can't stay in England because of the nasty press and those pesky paparazzi who won't leave his wife and daughter alone whenever he leaves the house. So he claimed anyway.

Call me naive, but this week's developments have caught me completely off guard as I never thought for one second he'd even consider joining another English club. I'm sure it's taken some of his team-mates by surprise too. He'd stated that his reason for needing to get away from Liverpool was solely the treatment he'd received at the hands of the English press. Now, apparently, it's about wanting to play in the Champions League. Yet he never mentioned the Champions League in any of those interviews, he only spoke of needing to leave Anfield because of the harsh press treatment he's endured in England. And once again, let me repeat, he signed a contract extension even though we'd just finished 8th and in all likelihood there would be no Champions League football in the club's immediate future.

I can’t get my head around it to be honest. Is he really considering joining Arsenal, or is this a ploy by his agent to smoke out Real Madrid or another club he has his eye on? If he wants to play in the Champions League, going to Arsenal is a risky move as they've only been qualifying by the skin of their teeth recently and appear to be by far the most vulnerable of the current top four. Hypothetically speaking, Suarez could go there and get knocked out in the group stages as well as finishing 5th in the Premier League, meaning no Champions League football the following season. Of course he could go there and win both trophies, but I know which scenario seems most likely, and it isn't the latter.

It's clearly not about money, as the Reds would easily match whatever Arsenal offered if it meant keeping the player. It can't be about trophies either, as despite Liverpool's recent woes we've still managed to win two trophies since Arsenal last lifted silverware. So what does that leave? The Champions League it seems, but is Suarez really prepared to dump on Liverpool from such a great height, to betray the fans that idolise him and have supported him so loyally, just to play a handful of Champions League group games and maybe one or two knockout rounds if the draw is kind?

I'm not convinced he is, my gut feeling is that his agent is stringing Arsenal along in the hope of forcing the hand of other interested parties. Of course I could be wrong and maybe he really is that stupid and is up for joining Arsenal, but it matters not either way as to even be seen as entertaining the idea of leaving Anfield for the Emirates is a slap to the face of each and every Red that has stood by him throughout his numerous troubles.

I understand him wanting to move on, I really do. As much as it pains me to say it, as one of the top five players in world football he shouldn't be playing for a team that can't even make the top four (or indeed six) in their domestic league. He should be playing for one of the best teams in Europe, competing for the top prizes and presently that isn't Liverpool. It's not Arsenal either though, is it?

Suarez can do better than Wenger's men if he leaves Anfield, but more importantly he shouldn't even be thinking about joining another English club after the incredible support he's had from Liverpool fans through his various disciplinary issues. He tells everyone how much he appreciates that support and how much he loves Liverpool, but he sure has got a funny way of showing it hasn't he?

Arsenal are the team that Liverpool have trained their sights on for this season, so why would we allow our best player to join the one top four team that we feel we have a realistic chance of catching? Selling to Arsenal - regardless of the fee - simply should not even be an option for LFC. In the long term it would be more prudent to sell abroad for £30m than to do business with Arsenal for even double that amount when you factor in the potential revenues that regular Champions League qualification brings.

LFC simply have to get back into those top four positions and given how far ahead both Manchester clubs and Chelsea presently are, that means the best chance of doing that is to overhaul Arsenal. Selling Suarez to the Gunners would immediately make them much stronger and Liverpool much weaker for this coming season, therefore making Brendan Rodgers' job of gatecrashing the top four considerably more difficult. Not just for this season, but for years to come, and the financial implications of that dwarf any potential difference in transfer fee between selling abroad or to Arsenal.

This whole situation is relatively uncharted territory for us as it's extremely rare that players choose to leave Anfield to join another English club, and frankly the idea of this happening with Suarez hurts. Torres is the only example I can think of, and it's not a pleasant experience seeing a former idol running around in the colours of a rival club. Suarez hasn't made that kind of leap yet, but he appears to be on the brink of doing so.

However this plays out now, the one thing I'll take from it is that Luis Suarez is not the man I thought he was. That probably says more about me than him though, as I really should know better than to put any kind of stock in the character of a modern day footballer.

Dave

[Spy Bee]

No more needs to be written on the subject now.

[Hermes]

He and Real Madrid are using Arsenal to determine our selling price. Then Real will make their move.

[lamai]

He and Real Madrid are using Arsenal to determine our selling price. Then Real will make their move.

 

I hope you are right!! Letting him go to Arsenal even for £55 is nuts. As said I would rather let him go to Real for £30

[Trucker Paddy]

He and Real Madrid are using Arsenal to determine our selling price. Then Real will make their move.

 

And be told £50m or fuck off

[Guest LFD]

Spot on Dave.

 

Arsenal should not be an option and Ayre / Rodgers / FSG - whoever makes the final decision, can't allow him to go there. For me it should be a club abroad who match our fee (like Real) or he has to suck it up and stay here.

 

If he was so adamant about playing in the Champs League, why did he join us in the first place? Ajax were in the Champs League and we weren't. Something doesn't really add up and I think his agent must be using Arsenal to get Real interested. But it is a risky strategy as Real don't seem interested and now Suarez is just pissing off the LFC fans when really he would have gone with all our blessing had he gone to Real or about this move in the right way.

[stringvest]

Good post Dave. I'm not quite as bothered, as I think there are very few footballers whose utterances can be taken with anything other than a pinch of salt. Suarez could never be regarded as a role model on the field, and his behaviour off the field would appear to have room for improvement. A bit less than a savoury character.

 

It's a real shame for youngsters who will see Suarez as an idol - a bit of a rude awakening for them.

[Hermes]

And be told £50m or fuck off

 

Real may well be willing to pay that, but if we agree to sell to Arsenal for £45m they know what they have to pay. Real rarely bid first or early, they wait but usually get their man.

 

Amazes me how players are so attracted to Real. We've won more European Cups than them in the last 50 years. Talk about living on past glory.

[thompsonsnose]

He and Real Madrid are using Arsenal to determine our selling price. Then Real will make their move.

 

 

 

Yup.

I think he will go to Real in about 2 weeks time, for about £48million.

Arsenal aren't serious.

They're doing what they always do this time of year.

[SCOUSE TAPAS]

I would feel exactly the same way Dave if it turned out that what he said in Uruguay to the people there was all lies. I cant believe the club haven't issued a statement like with Torres saying he wants to talk to the buying club though that's a bit shitty.

The last thing Brendan said there was nothing new regarding Luis as well.

[RobbieOR]

That is mostly spot on but I still hope he stays. Fuck selling him.

[stringvest]

There's still a few battered wives on here I see.

[Andy M]

There's not a chance I'd consider accepting £30m from Real if Arsenal had an offer of £50m on the table, I'd grab the £50m every time.

 

Liverpool is a club which appears to bring out the best in its strikers much more so than when they transfer to another English club. Fowler, Owen, Torres even ...ahem... Heskey and Baros. There's not a single player amongst that grouping who improved at another English club, and I reckon there's a strong argument to say Suarez wouldn't either.

 

Suarez may have presented us with another chance to spend big and in a way that is in keeping with Financial Fair Play. I love Kenny but he wasted what many say may be FSG's only big money splurge, and I'd grab the opportunity to sign three or four Coutinho's over one Suarez any day.

[Lycan]

I'd grab the opportunity to sign three or four Coutinho's over one Suarez any day.

 

If only it was that easy mate.

[Gym Beglin]

Nicely put Dave, really nicely put.

 

I'm minded to sell now though, because selling Suarez won't be regarded as a show of weakness in the same way as selling, say, Coutinho would. The reasn for that is because the world and his dog know that Suarez is a racist, diving, moaning cunt, regardless of whether he actually is or not. We can paint this as 'wiping our hands clean' and this is our message upon selling him.

 

I think it's too far gone now. Arsenal want in, they're being coaxed along by Suarez and his agent, the latter obviously wants him sold so he gets his slice of it, and he's already banned for 6 games before we kick a ball, it's self perpetuating, he'll explode again because the media want him to, and he wants to, and his opponents want him to. I think we've ridden this horse to death now. Time to get off before it collapses, spruce him up and get £50m in the hands of this scouting team.

 

He's mad. Going to Arsenal is a clear indication of that.

[Guest LFD]

Hope these quote are real:

 

Marcos - URUGUAY ‏@auxmanya91 22m

@MostarLFC LAST MOMENT: A Journalist of Uruguay (@MartinCharquero) text a SMS for Luis Suarez: "Luis, are you reading newspapers?"

Marcos - URUGUAY ‏@auxmanya91 21m

@MostarLFC The answer was: "Yes, sometimes, and I laugh a lot about the things they invent. I'm a Liverpool player"

Retweeted by Karl

Marcos - URUGUAY ‏@auxmanya91 18m

@MostarLFC More of Luis: "I'm not stupid, I need to leave England. Here I can't live any more in a comfortably way."

Retweeted by Karl

Marcos - URUGUAY ‏@auxmanya91 17m

@MostarLFC "If i go to Arsenal nothing will change, and the fans of Liverpool will hate me"

[MLB]

Noises from Spain are suggesting that Real aren't interested but I'm not sure I buy that. They have money to spend and they a striker down after selling Higuain. Is Ancelotti really the type of manager who would put his faith in kids like Morata and Rodriguez? I doubt it.

 

I agree that we shouldn't countenance selling him to Arsenal

[Guest San Don]

He and Real Madrid are using Arsenal to determine our selling price. Then Real will make their move.

 

I dont believe this real smoking theory for one second. It may make me the odd one out but the talk coming out of real is not of suarez.

 

And if that is real's ploy, expect a bid of about £25m plus a few mill add ons or a real madrid 'B' player to make up the £25m. Why should they bid any more than £25m if we are so desparate for him not to go to arse?

 

I dont agree its better to get just £25m or even £30m from Real instead of £50m - £55m from arse.

 

El sulk didnt make them stronger. With suarez' history, I'll wager he'll likely get another lengthy ban in his first two season with them. And the £50m+ will allow us to re build.

[Ne Moe Imya]

Hope these quote are real:

 

They're not, of course.

 

Martin Charquero, the journo who supposedly had them off Suarez has just gone on twitter to say that they're made up, and the lad who made them up has admitted "it was fun."

[Andy M]

“@LBCeleste: Must APOLOGIZE w BIG BIG LETTERS. @MartinCharquero just told me the quotes are not true. I just removed them and plz do the same in ur end.”

[King Emlyn]

Much like Dave, for some bizarre reason I also was taken in by him and thought he was genuine, which like he says probably says more about me than Suarez. I can however state with 100% certainty that It will never, ever happen again.

[Hermes]

Souness ""For me he should stay at Liverpool and be a company man".

 

Strange comment from a man who was captain of the European Champions and Treble winners when he jumped ship to a mid-table Italian club that had never won a major trophy.

[xerxes]

[in fact, the prospect of him leaving the club at all only reared it's ugly head following the 10 game suspension and subsequent media frenzy that resulted from it.

 

It was our failure to qualify for the EL, let alone the CL, which set this hare running.

[DT]

Souness ""For me he should stay at Liverpool and be a company man".

 

Strange comment from a man who was captain of the European Champions and Treble winners when he jumped ship to a mid-table Italian club that had never won a major trophy.

 

How much would Souness have been on back then?

 

If he was moving to double his money it'd be more understandable than say leaving to get from £120k a week to £150k.

[razor]

It was our failure to qualify for the EL, let alone the CL, which set this hare running.

 

Thanks for that, Xerxes.

 

 

I am 100% sure that he won't go/doesn't want to go to Arsenal. We just need Madrid to put us out of our misery and bid PROPERLY.

 

However, I am bitterly disappointed by his behaviour in Melbourne, I have to say. It's put a whole new slant on how I view him, it really has.

 

 

I'm a battered wife, Stringy, I admit it.