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Liverpool FC: Succeeding In The Art of War With Their Warrior

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“What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed: One cannot afford to neglect opportunity.” Sun Tzu ‘The Art of War’

Luis Suarez has hit the headlines again; the handball against Mansfield securing a 1-2 win for the Redmen, progression in the cup assured, and the chance for Liverpool to keep the hope of getting some valuable experience by trying to put the disappointment of last year’s FA Cup final behind them.

A trophy, especially the FA Cup would be a brilliant piece of experience in the early stages of the Rodgers revolution.

Think what you like about Suarez; he’s a genius on the football pitch. He’s a brilliant playmaker as well as a goal scorer. Defenders struggle with Suarez one on one, unless there’s 3 centre-backs closing him down – even then the chances are the defender will be duly nut-megged; it’s then between Suarez & the keeper. He’s already being hailed as potentially the winner of goal of the season. Depending on form in the coming months he may even win the golden boot, although he’ll face tough competition from the unbelievable RVP.

Let’s be clear, every Liverpool fan will want the Redmen to win fairly. We want our team to be known for our sheer quality both on the pitch and off it. But we do want to succeed, and sometimes that means making the most of your opportunities when it comes.

Yet in ‘elite’ sport, we’re very selective about who we criticize and why. I’ve been guilty of it myself when Gareth Bale dived against Scotland turning the game on its head – needless to say I was angry.

Yet in the Olympic Games this year Philip Hindes admitted to deliberately falling off his bike in order to compensate for a bad start. It created some general interest in the news, but as it was Chris Hoye who got his gold in London; it was OK for him to do that.

Or when Paul Scholes made a spectacular save worthy of a goal keeper against Fulham a few years back, he saw red. He did it again in the European Super Cup and again saw red. Yet he’s known as one of the best in his generation with United fans giving him the nickname ‘the master’. Gary Neville openly admits that football is, at the top level ‘a battle which must be won at all costs’. If you get a chance, you take it. It’s no surprise to hear this philosophy from two of the most successful footballers in the country – think what you like about Manchester United, they win at all costs and sometimes it’s not nice.
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In elite sport, people dedicate their lives to the cause of winning. It should be no surprise to find people like Scholes, Neville and Suarez doing anything to get a result. Anything but doping is acceptable. That way you’ve got your instinct, you’re natural skill and talent to take advantage of what happens on the pitch.

Success is sometimes being ruthless and other times sheer luck. Joe Jordan, playing for Scotland at Anfield against Wales in 1977 famously punched the ball into the net sending Scotland into the World Cup and leaving Wales out in the cold. Even Geoff Hurst’s goal that never was in the 1966 World Cup final, he went off and celebrated knowing full well he didn’t score; yet the goal was given and England lifted the cup.

Manchester City were recently criticized for putting the advertising boards closer to the touchline to prevent teams like Stoke and Sunderland from throwing the long ball into the box. What’s the difference between that and cricket grounds-man building a wicket which will better suit the home side?

With Luis, he’s a born winner. He wants to succeed at Liverpool, but more than that he wants Liverpool to succeed. He’s very happy on Merseyside, and he clearly loves the club, but he knows he has to sometimes drag the team up. As Steven Gerrard put it: “Luis is a warrior, he’s like this every day”.

The case is slightly different this time due to the fact he didn’t actually cheat – most pundits are in agreement that the ball deflected back off his hand and went into the goal. It just shows what can happen. He kicks the ball into the goal convinced the referee will rule the goal out and doesn’t celebrate the goal. Yet when offered one, why should he turn the goal down when he’s offered it? Surely now that means every defender that handles the ball will have to declare that to the referee?

Liverpool will need more than skill, quality & character in order to succeed going forward; they’ll need to take advantage of the situations that come their way!

Follow me on Twitter @JohnRitchie84
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Lifelong LFC fan from Edinburgh, now living in Wales. I fell in love with Liverpool seeing the amazing team of the late 80's. My favorite player is a strong tie between Sammi Hyypia & Xabi Alonso with Dietmar Hamman coming a close third. Senior marketer by day, father and husband by night. A passion for booze, boats and all things good in life. My proudest achievement is somehow convincing my wife to marry me and creating my beautiful daughter.

2 comments

  • granger gibson says:

    I don’t really agree with most of accusations thrown on Suarez. And the main reason is that most managers try to fuel trivial issues surrounding Suarez. For instance, one manager (Fe) escalated the so called racism role against the innocent lad, he even asked LFC to sack the player, how ridiculous is that? Instead of concentrate of managing their own clubs and players, they jump into other peoples affairs. These ill minded managers are employed to manage their own clubs and not other clubs. They always jump into affairs involving other clubs’ players; I don’t really understand their attitude towards other clubs mainly LFC. Now one has already started talking of innocent Suarez before the upcoming game, if Suarez dives in his face would you blame him? It’s the stupidity of this type of leadership in the English Premier League that is bringing down the splendour of football we used to enjoy. Fe… repent of your nasty behaviour! We want to enjoy football not your mischievous acts.

  • sabbathi says:

    A certain old man came up to tell Liverpool to sack my beloved Suarez. Bt the question is, when Cantona did his “Jakie Chang” kick years back and was baned for one whole year by the FA, where was his manager who once told Liverpool to sack my innocent Suarez? How come he allowed Cantona back into Man U after he served his ban? Somebody that was banned for eight games and someone that was banned for a whole season, whose offence carried a bigger weight? I know you hav the answer, but just keep it within you. Why won’t every manager mind his business? Why won’t they concentrate on how to improve their team rather than poke nosing other clubs (Liverpool)? Is Suarez the only player in the premiereship? I know why they keep doing all these, its simply because they are scared of him and the fact that they also wished he was their player. But the truth is that he’s in the right and biggest club and he can never play for them. Can’t they see that he’s heart is with Liverpool? I dnt envy lazy journalists who are so lazy to come up with fantastic stories instead of always waiting for Suarez before they can write anything. It only shows how lazy they are. Pls help me tell Suarez that we the Liverpool fans in Lagos Nigeria love him and are fully behind him. We remain Liverpool till we die. YNWA! I remain Sabbathi “D Dream” 316, the first sports comedian of Nigeria.

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