THANKFULLY, the complete cock-up from LFCTV in their announcement of Luis Suarez’s new contract on Tuesday morning was just a matter of timing, rather than facts.
Because if the star striker had, in fact, not signed a new contract, I think it would have been too much for me to take.
The news over the weekend and early this week that Daniel Agger was being lined up for a big-money move to Man City to raise funds had all but finished me off.
Over the past few summers I’ve become used to losing maybe one of my favourite/our better players but this summer we’ve already lost two in Maxi and Dirk. Agger looks likely to go too now but if Suarez had ended up switching Liverpool for Turin, I may not have been responsible for my actions, so it was with great relief and optimism that I greeted the news of Luis’s extension of his contract.
On the face of it, we’ve tied him down for his ‘best years’. If we have another bad season, there’s nothing stopping him from moving in the summer but there’s nothing to suggest he wants to leave just yet and in signing a new contract the indication is that he’s happy and has faith in the club’s plans going forward. The underlying benefits of this though amount to much more than just signing up our best player for the foreseeable future.
For one, it is a sign of intent. Far too often this summer Liverpool appears to have reverted to being a ‘selling club’, bleeding experienced and quality players left and right, so seeing our best player sign a new contract barely 18 months after joining the club signals that, despite stories to the contrary, we might still mean business this summer.
Secondly, it may well act as a stimulus for players like Agger, Skrtel and Reina (all players that have yet to definitively say they’re staying) to commit their futures, knowing that one of Europe’s best has committed to the club. Surely if Suarez sees a future for himself here then so can they?
But for me, one of the most important aspects of Luis signing up for another 4-5 years is the connection with Uruguay that it will help to solidify. Since the signing of Coates last summer, I’ve noticed a lot of transfer rumours and links to players from our star man’s home nation, and I couldn’t be happier. For me, Uruguay could be the new Spain; they have plenty of quality young players, a large pool of natural talent and a rich history of being one of the great football nations.
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I’ll often find myself longing for the days of our strong links with Spain, when players like Torres, Alonso, Reina and Arbeloa would follow each other to the club like lemmings. But in Uruguay, I feel that we’ve established a strong connection to a resurgent footballing nation. Our key man before was Rafa Benitez, such was his respect back in his homeland, but now it is Suarez. The man is already a legend back in Uruguay, winning the country’s first Copa America since 1995 last year, ending the tournament as their top scorer.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he is Uruguay’s Messi, or Ronaldo, or even Maradona. Don’t for a second think I’m saying he is as good as these players but his star quality in his home nation makes him the player that all aspiring footballers want to be like; the player who’s poster kids have on their bedroom walls. And for Liverpool that kind of pulling power could be important for us over the next few years, effectively giving the Reds ‘dibs’ on any top young players coming out of Uruguay.
Of course, more immediately, it could help the signing of more established Uruguayan players already based in Europe. Most notably, Gaston Ramirez. I’ve counted four separate occasions in the past few weeks when ‘experts’ have announced that his signing was imminent. Nothing happened. But with Suarez now putting pen to paper, it might finally give the club and the player the impetus to get a deal pushed through, further cementing that connection.
This is all just conjecture, of course. If we don’t end up having a long-term relationship with Uruguay, then we will at least have their best player signed up for his best years. But I believe that the club could really take advantage of this in the long-run, particularly with many talented compatriots of Suarez’s peppered across Europe, and should we be looking to bring any of them in over the next few years, he could be extra bit of leverage we need.
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Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
Gerrard Lucas Sahin
Afellay Borini Suarez
Very strong squad i think and i hear that both Sahin and Afellay may be signed on loan too.YNWA
I hear a lot of things but most is bull!
Interesting article. firstly Suarez’s signing saga and the TV blip and the has he signed, hasn’t he oh indeed he has was on a par with the Dempsey approach. FSG published a blip on a website that Dempsey was a Liverpool player although the deal wasnt penned, that episode has not had quite the result LFC might have hope for. As for the Uruguayan links well thats sort of a non starter just yet. I agree that having a base of players that link in an international framework as well as the domestic game presents obvious advantages. However The backbone that Rodgers appears to default for is players he has worked with and whom know his system well, J. Cole(injured) Allen (negotiating). Finally I have to say that biding our time in the transfer market can only do us good. The Suarez story today must affect our nearest competitors i.e Arsenal whom are moping around what to do with RVP and Spurs who don’t have a world class striker yet aim to scupper our plans as their own main plan. There may be some late additions yet the main advantage is Rodgers is the man in the ascendency. His ideas have definately got interest up around the EPL.
Nice article you guyz are doing a great job. Firstly I will not be happy if agger leave but we can also cash in if he want to leave. But the great news is that luis has shut speculations. I’m very happy I can’t wait till the begining of the season
Its time to fight and buy creative not only pace need gaston ramirez and adam johnson
can only see us buying in one midfielder and one forward until more sales are made. however,it would seem two loans might also be a possibility. until the likes of carroll, cole, adam, downing, or pacheco are shifted i dont see any more purchases beyond the two. the restriction of funds (~30 mill) would seem to be the reason for loan moves beyond two buys. it also appears that there is an effort to reduce the squad in size to a scenario whereby there are two players for each position, backed up by our young guns. quality not quantity is the way forward at last.
I am not surprise our favourite player Suarez are for sales if not pen a new contract,look as our new ex-Swansea manager,the way he talk the way he want he will sale many of the LFC player Maxi,Dirk
Aquilani been out and Agger,Bellamy,carroll more
to come just to raise funds to buy he ex-player
from Swansea, He will not care about Suarez connection with Uruguay , he only Know the ex-player been play under him, he think player from Swansea are better than present LFC player .
I have no comfident with BR as the LFC manager
,Rafa is far more better.
Under BR I hope LFC are not get relegated after the new season.
Only time will tell if BR is as good for us as he was at Swansea. There is no doubting that he is a class manager and I believe he deserves a chance. Suarez staying is fantastic news and if Agger wants to leave then let’s cash in and then spend on a class replacement. Ramirez will be a great addition and if we can have Adam Johnson and 14 million for Agger then that will be good business. I for one think that we’ll better 8 th position consolidate this year then push on again next season for a top 4 place. Let’s remain positive and support our manager and team all the way!!
Kuyt left before BR was appointed.
And there is nothing wrong in buying players that he knows, adds a bit of reliability factor behind the choice. BR has his own plans for the club, he should because he IS the man in the hot seat.
I can’t wait to see gastos ramirez in our team,pening a new deal ?? fantastic for suarez he ?? world class
buys:
mid – allen.
forward/wing – 1 from dempsey, walcott or adam johnson.
loans:
mid – sahin or perhaps kaka (i know, but i think possible)
forward wing – 1 from tello, affellay or callejon.
loans a good strategy as they allow short term quality and cover, until next summers transfer funds are available and used to replace the leaving loanees.
This is great Suarez, now you had committed a few more years with us. You are an excellent player and you could be great with us in the near future. Many including your manager had asked you to forget the Evra saga. I disagree. You are innocent, had been wronged and your accuser is a character that had once turned his back on his country in a major tournament. Do not forget this and used it to bring glory both for you and the club. YNWA.