SO I had written an article about my feelings about Luis Suarez and then he went and opened his mouth again.
Twice.
In less than 12 hours he – reportedly – gave two different interviews, espousing two different views on his future with Liverpool FC, all before going on to score for Uruguay in Japan. I think that rather succinctly sums up Suarez, don’t you?
The point is, I’d all but given up on Luis Suarez as a Liverpool player and then he went and spoke about how the affection of Liverpool’s fans has turned him around. He’s changed his mind about moving because of the pure love and affection shown to him by Liverpool’s fans, saying: ‘For now, owing to all the affection of the people, I will be staying’.
Reaction to this appeared to be relief, even if only that this sorry, irritating saga was over. Only for it to be almost instantly started up again when Suarez, apparently in response to these quotes, was again quoted with regards to his future.
This time saying ‘I didn’t say that, maybe somebody else did’, leading to thing becoming more murky and distasteful than they were a week ago. Prior to all of this, following much hand-wringing and contemplation, I’d decided that I just didn’t care anymore.
I’m a life-long Red, and I will be ’til the day I die but after seeing my heroes leave like it wasn’t a big thing for years, I’ve become numb to it now. First McManaman, then Owen, then Torres and now Suarez. All of those players that I would’ve called my ‘hero’ over the years have, essentially, just let me down with the triviality with which they treated the club and the love of the fans.
One of the biggest turning points for me was the day Steven Gerrard made it clear he wanted to leave. Sure, he changed his mind and stayed but he still considered leaving for a club with whom we have a very intense, recent rivalry just weeks after winning the Champions League, all because he wasn’t being shown enough love. What utter nonsense.
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I’m sure I’ll get a lot of criticism for this and, to be honest I have a lot over the years but I still haven’t truly forgiven Gerrard. He’s been our greatest player since we last won a title and easily one of the top 3 Liverpool players of all time, but on a personal level, I still can’t get over what he almost did.
Maybe I hold grudges longer than some but I when you hold something or somebody dear, it’s hard to just forget a perceived injustice or abuse of trust.
Which is why I’m at the point I am now with Suarez: I just don’t care. I appreciate what he brings to the team and that he is one of the top 5 footballers in the world but I think I’ve now reached the point where footballers are nothing more than a commodity now, like a prize cow being sold at a farmer’s market and his comments today have only further cemented my feelings.
Of course, regardless of what he did or didn’t say (and let’s be honest, it’s possible that neither quote came out of this mouth!) and what John Henry said last week, there is equal chance that Suarez will or won’t still be here once the transfer window closes and I think we’d all do well to just take the rest of this sorry saga with a pinch of salt.
And if he happens to still be here when his ban in over and makes his first, tentative appearance in a Red shirt, I’ll certainly celebrate any goals he scores but the joy I’ll feel in watching his barnstorming performances and embarrassing opposition defences will be diminished to the point of disappearing, and that is what is truly sad.
When this season begins against Stoke, I will have an eye on the likes of Coutinho and Sturridge, Sterling and Ibe but for any good they may do and any amazing goal-scoring exploits or little tricks they may pull off, it’ll be hard to not have that nagging thought that, while they may be replacing Suarez in our affections, they may be the ones putting themselves in his position next summer too.
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No….. bored bored bored bored
I’m going, oh no I’m not. I’m staying, oh no I’m not. The pantomime villain is practicing for Christmas, anybody got a pantomime role for him to star as? An ugly sister could work, or even better what about the croc in Peter Pan, he could really get his teeth into that role.
Hope he does go ! Think most do now. Willian and Jackson Martinez,(but seems Manure will beat us to Martinez), then we’re sorted. YNWA.
To quote John Barnes, fall in love with the club, not the players. I still care whether he goes to Arsenal, because that lessens our chances of making 4th. Whether he stays or goes to Real, I couldn’t give a monkeys. I neither love the guy nor hate him. He’s an assett I would be happy to keep or sell to a non competitor. I wouldn’t be bothered either way. Sad state of modern football
Spot on Chris. YNWA
Well mate as a fellow football fan, I empathize but that’s our lot as fans in the modern day. I happen to be an arsenal fan and we have a much longer list of our top players leaving for greener pasture when we wanted them to stay. You’ll get over it or at least learn how to live live with your disappointment.
For what its worth, though it might be wrong – Gerard was all but ready to go to chelsea until some gangsters threaten to kill him and/or his family. So he didn’t actually change his mind and stay.
Obviously we’re keen to get Suarez and the chances are he’ll do the same to us. I only hope we’re smart enough to put in a £100m release clause and even then I doubt that would be enough to keep him, but at least we’d get a shit load of money.
Like I say fella, as a modern day football fan, that’s what we’re up against. I hope this doesn’t create animosity between arsenal and Liverpool in the future. Suarez was never staying with liverpool and I’m sure you’d have been pissed whoever gave him the escape route.
For the sake of savjng Liverpool’s new season, I hope you sell in the next couple of days and use the money to strengthen your squad before the window closes. Just be careful not to do a Carroll or Downing with the money.
Talk about MERCHANT OF DOOM !!!
We shouldn’t care about what Suarez has or hasn’t said. Any other premier club and fans would be delighted to have him in their team, baggage and all. Even those who have spent the past two seasons barracking him whenever he went near a football. We should just hope he is wearing the Liverpool red once he has served his ban and he helps us to revisit past glories.
I think his disrespect is shameful but he’s done the same at previous clubs, why should we expect any different level of loyalty? His public comments must be having a negative effect on the younger players and BR’s plans for a positive environment? If he stays, he may help us to attract big name players but I feel it will be short term stay (look at Tevez at City, Rooney at Manure, neither settled after their desire to leave). If goes at the last minute of the transfer window we won’t be in a position to replace him…I mean we can’t seem to sign big name players now, it will be tougher (and more expensive) towards the close of the window.
Dave, while I understand your sentiments, you are overlooking a number of simple facts. First of all these people are professional footballers and so by defination they play for money. Their other driving factor is winning trophies. While Liverpool FC may compete somewhat with the former, we cannot with the latter. If I may address the names mentioned in your article. Owen, an Everton fan who never had LFC blood. He left at a time of turmoil in the Club as he thought that far away pastures were greener. McManaman, another blue, exercised his professional entitlement and went after the money and success too. Torres, like you I was gutted to see him leave. We believed that he had a bond with us and we willingly adopted him as our own. However his ambition spoke loudest when we went on the slide and a failure by management to recruit early in that January window drove him to seek out with 3 days remaining in that window. Suarez is a despicable character but an incredible footballer. His ambition drives him to be the player he is. He has no loyalty to us but I’m sure he would stay if we had better players, hence the disappointment in our transfer activity up to date. But if we want to be successful again we must keep his ilk. Otherwise, next summer it will be Sturridge or Coutinho looking for out. Gerrard in the summer of 2005 was one of the best footballers in the world, but he was still human. A more efficient Club would have secured his signature immediately, we didn’t. He interpreted the delay and Rafa’s persona, he being the unaffectionate man he was, as a sign that he was not completely wanted and so made the mistake(which he acknowledges) of seeking a transfer. He didn’t disrespect the Club with comments and when it came to it he didn’t go. I’m sure he knew that being C.L. winners 2005 did not make us the best team in Europe. I’m sure he knew that he could join any of the best teams in Europe and win more trophies than at LFC, but he didn’t – he stayed out of his genuine love for LFC. Without him in our side, where do you think we would have been since then? You should no longer restrain your love for him because of his immense ability. If he was a lesser player whom no other Club would be interested in, would that make him better in your eyes. Does that make Lucas better than Gerrard . Quality comes at a price to us all. If we have a beautiful wife then every other guy wants her too. Do you really want the ugly one?
Good comment
Love the club not the player… Keegan left king kenny came, he left , rush stayed – left n came back, Aldridge, Beardsley, fowler, Owen, reidle, ……. Torres…. See the trend ? People go club remains. Yes a kicker if its arsenal… But step up the next superstar… The stage is yours!! Ynwa!
Unfortunately I am old enough to remember all those player 🙁
Of course we care . All true Liverpool fans should hope he stays as he is our best player and only hope of achieving anything
Love Luis Suarez . Want him to stay but don’t blame him for trying to play at higher level
He could have handled it better but I believe Luis over Rodgers. Suarez has done more for our club than Rodgers ever will , and we can’t trust a word Rodgers says
Yes , why do people think Suarez no tell truth. Rodgers never tell truth . I believe suarez. Hope he stay
Nope…it makes no difference. If he wants to stay, fine and if he doesn’t fine too. Enough written on him. I wish the press would just stop writing about him.
This guy call suarez should look for a team outside england n leave lfc alone.he is still not happy of what he has caused the club,suarez should give us a break,we re ok with all his nonsense.
No. He was never a Red.
Suarez in a dressing room affects that dressing room, positively or negatively. In this case, negatively. The game of chicken between Suarez on the one hand and J. Henry and BR on the other is very interesting, especially as it does not factor in what the majority of the fans want at this moment. I think most fans want LFC out of the headlines for the wrong reasons, like this saga. Get it over with BR, because looking into the horizon, I see heads rolling, and as much as I would hate a managerial change so soon for avoidable reasons, one of the heads looks like yours.
I wrote here 2 months ago. Rogers and fsg, needed to deep in their pockets , replace his contribution with 3 players, winger, striker (that will score 15 a season) and another defender. Spend 50 million and we would get that back anyway.
Spurs have spent nearly 60 million pounds this season. Are you telling me Bale is staying? Off course not. They are replacing his contribution before they sell him.
A it happens, we have Suarez in our books and no replacement on sight. Anyone who thinks aspas and Sturridge will do it is deluded beyond belief.
No I don’t care anymore. Get the maximum, write the season off, and a new manager who can do business will do nicely !
Thank you
Am tired of talking abouthis Suarez Issue.. I think BR May have made Suarez a CL Promise. Becos Suarez wouldnt have manufacturd such talks.. He can go and BR should follow.. I want my Lfc 2001 team back
I don’t like BR, but Suarez is just the kind of guy who will say anything . Lie about anything. Play hardball, sell for max value. Simple:)
Rodgers will lie about anything
Of course fans care . He is our star player . I hope he stays , he has been unfairly slagged by his own fans
After all the things he has done and said, does he seriously think LFC fans will believe his latest statement (if he really said it in the first place).! At this moment some of us will be happy even if he is offered to RMadrid for £35m plus a player. But never ever to Arsenal..This buck toothed barnacle is more than capable to do what Torres did..hand in transfer request on the last day…
Transfer request??? Is not legally binding in this country. The club can reject it with ease!