As a Liverpool fan, my view probably differs slightly from the norm on Luis Suarez, but I can't help but be engrossed by everything that comes with him. There is no doubting his quality and skill, just look at what he did to United last season, but the full package is starting to come out now, and when things don't go his way, he can be a complete different animal.
After a scintillating start to his career at Anfield, he has become embroiled in this saga with Patrice Evra, and now has given the middle finger, quite literally to the Fulham fans. I suspect we could see Suarez out of action for about 6 games. Combine the 3 games for the middle finger, with an inevitable ban for the 'racism' row he is looking at a lengthy time on the side. With Gerrard struggling for a while now, Carroll not looking anywhere near his £35m price tag, missing Suarez is something the Reds can ill afford.
Although I don't think Suarez did racially abuse Evra, the FA will seem to have to take a stance on it, and letting Suarez walk free, guilty or not, will look like the FA are turning a blind eye to racism, a view they will not want of their organisation. From my view at the back of the Kop that day, it seemed to me like Suarez out paced, out thought, and was too skillful for Evra, who faced a test sterner than his usual Saturday or Sunday afternoon, Monday night, Saturday tea-time (you get my point!). Suarez tormented Evra, who eventually showed his frustration when he slapped away Suarez's hand which sarcastically tapped him on the back. But as I say, it will no doubt end up with Suarez being banned.
His creativity with the ball, has been marred somewhat by his creativity with his legs. He has been accused of going down too easily, which at times I can agree with. However, on other occasions, he has been very clever and anyone who has played football knows, "how to win a free kick" which Suarez does very well when he knows someone is coming in behind him. In my opinion, there is very little difference to someone like Kevin Davies at Bolton who is continuously praised for his hold up play, and knowing how to win a free kick. Suarez's reputation now goes before him, having gone down easily recently, and where he may have been praised for the Davies-esque "winning the free kick" he is now just seen as a plain diver. Which to me, seems unfair.
Diving in the Premiership has been around for years, and will continue long after Suarez, Nani and all the others that go at it. It's been done by English players before, Gerrard, Owen, Rooney, Lampard, they've all gone down easily, but don't we all? Referees get it wrong so much when you are defending, and get conned by other players, so people even it up. There is a saying I was taught when I was young which goes: "Two wrongs don't make a right", however in life I've soon learnt two wrongs certainly make it even. It's obviously not the sporting thing to do, but it happens at one end, so it will happen at the other. Where I stand on whether it's a skill or not, I'm not quite sure, although I think I verge on the side of getting what you can.
We've had the bad about Suarez, so now for the good. It can be summed up in less words, but to me is much more prominent. From watching in the stands to watching on TV there are certain things that set him apart from others. His pace is something that all defenders are scared of, and his ability to move the ball quickly at pace is a combination not many players have around the world. His work-ethic is unbelievable, he is always on the move, even when the opposition have the ball on the edge of the Liverpool box, he's moving, making defenders think for the whole game. That ties in nicely with his movement, watching him live gives you a better impression of the fantastic positions he picks up all over the field. Whether it's between the lines of the midfield and the back four, or on the shoulder of the last man, he always manages to get himself half a yard of space. If anything, Suarez can be slightly ahead of his team mates, and is thinking things some of the others aren't. That means he knows what he wants to do, but the rest don't, and hopefully when Gerrard returns, he will be able to link with Suarez like he did with Torres (remember him?).
Finally the ugly, well you've all seen him on the tele haven't you?
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