The Unfit Referee: The Suarez Effect

It has been less than a year since Luis Suarez burst onto the scene for Liverpool, scoring on his debut with one of his now trademark runs, showcasing the flash and cocky demeanor we have all grown accustomed to seeing game after game. The little Uruguayan has made a major impact on Merseyside, single-handedly taking control of matches with his high energy style and constant bombardment of the opponent’s goal, already making the Kop forget about their former start striker who jumped ship during those dark days at Anfield, what was his name again?

El Pistolero, meaning "The Gunslinger", definitely has lived up to his moniker in the Premiership, terrorizing defenders and keepers alike with his unpredictable footwork. Given the beloved number seven shirt by Kenny Dalglish upon his arrival, Suarez performance on the pitch has surpassed expectations that have come along with the price tag attached for his services.

The positives are endless, unbelievable technical ability that is complimented by steady pace on the ball, determination going forward at all times creating chances out of thin air; his quick adaptation to the English game has been a blessing for all Kopites worldwide. It has been a perfect match for club and player. Suarez gives you ninety minutes of pure intensity on the pitch, with the passion to win at all costs, never will you see him quit on a play no matter who the competition or what score line. The will to win surpasses potential to fail.

Not far from controversy, Suarez has had a couple moments of madness in his career. The most bizarre happened when playing for Ajax in an Eredivisie match against rivals PSV, biting Otman Bakkal almost vampire-like on the pitch after being on the receiving end of an apparent stomp on the foot, giving him proper nutter credentials. Playing with so much aggression, the Uruguayan tends to allow his emotions to get the better of him at times. Things have calmed down since then, but you can never be too sure Suarez can keep himself in check.  So far he has done a good job controlling his behavior with Liverpool, only compiling two yellow cards to date for dissent. That is what I like most about Suarez; his hunger to win is like no other.

The World Cup in South Africa was the venue for his most famous controversy, purposely sticking an arm out to block a sure goal by Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan that would have sent Uruguay crashing out of the tournament, receiving a straight red card for the deliberate handball, Ghana missed the resulting penalty and eventually lost the match. Many condemned Suarez for his action, although most players would admit to reacting in the same manor if put in a similar situation. It is tough to question his loyalty to the cause.

Liverpool bought an absolute gem in Suarez, never fatigued despite playing almost two years without a proper break, always hungry to play in every match and visibly disappointed when subbed off. Suarez is a manager’s dream, involved in every play; his commitment on the field rubs off on the rest of the squad. Blessed with a bag of tricks, Suarez has the ability to attack defenders at will, at times he can be accused of being a little selfish opting to shoot or take on multiple defenders when a pass is the better option, but that desire to go forward is what makes him such an unpredictable force in attack.

This past summer he won the Copa America with Uruguay and was voted best player of the tournament, scoring four goals in the process. Instead of taking an extended break, ever the model professional Suarez was on the pitch playing for Liverpool within three weeks of the final in Argentina, scoring his clubs only goal on opening day at Anfield. Dalglish would have rather given him a couple weeks rest instead of thrusting him back into the squad on virtually no rest, but the little Uruguayan insisted on starting the match, proving his fitness to the club and ready to compete at the highest level.

Critics will point the finger at the ratio of shots to goals being on low end, but where would Liverpool be without Suarez leading the charge? The impact he has had on the team is immense, I would gladly take five missed chances if it produces one goal. It is hard to only judge missed chances when his work rate is extraordinary, always pressuring for possession of the ball and pestering the opposition.

Another aspect that garners much attention in Suarez’s game but for all the wrong reasons is his rate of going to ground rather easily. It is ridiculous to judge him a diver, positioning is a tremendous skill which Suarez has plenty of, doing an amazing job of getting to a spot before his marker to gain the important edge that forces the defender to make a quick decision, usually resulting in a foul. That is the sign of an intelligent footballer not simulation, although we can do without the extra rolling around on the ground that sometimes follows.

It has taken longer than expected but a strong partnership with Andy Carroll is slowly coming to fruition. The big Englishman was injured for the most part last season and has had a slow start to the new campaign, where Suarez has thrived; Carroll has struggled tremendously with life at Liverpool. However in the last three matches the two have linked up quite well and have shown strong signs of improvement, Carroll knocking down balls to Suarez to play off of and exploit spaces with his pace, sucking defenders in with his technical ability to allow his counterpart to get free and in a scoring position. I expect big things to be on the horizon when these two kick into high gear down the stretch.

The loss of club captain Steven Gerrard has been a huge blow to the club, only recently making his return from a lengthy lay-off; the midfielder has now been put on the shelf for a second time leaving Liverpool without their leader on the pitch.  The Suarez effect has allowed Liverpool to be less reliant on their captain and give Gerrard the necessary time needed to heel.

Without question Suarez has proven worthy of wearing the number made famous by his manager, only time will tell if he can earn the same type of status reserved only for Anfield legends and win trophies for the club, a feat which is long overdue.


Check back next week for a new edition of The Unfit Referee