Not looking to wum at all, but it seems to me that the Uruguyan has a split-personality - the Suarez off the pitch, and the Suarez on it. Before the game, Sky showed an interview with him talking to Geoff Shreeves, and he came across really well. I was really surprised, because my pre-conception was that he'd be as irritating and objectionable as he often can be on the field. Instead he came across as humble, decent, very aware of the history of Liverpool and its past players, and very aware of the double-standards of the press.
Yet, when he's on the pitch he seems to become a totally different player, he releases his inner demon and becomes a win at all costs, moaning, whining, diving, cheating, niggling pain. He gets up the noses of so many opposition fans because he's a quality player who scores goals and is a constant menace, but I don't think he'd be so universally despised by other fans if he cut out some of these less endearing parts of his game.
Before anyone shouts me down, I know Bale goes down too easily sometimes and can be a bit of a big girl's blouse, and we've had players in the past that are not easy to love - Bentley springs to mind. We've got one now who divides opinion in Adebayor.
But what I struggle to understand is the on-field persona that Suarez takes on is apparently so different from the one he has off it. In the case of someone like Terry or Barton, they're horrible on the pitch and have done horrible things off it. But what compels Suarez to claim for every freekick, leave his leg in when it's not warranted, refuse to shake the hand of a player he's been found guilty of racially abusing, biting a fellow professional, blatantly cheating, swearing at opposition fans, and generally be a nuisance who's never far from the headlines, whether good or bad.
Until yesterday, I'd only ever had his on-field persona to judge on, and I didn't like it one bit. I find him an odious presence at times, and some of his antics everything that is wrong with football. But then I see him in that interview, and he seems like a grounded, sensible individual. He went up in my estimation, and then the 90 minutes happens and I hate him again.
Appealing for everything, provoking, falling over too easily, refusing to shake Scott Parker's hand over nothing, rattling the usually mellow Dembele. If Suarez was more likeable on the pitch, then it would be a lot easier for people to admit that he's a great player, a deserving PFA winner, and perhaps one of the best strikers in the world. As it is, I find it difficult to respect and admire him in a way I did a Zola or a Bergkamp or even someone like a Hyppia or Carragher.
Thoughts?
Two Luis Suarez's
posted on 19/3/13
red man and why don't you go back and read my response?
i pointed out that whilst you can list people who do one of the things suarez does my whole point is that he does all of them.
get it yet?
watch the highlights for his exagerrating contact. even seven grater acknowledged it if you check back.
even if the analysis is heavier they will still choose a subject and focus on it. its standard tv behaviour for highlights.
you are trying to prove a UK wide conspiracy using one episode of motd.
do you see how laughable that is?
so one united fan said differently. well i know several liverpool fans that disagree with you.
i will be seen as something by you lot because i am saying suarez gets the attention and criticism he deserves.
big shock.
posted on 19/3/13
Raj
Oh dear, you really have got prpblems with your memory. You also said that it doesn't matter how often a person does any of the things you mentioned.
I asked you if the amount he 'feigns injury' doesn't matter. Why use it as part of your criteria when judging him? The same applies for 'dissent' & 'diving'. Why include these 3 when you clearly stated the amount he does it doesn't matter?
"watch the highlights for his exagerrating contact. even seven grater acknowledged it if you check back."
Give us examples. You claim he did something, prove it.
"even if the analysis is heavier they will still choose a subject and focus on it. its standard tv behaviour for highlights."
Why have I seen MOTD focus on the diving of two players from different sides? Why have I seen NOTD show analysis of one teams defensive play, and their opponents attacking play. MOTD focus on lots if different things in their post match analysis. Your wrong in this one.
"you are trying to prove a UK wide conspiracy using one episode of motd."
Ah right you've convieniently ignored this in my last post;
There has been. Like for example. The week Suarez dived, against Stoke, it was all over the papers. A FIFA delegate even got involved. It was the same week Bale also dived, and it was laughed off on MOTD.
How is that using 'one episode of MOTD to prove a conspiricacy? That's giving you a clear example of the contrast in reaction between two players doing the same thing.
"so one united fan said differently. well i know several liverpool fans that disagree with you."
Do you, prove it. Of are we playing 'Raj says' again?
posted on 19/3/13
no i said that about kicking people off the ball because suarez has done it 3/4/5 times and bale has done it none.
try again.
how can i prove it? i havent written them down and dont remember the incidents. i remember seeing it and seven grater a liverpool fan acknowledged it so thats that. is this another attempt for you to get out of something because i dont want to spend hours online finding replays?
we dont all spend our lives on a forum you know.
motd do focus on lots of things if they are equal. this wasnt equal.
feigning injury happens all over the place. its rarely a talking point.
what suarez did as a combination of things was.
a classic example of what im talking about.
many of bales dive have been debatable because of contact. the one where there wasnt contact was focused on on motd just like the one which suarez did was focused on.
but no. apparently its more likely lineker and the editor decided to pick on suarez for no apparent reason.
you want me to prove that people i know away from the forum have said something?
are you for real?
seriously. some of us have actual lives where we talk to people away from a forum.
try it sometime.
posted on 19/3/13
Give it up Red Man, you're fighting a losing battle, he's universally hated apart from Liverpool fans, there must be a valid reason.
If he was a United played you'd be on his back, fact
posted on 19/3/13
Raj
No you said this;
"whether its 3 or 4 or 5 or 100 incidents is irrelevant to the overall point."
I then pointed out to you that a couple of days ago you stated 'Suarez gets more attention because of the amount of times he feigns injury, dives etc'.
I then asked you, if the amount of times Suarez does it is 'irrelevant', and most players feign injury, dive etc. why mention these categories when drawing up your rap sheet? Why mention something most players do?
Why not just mention Suarez's petulance?
posted on 19/3/13
Thudd
Just to be clear. I've never said Suarez is an angel. I've said to Raj that he's a petulant sod, who used to dive too much. He also did himself no favours with the racism row.
What annoys me is this rap sheet people come up with including every petty incident he's ever been involved in. Most players cheat, to win free kicks/throw ins. I'd say every forward player feigns injury. There are more prolific divers in the league, this season. Yet these things are included in Raj's 'why I hate Suarez' list. It's quite pathetic IMO .
posted on 19/3/13
Redman don't bother mate Suarez is the devil in most people's eyes and nothing you say will change their mind.
Raj is an obsessed hypocrite and not worth arguing with, he just hates Suarez but can't help talking about him as consistently as Suarez scores goals.
That piece on motd was cringeworthy and laughable pat nevin doing his all to stop the best player in the pl winning player of the year
Suarez does what the vast majority of players do on a weekly basis but when he does it he's all evil but other players do it it's shrugged off as part of the game.
#obsessedhypocrites
posted on 19/3/13
Give it up Red Man, you're fighting a losing battle, he's universally hated apart from Liverpool fans, there must be a valid reason.
_____
How so? By Ghana maybe and then in England, is he hated around Europe and south America?
No but of course England is the universe
posted on 19/3/13
Also I'm pretty sure he's a big with the Ajax fans
posted on 20/3/13
red man i said that about his kicking out. not his feigning injury.
as i explained. it doesnt matter if he did it 3/4/5 times because as a comparison to other cheats in the league, no one else does it.
stop and think for a moment.
when we are at the game. in the stands. suarez clearly annoys opposition fans more than players like bale.
why do you think that is?
i'll tell you why. because the combination of antics he has done and does do annoys people.
it has nothing to do with an agenda. its a natural reaction to a player that has more faults than most.