Luis Suarez - A 12 month grieving process

Before we start I think it’s wise for me to point out quite how highly I rate Luis Suarez as a player and ultimately as a man. Baring the occasional moment of madness, he is a truly inspirational figure. I’ve always had admiration for someone with that level of drive and passion, who plays with 100% of his heart and soul. But not only that, it’s the leadership through his play and ability to unite the team, raising the level of those around him that really resounds. I can hand on heart say I’ve never seen a player more determined to win and succeed at any cost. Whilst these means aren’t always to everyone’s liking, you need a fighter in your corner. Liverpool needed that and we as a team would always miss that.

His mental strength however is just a small part of what makes him one of the best players in world football. His instinctive ability with a football is nothing short of astounding. He’s both a creator and scorer of truly magnificent goals. We’ve all seen these but at times you really have to pinch yourself (usually against Norwich) and think to yourself ‘did I really just witness that’. The technique, skill, vision, passing, pressing, movement and shooting are all of the very highest grade. Without doubt he’s one of the best players of his generation, but ultimately he may not go down in history with that deserved recognition.

It’s been a tough 12 months since Luis Suarez departed Liverpool football club, to fulfil his boyhood dream of playing for Barcelona. He’s gone onto win the treble and despite a slightly difficult settling in period, been devastating, really showing his class and winning honours that he really deserves.

Suarez breaking City hearts
(fcbarcelona.com)

Rewind 12 months when the rumours of Barcelona became more than idol speculation, an array of emotions hit me and firstly I was expecting anger; but it surprisingly never arrived. Having experienced the players flirtations of 12 months earlier with Arsenal, I’d already felt that emotion in its fullest form. With the onslaught of damning quotes whilst on international duty, the rumoured contract clause and wave after wave of press reports, it was hard time as a Liverpool fan and not one I like to look back on. Crucially however one man in John Henry rejected Arsenal’s derisory offer quite brilliantly. It’s the first time I remember the owners being quite so involved publicly and perhaps it’s what I hoped would be a turning point in FSG’s ownership. What followed from LFC and Luis was a truly wonderful season, it wasn’t quite perfect but my word was it close to that.

Thankfully having skipped anger for a second year running, I was presented with denial! In my mind Luis had become a reformed man. Incident free, no antics on the pitch (diving, biting, sulking or otherwise), giving his all and forcing the club into heights that nobody could have realistically predicted. A bumper contract was signed and all seemed on the surface, as harmonious. So why would a happy player, who we’ve stood by as supporters, through all of the suspensions, negative press and disruption leave the club so willingly? We were back in the Champions League, so that argument is lost. A team whose stock was clearly on the rise after our remarkable season last year, therefore in my mind he surely would give us one more season? A naive notion I know, but those emotions came off the back of second place and that title chase.

Source: liverpoolfc.com

Then came the bite! I don’t want to dwell on it, but it’s a moment that rocked world football especially considering the stage and instantly changed many fans opinions on Luis. He’s dragged the club through the dirt once more, he needs to be thrown out, fined, beaten, locked up. Okay so those last two I didn’t read, but the rest were in plain site all over social media. It was a damning condemnation of a player who was a saviour just weeks before and not one I could possibly share. In the moment I just knew he’d leave and all I felt was fear.

Whilst I do not for one minute want to place last season heroics at the feet of just one man. Luis played an extremely large part in the success achieved. He in the cold light of day was Liverpool’s only World Class player and by leaving would naturally have a negative effect on the pitch. That fear is magnified if you take into consideration LFC’s questionable success in the transfer market. Selling your best player, who would clearly be a draw for other top players, made that concern a real possibility. Whilst Suarez cannot be like for like replaced, without buying intelligently we could be in considerable trouble, because let’s face it you’re losing the best player in the league, who scored or assisted over 40% off all of the clubs goals. He also set the tone for the teams his energy pressing and ruthless ability to capitalise on mistakes made by opponents, making us feared and one of the hardest opponents in the league.

The next emotion I expected was loss. Liverpool to me is like a family, it’s more than just a football club. Therefore anything that threatens it, results in genuine emotional reactions. I’ve experienced these feelings before particularly when Fernando Torres departed. But since that day I’ve never emotionally let myself get that attached to a player. I remember that moment happening like it was yesterday and whilst you may laugh, I found it genuinely heart wrenching. The manner in which it happened, the club he joined and the circumstances were a bitter pill to swallow. With Luis, departure was more inevitable than Fernando, it was also not to a direct rival. Crucially he’d also been banned for a significant length of time, which slightly softened my stance on the departure. Upon reflection perhaps I should have hurt that little more.

The most difficult faze came next, depression! As mentioned earlier the fear felt regarding a suitable replacement and the concern of replacing not only the goals, but the passion, desire and will to win have considerably come to pass. If we consider the replacement players who’d been brought in to share that burden, it’s not been easy to crave for Luis that bit more. As a combined unit non of those players have delivered even 10% of what Suarez brought to the team. Balotelli, Lambert, Markovic and Lallana were tasked with filling the quota of goals and assists. It’s needless to say the stats alone speak volumes, but that’s only a very small aspect of what is frankly has been a woeful season. All season we’ve looked lost without our focal point, a team in transition once more and ultimately a shadow of the side that went on that stunning run last season.

At times you have to take a step backwards and remember that players, just like managers will always come and go. Some stay for long periods, perhaps whole careers and others not quite long enough. However the club remains and ultimately that’s who I support, so with Luis departing comes reflection and ultimately acceptance. I understand that all players have aspirations and every ounce of effort Luis delivered on a pitch throughout his career, was to play for one of Spain’s giant clubs. That was his boyhood dream and who are we to stand in the way of a man that gave us so much. I reached a level of understanding and retrospective gratefulness for his wonderful performances for our beloved club. What he achieved on the pitch and what he inspired amongst our supporters means there truly is no need to resent the man, which as a statement must be considered for all former players, including Fernando Torres.

We as football fans do just that, we support. It’s been a harder 12 months, than I can truly put into words for my beloved club and my belief as a supporter. However, with time to reflect, I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I wrote this piece with a heavy heart, but I’m honoured and feel privileged that Luis Suarez was the catalyst for what I do feel can be a resurgence for he club, albeit one with a huge bump in the road last season. Onwards and upwards.