There's no other way to say it: Liverpool FC have taken the coward's way out with their handling of the Luis Suarez bite incident.
A statement today on the club's official website states:
"We've taken action to fine Luis for his actions.
"Brendan has spoken to him and I've spoken to him, and Brendan will be working with him further on his discipline.
"Hopefully that puts the matter to rest from our point of view
A fine? That is the extent of Suarez's punishment for BITING an opponent, something for which he already received a ban in the past? Absolutely pathetic.
In what universe is a FINE any kind of deterrent for an obscenely overpaid footballer? Two weeks wages is nothing for Suarez - it's a laughably token'punishment' from a club that claims to have 'incredible values and ethics' and 'standards' that will 'always be maintained'.
Liverpool should've taken swift and decisive action here and hit Suarez with a ban for the rest of the season. It's not like the club has anything left to play for, is it? A ban would've hit Suarez where it hurts, and made it unambiguously clear that LFC does not - and will not - tolerate such disgraceful behaviour.
Ajax banned Suarez when he bit PSV's Otman Bakkal, so why - when Suarez already as a long history of negative incidents at Anfield - have LFC not followed suit?
Instead, we get the same old spineless, laissez-fair approach to dealing with discipline, which is part of the reason why Suarez continually causes problems in the first place. The club has NEVER dealt with Suarez harshly enough on any of the many problems he's caused, and like the fans, LFC are an enabling force when it comes to the Uruguayan's negative behaviour.
Don't worry though - Brendan Rodgers and Ian Ayre 'have spoken to him' and Rodgers - the manager with an inferiority complex who endlessly heaps grossly overwrought praise on senior players - will 'work with Suarez on his discipline'.
Gosh, I bet Suarez is quaking in his boots!
With all due respect, this feeble promise to work on Suarez means NOTHING, and I have no confidence whatsoever that Ayre and Rodgers can change Suarez's behaviour. Rodgers has had ALL SEASON to work on Suarez's discipline, and he's failed miserably, as has the Ayre-led club over the last two years.
An LFC-imposed ban is the the bare-minimum Suarez should've received, but unfortunately, Liverpool's current lily-livered regime doesn't have the balls to do the right thing. To add insult to injury, Ayre spent most of his statement tactlessly praising Suarez. He fawned:
"Luis is a very important player to the club. He's a very popular player with his teammates. He signed a new four-year contract last summer and we'd all love to see him here throughout that contract. He's a fantastic player, top scorer and everything we'd want in a striker"
So, less than 24 hours after Suarez disgraced LFC *again*, Ayre praises him for being 'important, popular and fantastic', and waxes lyrical about how everyone would 'love' him to stay for another 4 years, and he does this in the same statement where he's supposed to be issuing an alleged punishment?!
What kind of message does this send to the world? Suarez has, in effect, received NO punishment from the club, and that is just unacceptably weak. You'd think Ayre would've learned seomthign from the club's appalling PR handling of the Suarez-Evra situation, but he's clearly learned absolutely nothing.
Forget selling/sacking Suarez - Ian Ayre should be given his marching orders as soon as possible (IMO). He is the common denominator in LFC's atrocious handling of various negative incidents over the last few years, and he is also responsible for the club's persistently amateur PR response.
Real change has to come from the top, and Ayre et al have repeatedly betrayed LFC's unimpeachable ethos of always placing the club above the individual. In this situation, it is crystal clear that Ayre - through fear of losing him - has put Suarez ahead of the club's reputation and image. If that isn't the case, why hasn't the Uruguayan been banned?
Ultimately, LFC's response here is just as disgraceful as UEFA's cowardly approach to tackling racism, the most recent lowlight being a pitiful £65k fine for Serbia as alleged 'punishment' for its fans hurling racist abuse.
Suarez's fine is in the same category of pointlessness, and just like racism in football, the cycle of LFC-sullying negative behaviour will just continue.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
A statement today on the club's official website states:
"We've taken action to fine Luis for his actions.
"Brendan has spoken to him and I've spoken to him, and Brendan will be working with him further on his discipline.
"Hopefully that puts the matter to rest from our point of view
A fine? That is the extent of Suarez's punishment for BITING an opponent, something for which he already received a ban in the past? Absolutely pathetic.
In what universe is a FINE any kind of deterrent for an obscenely overpaid footballer? Two weeks wages is nothing for Suarez - it's a laughably token'punishment' from a club that claims to have 'incredible values and ethics' and 'standards' that will 'always be maintained'.
Liverpool should've taken swift and decisive action here and hit Suarez with a ban for the rest of the season. It's not like the club has anything left to play for, is it? A ban would've hit Suarez where it hurts, and made it unambiguously clear that LFC does not - and will not - tolerate such disgraceful behaviour.
Ajax banned Suarez when he bit PSV's Otman Bakkal, so why - when Suarez already as a long history of negative incidents at Anfield - have LFC not followed suit?
Instead, we get the same old spineless, laissez-fair approach to dealing with discipline, which is part of the reason why Suarez continually causes problems in the first place. The club has NEVER dealt with Suarez harshly enough on any of the many problems he's caused, and like the fans, LFC are an enabling force when it comes to the Uruguayan's negative behaviour.
Don't worry though - Brendan Rodgers and Ian Ayre 'have spoken to him' and Rodgers - the manager with an inferiority complex who endlessly heaps grossly overwrought praise on senior players - will 'work with Suarez on his discipline'.
Gosh, I bet Suarez is quaking in his boots!
With all due respect, this feeble promise to work on Suarez means NOTHING, and I have no confidence whatsoever that Ayre and Rodgers can change Suarez's behaviour. Rodgers has had ALL SEASON to work on Suarez's discipline, and he's failed miserably, as has the Ayre-led club over the last two years.
An LFC-imposed ban is the the bare-minimum Suarez should've received, but unfortunately, Liverpool's current lily-livered regime doesn't have the balls to do the right thing. To add insult to injury, Ayre spent most of his statement tactlessly praising Suarez. He fawned:
"Luis is a very important player to the club. He's a very popular player with his teammates. He signed a new four-year contract last summer and we'd all love to see him here throughout that contract. He's a fantastic player, top scorer and everything we'd want in a striker"
So, less than 24 hours after Suarez disgraced LFC *again*, Ayre praises him for being 'important, popular and fantastic', and waxes lyrical about how everyone would 'love' him to stay for another 4 years, and he does this in the same statement where he's supposed to be issuing an alleged punishment?!
What kind of message does this send to the world? Suarez has, in effect, received NO punishment from the club, and that is just unacceptably weak. You'd think Ayre would've learned seomthign from the club's appalling PR handling of the Suarez-Evra situation, but he's clearly learned absolutely nothing.
Forget selling/sacking Suarez - Ian Ayre should be given his marching orders as soon as possible (IMO). He is the common denominator in LFC's atrocious handling of various negative incidents over the last few years, and he is also responsible for the club's persistently amateur PR response.
Real change has to come from the top, and Ayre et al have repeatedly betrayed LFC's unimpeachable ethos of always placing the club above the individual. In this situation, it is crystal clear that Ayre - through fear of losing him - has put Suarez ahead of the club's reputation and image. If that isn't the case, why hasn't the Uruguayan been banned?
Ultimately, LFC's response here is just as disgraceful as UEFA's cowardly approach to tackling racism, the most recent lowlight being a pitiful £65k fine for Serbia as alleged 'punishment' for its fans hurling racist abuse.
Suarez's fine is in the same category of pointlessness, and just like racism in football, the cycle of LFC-sullying negative behaviour will just continue.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
lets sack the fa and let all clubs punish there own players ,its not going to happen what makes lfc different to every other club what makes suarez different to everyother player the rules are there and when they are broken the fa act (unfairly in some case eg suarez and terry)but neverthe less thats there job ,also jaimie like i posted when you made this comment about ayre in another thread,do you not think he was advised what to say by his bosses ,so if thats the case surely you should be calling for fsg,s head as well and rodgers,but you go for the man least important to the fans ayre,wellif you cannot have suarez,s head its off with ayes viva the revolution
ReplyDeleteLFC would be cutting their nose off to spite their face if they sacked Saurez! Bottom line JK once again he was the catalyst to LFC getting a point. I do agree we did take a soft stance in terms of punishment, I think overall his misdemeanours are outweighed by his genius!
ReplyDeleteDo you want us to sack him and let some other club pick him up for free so he can be their top goal scorer next season, whilst we languish in mid table?
ReplyDeleteSorry, Jaimie, but if we get rid of him we'll go backwards. He is what he is but, most of all, he's a wonderful footballer. If he's not scoring goals for LFC then he'll be scoring them for someone else.
He knows LFC club needs him and what can LFC do about it. Time for BR to bench him a few games but that won't be happening.
ReplyDeleteEnabler.
ReplyDeleteI haven't suggested that Suarez should be sacked, only that he should be banned.
ReplyDeleteMark - where did I say that Suarez should be sacked? I said Ayre should be sacked, not Suarez. I've argued that he Suarez should be banned.
ReplyDeleteiam an enabler and proud
ReplyDeleteAyre is not some sock puppet. If he went to the owners and pushed for a ban for Suarez, I'm sure they would've agreed. Why wouldn't they? It would send a positive message, which would be picked up by the media, and positive publicity for LFC's handling of the situation would gather momentum. Instead, the opposite will now happen. Some journos have already written articles criticising LFC's leniency, and those type of articles will intensify over the next month.
ReplyDeleteSuarez has bitten someone before, and the fact he did the same thing again is more than enough justification for a club-imposed ban.
if the fa ban him which they surely will, what good will lfc banning do, it would be like a concurrent prison sentence, it would serve no purpose at all , JK needs think a bit more before he opens his trap
ReplyDeleteand some journos have also written that it all going over the top because its suarez ,defoe as already set a president for this kind of thing in english football but some journos want him banned for twenty games at least
ReplyDeleteno jaimie would want the ban to start now and carry on when the fa,s ran out
ReplyDeleteI think you'll find that the reason they (the club) didn't ban Suarez is because they are probably expecting a ban from the FA. The club banning him on top of that will probably come across as a little too much.
ReplyDeleteIt's the symbolic nature of the ban that means something. Who cares if the FA/LFC bans run concurrently? At least the club would've showed some balls and drawn a line in the sand. Ajax banned Suarez for biting, so why haven't Liverpool?
ReplyDeleteYou really are the worst kind of enabler, and I can't be bothered to waste time debating the issue with you.
ReplyDeleteAnd Suarez will be banned, by the FA.
ReplyDeleteYes, I appreciate that, but that's not the point. LFC should've banned him first, just like Ajax did.
ReplyDeleteI think we have taken the right stance by Rodgers working with Suarez to eradicate this behaviour out of his game. It has worked with the diving, and let's face it, the biggest punishment he will get for this is not winning the player of the season award, an award his overall play this season deserves,
ReplyDeleteoff with his head!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd will be a source of shame for someone else. Nobody is irreplaceable, and we have had many examples of that at our team. Suarez is a disgrace, and no footballing ability should come before decency, consciousness and sportsmanship.
ReplyDeleteI still say its pointless, if they want to do something over and above the fine and certain FA ban, perhaps they should consider ordering him to do some work for kids or something similar, at least it would be an added punishment not a token one
ReplyDeleteLFC's hierarchy are all scared that Suarez will leave, including BR. Suarez got a slap on the wrist, that's all. Now we'll see if the FA does something. They will prob not do much!
ReplyDeleteSuarez need to be banned like at Ajax. LFC are spineless like the rest of the worlds footballing bodies.
He shouldn't have bitten Ivanovic, it was wrong & he deserves to be punished. However, I don't really see how what he did is any worse than punching or butting someone, the only thing that is different is that biting is unusual, that's what seems to be causing the faux moral outrage. Had he punched Ivanovic, there would undoubtedly have been a bit of a storm, but not at this hysterical level.
ReplyDeleteAny ban should be for violent conduct & that is usually a 3 game ban.
I think LFC handled this very well as did Ian Ayre, tomorrows fish and chip paper!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's about the message portrayed Truth.
ReplyDeleteIt is up to the FA to take further action against Suarez not the club. He has been publicly reprimanded and fined by the club. Ayre is not a coward, he is a realist and doing what is best for the club by making a rational decision. If he had bit his ear off with blood pouring everywhere then I could understood the uproar but all he did was put his teeth against an arm in sheer frustration. The alternative may have been to punch him in the face but Suarez isn't a nasty or vicious player he is just a flawed genius. As always because it's Suarez it's a media frenzy, I don't recall such a frenzy when Defoe did it a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteNonsense Funk! Him being a class footballer should not outweighs his antics, regardless if he contributed to a point yday.
ReplyDeleteI don't know Gano, it was soft. 2weeks fine it's enough. And Ayre needs to stop all this as* kissing! He said Suarez behavior was bad and then slyly praises him and say's how "much LFC need him" essentially. Lightweight man.
ReplyDeleteDidn't take the inveterate Suarez hater Jaimie to jump on the band wagon.
ReplyDeleteHow am I jumping on the bandwagon? I set the bandwagon in motion before Suarez even signed, so it is others jumping on, not me. Plus, I don't 'hate' Suarez personally; I dislike his conduct as an LFC player. There is a difference.
ReplyDeleteWe all need him thats a fact, what else can anyone say?
ReplyDeleteOf course LFC's handing has changed since the last incident! You don't see Ayre/Rodgers defending Suarez!
ReplyDeleteBR has openly said that no player is 'irreplaceable', in reference to Suarez.
Furthermore, Suarez is likely to be banned for the rest of the season by the FA, no point of a doubly lengthy ban, hurting our chances for next season.
Also, Suarez reportedly left Ajax for not giving him enough support. Is this what you really want for LFC? to lose their best player?
Liverpool FC are in transition, by loosing their best player, and probably their only world class player, would put us back by some step.
It would not be beneficial by anyone.
Moreover, how do you know what is actually happening in the club? I'm pretty sure that there are other punishments, which Suarez has been given.
Agreed.
ReplyDeleteNo player is bigger than the club.
ReplyDeleteEverton fcs Duffy made pro IRA tweets - all hushed up, would you rather get a head butt like Fellaini''s. if you dont like Suarez dont watch Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteWhat would be the point of LFC banning him ? Uniteds FA lobby will make sure it goes into next season.
ReplyDeleteAny non Liverpool supporter saying he should go - well they would wouldn't they, that goes for those pretending to support LFC supporters too.
ReplyDeleteIf all publicity is good publicity we should ask for more from Standard Charted, the Asian market will think this is nothing but a funny story, thats another few thousand new fans Luis. I love luis.
ReplyDeleteIf this was my 4 yo nephew, he'd get his arse slapped and be made to "sit on the naughty step". If it had been my dog, he'd have been put down this morning....
ReplyDeleteA grown man? It's pathetic, laughable and at the same time a complete disgrace and an embarrassment to the club.
The reaction of the club and the supporters is a reflection of how their values have changed. What would Paisley have done? Ask Jimmy Case, or Ray Kennedy what caused them to be sold.
Today's statements prove that BR is full of what makes roses grow. I suspect JWH may be pencilling another hitlist as we speak. Bet the sponsors are loving this.
One Luis Suarez is worth 100 lesser footballers, a thousand biased reporters, more than every biased newspaper, 10 million hypocritical fans, and a couple of very bitter rent a quote ex players who no longer one of us.
ReplyDeleteI'm not convinced any sort of ban or fine would rehabilitate Suarez. We have to look at why he did what he did. Was he angling for a move away from a mediocre team, or did he just lose his mind?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he's still an LFC player, but he will need expert help to sort his issues out. If LFC can reform him and channel his energy correctly, then they will garner respect all around the world.
Liverpool need to eradicate this once and for all. They either make a decision to get rid or decide to help him mentally. If they are going to get rid, do exactly what Ajax did, ban him for the rest of the season and sell him to another club. If they choose the other option then they need to set the record straight and give him help and support. Liverpool backed him last year (under different circumstances) and he has given back a great year up till now but this situation cannot keep happening.
ReplyDeleteBR has a very difficult decision to make as next year will be his defining season where people will certainly judge him. Does he keep Suarez, knowing that a Liverpool team with Suarez in, has a chance or get rid and not only signal the end of Suarez career at Liverpool but set in the motion for the end of his.
RVP is the one difference why Man Utd have blasted away the competition and i believe Suarez is the main reason we are not lower mid table. People may say Suarez is replaceable and I agree he is, if we where Madrid, Man Utd, Man City or Barca, but at a failing Liverpool team with no CL, Europe and far from cementing a tittle challenge, If he does go, we will not replace like for like.
All this is called: More material for Jamie Kanwar and English medias, nothing else.Al
ReplyDeleteSO WHAT WE LOVE HIM .
ReplyDeleteno jaimie its your way were all entitled to an opinion but woe betied anyone who doe,s not see it the majority of the time suarez deserves his punishment imo a three game ban would be fair,but some people want blood
ReplyDeletewho,s mine lol;-)
ReplyDeletethis will rumble till the ban gets dished out and then some
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the first few lines of this article I scrolled to the bottom to see who wrote it....alas the worst sports journalist I've ever encountered. Your articles make a daily star writer seem intellectual. It would be a compliment to call you tabloid journalism...anyway, as per normal as soon as I saw who wrote this I sighed relief and realised no rational person has started this rant.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the terrible work, every piece you write adds a nail into your coffin and prevents you ever being employed by a reputable company. Bye Bye!
Nonsense. This site was has been going since 2007, 4 years before Suarez even arrived at LFC.
ReplyDeleteon another angle, most of clubs cult heroes have been the mental cases and done some crazy things:
ReplyDeleteKeane - Man Utd - Ended halaand career
Cantona -Man Utd - Kung Fu kick, spitting at Leeds fans
Duncan Ferguson - Everton/ Rangers - Went to Jail for head butting.
Razzor ruddock - Ronnie whelans testimonial - smashed Beardsley and the kop went wild, cemented his mental status.
Fowler - Liverpool - Snorting coke (example) on the pitch
Di Canio - Sheff Wed - Pushing the ref over ( funny) and many other incidents.
John terry - Chelsea - Racism
Maradona - Various clubs - All kinds, drugs, shooting the lot!
.Gattuso - Milan - Head butted joe jordan, and many more.
Ferdinand - Man Utd - Drugs test
Zidane - France - Head butt
Rooney - Man Utd - Grannies, Fights, insults
Gazza - Wife beater, Drug addict, alcoholism, and loads more.
And finally Suarez - Biting, fighting and racism.
Now imagine a Liverpool team with all of these in (in their prime), how good would match day be! it would be carnage but, we would deffo win the league!!!!
Maybe they waiting for the FA verdict first. If he's already going to be banned for the rest of the season, why add more to it? I'd rather they work with him to get rid of such antics and turn him into a better person.
ReplyDeleteBut we still need talented players like him to get us top 4, CL, or EPL title. Or, I suppose a couple of Joe Allens would suffice for you. When Rooney was wanting to leave two season ago, Fergie bit it and convinced him to stay. I'm sure united fans quoted the same statement but fergie played it smart coz he knew Rooney was important for his title aspirations. And they walked away with the title, didn't they? I think LFC has handled the situation quite well so far.
ReplyDeletePhil, those other examples are irrelevant: Suarez is the devil incarnate and must be banished before all of our children grow up biting everything they see!
ReplyDeleteI've also seen that David Cameron is getting involved: I'm so glad that there aren't any pressing political issues for him to be dealing with, such is this utopian world we live in.
As someone who was at the game I can tell you that not many fans were aware of what happened.
ReplyDeleteOnly when I was traveling back home did I hear what had taken place.
So let me give my two cents worth on this issue.
Jaimie, you'd have more credibility in your post If you had kept your powder dry and your constant reference to 'I TOLD YOU SO ' post you did yesterday.
You actually said ' I hate to say this but I told you so'..you didn't HATE TO SAY you felt vindicated.
To the matter of biting Suarez should have gotten a left hook and a upper cut from IVANOVIC or the Previous Time Suarez had done it at AJAX
Let me assure anyone reading this , IF Ivanovic given Suarez a Right Hook followed by a left hook and a kick in the ribs for good measure.
Suarez is not stupid nor does he have a screw lose.
He just hasn't had a kicking from a player yet.
There is no way Suarez would have got away with biting with Viera,Keane,Ferguson & Souness etc.
He would either have his career ended or he would be knocked out cold.
Jaimie I have long argued that Ayre and Rogers are not 'strong' enough to lead these players, as is almost palpable with Carragher's refusal despite being clearly capable of playing another season.
You're correct in pointing out that this was bound to happen and I suspect this will happen again with Suarez be that at Liverpool or elsewhere.
If LFC wanted to really PUNISH Suarez they drop him into the RESERVES to LEARN some HUMAN Decency.
This would humilate him (something he needs) and would serve as a lesson to others.
Suarez knows that the RETRIBUTION will not hurt him financially, as well as any ban will not hurt him, as he's a good player who can ply his trade elsewhere.
I can assure you that a FIFA BAN for one season would HURT HIM and he may learn from that.
A FIFA ban would mean he cannot play ANYWHERE this would have the desired effect.
However FIFA is like a toothless Tiger
Those guys eat dogs, thell think ivanovics arm was just a starter
ReplyDeleteso the fa have charged him with violent conduct thats the end of it 3 game ban ,oops forgot its suarez they will rewrite the rule book expect at least 6 another blatent fa witch hunt i,ve noticed that english players never get made an example of and yes i am english
ReplyDeletei cannot help it its my nature i,am not human i,am an enabler from a distant planet
ReplyDeleteof course you can just start enabling
ReplyDeleteFrom what I read elsewhere, LFC fined him the maximum amount allowed without having to get the PFA involved.
ReplyDeleteI'd have no issue with the club if they banned him for the remainder of the season... but I'm not sure they'd be allowed to without getting the PFA involved.
you forgot rio playing hide and seek with the urine sample lol;-)
ReplyDeleteMassive over reaction article Jamie. I completely agree what he did was wrong but the general standards in these things are a fine and sometimes a ban put in place by the club. I can`t see any logical reason for anything more than that. All the talk of what does this send to the world etc are massively over hyping what happened. Loads of cases like this have happened at other clubs and they delt with them the same and the world hasn`t fallen apart. If he had murdered someone I would get your point. As it stands it looks like a very one sided article.
ReplyDeletespot on, however you will now be labelled a enabler by the masses for having nothing other than a different point of view. Of which its just as valid as those calling people enablers as it a point of view and thus neither side can be right.
ReplyDeleteI heard Suarez is the reason Labour screwed up all our economeny. I also heard harold shipmen took lessons off him as clearly there is no worse person on this planet that Suarez. I`ve never before in my life seen such horrific crimes.
ReplyDeletewe wont gain any respect and thats the whole point. The only people who care about how players act is us. No other club gives two hoots if people act nice or not. Yes it is a tool to bash us with when he acts bad, but they find tools anyway. Usually the song about murders or some other nice act which fans who hate the nasty Suarez sing cause there ummm so nice people themselves.
ReplyDeleteindeed although, Ronaldo (brazilian) was getting close to being bigger than most clubs...
ReplyDeleteI actually think in this case Ayre acted fine. Although on other issues I haven`t felt he was right for the job for a long time.
ReplyDeleteyep logic goes out the window when there is a chance to act high and mighty.
ReplyDeletenothing is ever perfect.
ReplyDeleteI think they already have said in their statement that a 3 match ban is insufficient in these circumstances. Rightly so.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. 4 match sounds right. Esp as they are enablers. They can use the Defoe case as a good example and double the ban maybe as it is Suarez? Then I can be the enabler and they wont. Which works perfect for all..I think.
ReplyDeleteCounter offer: 3.5 match ban and that ban covers friendlies & reserve matches too? :)
ReplyDeleteOk, that is RVP winning the award then, what a goal and of course, thanks to a bite.
ReplyDeleteGreat point Gaz. And the reason he has anger issues is because he felt harshly treated over the Evra incident and it is still festering away at him. You can see it eating away at him during games - the amount of pens and fouls not given to him this season, and then he gets a yellow for being pushed onto the ball by Torres. It's just laughable.
ReplyDeleteHe really should try "Mindfullness". It's a form of meditation that teaches you to basically heal your brain, and deal with setbacks in a calmer more measured way. It was recommended to me after I was disciplined at work then held a grudge for a year against my boss until I eventually blew again. Now I have learned to accept things for what they are, and take "breathing spaces" whenever I get pissed off. I know it sounds very hippy-ish or buddhist, but it does actually work.
Either that, or lots of Diazepam.......
Does anyone remember "Boon"?
ReplyDeleteIts all quite subjective as to what route one takes, as to how one chooses who they think should win. For me, its about individual form and team form combined, regardless of the circumstances. That for me is what holds back Luis, not his craziness or theatrics but the mediocrity of the team he is playing in. Not exactly his fault and its harsh but tough luck, those are the cards that have been dealt. Done a very good job though, Luis, this season...mostly. RVP and Bale were my picks a couple of months ago and was leaning towards Bale, if they manage to get in the top 4. That is possibly still the case for me (commentators didn't make a big deal out of his cross for Dempsey's goal the other day but I thought it was a lovely outside of the foot cross. If they had a better front man (Adebayor is just so annoying!), I think end product of Bale's wing play will go up a few levels. That is the frustrating thing for any creative kind of play, you need a good receiver too!). I'm fine with either RVP or Bale. Again, its subjective, as to why one picks a certain player.
ReplyDeleteWhether it be Ronaldo, RVP or Rooney, regardless of who they have in reserve if they don't or didn't play, those three have done a bloody good job and been worthy candidates for winning player of the year awards in their respective seasons. The same with Henry at Arsenal, regardless of having Vieira, Pires, Cole, etc, in that fantastic team, the man was phenomenal and a worthy candidate. I guess it all depends on what sort of approach you take to it, i.e., so-called luxurious circumstances doesn't necessarily, for me, take the shine off a player's impact, sometimes.
Mick Quinn.
ReplyDeleteNeil Ruddock.
Diego.
Huge. All of 'em.
Can you imagine the tissues he's got through this past 36 hours? God, he's been waiting for this since Mansfield...
ReplyDeleteZanatos - exactly what argument is not supported with evidence here? The concept of being an 'enabler' is not absolute, it's my opinion, and I've explained why I feel this way many times over the last couple of years. In this situation, I don't need to go into extreme depth to explain how LFC are enablers here; the reasoning is self-evident.
ReplyDeletewho needs suarez let's resign adam bring back carrol downing's still here shift hendo on the right sell sturridge and bring back in SC honest guys to play long ball football whatever yes let LFC get relegated who cares anymore tired of fans not looking into the future WHO ON EARTH IS GOING TO REPLACE SUAREZ FOR LFC
ReplyDeleteJeez, give over already! You are indicative of so many hysterical fans who seem to believe that the club will wither and die if Suarez leaves. When did you start supporting the individual over the club?! Get over it. Liverpool will be FINE without Suarez. WITH him, the club has sliped to mid-table, so what difference has he really made? None, is the answer. If Suarez leaves, and Liverpool finish in the top four, what difference will his leaving make? None. You should be focusing on how the team and the club can improve, not just on the impact of one individual.
ReplyDeleteexactly were mid table with him and he's been the top scorer for the club what does that say
ReplyDeleteIt says that he's a very good player, but he is NOT irreplaceable. Fawning over players like you do with Suarez is damaging, not laudable. You act like he's some kind of messiah, yet totally ignore the amazing damage he's done to the club.
ReplyDeleteYou clearly don't care about the image/reputation of the club because you'd rather Suarez stayed and risk more negative incidents.
If Suarez leaves, it will not make one iota of difference to LFC. You will have a hard time accepting that, but I guarantee it will be true. Liverpool will buy another striker (or two), and he (or Sturridge) will bang in the goals. LFC will finish higher in the league next year, and all these hysterical fans wailing about the loss of their messiah will see that his absence didn't make any difference to the progress of the team.
The only thing that WILL change with Suarez gone is the club's name will not repeatedly be dragged through the mud.
Again you fail to realise that fan is short for fanatic.
ReplyDeleteCriticising fanatics for being fanatical is oxymoronic
I find it hysterically funny that people are clamouring to defend the good name of football etc.
ReplyDeleteFootball is run by a corrupt organisation who will not allow any meaningful advances in the game.
Football is a product that earns billions worldwide, the authorities gorge themselves on this wealth.
Citing, sin bins, technology for all aspects of the game could easily be brought in.
Suarez's behaviour was shocking. He is so important to the OWNERS that he might get away with this.
The OWNERS need a return on their money - CL return is best bet.
Football is about MONEY. Not sport, not role models.
Can we all please stop with the fake concern about the health of the game? Footballers are ALL mercenaries, professionals who need to inflate wages at every stage.
I am tired of football. I can really only watch Liverpool games now, and that loyalty is based on a decision I made as an 8 year old.
Religious, political and sporting zealotry and worship is pathetic and wrong.
Financial fair play is where we need to be, level the playing field and progress from there.
I still wold like Suarez to stay, but he has serious problems
"Amazing damage" ... please enlighten us on this one. What damage has he done? Please quantify and show objectively how Suarez has harmed the football club. Show us the wounds: the lost income, the loss of fans, some quantifiable measure that backs up this absurd claim. Reputation is entirely arbitrary and changes from one person to another. We say all the time that the club is bigger than any one player and yet here you are suggesting that the club's reputation is suffering because of the actions of just one player. And all without not a shred of actual evidence.
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDelete;-)
ReplyDeletetheres nothing wrong with being an enabler
ReplyDeletewhy rightly so the rules are set out is suarezs bite worse than a full blown headbutt or punch not imo
ReplyDeleteI've also heard that the SAS & SEAL Team 6 are planning a covert raid on his house, which will need multiple exorcisms once the demon has been banished. In fact, isn't Suarez the new bad guy in 'Man of Steel' this summer?
ReplyDeleteHe played for Arsenal, though ;-)
ReplyDeleteThink the votes were already done werent they?
ReplyDeleteFirstly the LFC self imposed ban.
ReplyDeleteUnless the LFC board are psychic, then they would have to try to ban the player for long enough to placate the FA, maybe more than the FA themselves would ban him for. It's pointless trying to pre-empt; Utd tried with Cantona and the FA doubled it. Should they have said 12 months ban just to be on the safe side?
Find out what the ban is, use the time to deal with Suarez' issues mentally, accept it and move on.
Secondly , which is worse:
An intentional , career ending or threatening tackle.
A headbutt.
A deliberate elbow to the head.
A childlike, 9 year old girl's bite which didn't even leave a mark.
Judging by the HYSTERIA which Jamie here , the Media generally, and even the Prime Minister (wtf?) have demonstrated, then the answer is obviously the bite.
Suarez should be punished, regardless of the fact that Defoe got away with the same thing with hardly a ripple in the media. Defoe should have been punished under the 'exceptional circumstances ' clause the FA is using now to extend Suarez' ban beyond the 3 games he would have gotten for headbutting someone or putting them out for months with a deliberate elbow or over the top tackle. Hell, you can deliberately end someone's career ( Haaland's knee was never strong enough to compensate for the other damaged one, he only played 48 minutes more ever) and get just a 3 match ban upgraded to five only after bragging about having done it on purpose and be rewarded with a job with Sky.
The ban should be for the intention. perhaps 5-6 games, enough to mark the seriousness of the intention , if not the actual damage.
Suarez needs help, not just selling to another club so making it their problem. Where's the 'honourable' part in that response. He's OUR problem, we can help him, and leave him to get on with what he does best.
Of course , Jamie will just say I'm an Enabler. That's the dismissive label he uses to marginalise opposing points of view on this and other subjects. He can call me that if he desires.
But if I'm an enabler, then he and the media guys all asking for blood are henceforth to be known as ....
The Hysterics.
I completely agree with you. One thing that the club prides itself is its motto 'You'll Never Walk Alone' so what should be different in this instance? Clearly Suarez hasn't had the sufficient counselling about this type of behaviour, and I think that Rodgers will advise Suarez to see the club psychiatrist Steve Peters to try and help him with his problem. I have a feeling that Suarez has trouble dealing with high pressure situations, and he obviously finds it hard to control his emotions in those situations. I think the fact that took the club from a winning position (although we were at 1-1 we were the better team and had momentum on our side) to a losing position when he conceded the penalty. You could see that he was distraught, and needs help dealing with those situations.
ReplyDeleteWe've got Dr Steve Peters, he's one of the best in the sports psychiatry business, I think the club will probably tell Suarez to go and see him.
ReplyDeleteAre you for real Jamie? Name me one other business that would sack a£40m asset to that business. Sacking Suarez was and never will be an option
ReplyDeleteIt's like John Barnes said in an interview on 5 Live 'if he can't play for Liverpool he can't play for anyone'
ReplyDeleteYepp, Suarez could still win, they were cast on Friday or Saturday, he doesn't have a chance in winning the FWA Player of the Year though which is the writer's association.
ReplyDeleteits still a easy get out clause imo. Personally I don`t see what is wrong at all with being a "enabler". It seems like a good logical view point to have, one based on evidence of other situations and related to ones own. It`s not for me to say what you should reply to or not, just pointing out from my point of view the default stance of labelling people enablers in a negative way is a get out clause. I get you will think its a good argument.
ReplyDeleteNo mate your right you don't get more attention on the Suarez issues hence the links at the top of the page, "Transfer News" "Suarez-Evra" "Gross/Net Spend"
ReplyDeleteLOL this sounds like those Westboro baptist church nut jobs screaming about "Fag Enablers"
ReplyDeleteSuarez gets a ten match ban based on going to bite a player and stopping, I've had a baby bite my arm and leave a mark from very little pressure at all, enough to see the ref looked at his arm and played on, ANY MARK AT ALL would have resulted in a red card
Ah I see, I didn't realise, thanks.
ReplyDeleteNo place for bites on the pitch and for a repeat offender like Suarez, a 3 game match is definitely insufficient. Nowhere in that comment or a previous one does it illustrate that a headbutt or punch shouldn't be dealt with in the same manner.
ReplyDelete8 was my version of 'fair' but I can't say that I don't think the FA aren't justified in giving him 10. The guy needs to sort his act out. Whether you like to admit it or not, he has brought most of this on himself. All this moaning about the FA, media, xenophobia, etc, is getting a bit pathetic. Every single damn thing in relation to us, is getting palmed off with excuses by some LFC fans.
ReplyDeletethe fa are a joke and if you agree with them then fair enough
ReplyDelete