Luis Suárez

[Reece]

Suarez isn't without his faults, but he's one of the most exciting players we've had in years and I'd be absolutely gutted if we sold him.

[dww]

Suarez isn't without his faults, but he's one of the most exciting players we've had in years and I'd be absolutely gutted if we sold him.

I'd rather we had a good team than a single 'great' player. At the minute I'm erring to the side of thinking that Suarez can be a key component of use kicking on next season but I can see why people have their doubts, particularly with regard to his productivity.

[el matador]

What do you class as a chance? A one on one? Having the ball at his feet 25 yards out with two defenders in front of him?

Define 'chances'.

a shot on goal or an attempt on goal. he would need 150 strikes on goal to score 20.

[RedReet]

I'd rather we had a good team than a single 'great' player. At the minute I'm erring to the side of thinking that Suarez can be a key component of use kicking on next season but I can see why people have their doubts, particularly with regard to his productivity.

Tomkins made an interesting point in his article about Suarez finishing in that article that was scoffed at by everyone.

Despite needing a lot of chances to score, Luis Suarez can get 20 goals in a season; that’s pretty clear. But can he get 20 in the league? What’s his upper limit?

This season, he’s been far more likely to net a goal after just one or two touches; so often he dribbles past three or four only to shoot miles over, as if he gets too excited, or is falling off balance having worked so hard to get into the position.

By contrast, a ball to him in the box when he’s facing the goal often seems to end up in the back of the net; certainly more so than when he’s been running with the ball. Let me take you through this season’s 14 strikes.

Everton last week: one touch into space after receiving Distin’s back-pass, second touch past Howard; vs Aston Villa, one touch – a header; vs Wigan, one touch – side-foot finish from low Gerrard centre; vs Stoke in FA Cup, curled finish from edge of box, shot being his second touch after receiving ball back from Maxi; Brighton, one touch – close-range header; Man United, close-range first-time volley when alert to defender’s mistake; QPR – one touch, a header; vs Stoke in the Carling Cup, winning goal a header from Henderson’s looping cross; vs Exeter, first-time half-volleyed shot after keeper flaps at cross; vs Arsenal at the Emirates, a one-touch tap-in from unmarked central position after good supply from the right; and a deft header from a Charlie Adam free-kick against Sunderland on the opening day.

Stoke away in the Carling Cup is the main exception, as he receives the ball out wide, takes a couple of touches, nutmegs a defender and then curls the ball into the far corner. Brilliant stuff. Wolves at home sees him run in behind the defence, turn Berra one way then the other, then fire in left-footed from a tight angle. Everton (at Goodison) is also an exception of sorts, as he dribbles his way into a dangerous position, but loses the ball. However, it fortuitously bounces back to him, when he’s facing goal on the edge of the six-yard box – as if he’s just received a pass – and he takes a touch to steady and fires in. So that could go in either category.

I make that 11 – maybe 12 – finishes within two touches; nine with just one touch, five of which were headers. It suggests that, while others may benefit from his mazy dribbles and clever touches, he has been more effective finishing off others’ good work. So he can do the poaching, but if you limit him to a central, advanced area of the pitch, you lose his creativity, and his ability to drag defenders out of position.

Having missed a fair chunk of the season, 14 goals – all from open play (although two missed penalties will keep him off spot-kick duty) – isn’t too bad at all. But it’s not especially prolific, either.

Again, that’s not a problem if Suarez is the support striker; it’s a Beardlsey-esque goal tally, for a player who can drift all over the front line. But Suarez isn’t the support striker; at least, not in terms of goals.

Like Carroll he seems more effective when he has less time to think about it, but he obviously does know where the back of the net is as his record proves. People were also lauding his approach play here last year when those around him were playing well and finishing chances, so he clearly has that in him too. It’s just about the manager finding the best way to use him to get the most out of his undoubted ability IMO.

[Mattshark]

Sunday he had Carroll and Maxi in the middle yet he shoots from a crazy angle, I dont think it has anything to do with quality around him hes just a mentalist

No he tried to chip it over to Carroll at the back post when he should have probably rolled to Maxi, but since the ball was out of play it didn't matter.

Seems you conveniently forgot his 2 great cross towards Agger, his lovely pass to set up Kuyt, his great work around the edge of the area keeping our attack going.

How about his international scoring record?
His scoring record elsewhere?
Get good players around him and he will score plenty.

[andrewces38]

No he tried to chip it over to Carroll at the back post when he should have probably rolled to Maxi, but since the ball was out of play it didn't matter.

Seems you conveniently forgot his 2 great cross towards Agger, his lovely pass to set up Kuyt, his great work around the edge of the area keeping our attack going.

How about his international scoring record?
His scoring record elsewhere?
Get good players around him and he will score plenty.

Sorry fella but That's so far off the mark , he clearly shot wildly and high , that was no Chip to the far stick , ps Im of the Opinion that he needs 10 chances to score 1 but I'm also of the opinion that that would change with quality players around him

[el matador]

suarez can never play as a beardsley type player because that role is all about creating chances for others. his passing isnt on the level of a beardsley who would get 15- 20 assists every season.

for me he should be on one of the flanks where he has space to do his stuff but definitely nowhere near the spine of the team where you need team players who deliver consistent results. where he played for ajax is his best position and wherw he could become a very good player for us.

[Vermilion]

Suarez isn't without his faults, but he's one of the most exciting players we've had in years and I'd be absolutely gutted if we sold him.

+ 1000

[Craig_H]

Suarez isn't without his faults, but he's one of the most exciting players we've had in years and I'd be absolutely gutted if we sold him.

[dww]

Tomkins made an interesting point in his article about Suarez finishing in that article that was scoffed at by everyone.



Like Carroll he seems more effective when he has less time to think about it, but he obviously does know where the back of the net is as his record proves. People were also lauding his approach play here last year when those around him were playing well and finishing chances, so he clearly has that in him too. It’s just about the manager finding the best way to use him to get the most out of his undoubted ability IMO.

I can see this argument but far too many of our players are only really effective if other players do something to accommodate them. Realistically I think only Lucas is and Skrtel can be said to consistently have just done their job this season (I might add Agger but his injuries make him seem less reliable in my head).

I can well believe that Suarez would come to like with the right partner/support (his scoring record with Forlan would certainly suggest it) just as Torres did with Gerrard. The problem for me is fitting a whole team together with what is likely to be a somewhat limited (at least compared to the likes of Chelsea and Man City) budget. Suarez and Gerrard would be the two players in our squad I would be willing to make compromises elsewhere to fit in, but I'm not sure it is the right way to go.

[~LFCHistory~]

Suarez isn't without his faults, but he's one of the most exciting players we've had in years and I'd be absolutely gutted if we sold him.

Some of our fans don't realise how lucky we our to have him.

His finishing and decision making wasn't an issue last season at all because he was surrounded by a better calibre of player in Maxi, Meireles and an in form Kuyt. This season he's being suffocated by the mediocre dross that our manager brought in to the tune of 80 million quid.
Buy the right players this summer and Luis will show why he's rated as one of the best attacking players in world football.

[Ben_Itez]

Didnt he set up Kuyt for the easiest chance of the match on Sunday? I seem to remember it was his pass to Maxi when he got fouled for the penalty appeal as well.

I genuinely think he's trying too hard, especially after the ban, and playing in a struggling team only exacerbates the problem. Play him with a few better players around him and we'll see his output in goals and assists increase IMO.

I also think Kenny doesnt know how best to use him, he normally plays as the out and out striker or behind the striker which im not sure is his best position. For Uruguay and Ajax he mainly played as a wide forward with licence to roam although i think Uruguay may use in a more central role these days.

I think he'll dazzle next season and talk of selling him is pure craziness IMO.

[Maxiedge]

If you put a montage of Suarez' highlights together for this season, he would be, by far and away, the most exciting, electric player in the Premiership. It's just been the finishing that's let him down. Chin up lad.

[Exiled_red]

Suarez isn't without his faults, but he's one of the most exciting players we've had in years and I'd be absolutely gutted if we sold him.

[RedSince1964]

id love to see rafa work with him