yuv wrote:
Ricky1985 wrote:
All of Suarez's negative behavioural issues aside - because I don't really care about them all that much
Really, Ricky? I'm a bit surprised. Is it that you don't care so much as in "stuff happens all the time, and a bit of a hinderance this way or the other won't kill us", or, you really, genuinely don't mind the person? You don't have a problem with having a guy on the team that you just know is a sleaze?
I know there's a problem, and a big temptation here - in one swift move we rid ourselves of that long, heavy burden of lack of ambition, not taken at all seriously, a team of the past - and - boom! we're right back in there, everybody will talk about Arsenal as contenders (though I'm sure many will still say it's not enough). And the small time spending, never go for a big player - at once thing of the past. I myself am thinking: he - or no one? what's worse? and they both look horrid to me.
But I just can't get myself to thinking of supporting the team and at the same time hating one of them. And I can't do this trick of "he's now one of ours, who cares about his past cannibalistic habits?" The idea of him coming here still make my stomach turn.
Maybe it's because I don't watch Match of the Day, read the papers or watch Sky Sports News, or perhaps I'm just not as concerned morally as I should be, but I don't really have a particular dislike toward Suarez.
I think of him as a dirty player, maybe a bit over the top when the red mist descends - although not really any more so than other 'dirty' players around today; Maraoune Fellaini, for example, or players from times gone by; someone like Roy Keane - but I also see Suarez as a very committed, hard working player that'll sweat blood to help the team win. After some of the lazy good-for-nothings that have worn the shirt recently that's something I can appreciate.
I think the nature of the problem he had with Evra has resulted in his every little move being scrutinised to a level that other players aren't subjected to. I read the other day, for example, that Jermain Defoe was caught, not so long ago, biting someone in a similar way that Suarez bit Ivanovic. I don't see any major interest in that incident from anyone, but with Suarez it's front page news and a 10 game ban. He's been labelled now as a 'racist' and is public enemy as a result. It's silly. I think the problems everyone has with him stem back to his perceived racist attitude and not because he's dirty or vicious.
I don't value Suarez as a footballer quite as highly as others do, certainly not £40m or close. I'd prefer our money was spent elsewhere. However, if we end up signing him I'll be ok with adding another very good player to the squad and then cheer him like I would any other player that wears the shirt and gives their best.
