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“Rush left, Fowler came.Fowler left, Owen came.Owen left, Torres came.Torres left, Suarez came
Suarez left... “
It finally happened..
It was just a matter of when he would leave. As Luis Suarez put pen to paper on his 5 year Barcelona contract it was mixed feelings for the Liverpool fans across the globe. Some considered it good riddance. “He had dragged the name of the club in the mud far too long, far too many times”..
A certain section of the fans would never forgive him for trying to force a move out of Liverpool last season, even though he almost took them to the title single-handedly, in the process racking up one of the most incredible stats for any player in a single season in the English Premier League history.
However, as the dust settles, every single Liverpool fan would be thanking the flawed genius for those memories and more importantly, for bringing Champions League football back to Anfield. The sick nutmegs, the nimble ball control, the magical goals and the hunger (no pun!) and determination to win at all costs.. Anfield won’t be seeing them next season.
“Who is bigger than Liverpool ?“
Liverpool sure have a tradition of carrying forth as a club, notwithstanding star player departures over the years. However, the “Club-is-greater-than-the-player” adage sounds more quixotic than ever this time around.
What was very much evident last season, Suarez was a far more complete player than any of Fernando Torres or Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen. And he is probably the most in form player in world football right now. Torres was deadly in the box and could win matches out of nowhere, but he was never in the stratosphere that Messi and Ronaldo occupied, which only Suarez has breached in the recent times.
Owen might be the most exciting thing to have happened in English football (before Raheem Sterling) but he was never as complete a centre forward as the man who just vacated the number 7 shirt. Amongst the ones Liverpool fans would look towards to try and fill the gaping hole left by Suarez – Lazar Markovic, as promising a talent as he is, will most definitely not replace Suarez, at least not this season and Wilfried Bony.. well, probably never!
With his ruthless work rate, Suarez was Liverpool's first line of defence up front and the starting point of a counter many a time from the back. Last season, he tackled better than Skrtel, finished better than Sturridge and took better free-kicks than Gerrard. The form of Sturridge, Henderson and Sterling towards the end of the season, could be safely attributed to playing alongside a player of Suarez’s calibre.
The rebuilding process – Lallana, Can and Lambert
But well, got to look towards life after Suarez... Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers now have their task cut to keep the Liverpool tradition of rolling on in spite of losing their star men. And they surely have made their intentions of not letting Suarez’s departure dent the progress the club embarked upon last season.
Adam Lallana, though marginally over rated and over priced (he is English after all!), will be a key member. Champions League football will take its toll if Liverpool has a thin squad like last time, and Lallana surely is a quality player who can fit in all three positions behind the striker and chip in with goals and assists regularly. Emre Can meanwhile is a great long term investment who can develop as a back up to Steven Gerrard and an option to Henderson. Markovic seems destined for a starting XI place.
Learning from last season’s mistakes
Liverpool were miserable from the bench last season. Whenever Brendan Rodgers had to look towards the bench for some inspiration, all he saw was Iago Aspas and Victor Moses staring back at him - that is where Liverpool lost the league (apart from the Sterling offside decision at Etihad - that Liverpool fans can never forget). Liverpool can ill afford to repeat that this time around.
The three signings so far have Brendan Rodgers written all over them. A cheap backup who gives an alternative as a good back-to-goal centre forward in Rickie Lambert, in case there is a need for plan B. An exciting young talent in Can who has the potential to very well be the shrewdest piece of business of the season and a seasoned EPL player in Lallana to shore up the starting lineup. A priority right now should be to strengthen all across the back four, given how Liverpool leaked goals last season.
The imminent arrivals
The speculated transfers of Markovic and Divock Orrigi also fall into the same pattern. Liverpool's major concern should really be the defence. They should just go out get Dejan Lovren even if it is at the lofty price that Southampton is demanding. At 25, he has age on his side and is a goal threat as well.
Plus, I would point out again - the bench needs to be strengthened. Alberto Moreno and Micah Richards could be fantastic signings as well. With the former looking likely, given the interest of Sevilla in Iago Aspas (who should really be let off the wage list). One however cannot pin hopes on youngster Jon Flanagan for the whole season, though he surely endeared himself to the KOP last season with his disciplined performances.
James Rodriguez – A like for like (well almost!) replacement?
But to 'replace' Suarez, Liverpool would need to bring in a star for a star. There is no replacing Suarez in all honesty. That would only be happening if Messi or Ronaldo joins Liverpool. But if they have to bring in a marquee player, it should probably be James Rodriguez. Somewhat like Suarez in work rate and possessing the ability to adapt and finishing, the kid would be a ten year investment if he stays on at Anfield. He would be a good supplier to the pacy forward line of Liverpool. Benzema will surely guarantee goals, but will never quite be a Luis Suarez.
Learning from Tottenham and Roma last season
One can take the example of Tottenham who sold Gareth Bale, but could never get themselves on track the entire season, in spite of splurging on several promising players. Or, we could look to Roma, who made very, very wise use of the money they got from the sale of Marquinhos. If the Suarez money is in the hands of Brendan Rodgers, things point more to the Roma way than the Tottenham way for Liverpool next season. Well, Rodgers has done great things for Liverpool and I don’t see why Liverpool fans, out of all the fans should feel devastated at the inevitable departure of Suarez.
