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2008: Suarez can’t be missed at Ajax

January 2nd, 2009 | By: Jan | 11 Comments »

2008 was Luis Suarez definitive break through year. The Uruguayan striker scored 17 times in 33 games last season. This season his stats are even more impressive. He’s hated outside of Amsterdam, but secretly, everyone would love to have him on their team.

This season, Suarez scored ten times in sixteen competition games. His services were equally important. He gave ten assists, which means he was directly involved in half of Ajax’ production. In a season and a half, he’s grown to be unmissable for Ajax.

Another list Suarez leads is the yellow card list. He collected six yellows, mostly for diving and complaining to the ref. Marco van Basten loathes that aspect of the Uruguyan player, but it’s part of his make up. In the Latin culture, diving is seen as an acceptable way of changing the outcome of the game. If the ref bites, it’s basically his fault, not the player’s.

But does it actually help Ajax? In the UEFA cup game against Slavia Prague, Ajas did get a crucial penalty, but many real fouls were denied due to the striker’s reputation. He’ll never get the benefit of the doubt, and he certainly doesn’t need the diving when you look at his many goals and assists.

With Huntelaar gone, it seems Suarez is the new leader in Ajax’ offense. The big question is: for how long? It’s just a matter of time or Suarez will move on and it seems the man is ready for that next step. It would be great if Suarez would stay a bit longer in Holland. At least with him on the pitch, there’s always something happening…

Tags: Ajax, Group C, Huntelaar, Suarez, Van Basten

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Comments

By Syd | January 2nd, 2009 at 10:35 am

Jan, I’ve been wondering what Marco is saying to him about the diving. He has said in the media that he does not like that aspect of Suarez’ game, but it keeps happening. How much can a coach really change the way a player conducts himself out there on the pitch? If van Basten told him to clean up his act or else, would it work? And would Suarez be benched if the dives continued? I really think Marco does not like how Suarez’ dives reflect on Ajax as a team, and as the football purist that I’m sure Marco is, I’m sure it eats him up to see it.

Posted from United States

By finnster01 | January 2nd, 2009 at 12:07 pm

Diving is a terrible thing. I am not a big fan of that, even if successfully performed against Feyenoord in overtime and the score being 0-0.

What I have never understood is that more often than not, it is the gifted and technical players that resort to these kind of shenanigans. These are the exact players that would not have to do this in the first place. The big and clumsy lads (Carew, Crouch, Pavluwhateverhisrussiannameis and Kuyt for that matter etc) never do it, and they are the ones that could really benefit.

And it is not just latin players, Gerrard goes down very quickly (and I am a ‘pool man), Drogba for a big man falls like he is shot, VanPersie isn’t exactly looking like he still has the trainer wheels on.

I think the refs atill are to a horrible dogs breakfast in eliminating this from the game. I also think the clubs should fine their own players too for this sorts of behaviour.

By Michel-Olivier(Slider) | January 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm

“In the Latin culture, diving is seen as an acceptable way of changing the outcome of the game.”
especially the italians and the brazilians

remember this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgfRCa71Kmw&feature=related

Posted from United States

By Michel-Olivier(Slider) | January 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm

and this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CQf4zYJ2fY

Posted from United States

By Jan | January 2nd, 2009 at 5:17 pm

Well, I think football is an opportunistic sports. Van Basten “doesn’t like it” but he will have congratulated Suarez on his dive against Prague…

They do work on those things at training and in talks, I think, but you can take the player out of Uruguay, but you can’t take Uruguay…well you know…

By finnster01 | January 2nd, 2009 at 5:23 pm

@Jan: LOL, Excellent

By tiju | January 3rd, 2009 at 3:10 am

@MO
in latin players diving is common Saviola is expert in this method.
Euorpe players are comaparitivly better(except cristiano,roban etc)

Posted from India

By goose | January 3rd, 2009 at 5:51 am

Players who dive should be banned … i really hate diving

the Rivaldo thing was one of the most disgusting things i have ever seen in football

Posted from Netherlands

By ferenc | January 3rd, 2009 at 6:23 am

i don’t like diving neither ,but it belongs to some football culture, part of the spectacle especially in latin countries – less in spain (guti is probably the only one “great” diver,btw i really hate this guy) than in italy or portugal. remember the portuguese national team: almost everybody is excellent diver. rivaldo’s gest was surprising – i followed his career,and he was a honest player,at barca i had never seen him diving.
but not only latin players dive: robben is very good in it. certainly some teams have ethical code and they don’t accept the fact that their players dive. i would say for ex. dany alves did a lot of diving in sevilla but since he’s been playing for barca he’s changed. i’m sure there are other examples as well.

Posted from Hungary