Is Suarez a winger??

There has been a good deal of controversy lately surrounding the news Brendan Rodgers may switch Luis Suarez to a wide role to accommodate new arrival Daniel Sturridge. Although playing against none league defenders Sturridge gave us a glimpse at Mansfield of his ability to run into dangerous positions and read the play around him. Yet for some the thought of Suarez being “replaced” as our main striker by a “lesser” player is seen as a reason to vent anger at Rodgers and a general point of griping and moaning.

Firstly it is important to have an understanding of the Tiki Taka system. Despite it being called into question by some of the English football purists harking back to a world of 4-4-2 (and presumably Bovril at half time and bloody good ruck on the way home!) Tiki Taka as a concept relies on flexibility. To me the likes of Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce passing sarcastic comment about Tiki Taka is a bit like Chaz and Dave picking fault with Jimmy Hendrix.

This is not to say Tiki Taka is an invulnerable or perfect system, there is weakness in any strategy, there is no magic formula to success. However what Tiki Taka offers is a dynamic flowing style of play which was designed with players like Luis Suarez in mind. Suarez thrives on close, short play; he loves to be up close and personal with defenders relying on his ability to be quicker, smarter and braver than you.

Sure this aggravates the agricultural brigade who long for the days when players like Suarez were kicked out of games. Fundamentally though Suarez is all about his movement. Playing from a central position Suarez is often found in wide areas and also in ‘the hole’. Suarez seems equally content to instigate a phase of play as he is to complete it.

Some of the best moments I have seen from Suarez have been his mesmerising runs into the box from wide areas, his balance and poise making fools of defenders often left literally sitting back and watching him run by.

I believe people really confuse the concept of a winger in Tiki Taka with the traditional 4-4-2 wingers like Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale. When Barcelona played in the manner Rodgers now has Livepool set up it was Villa and Pedro on the wings with Messi central. David Villa scored 23 and Pedro 22 in 10/11. Messi, or course, is in a class of his own and scored 53 from the centre. However when have you ever watched Barcelona and seen the front 3 simply lining up and statically moving within their zones?

The wide player’s first priority is to move the ball into the box, most often with the ball at their feet. A Tiki Taka wide man needs to be an excellent finisher, a visionary passer and a quick footed dribbler. Do we know anybody like that?

Suarez will score from wide and Sturridge will score more from central. I would personally rather see Suarez score 5-10 goals less per season in order to see Sturridge weigh in with 10-15 more, it’s just about percentages. Tiki Taka in the end if about something more than tactics and positions its about a philosophy, the Guardiola philosophy, the Barca way – “more than a club”.

Rodgers seems to want to foster that same spirit of “nothing bigger than the team” and for all his genius and controversy Suarez is notable for his humble and modest attitude towards his role and his commitment and dedication to the team. He works harder than any player I have ever seen, and I saw Dirk Kuyt!

Suarez will pick up the ball wide, he will drop in the hole when the wing back is forward and he will run in the centre when the time is right. There is nothing in the system that prevents that, in fact that is the system. Sturridge is strong, quick and has an instinct for where the goal is.

When Suarez has the ball at his feet I will be looking at Sturridge, he knows what Suarez knows – where the goal is. How many times have you seen Suarez fighting back his frustration when players around him have been half a beat behind his moves and don’t materialise at the end of the phase, in the box? Similarly when Suarez plays a lovely 1-2 only to find his return ball drag him away from goal.

Great players are versatile and versatility is at the heart of Tiki Taka. It is important to remember the roots of Tiki Taka in the Dutch system of ‘Total Football’. Every player should be adept at every aspect of the game and every player interchangeable as fluid phases of play work the ball up field. This is no less true and perhaps is even more important with the forward three. You can see this philosophy being instilled in the developing Raheem Sterling’s play. If the ball can be run or slipped into the box this is what Rodgers wants. If a pass is played in the wingers run in and off the receiver and naturally this will pull wide players central

So yes, not everybody loves Tiki Taka but then some people prefer N Dubs to the Beatles. In the end you have to just accept some people resent and fear things they don’t really understand. I feel we as fans need to show the footballing intelligence we are most known for and not be ruled by our fear of failure. So much of the crowd’s emotion can influence the players I really hope we can begin to believe in Rodgers, Tiki Taka and the project being cooked up at Melwood.

Getting a first choice 11 comfortable and practised in the system with the quality and versatility to prosper under it and to consistently perform isn’t easy even with experienced players. Rodgers has achieved what he has so far with a young, inexperienced and undermanned squad. Sturridge is one more piece of the jigsaw but for me a very useful one.  

Worrying where Luis Suarez plays should be the least of our concerns, he is the one piece of the puzzle that will ALWAYS fit.