Luis Suarez Is The Real Deal

By Nick Burgess @NickBurgess92 on October 25, 2014

The two top scorers in the Premier League last season were Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. “SAS,” as they were referred to last year, were lethal in front of goal, creating chances and often finishing them beautifully.

So why did these two players score so many goals? They had great supply from the midfield, with the likes of Stephen Gerrard and Jordan Henderson giving them the ball in the top third of the pitch, but they were also great suppliers themselves. The understanding and natural ability between the two allowed for both strikers to rack up the goals and the assists.

After Suarez changed his shirt this season for that of Barcelona, his ability remained unchanged, but he now has two of the most clinical finishers in the game to knock in his assists: Lionel Messi and Neymar. He showed this during his first game for the Blaugrana in the Clasico against Real Madrid C.F.

Suarez’s movement was beautiful and fluid. He knew where he needed to be at all times, even though he has had very limited time with the team thanks to his suspension handed down by FIFA after the World Cup. He drifted from the standard No. 9 role to supply crosses in from the right, and logged an assist for Neymar after a skillful cross-field pass to the Brazilian. He should have had another one after a low cross to Messi, but the Argentine fluffed his lines in a very un-Messi-like fashion.

Suarez had a massive transfer fee from Liverpool, and questions were asked whether they even needed the Uruguayan on the team. With Messi, Neymar and Pedro leading the line, and academy product Munir El-Haddadi trying to make his mark on the first team, it was questioned whether his goals would be necessary. It appears that the higher-ups at Barcelona identified the other parts of his game and saw the holes that he fills for the team.

The Uruguayan is quick, strong, technical, good in the air, has excellent positioning and can cross, assist and score. With more time on the team and getting his chemistry down with the front men and the midfield linking play, Suarez could be a legitimate Balon D’Or candidate for next year.