That's just not true. I remember when we bought Piqué. People were fairly excited about Cáceres, but Piqué was that guy who had just failed at making it at United and we could get cheap. He surprised everyone.
I said nothing about fans' reception/expectations of either players. More about Pep's envision and his preference for ex/canteros, and by such virtue Piqué was the immediate backup for rafa and Puyol, and more trusted than Cáceres. Piqué delivered from the get go, and justified pep's faith in him.
And coming to fans reaction about either transfers. It is similar to what we are seeing now. Being sceptical about a cantero, on grounds of inexperience, but waiting in anticipation and excitement on any
potential incoming CB transfer.
Marquez, Puyol, Pique and Caceres were all proven La Liga first team defenders in good health. They were all fairly low risk. And again, Abidal he was a proven central defender as well, in the end he wasn't used but the option was always there if things had gone wrong. This season Pique and Masch are proven defenders in good health. However Puyol is aging and also coming back from a long injury so he is a high risk. Bartra is unproven so again a high risk. He might do well, but he might be a complete disaster.
Piqué and Cáceres came with a lone season's of LL experience. I wouldn't really call that "proven". You see players having wonder seasons, and then immediately flop the next one. You can't guage quality on a mere season's of work. That would be unreasonable. Consistency over a period of time brings reliability and trust. That is when you're
proven. Their signings was still a risky affair, you're entitled to disagree.
And whilst Bartra may or may not work. You completely overlook the fact that such a consequence can also be applicable to a new signing. To 've the "experience" on a diff team/league and then integrating oneself and playing the Barca way is a different ball game altogether. Our system is physically and tactically demanding, and not everyone succeed here, regardless of quality, as has been seen in our recent past. Your T-silvas, JMartinez, Aggers, etc may look worldclass in their respective teams, but that doesn't guarantee anything from a barca perspective. They are as much of a risk as deploying one of our canteros. Atleast the latter would come with no monetory excesses, and be familiar with our philosophy, and 've a easier transition into the first team. Our recent past validates it, as our canteros 've proved to be more reliable. And lest not forget, the adaptation period of a new signing could instead be used to gain valuable experience for the youngster, and they'd be ready in time.
I reiterate my original stance. There isn't a need for reinforcements for our backline with our current squad in place. Puyol may not 've age on his side, but if used prudently (saving him for the bigger games, and using mostly as back-up the rest), he'll come up with the goods for an extended period.
