Fair enough you disagree with the promotion thing, but that part is just wrong. He was very dominating the first half season with Grimaldo next to him in midfield. I watched those games and can clearly remember it. He also topped it off with a good pre-season and a great first team debut which was in the UCL agains APOEL. Although Eusebio for God knows whatever reason benched him for Gumbau in 2-3 weeks in a row (and then got fired), he, Grimaldo and Adama were by far the only players on that team who lifted them when things went well and who were among the best when it went worst. The only reason he stayed the next season was not of merit, but because Segura and Lopez thought he was needed to help them promote back in to Segunda A.
He was benched again that season by Vinyals in April and it wasn't a coincidence,would rate Grimaldo over both btw.
You can point to worse players but when it come to expectations and the role they should play I would say Samper was a big disappointment through the season,ok he had a good start and that was when he was called for 1st team, but he really regressed out there. to be benched for Patrick and Gumbau by two coaches (one who have just won UEFA youth CL,other was just coming from finishing 3rd in Segunda with reserve team) that was alarming to say at least.
Samper was expected to be a leading player in that team,he wasn't and many times looked like he isn't ready to take the next step and was hiding in the game,he showed his defensive weakness and it was worrisome.
Playing in 1st team while not ready can harm player career. Fans love La Masia but they have high expectations and no patience. I think if he was promoted in 2015 he was probably gonna be sold out next summer and fans would still blame the board.
Also I don't think with his limitations he is perfect for 1st team
This was a good article about Samper situation (I think you worki in this site too!?)
https://grup14.com/article/the-challenges-that-la-masia-players-must-overcome-to-reach-the-top
With his style of play,and more important limitation he needed to improve b4 moving to 1st team here. What I don't like about him is he was unable to adapt in Granada. He isn't perfect for Barca System and he himself will need to adapt even if it is in different ways.
I'd say that relegation year was more just a season of poor form than total regression. In the following season he was great for Barca B and was great for us when Lucho called him up. Loaning him out was never a good decision and in pre-season he was playing well enough to stay.
My point is,would you promote player in poor form? Yeah he was gr8 last year and that is a reason I believe it was the right decision to keep him with Barca B,he got his form back but also showed improvements as a leader in the team and started to take more duties with them.
My point is sometimes taking a step back is the best way to move forward. Samper for sure wasn't ready for a move like 1st team in 2015. Can understand -even if I disagree- an argument about him being loaned that year or getting promoted last summer. But to say he was ready for promotion in 2015 is stretching it,at least for me.
I really don't like how Samper has been treated. His passing game is still decent enough to at least be a backup to Busi or Raki. Can probably provide the same output as Gomes did this season.
You can argue that anyone would have same output for Gomes that season considering how bad he was.
But I doubt Samper can do lot of work as Busi back up, he doesn't cover well in front of the penalty area and we are already struggling in that aspect. Raki? may be although totally different players and role.
All in all I like Samper passing,he has gr8 vision and passing ability,but he need more than that.He need to improve his off the ball movement which is essential for Barca player,he also need to either improve his defense to be DM or his ability to dictate the tempo of the game and control of the midfield to be CM. And above all he need to show more character. Alena is showing that and he is 3 years younger
It is achievable,but I am not optimistic