The Future Is Bright

Much has happened since my last post with transfer speculation beginning its annual crescendo into summertime and Barca making its first three signings of the offseason. The club's management has pinpointed defense, mentality, and desire as weak spots in the team, and Barca's first signing of the summer should help strengthen the team in these areas. Seydou Keita was signed by the club on May 26th for 14 million euros and brings strength and tenacity to a midfield greatly in need of these attributes. Last year, Keita featured in 31 Liga games for FC Sevilla and had 4 goals and 3 assits. Previously in his career, Keita had played for Olympique Marseille, FC Lorient, and RC Lens in the French League 1.

It could be nothing more than coincidence, but my guess is that FCB's Keita is named after the Malian photographer Seydou Keita, who was known for his skill in photographic portraiture (see http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/arts/22rips.html).

Keita will bring a new dimension of toughness to our midfield that will help us against more physical teams. I am glad that he has joined the club, but I am even more excited by the team's other two acquisitions. On May 27th, Gerard Pique rejoined Barca from Manchester United for a fee of 5 million euros, and the club has just confirmed the signing of Martin Caceres from Villareal for a fee of 16.5 million euros. Both are central defenders, both are 21, and both are thought to have enough potential to become stars in the future.

Despite occasionally lacking bite in attack the past couple of years, the team's greatest weakness has undoubtedly been the defense. Two seasons ago, Barca gifted the league title to Madrid through all-too-frequent lapses in concentration during the final minutes of games. And last season, after performing well for the first half of the season, gaping holes in the back line appeared after winter break. This turn of events was all the more disappointing since Barca's transfer decisions last summer were made specifically to buttress the defense. Milito is an above average defender, but he is not the rock that Puyol is. And Abidal has been by and large a disappointment, having been beaten badly in a number of games and showing a lack of creativity and crossing technique. He may be a good player, but he is not suited for Barca's attacking game.

Given that the defensive problems of two years ago were not fixed this past season, and with Thuram leaving, Zambrotta sold to Milan, and Olegeur still on the books (how is this possible?), Barca were in as much need of defensive reinforcements as they were last summer. Pique and Caceres fit the bill.

Born in Barcelona, Pique had difficulty breaking through to the first team at Man Utd, but earned enough confidence from Alex Ferguson to play in 5 league games and 3 Champions League games. Impressively, he has 2 Champions League goals to his name from last season. He measures 1.91m and weights 76.8kg and will bring much needed height and strength to the back line.

Martin Caceres is not be a physical specimen like Pique, but he is just as promising. Caceres is 1.78m tall and weighs 75kg. His lack of height may be of some concern as is his penchant for acquiring yellow cards (10 last season), but that did not prevent Caceres from being named to UEFA's first eleven of new Liga stars this year. Caceres formerly played for Recreativo Huelva and is the 14th Uruguayan to wear the Barca colors.

While the obvious talent of these two players is exciting, I am even more encouraged by their relative youth. Puyol has a couple years at the highest level left in him, but he's getting up there in years (he turned 30 this past April). Milito is a good player, but he has not demonstrated himself to be world class. And of course, Olegeur is a clown. By purchasing two relatively young defenders with tremendous potential, if everything works out and Pique and Caceres continuing to progress, they could inherit starting roles and secure the Barcelona back line for years to come. The future is bright indeed.