Barca’s board were right not to sign a striker

Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Antoine Griezmann is the perfect fit

Here we are at the end of the transfer window with everyone fretting that Barca haven’t signed a striker to replace Luis Suarez until the end of the season.

It may well be a decision in hindsight that’s proved to be the correct one, but for now, I believe it’s the right one.

Why?

Let’s rewind a little. Kevin-Prince Boateng. Need I say more.

Yo @Transfermarkt change my transfer history with "Almost @FCBarcelona" please

No matter what happens we trust the process.
Thank God for everything

See you an other time @AntoGriezmann https://t.co/eeOzZMU7V2

— Cédric Bakambu (@Bakambu17) January 30, 2020

If the rumours are to be believed that we are going to go all-in for Lautaro Martinez in the summer, then why saddle ourselves with a striker that may well be first choice for a few months, but then we struggle to get rid of because he doesn’t fit our needs longer term?

Ousmane Dembele isn’t too far off of full fitness now, and his re-introduction to the side will allow Antoine Griezmann to develop in the No.9 role.

It’s not a way of working that is alien to him and, in fact, we might start to see the best out of him given that we’ve moaned since his signing that he’s never been allowed to flourish in a role that comes more naturally to him.

FCB 1-0 LEG (Griezmann 4 ' ) - It took 226 seconds for Griezmann to open the can. It is the earliest goal of Barcelona in the Copa del Rey since December 2, 2015 (Dani Alves against Villanovense at 221 seconds). pic.twitter.com/h5ZNpgKfdO

— Enock Kobina Essel Niccolò Makaveli (@EnockKobinaEsse) January 30, 2020

From a financial perspective too, panic buying at the end of the window made little sense either.

Martinez won’t come cheap, let alone any other reinforcements that Quique Setien may decide he needs in order to get the team playing in the manner which he, and we, expect.

It’s clear that supporters would like to see the team hit the ground running under Setien too, but a new striker won’t necessarily fix everything and certainly not in the immediate future either.

Therefore, perhaps patience - on our part - is a virtue in this respect.

— Setién: "Sign a striker? Dembele is returning from injury." [marca] pic.twitter.com/yeQDcYS8I1

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) January 31, 2020

Setien’s hire was greeted with optimism, and yet just a few games in some are calling for his head. Really?

There’s been more than enough positives in the matches Barca have played under him to know that good times are around the corner.

And even if they weren’t, how many supporters were crying out for Valverde’s removal and ‘any manager that will play our style of football (trophies irrelevant).’

how is setien supposed to win titles in his first 2 weeks? He needs time to implement what he wants from the players.... Nobody was calling valverde out in his first few weeks at the club

— jemusa (@jesamu07) January 25, 2020

Laying foundations takes time, and such knee-jerk reactions are unhelpful and what’s killing football.

I’m personally excited to see what Setien has to offer, and if that means seeing Antoine Griezmann in a role which benefits not only him but the team as a whole in the short term, then I’m all for it.

Buying for buying’s sake isn’t how we conduct our business.

Source: barcablaugranes.com