New signings, no matter at what club or at what level, are almost always treated with an element of excitement. The hope is that they are exactly what the team need. They could be the difference between a mediocre and a good season. Plus, in today's 'player trading' world, they can be viewed as a potential moneymaker.
In turn, it can lead to fans getting carried away and making sweeping statements such as Andres Salazar is going to be the best Heart of Midlothian left-back since Takis Fyssas.
Therefore it is always good to get an outside observer. A neutral to provide some rational insight.
That's why, with the signing of Salazar on a loan deal from Atletico Nacional, Hearts Standard reached out to Llew Davies of Scouted, the popular and respected outlet that keeps a keen eye on the next generation of football.
Davies watched Salazar very closely when he represented Colombia at the Under-20 World Cup last year, playing every minute of his country's five games before they were knocked out by eventual finalists Italy at the quarter-final stage. Salazar left such an impression that what happened next in his career was of interest to Davies.
When it emerged Hearts were on the verge of signing him, there was an element of surprise. In truth, more than just an element. He was "very" surprised.
"I had him slated for a move to a higher level - with all due respect to Hearts - after that U-20 World Cup," Davies told Hearts Standard. "I thought he'd go to one of those classic talent-developing, money-making clubs like Genk in Belgium at the very least, or even direct to one of the clever clubs in any of the top-five leagues.
"When I saw it was Hearts I was genuinely surprised. It's pretty cool that his Colombian team-mate Oscar Cortes – another who I like a lot – is playing over in Glasgow for Rangers too."
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Between first witnessing him in action at the Under-20 World Cup and now, Salazar has become a Colombian internationalist, adding to his experience of playing in the Colombian top flight with Atletico Nacional and in the Copa Libertadores.
The 21-year-old was "completely new" to Davies.
"His presence down the entire left flank," he said when asked what stood out initially and led him to describe Salazar as a "monster". "He was one of maybe two or three players that stuck out straight away.
"Looking back through my notes now, the initial takeaways are his all-round athleticism – good size, running power, burst in smaller spaces and speed over longer distances. Digging a bit deeper, I found that he'd been a practical ever-present for that team, starting, and finishing, all but two of his then-27 caps at under-20 level."
Speaking to Davies and watching his performance in his debut for Colombia there were elements of his game that were similiar to Alex Cochrane. There was the "good size" and "running power". And the versatility in taking up different positions as a full-back.
Using StatsBomb to compare their most recent seasons we can see they possess different strengths, however. Cochrane was an important player in possession for Hearts and clearly used it well going by his on-the-ball value and he would rarely lose possession. Defensively he didn't give up too many fouls and wasn't strong when defending against a winger.
As for Salazar, we can see two elements to his game where he is strong and we will soon explore. He is aggressive, keen to engage opponents and put pressure on them out of possession. In possession, he provides a creative threat in the final third, scoring in the 86th percentile of all full-backs in the Colombian top flight for xG assisted.
Davies noted that he is not one type of full-back/wing-back over another.
"This is the interesting bit because his performances at last year's U-20 World Cup showed him to be a few different kinds of full-back/wing-back," he explained.
"He was shifting roles in game, going from the more 'trendy' wide defender that anchors a bit deeper in build-up to help his team play out to the more traditional 'marauder' between both boxes. He was effective doing both, too – it wasn't as if he looked out of place doing either.
"I like him as that 'maurader' type, so any role and/or system that enables him to do that basically. That could be as a full-back in a four or a wing-back in a three/five.
"One of the things I really liked about Salazar was his ability to progress the ball up the pitch with punchy dribbles and powerful carries. He often combined those with one-twos, meaning he could take opponents out the game and extend that progression through the thirds and drive the ball into higher areas."
That was clear from his outing for his national team against Iraq in Valencia last year.
In the early proceedings, he was willing to hang back and not cramp Luis Diaz's space higher up, waiting for the right time to motor forward.
Just before the half-hour mark, he spots an opportunity after playing a pass forward to take advantage of space. In the space of a few seconds, he is getting the ball returned to him and then playing inside.
In the second half, he again progresses up the pitch, combining with teammates. Luis Diaz drops wide and deep, allowing Salazar to take the inside track.
He exchanges passes and moves forward. He gets the ball back and has to check his advance to get it under control. But again, he passes forward and is on his bike again, now offering an option out wide.
Salazar appears to have a good awareness of when to hold back and when to make certain runs with his team in possession. A moment later, he feeds Diaz who has again moved deep and wide. This time he backs off after the pass with little space to advance into.
It is only when the ball is moved infield that he begins to motor.
Within a few seconds, he is found in space down the left and sending a cross to the back post.
Davies has no concerns about handling the change in football culture, from Colombia to Scotland, noting the intensity rather than the physicality may be the aspect that requires a period of adaption.
He said: "It may take him some time to adapt to the intensity of the Scottish game – South American football is weird to gauge – but his pure individual athleticism means its more than able to hold its own, if not stand out."
There should be no issue with the aggression of the game.
Salazar plays on the front foot and is committed. At times it works and at times he can overcommit or get caught too square. It is therefore understandable that he is dribbled past more frequently than Cochrane, referring back to the comparison above.
His willingness to engage can be a positive. Against Iraq, it leads to a counter-attack. He spots an opportunity to win the ball...
... and goes for it.
Sometimes it doesn't work.
He spots an opportunity where the ball is being moved wide to close down, block the avenue and win the ball. But with the space behind him, it doesn't quite work.
The good news is it is high up the pitch meaning the danger is minimal.
Hearts have got a player who is clearly highly thought of in Colombia having had a very good grounding within the youth ranks of the national team to progress to full international honours. He has earned the interest of clubs in Europe and experienced the demands of playing for one of the biggest teams in his homeland and in South America's Champions League equivalent.
Steven Naismith is adding a left-back who is not only ready to contribute in the short-term but someone who has real potential and with the right direction could become a much sought-after star.
Davies certainly thinks so. The last question put to him was regarding Salazar's ceiling. The response was emphatic.
"Top-five league, simple as," he said.
"How high up in a top-five league will be interesting, this move could be telling, but he has the profile and attributes to be a type of player coveted by good clubs in any of the big leagues."
So much for dialling down any excitement or hype.
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