Pau Torres

[paul_e]

Appreciate the loudest noise was binned off the site, but those "we only win matches when Mings plays" and endless goals against analysis posts seem to have to dried up.

Yep. He was playing badly and deserved much of his criticism, but an in-form Pau is a player who changes the shape of the whole game. He's so good at the offside line, and that squeezing of the play opens so many more opportunities, not least for himself to break the lines with dribbling and passing

Thinking back, we had a situation where we played with a different back four up until February due to injuries, Pau probably wasn’t quite up to speed, but needs must and he had to play at times.

Which was the real problem with our defence last season, and a fair few on here pointed it out, I don't think we had a fully fit back 4 and DM all play for much more than a game at a time until about March last season, and that was almost exactly the point where our performances turned around. Asensio and Rashford clearly helped going forward but I think us finally being able to start putting some consistency in our defence was a huge benefit.

[PaulWinch again]

It is noticeable how much better the defensive line is now. I think that’s a good indicator of Pau’s form.

[PaulWinch again]

Excellent today. We’re so much better now he’s back to his best. Also dispels the stuff that he can’t defend.

[usav]

Excellent today. We’re so much better now he’s back to his best. Also dispels the stuff that he can’t defend.

Agree.  Also dispels the myth that you need to match physicality against Haaland (i.e. Carlos or Mings).

[Villan82]

Excellent today. We’re so much better now he’s back to his best. Also dispels the stuff that he can’t defend.

Those criticisms last season really irritated me given how exceptional we were with him at the back the previous year.

[paul_e]

Excellent today. We’re so much better now he’s back to his best. Also dispels the stuff that he can’t defend.

Those criticisms last season really irritated me given how exceptional we were with him at the back the previous year.

To be fair it was about 90% dim tim.

[PeterWithesShin]

Pau was off form a lot last season, so there were times when playing Mings instead was a pretty valid debate. When he plays like he has recently he's an excellent player and far better than Tyrone. And I say that as someone that loves Ty.

[aj2k77]

Defence has been a hell of a lot better this season so far. Initially it was put down to only playing ''weaker'' teams but we've played Tottenham and Man City back to back and kept clean sheets. Emery's defensive tightening is paying dividends and now we just need to be a little more expansive going forwards.

[PeterWithesShin]

Helps the defence when one of them isn't going off injured every game meaning we ran out of fit defenders.

[aj2k77]

Yes, a stable backline now of Cash. Digne, Torres and Konsa week in and week out. Offsides are back a bit too, I think we caught Tottenham out 6 times and Man City 3.

[paul_e]

Pau was off form a lot last season, so there were times when playing Mings instead was a pretty valid debate. When he plays like he has recently he's an excellent player and far better than Tyrone. And I say that as someone that loves Ty.

Yes he was, and it was, but the idea that he was incapable of defending that came from that was pure nonsense. He was struggling for form and fitness and with the sheer amount of games we just couldn't give him the time he needed to recover.

[Dave]

Pau was off form a lot last season, so there were times when playing Mings instead was a pretty valid debate. When he plays like he has recently he's an excellent player and far better than Tyrone. And I say that as someone that loves Ty.

It was definitely a valid debate. But the way some people were going on you'd think that Mings was Baresi and Pau was some bloke who'd been plucked off the street.

[pelty]

Pau deserved the criticism but now he deserves praise. He has been more physical and defensively sound. Combine that with his ability on the ball and he is the better option to Mings.

[Dave]

Watching the highlights back, that clearance from under the bar is definitely walking a very fine line between brilliant and very lucky. Excellent positioning, but if that shot hits him at any other angle it's cannoning off him into the net.

[astonvilla82]

Credit due today as he put in a very good performance