Pau Torres

[Mister E]

I'll be amazed if we start any game next season with 3 CB and wingbacks. We will play many games with an asymmetrical back 4 though and that might include Konsa or Chambers moving across to right back alongside 2 from Mings, Torres and Carlos.

I was talking way back about the way the Arse used Ben White and Zinchenko last season in an asymmetrical set-up, and Torres gives us that option. The point being that Torres brings us options and flexibility in the way that we play from the back.
Now, what about our attacking options?!

[Rodders]

He looks like he'd make a good Sebastian Flyte when they next make a new Brideshead.

Edit: Torres, that is, not Flintstone. I'm sure he looks like a spring morning in Cumbernauld.

Waugh And Piss

[pauliewalnuts]

Do we really need another defender. We're crying out for a front man

My thoughts exactly.

You’d think Villa fans would give Emery a bit of credit, after the season we’ve just had.

Indeed.

I don’t understand what is hard to understand about us needing better options and more of them across the pitch.

That’s the centre halves sorted. I am sure we’ll move onto other parts of the pitch now.

Also reading people saying “what about Mings? Is he not going to be a starter?”

We won’t have starters and non starters, we will have a squad where the average skill level is higher than it used to be and then it’s up to players to claim a spot by being better than others in their position.

We need to stop this small time “starting eleven plus back ups” thinking.

[devilla]

Hope he doesn't get injured as easily as China in yiur hand.

Ill get my coat.

[boozey182]

Do we really need another defender. We're crying out for a front man

My thoughts exactly.

Yeah, I initially I thought that this was a great signing - an excellent defender who perfectly suits our style of play. But you're both right - it's even more positive than that.

If we're spending this money on a player that isn't in a priority position, but just because it's a great opportunity to improve the overall quality of the squad - what are we going to do for the positions that we do see as a priority?! I think the only place we differ in opinion is that I'd say a winger and an attacking midfielder are more of a priority than a front man, but hey, let's get one of them too!

Exciting times! Great to see some positivity after a slow few weeks.

[Toronto Villa]

been saying this for ages. Stop thinking that every player is a guaranteed starter. With the exception of Emi Martinez every position should be rotatable. Every current starter can be benched because it makes sense to do so on occasion based on form, opponent, health, tactics etc. We need to at least two top players in every position.

[Edvard Remberg]

I'll be amazed if we start any game next season with 3 CB and wingbacks. We will play many games with an asymmetrical back 4 though and that might include Konsa or Chambers moving across to right back alongside 2 from Mings, Torres and Carlos.

I think that's what Bardell meant - that it will look like three at the back sometimes, with Moreno playing higher, but we'll still defend as a back four.

Who?

[TonyD]

Hope this isn't the beginning of the end for Mings here, I love the bloke. But if he helps us win something then so be it.

He's not coming to sit on the bench, and if Emery doesn't play 3 CB's it's another interesting one to see what happens.

We are going to play a lot of games next season.  Rotate rotation. 

[Sexual Ealing]

I'll be amazed if we start any game next season with 3 CB and wingbacks. We will play many games with an asymmetrical back 4 though and that might include Konsa or Chambers moving across to right back alongside 2 from Mings, Torres and Carlos.

I think that's what Bardell meant - that it will look like three at the back sometimes, with Moreno playing higher, but we'll still defend as a back four.

Who?

https://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=64040.90#:~:text=to%20a%20three%3F-,Dan%20Bardell*%20tweeted%20on,have%20no%20idea%2C%20BE.,-Report%20to%20moderator

[OCD]

From that twitter link...

Mings and Konsa conceded 4 from open play in the last 14 games.

Pretty amazing stat tbh, either one of them will feel pretty hard done by to be dropped.

I think they, and us, are going to need to get used to more squad rotation.

It also wouldn’t be a massive surprise if it took Torres a few weeks to get up to speed for the PL so it might be a while before he’s really pushing to start.

He'll play the europa play off for sure.

I was trying to remember what system we actually played when Diego Carlos came on at Wolves.

It was late and we were losing but that suggests Emery will tweak at times and go 3atb perhaps?

We took Young off, moved Konsa to right back and had Diego Carlos and Mings as the centre back pairing.

Emery's previously said that this guy is the best centre back that he's ever worked with.

Bayern Munich and Juventus wanted this guy, that's his calibre. Fortunately for us Munich are going after Min-Jae Kim and Juventus can't afford him. We're getting great value here.

Emery's thinking seems to be that he wants 2 quality options per position and if you're going to do that, you might as well sign someone who, it could be argued, is better than the player you already have in that position.

[TonyD]

Let’s hope he gives his heart and soul.

[Toronto Villa]

Pau Torres vs every other central defender in La Liga last season:

◉ Most touches (2560)
◉ Most passes completed (1846)
◉ Most passes in final ⅓ (275)
◉ Most through balls (3)
◉ Most take-ons completed (26)
◎ Second-most chances created (14)

https://twitter.com/avfcstatto/status/1674429736687394818?s=46&t=0-BUXD66ovTcofwrbTW4Ag

[villadelph]

Pau Torres vs every other central defender in La Liga last season:

◉ Most touches (2560)
◉ Most passes completed (1846)
◉ Most passes in final ⅓ (275)
◉ Most through balls (3)
◉ Most take-ons completed (26)
◎ Second-most chances created (14)

https://twitter.com/avfcstatto/status/1674429736687394818?s=46&t=0-BUXD66ovTcofwrbTW4Ag

Additionally,

Among other central defenders in the Spanish top flight, Torres finished fourth in blocks, sixth for ground duels won, second for last man tackles and fifth for recoveries

[Toronto Villa]

Unai Emery in 2021 on Pau Torres

"I've been a coach in Sevilla, PSG, Arsenal and I've never seen a centre-back like Pau Torres. I think he's going to play at the highest level."

[rob_bridge]

been saying this for ages. Stop thinking that every player is a guaranteed starter. With the exception of Emi Martinez every position should be rotatable. Every current starter can be benched because it makes sense to do so on occasion based on form, opponent, health, tactics etc. We need to at least two top players in every position.

Exactly - Liverpool have probably Allison and Robertson as the only definite high quality starters now, even Salah not guaranteed. Not sure what it means for Chambers unless we don't sign a right back, which we really need to.

If Ramsey can certainly play further up the pitch - looking at him he can , then we need one more forward/attacker and definitely a very good back up keeper.

All of a sudden the bench could be e.g. Carlos, Konsa, McGinn, Buendia, Digne, Archer, Duran and Cash - 150m+ in terms of value and no space for Bert or Bailey