Pau Torres

[KevinGage]

We might also want to ease Torres in gradually.

He might be a Rolls Royce of a player and hits the mark straight away. But the likes of Desailly and many others have taken a while to adapt to the unique demands of English football.

I'd expect Mings, Konsa and Digne to all start in the early part of the campaign (if it ain't broke). And Torres to be next cab off the rank if either of that pair have fitness concerns early on.

European games might see us utilise Torres and Diego Carlos more.

[OCD]

I would agree with that but having Newcastle away as the first fixture makes it interesting, as they have a very good high press. We bypassed it in the home game by not playing out so we could go that route again but they should be ready for that this time.

[chrisw1]

We also have to take into account Mings' strengths cover for Torres' weaknesses and vise versa. If we can get them playing together, I think they're our best pairing.

We tend to progress down the left mostly so surely that's where our record signing will play.  So I guess the question will be can Ty adapt to the right?

[VillaTim]

Torres will need time to adapt , he won't have the luxury of the time on the ball you get in La Liga .

[Mister E]

We also have to take into account Mings' strengths cover for Torres' weaknesses and vise versa. If we can get them playing together, I think they're our best pairing.

We tend to progress down the left mostly so surely that's where our record signing will play.  So I guess the question will be can Ty adapt to the right?

We progress down the left when Moreno is playing. My guess is that for the first few games we'll be looking to Cash on the right. This may mean we play either Mings or Torres at LB with a shift across into a 3 when in possession.
When Moreno returns, there'll be more flexibility to mix it up.

[jwarry]

Good article on Pau in The Times today

A little snippet

“He enjoys taking work at home: analysing opponents and watching back his own games to correct mistakes. “I have a person in my entourage who selects and prepares all the plays I have been involved in and sends them to me so that I can review and analyse them with one of my agents,” he says. “I do it after each game, the following day.”

You can see why Unai likes him!

[olaftab]

So Pau is probably looking at that clip when he let Mateta get away?
But seriously what a passer he is! If he could defend as well as he picks a forward with his crossfield 40/50 yarders he would be world class.

[Hookeysmith]

The pass to Diaby (where his bollock hair was judged offside) was just superb - almost as good as the one for Durans goal against Hibs.

I am sure he is wise enough to get to grips with the change in this division in pace and power in time.

Will be interesting how he deals with Jackson as i am sure he knows his game inside out from Villareal days

[paul_e]

I get why people are blaming Torres for the goal but I think it's more complicated than that. The fact is they did us with a quick transition where they caught 3-4 of our defensive players out of position and even then it was only because Emi slipped that they scored.

I thought he was better defensively than he has been because other than the goal I thought his positioning was good and there's clearly some understanding developing between him and Konsa.

[pauliewalnuts]

His passing is unbelievable.

That ball for Diaby's offside goal was absolutely obscene.

He'll adapt with time, defensively - remember Moreno was exactly the same for his first few games.

[Toronto Villa]

He’s also been thrown into a bigger role faster than he would have expected. He would have been partnering Mings who is a brilliant leader and organizer. So to come to another country and another top league, where the game is faster, especially in transition, he’s found the defensive adjustment challenging at times.

[Nii Lamptey]

I was mesmorised watching him from Upper Trinity at the weekend. His distribution is a thing of beauty, and I'm absolutely going to give him time to adjust to the pace of our league - He's already improved on his first couple of appearances.

A Rolls Royce of a player!

[Clampy]

Yes, I like him as well. He's going to be great.

[brontebilly]

I get why people are blaming Torres for the goal but I think it's more complicated than that. The fact is they did us with a quick transition where they caught 3-4 of our defensive players out of position and even then it was only because Emi slipped that they scored.

Agreed that blame for that goal could be shared among a number of players but the way Torres was rolled in the opposition half was diabolical. That's not even good attacking play really, a big clogger has rolled him easily and ran away from him like he wasn't there. He's going to have to be phenomenal with the ball to make up for those kind of errors. It's probably anti what Emery wants but I think he needs to hold his position a bit in situations like that and let the forward take possession. When he dives in and misses he is done.

[frank black]

They stood off him and focused on closing down the space for the receiving players. I couldn’t judge him on the Palace game. He’s a 6/10 player so far IMO. Still settling in I suspect.