Pau Torres

[boozey182]

Pau is a wonderful footballer, and will continue to be a huge asset to our club, I'm certain of it. He helps us control games in a way that no other defender I have ever seen has been capable of. The moment mentioned above by Olneythelonely is a perfect example of that. Any other defender takes the touch back towards their own goal, plays the simple pass back to the keeper and we build from there. Pau got us 20 yards further up the pitch, with the opposition on the back foot, in the space of three touches. He is absolutely integral to how we play, and does things that no other defender (player?) in our squad can do.

Take Konsa, for example. He's a fantastic defender, but incredibly, and increasingly it seems, limited when it comes to playing a forward pass. He often has the opportunity to do so, but more frequently chooses not to and we have to build up from the other side instead. It's safer, but it does invite more pressure on our entire team, and especially Pau. Playing it safe means that he's far less likely to give the ball away, but it's not necessarily what's best for the team at that moment.

Pau does have some weaknesses though, and he has made more mistakes already this season that he did for the entirety of last season, but I don't think that he's always the main cause of that - it's a factor of the ball not sticking further up the pitch (we give the ball away a lot more this season). Some of the defending is inexcusable, I grant that, but what he offers our side is incredibly valuable, and I've seen enough from him to think that this is a dip in form, rather than anything more serious to worry about. Having a more settled, and confident, side in front of him will go a long way to helping.

There's more about what he offers than just looking at how many goals we concede. If you need stats, look at his 'progressive carries', 'carries into the final third', 'through balls' etc stats (he's in the top 10% of centre backs in Europe for all of those). That's why he's in the team, and why Unai loves him. He gets us up the pitch.

The obvious retort to this is: he's a defender, his job is to defend. There's plenty of truth in that, but it's much harder to defend if you're camped in your own half. Pau gets us up the pitch. Unfortunately, if last night is anything to go by, that's where the opposition's best attacks come from...

Pau is great, but Tyrone should play on Saturday. That doesn't mean Pau isn't good enough, but it means we've nearly got a squad where we can pick the best team to help us win a match, rather than just the same team over and over again. That, to me, is what this season has been all about so far - developing a squad to compete, not just flogging the same 13-14 players week in week out.

I could basically write the exact same thing about Watkins and Duran. Duran is a much better finisher, but it doesn't necessarily mean that he's our best option up front. He may be some weeks, he won't be every week. Everything doesn't have to be so binary - if we have a player that could replace another in the team, it doesn't mean that the one replaced is shit. It means we're getting a better squad - a reason to be cheerful. I think we focus on our own weaknesses too much.

[Paul.S]

Pau is a wonderful footballer, and will continue to be a huge asset to our club, I'm certain of it. He helps us control games in a way that no other defender I have ever seen has been capable of. The moment mentioned above by Olneythelonely is a perfect example of that. Any other defender takes the touch back towards their own goal, plays the simple pass back to the keeper and we build from there. Pau got us 20 yards further up the pitch, with the opposition on the back foot, in the space of three touches. He is absolutely integral to how we play, and does things that no other defender (player?) in our squad can do.

Take Konsa, for example. He's a fantastic defender, but incredibly, and increasingly it seems, limited when it comes to playing a forward pass. He often has the opportunity to do so, but more frequently chooses not to and we have to build up from the other side instead. It's safer, but it does invite more pressure on our entire team, and especially Pau. Playing it safe means that he's far less likely to give the ball away, but it's not necessarily what's best for the team at that moment.

Pau does have some weaknesses though, and he has made more mistakes already this season that he did for the entirety of last season, but I don't think that he's always the main cause of that - it's a factor of the ball not sticking further up the pitch (we give the ball away a lot more this season). Some of the defending is inexcusable, I grant that, but what he offers our side is incredibly valuable, and I've seen enough from him to think that this is a dip in form, rather than anything more serious to worry about. Having a more settled, and confident, side in front of him will go a long way to helping.

There's more about what he offers than just looking at how many goals we concede. If you need stats, look at his 'progressive carries', 'carries into the final third', 'through balls' etc stats (he's in the top 10% of centre backs in Europe for all of those). That's why he's in the team, and why Unai loves him. He gets us up the pitch.

The obvious retort to this is: he's a defender, his job is to defend. There's plenty of truth in that, but it's much harder to defend if you're camped in your own half. Pau gets us up the pitch. Unfortunately, if last night is anything to go by, that's where the opposition's best attacks come from...

Pau is great, but Tyrone should play on Saturday. That doesn't mean Pau isn't good enough, but it means we've nearly got a squad where we can pick the best team to help us win a match, rather than just the same team over and over again. That, to me, is what this season has been all about so far - developing a squad to compete, not just flogging the same 13-14 players week in week out.

I could basically write the exact same thing about Watkins and Duran. Duran is a much better finisher, but it doesn't necessarily mean that he's our best option up front. He may be some weeks, he won't be every week. Everything doesn't have to be so binary - if we have a player that could replace another in the team, it doesn't mean that the one replaced is shit. It means we're getting a better squad - a reason to be cheerful. I think we focus on our own weaknesses too much.

I’d agree with this. He’s so good to watch on the ball and makes so many passes that take us from defence to attack. I think one of his weaknesses is defending crosses and dealing with the physical aspect of the English game.
He’s improved in that aspect and I’d much rather have him in the team than sitting on the bench.
Horses for course on Saturday and I think Mings would be much better in dealing with their threat up front and probably their pace as well. Playing both Kamara and Onana (if fit) would win us the midfield battle and also protect the back 4. It’s good to have options now and if we don’t fall for their counter attack we have a decent chance. Torres every day for me in Europe though.

[eamonn]

Please don't quote large posts, just use rabbit ears ^^

[Somniloquism]

Or if quoting one from a few posts earlier when later posts have been something different, snip most of it down.

Pau is a wonderful footballer, and will continue to be a huge asset to our club, I'm certain of it. <snip>

I agree.

[Demitri_C]

I thought Pau was very good last night. One excellent bit of play where he controlled an attempted ball forward and played an excellent ball into Watkins feet. His one error was horrible but the narrative around some of our players is mad at the moment.

You only have to look at our defensive stats to see why - it is horrible.

Hoping a run of kamara and onana in CM will help improve that

I do look at the stats, I still fail to see why. Pau is not the problem. Which you’ve alluded to by suggesting a fix may be needed elsewhere.

Pau is part of the defence so he is part of the problem and probably a big part of it as he has been a majority  at cb. Collectively you have to look at them all but i would argue dignes not the problem as he has been generally  excellent. We all know about the issues at right back too- thats the clubs fault not paus so iacceot that.

But generally on pau If you have looked at the stats the lack of clean sheets compared to last year shows where the issue is. as i said i do think having  kamara injured for so long hasnt helped

[Olneythelonely]

I thought Pau was very good last night. One excellent bit of play where he controlled an attempted ball forward and played an excellent ball into Watkins feet. His one error was horrible but the narrative around some of our players is mad at the moment.

You only have to look at our defensive stats to see why - it is horrible.

Hoping a run of kamara and onana in CM will help improve that

I do look at the stats, I still fail to see why. Pau is not the problem. Which you’ve alluded to by suggesting a fix may be needed elsewhere.

Pau is part of the defence so he is part of the problem and probably a big part of it as he has been a majority  at cb. Collectively you have to look at them all but i would argue dignes not the problem as he has been generally  excellent. We all know about the issues at right back too- thats the clubs fault not paus so iacceot that.

But generally on pau If you have looked at the stats the lack of clean sheets compared to last year shows where the issue is. as i said i do think having  kamara injured for so long hasnt helped

Pau was the mainstay at centre half last year.

[Brazilian Villain]

Or if quoting one from a few posts earlier when later posts have been something different, snip most of it down.

I agree, and also with boozey's excellent post.

*Don't pass any heed on eamonn atm, he'll be suffering from PRD (post-Rio depression) for a few days.

[VillaTim]

He's a big part of the problem defensively , the stats don't lie .

[PaulWinch again]

He’s also been a big part of it when it did work.

[Percy McCarthy]

He’s also been a big part of it when it did work.

It’s only worked very occasionally since he’s been here - rarity is what makes those good performances by the defence stand out. Only 21 clean sheets since the start of last season, and I think we all know by now who his partner was in the vast majority of those.

[sid1964]

Unai states that Pau is integral to the way we play - it is strange how even after victory in the Champions league, we have to try and find a scapegoat.

[tomd2103]

Unai states that Pau is integral to the way we play - it is strange how even after victory in the Champions league, we have to try and find a scapegoat.

I'm not sure it's about finding a scapegoat, it's more about how we can improve and take that next step to hopefully become a fixture in the higher reaches of the league and European competition.

One of the areas that needs improvement in that regards is our defending, as we've been conceding sloppy goals for some time now and have been unable to shut teams out on too many occasions. 

[Ian.]

Or if quoting one from a few posts earlier when later posts have been something different, snip most of it down.

I agree, and also with boozey's excellent post.

*Don't pass any heed on eamonn atm, he'll be suffering from PRD (post-Rio depression) for a few days.

Or if quoting one from a few posts earlier when later posts have been something different, snip most of it down.

I agree, and also with boozey's excellent post.

*Don't pass any heed on eamonn atm, he'll be suffering from PRD (post-Rio depression) for a few days.

post.

I agree too, it’s an excellent post by Boozey.

[Ian.]

Oops. What have I done?

[Percy McCarthy]

Unai states that Pau is integral to the way we play - it is strange how even after victory in the Champions league, we have to try and find a scapegoat.

That’s undoubtedly true about certain posters on H&V who can’t wait to support their false narratives. I’ve consumed hours of content on the Liepzig match, watched the whole match again, heard the pundits and listened to five or six Villa podcasts. Pau, Carlos and Konsa barely got a mention when they’re apportioning blame for the goals. They all blame Emi (with the exception of The Villa Podcast, which has a long-standing antipathy towards Carlos). But it was entirely predictable who would get the blame on here, even if people with a clue about football corrected them.