Pau Torres

[andyh]

Definitely an ‘Emperors new clothes’ player.

[tomd2103]

I thought he was poor today. He was forced onto his right foot a lot - whether by poor passing  to him from Martinez or Konsa - but nonetheless some of his passing from the back was weak.
Of all the players on the pitch today he scored poorly, in my opinion.

Bit harsh, but I agree he did look shaky at times with the ball which is unusual for him really.  There was a spell.in the first half in front of where I was in the Holte, where he was panicking when the ball came to him.  Thought he was OK on the whole though.

Thought Digne had more of an off day, compounded by tripping over the ball in his own box and gifting them a goal right at the end. 

[Brend'Watkins]

He wasn’t terrible. He just needs to realise that you can put your foot through the ball when pressed.

[PaulWinch again]

He wasn’t terrible. He just needs to realise that you can put your foot through the ball when pressed.

To be fair it’s pretty obvious they’re under specific instruction not to do that.

[Brend'Watkins]

He wasn’t terrible. He just needs to realise that you can put your foot through the ball when pressed.

To be fair it’s pretty obvious they’re under specific instruction not to do that.

I’m sure there are mitigating circumstances when needs must. It isn’t and never has been keep working it out from the back at all costs. If Torres is on his weaker foot and being heavily pressed he should leather it. I know why we do what we do. I equally know as does Torres when not to do what’s instructed.

[Smithy]

He wasn’t terrible. He just needs to realise that you can put your foot through the ball when pressed.

To be fair it’s pretty obvious they’re under specific instruction not to do that.

I’m sure there are mitigating circumstances when needs must. It isn’t and never has been keep working it out from the back at all costs. If Torres is on his weaker foot and being heavily pressed he should leather it. I know why we do what we do. I equally know as does Torres when not to do what’s instructed.

Under certain circumstances, yes, but I think the point is that they're under strict instructions NOT to "leather it when pressed".  In fact, we actively seek out the press, and try to play through it to try and create the now fashionable "overloads".   

I understand your point, that sometimes it looks like the press has worked and we should just leather it rather than lose it in silly places, but I've honestly lost count of the times I've thought that was about to happen, only for the players to play a couple of quick first-time passes and we're suddenly 30 yards up the pitch and on the attack.

Our style is sometimes nerve-wracking to watch against very good pressing sides, but over the course of the season I'm very confident it's a style that will lead to more goals than it costs us.

[Olneythelonely]

The only reason we were able to cut through them time and time again is because of our bravery on the ball. It’s not a needs must situation. They’re clearly told to be brave, keep hold at all costs and only go long under specific instruction.

He ended up in some really tricky positions and it didn’t always work out perfectly. But he’s playing exactly how Unai is instructing him. We need to get used to it

[PaulWinch again]

Exactly.

[AV82EC]

There were times in that second half when the left hand side quartet of Torres, Digne, Onana and Rogers were taking the piss out of Citehs press and we were moving the ball with such ease. When Tielemans was then getting the ball on the half turn he had acres of space to run and pass into. Joyous.

[LeeB]

I thought he was great on Saturday and seemed to enjoy the protection he had in front of him from the Kamara/Onana brick wall.

[Brend'Watkins]

The only reason we were able to cut through them time and time again is because of our bravery on the ball. It’s not a needs must situation. They’re clearly told to be brave, keep hold at all costs and only go long under specific instruction.

He ended up in some really tricky positions and it didn’t always work out perfectly. But he’s playing exactly how Unai is instructing him. We need to get used to it

If you read back you’ll see I stated on his weaker foot when pressed. I have no issue with us working the ball out from the back. We’re good at it for most of the time. When we’re not, like a few times on Saturday we should get the ball away from danger, pronto.

[john e]

Torres drives the ball forward with purpose his passes are that of a midfielder
Whereas Mings and Carlos tend to hit the ball over the top with height like defenders tend to do, Konsa passes back or sideways his passing stats must be 100% as there’s mostly no risk involved

Torres looks to go forward he’s progressive he’s the only one of our central defenders who’s capable of doing it
he lacks physicality and gets bullied at times he wouldn’t be getting into Sean Dyche’s team but his input in the way we play is massive

In the same way as we’ve all been waiting for the Kamara/Onana midfield partnership thinking it might work but not knowing until it’s tried I would like to see the Torres/Mings partnership again now he’s back from injury, I think it could be our best duo but until it’s tried a few times we can’t judge

Torres in my opinion is one of the best footballers we have at the club

[usav]

Hoping for a quick recovery.  Looks like an ankle roll, but not 100% sure on that.

[Smithy]

Hoping for a quick recovery.  Looks like an ankle roll, but not 100% sure on that.

I didn't see it happen live, and they didn't show a replay - but the way he was helped around the pitch by two physios (not even putting his foot on the ground) does not bode well.  He couldn't even hobble on it.

[paul_e]

Hoping for a quick recovery.  Looks like an ankle roll, but not 100% sure on that.

I didn't see it happen live, and they didn't show a replay - but the way he was helped around the pitch by two physios (not even putting his foot on the ground) does not bode well.  He couldn't even hobble on it.

How they helped him off doesn't really make much difference, could just be that they weren't sure what he'd done so the medical team decided to not let him put weight on it until it could be properly checked. It might be nasty but I don't think anything that happened gives away too many clues.