Pau Torres

[Sexual Ealing]

I won't trust him till he loses a thumb.

[Dave]

More evidence that he is very much capable of being a key part of a good defence.

He was fine, but I think that a lot of other players (particularly Onana) did more than their fair share meaning he didn't need to be more than fine.

Also the "Martinez smashes it 60 yards to Watkins or Rogers" had its biggest outing for a while, so there wasn't all that much passing through the lines.

There's also a slightly different timeline of the game when he gives away a poor free kick that Tavernier doesn't smash into the stand and we lose 1-0.

[eye digress]

Thought it was Kamara that gave away the freekick, following a turnover caused by Onana?

[Dave]

You may well be right. Looked like Pau to me, but I also thought he got booked as a result.

And the internet says that he didn't (and Kamara did) so it clearly wasn't.

Can I have "Pau should have done something better that meant Kamara wasn't giving away dangerous free-kicks in his area of the pitch" as a consolation prize?

[eye digress]

‘Fraid not!

Good point though, that with Martinez frequently going long, Pau’s passing was less to the fore.

That being said, I do think he has improved quite a lot defensively, Pau. He seems less frequently exposed by pace and power, especially in wide positions. As well as better anticipation and body positioning, he seems a bit more aggressive.