Pau Torres

[eye digress]

Thought it was weird he came off. Hopefully just a precaution.

[Flamingo Lane]

Don't know about a possible injury, but performance wise he seems to be getter better and better in all aspects of his game.

[Toronto Villa]

Unai said in his post game that certain players were getting tired and so needed to change things up. Pau being one of them.

[RamboandBruno]

He was utterly outstanding today

[PaulWinch again]

I think any debate that he is a top class centre half is done.

[Hopadop]

He's run the H&V 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' gauntlet.

[steamer]

Class
Our defence has undergone a transformation
Although I still hold my breath at times
Almost a moment in the 1st half with him and Martinez

[PaulWinch again]

I don’t really hold my breath much now. Yes they’ll make errors at times and concede - all teams do, but they look really coherent now as a unit. There is a good balance and a clear plan.

[paul_e]

He's my player of the season so far, he makes our offside trap work and looks quicker and stronger than when he arrived. That he's doing all of that improved defensive work whilst still being able to play passes like the one for our first goal makes him and automatic starter for us if we want to be at our best.

[Olneythelonely]

He’s probably our most consistent and best player throughout Unai’s time here.

[KevinGage]

Been much better this season.

His passing hasn't been as incisive as it can be, so still think he can improve further.

But as far as the actual defending is concerned he looks like he's played alongside Konsa for a decade. Looks a different player compared to this time last year.

[Dave]

His passing hasn't been as incisive as it can be, so still think he can improve further.

It's still leagues ahead of any other centre-back in the league that I can think of.

Not every pass is going to be Duran vs Bayern, but pretty much everything* today was forward, taking one or two of their players out of the game, and they all reached the player they were supposed to.

*Cash's goal being the obvious exception

[Monty]

He’s probably our most consistent and best player throughout Unai’s time here.

Listen. I love Pau. But like, there were six-odd months where he could've got pushed off the ball by a gently rolling cabbage. He needed to turn it around and by Christ he absolutely has.

I know I say this every week but - the offsides are back! It's so unbelievably obvious that a good Pau = a good offside trap, especially partnered with Konsa, and that changes everything, it changes our shape, changes how high up we play, changes our pressing, changes our passing options, it's remarkable really.

[Dave]

It's so unbelievably obvious that a good Pau = a good offside trap, especially partnered with Konsa, and that changes everything, it changes our shape, changes how high up we play, changes our pressing, changes our passing options, it's remarkable really.

It's not long ago that it was a FACT* that Cash, Konsa and Pau together was, and always would be a shambolic liability. Hope Tim's not taking this season too badly.

*not an actual fact

[eye digress]

As others have said, he looks far stronger this season. Still looks flat-footed to me, but his defensive positioning is much better, especially in his weaker area where he gets drawn wide one on one.

The depth of his long passing is a crucial weapon - and he is studiously two footed, as in he clearly works hard at it.

Our first goals today and on Wednesday were initiated by a Pau foray forward once we’d pulled the opposition shape to the right.

It seems strange that he’s not one of the vice captains, especially as, by all accounts, he’s a bit of a teacher’s pet.

But then maybe Unai’s too smart to do that.