Should Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings both start?

[pablo_picasso]

So Pau started ahead of Mings and Mings replaced Pau.
Interesting developments so far meaning they haven't played together.

Two games.

Two...

Yes in two games they could have started or played together.
Build the partnership which some think is the case and voted with yet evidence suggests its Pau or Mings.
It's fascinating how it will all turn out.

and now they're starting the 3rd game together.

But not conventionally.  I can't imagine we've spent £40m for Torres to play fullback.

I hope not too.

If anybody has to play out there, then it should be Mings because he has played there before in his career.

Although maybe he is keeping Mings in the middle for his aerial prowess...

I suppose time will tell.

[paul_e]

I hope not too.

If anybody has to play out there, then it should be Mings because he has played there before in his career.

Although maybe he is keeping Mings in the middle for his aerial prowess...

I suppose time will tell.

You can't play Torres and Konsa as a pair against most teams so Mings at LB would probably mean Carlos in as well.

[Risso]

Mings at left back would be a huge mistake. Both Moreno and Digne are far more suited to getting forward and putting balls in to the danger areas.

[danno]

Think the most likely scenario is Mings becoming a right sided centre back.

I do remember John Terry not being able to manage playing there for England, but trying to change position in international football after a few sessions, is not the same as working on it all week every week at club level.

[pablo_picasso]

Don't get me wrong, Im not of any of Torres or Mings playing out there, but if Emery does choose to do it, then maybe Cash - Carlos - Torres - Mings is the best option?

Not ideal by any stretch, I just didn't like Torres out there yesterday.

He looked very uncomfortable

Having said that, it was only 60 minutes & one has to remember that the very steady pairing of Mings & Konsa started a bit shaky as they got used to Emerys system last season...

[Dante Lavelli]

It does feel like we are trying to bend gravity a bit to fit them all in the team and get this lop-sided defence sorted out. 
Emery needs to make sure it doesn’t become like signing collymore and shifting Yorke into midfield i.e. the end of his Midas touch.

[Risso]

It does feel like we are trying to bend gravity a bit to fit them all in the team and get this lop-sided defence sorted out. 
Emery needs to make sure it doesn’t become like signing collymore and shifting Yorke into midfield i.e. the end of his Midas touch.

I thought that at first, but I don't think it will be his first choice line up. Might be handy at times if we're 2-0 up and want to take the pace out of the game.

[LeeB]

I'm going to shoot* the next person that says left footed centre half can't play right centre half and vice versa.

Football managed about 150 years before it was ever mentioned.


*metaphorically

[Dante Lavelli]

It does feel like we are trying to bend gravity a bit to fit them all in the team and get this lop-sided defence sorted out. 
Emery needs to make sure it doesn’t become like signing collymore and shifting Yorke into midfield i.e. the end of his Midas touch.

I thought that at first, but I don't think it will be his first choice line up. Might be handy at times if we're 2-0 up and want to take the pace out of the game.

Conversely if Konsa takes to the RB position it could mean we can really over-load the midfield when in possession so the risk v rewards might be worth it. 
As you say, as an option it should be okay.  I just hope Emery sees it that way too as any momentum can be quickly lost.

[Drummond]

I thi k Emery is so good at preparing ona game by game basis that these games are really testing his players' adaptability rather than systems.

[Risso]

I thi k Emery is so good at preparing ona game by game basis that these games are really testing his players' adaptability rather than systems.

My thoughts as well. He might try something different up front against Lazio, which is the only area he hasn't really done similar with yet.

[chrisw1]

I'm going to shoot* the next person that says left footed centre half can't play right centre half and vice versa.

Football managed about 150 years before it was ever mentioned.


*metaphorically

The fact a player can play there in theory doesn't mean they can do so as effectively as the side they have played all their career on and are more comfortable on.  Mings may adapt well to the right, he may not.  I'm sure we'll find out.

[olaftab]

I am sure Pau can play left or right at CB but from evidence yesterday I wouldn't trust him at left back.

[paul_e]

I'm going to shoot* the next person that says left footed centre half can't play right centre half and vice versa.

Football managed about 150 years before it was ever mentioned.


*metaphorically

The fact a player can play there in theory doesn't mean they can do so as effectively as the side they have played all their career on and are more comfortable on.  Mings may adapt well to the right, he may not.  I'm sure we'll find out.

the problem, for me as a lefty, is the idea that footedness has any impact on that.

[chrisw1]

I think the left back thing was probably just a trial run in the event of an injury to Digne before Moreno is back rather than some tactical masterplan from Emery.  Possibly also to reduce Dignes minutes given how important he will be to us for the first few weeks.