Pau Torres

Cloud7

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I decided to watch Real vs Villarreal (3-1). His style is really exactly the same as Daley Blind. He's pretty much the quick version of Daley Blind. From that game, this is what I can come out to my conclusion:
If this is the case then I would love to have him here. Blind had some brilliant attributes as a CB, but was let down by his physical attributes. A faster, taller version of him would be amazing.
 

Bondi77

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He's in among the worst CBs from top 5 leagues in aerial duel win rate. 47.4% is very poor. For context, Ake was bottom 5 in the PL at 52.5% and he's ~5 inches shorter.

Consequently, Torres doesn't contest a lot of aerials, he prefers to drop a bit deeper as a rule of thumb.
That is what I thought.
We should steer clear of this bloke.
 

dev1l

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Another option would be Badieshile though Zidane wants him at Madrid. Apparently we were monitoring him in 2017 when.he was just 16.
 

DWelbz19

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He's in among the worst CBs from top 5 leagues in aerial duel win rate. 47.4% is very poor. For context, Ake was bottom 5 in the PL at 52.5% and he's ~5 inches shorter.

Consequently, Torres doesn't contest a lot of aerials, he prefers to drop a bit deeper as a rule of thumb.
That’s very weak for a player of his height — 6’3.

I’ve seen some comparisons say he’s the new Pique, which he may be in all other facets, but man does Pique blow him away for aerial success. According to WhoScored, Pique has around a 70%(?) aerial duel success rate this season. That’s comparable to Maguire who’s at around 71%.
——
A faster Blind does sound lovely (which I guess Pique has been all his career, tbf), if he does have the same level of IQ and composure that Daley had to go along with just a (lot) more speed and physicality I’d be all for it.
 

dev1l

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That is what I thought.
We should steer clear of this bloke.
Agreed. Having said that, I m convinced that overall he has the best football brain amongst the various CB s mentioned. Still, he s not what we should be looking for imo
 

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That’s very weak for a player of his height — 6’3.

I’ve seen some comparisons say he’s the new Pique, which he may be in all other facets, but man does Pique blow him away for aerial success. According to WhoScored, Pique has around a 70%(?) aerial duel success rate this season. That’s comparable to Maguire who’s at around 71%.
——
A faster Blind does sound lovely (which I guess Pique has been all his career, tbf), if he does have the same level of IQ and composure that Daley had to go along with just a (lot) more speed and physicality I’d be all for it.
Yeah just for context, the top 5 in Europe are Subotic, Boateng, VVD, Zouma, and Hause - all around 76-78% aerial win rates.

I don't think Torres is necessarily a bad player, just potentially a bit of an awkward fit in a more physical league.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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The main criticism aimed at Lindelof last season was that he was being bullied physically. I cannot see Torres being better than Lindelof at that - even though he s quite tall, he loses a lot of headers.

Tbf in some of the goals we conceded that way, were DeGea s fault because he doesn't command his area well enough.
To me Lindelof sometime ball watching without aware where his man which allow the attackers to be goalside, play safe passes & worse than Blind on the ball, lack of pace, lack of physical strength & missed the ball when attempt on headers. The issue is that not his physical alone but there are just too many weaknesses for Maguire to cover. There is a good case I mentioned quick version of Blind not a quick version of Lindelof because Lindelof has more problems than Blind.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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If this is the case then I would love to have him here. Blind had some brilliant attributes as a CB, but was let down by his physical attributes. A faster, taller version of him would be amazing.
I agree. I always say if Blind has the pace, he will be a top class centre back. Blind is one of the example of player lack physical attribute but knows how to play against strong players.
 

Cloud7

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I agree. I always say if Blind has the pace, he will be a top class centre back. Blind is one of the example of player lack physical attribute but knows how to play against strong players.
One of my fondest memories of him was the game where he absolutely dominated Lukaku.
 

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I forgot to ask @UNITED ACADEMY, was he playing alongside Albiol? If so was Albiol the one going for most of the stuff in the air and Torres the covering CB? Just as he has a much higher aerial duels number, trying to see if it is just how the pairing plays.
 

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One of my fondest memories of him was the game where he absolutely dominated Lukaku.
I was about to mention his name but I decided not to because he also dominated others not just Lukaku. :lol:
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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I forgot to ask @UNITED ACADEMY, was he playing alongside Albiol? If so was Albiol the one going for most of the stuff in the air and Torres the covering CB? Just as he has a much higher aerial duels number, trying to see if it is just how the pairing plays.
He played with Chakla against Real not Albiol. But Chakla only had 2 appearances in La Liga this season. Like I said before, Real pretty much played on feet. I'm guessing most of the games he played with Albiol.
 

FrankDrebin

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I prefer this Torres guy over that Gabriel. He looks more cultured.
 

Lash

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He played with Chakla against Real not Albiol. But Chakla only had 2 appearances in La Liga this season. Like I said before, Real pretty much played on feet. I'm guessing most of the games he played with Albiol.
Ah ok, cheers anyway
 

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Ah ok, cheers anyway
Just to give you some note that whenever he was in contact with Real Madrid players (Benzema, Modric & Hazard), he didn't fall down physically but able to stand on his ground. But again, it's La Liga, PL is much more aggressive with the likes of Vardy, Deeney, Antonio and etc. It's very hard to judge his physical attribute since he looks skinny but tall. At the moment I can only say he's a quick version of Blind based on their main assets.
 

Lash

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Just to give you some note that whenever he was in contact with Real Madrid players (Benzema, Modric & Hazard), he didn't fall down physically but able to stand on his ground. But again, it's La Liga, PL is much more aggressive with the likes of Vardy, Deeney, Antonio and etc. It's very hard to judge his physical attribute since he looks skinny but tall. At the moment I can only say he's a quick version of Blind based on their main assets.
Yeah, it's a tough comparison, la Liga to prem,as you get away with far more in the Prem. It's whether he can adapt, but a pacy Blind I would really like at the club.
 

Mercurial

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Link to us looks pretty silent, not much buzz so to say. He sure looks composed on the ball. Also the long distro and the left foot look great! The sweeping left foot passes on first touch from the very flank flying up to the other flank of the pitch could create havoc with the type of mid / forwards we have. This guy has the vision and delivery to pick those long pinpoint passes, i personally like that ability from the back a lot, it adds another dimension. Comparison to Blind and the distro of Carrick wasn't too far off. I get the feeling he will also be good in a 3 at the back too, almost covering some light DM duty. He would add something extra. With Pogba and Bruno and added distro from far back the creative outlets would be crazy. Aerial ability looks iffy on stats but as pointed out by posters how did his pairing do on that front?
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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I think he re-quoted what Paul Hirst mentioned. Fabrizio has been very popular due to his Sanchez & Sancho news but majority his other transfer news (especially outside Italy this year) are based on someone already mentioned them first, sometime he also re-quoted the other journalist tweet so people don't think he claimed for it. I only think this way because yesterday someone asked him in Twitter whether United are in for other position and he said that he doesn't know much about it and at the same day, Hirst mentioned Pau Torres yesterday in Stretford video.

As for Paul Hirst. He's been sticking (since June) with the fact that United is looking for new centre back due to only Maguire being the only reliable one & he believed Pau Torres is one of the name. When I watched the video of 2 Sporten in June, he claimed that we've been following Pau Torres for very long time which what made him believe he's one of our target.

Personally, I prefer Pau Torres among other options that are linked with us. And I think he's our main target while Gabriel is just cheaper option just in case if we spent most of our budget on Sancho.
 

Adnan

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Started for Spain tonight, anyone watch the game? On Twitter the consensus is that he wasn't very good.
 

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Started for Spain tonight, anyone watch the game? On Twitter the consensus is that he wasn't very good.
Watched the extended highlights. Looked OK, IMO. Couple of mistakes, but it's not like he's match fit. He was up against some pacy forwards, and wasn't super exposed. Hard to see if he was as fast as someone like Dayot though. I definitely saw potential. Rodrigo was dog, happy Leeds got him.
 

Highfather_24

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Was not good. Werner had him in his pocket. Looked shaky when Sane was running at him too. Very good on the ball though.
 

Adnan

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Watched the extended highlights. Looked OK, IMO. Couple of mistakes, but it's not like he's match fit. He was up against some pacy forwards, and wasn't super exposed. Hard to see if he was as fast as someone like Dayot though. I definitely saw potential. Rodrigo was dog, happy Leeds got him.
Thanks for the feedback.

Hopefully Rodrigo keeps it up for Leeds because that vile fan base deserve it.
 

Lash

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Thanks for the feedback.

Hopefully Rodrigo keeps it up for Leeds because that vile fan base deserve it.
Yeah, I definitely wouldn't be keen to pay the reported 60m euros for him. For a good deal less, potentially.

Likewise. I have a feeling he will be pants, looks like a proper head down player every time I see him.
 

LuckyScout78

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definetely one to watch out. Aggresive and really good with the ball and passer.