No thanks
Pau Torres
- Thread starter Bebestation
- Start date
Based on FBref stats, his ball playing ability is up there with Liverpool and City CBs. World class ball playing ability. When I watched him closedly vs Real in 2019/2020 season, he reminded me of Blind but with pace.
I think he is a good player and would be well suited to playing possession football. The problem is we need other positions more urgently and won't have an unlimited budget.
It's going to be a real tough job getting recruitment right this summer.
It's going to be a real tough job getting recruitment right this summer.
Best way to look at it. How does he compare to a Laporte at Bilbao. If they match up let’s get it done.
I do love a ball-playing CB but I would imagine that whichever CB we sign will fit that mold anyway as that's what we need given the way ETH plays.
Someone like Timber being the other name linked with us already, for example, who I also like.
So whether it ends up being Torres, Timber or someone of similar ilk, all good with me.
Someone like Timber being the other name linked with us already, for example, who I also like.
So whether it ends up being Torres, Timber or someone of similar ilk, all good with me.
Buy a midfielder and fullback first, before splashing 50m on the Spanish Lindelöf. He should be an upgrade, but not sure this should be our priority right now, he is not that good to get him over the line now.
Ralf said a few times that United don't have any physical players and I wonder if Torres is the player that suits that description ?
Ten Hag system relies heavily on the center backs to essentially make play, this signing makes a lot of sense in that regard.
If the CBs are positioned near the half-way line and there is a turnover, can he recover in a foot race with opposition attackers?
Bit difficult to compare stats-wise as FBref only have a 19-game season for Laporte at Bilbao, plus team style of play and dynamics obviously has an impact.
But as far as the limited comparison between Laporte then and Torres now goes, Torres' stats show more on the ball:
Laporte:
Torres:
Whereas Laporte was better in the air (70.1% vs 66.1% aerial duels won) and I remember him generally being better defensively at the time in a way that doesn't quite carry over statistically.
Romano doesn't know what our recruitment are 'discussing'. It's just an easy line to pretend he does.
Wouldn't mind a CB who can actually defend.
Agreed.
But as Pep says about City, the main factor behind them having the best defence in the league is the fact that they have the ball for 67% of the game. And ETH's Ajax are very similar, both in terms of the amount of possession they keep and the fact that it's their first principle method of defence. Incidentally, our statistically best defensive season post-SAF was under LVG's possession system too. Keeping the ball works really well and if we start doing that effectively then our defence will improve with it.
But when I imagine our current side trying to play out from the back aggressively in the way City and Ajax do, the general ability of our back five on the ball compared to those sides worries me a lot. If we're gonna be a possession side, we have to commit to it with our signings from day one. If that means some ropey spells across the first season, fine.
I hear you DT, but I think we're fairly "scarred" - as United fans - when it comes to our assessment of CB's/defenders and a big reason for this is what we've witnessed these last few years. I am not a big fan of Maguire/Lindelof....any of our defenders basically, but we need some context.
Most/any defender in the world, coming into this team in it's current state will struggle. We've played without a functioning midfield for years. We've not had a DM. Our fullbacks have glaring weaknesses. Signing "only" 1 CB won't change much, but i am hopeful/optimistic that signing a CB, along with a functioning midfield and maybe upgrade the RB position - our defensive side will be transformed due to a system and not some individuals only.
I'm not advocating for Torres, per se, because he's also quite "meh", on my list. But whether it's him or Timber (it's clear that we're looking for a ball playing CB) - i am confident our defence, as a unit, will improve with the right signings in other areas of the pitch as well.
Sort that midfield and to be honest FB's and I agree a lot will improve. The CB's get no protection from midfield and the fullbacks are useless defensively.
Agreed overall. It's a team shortcoming, not just a CB/defensive issue.
I heard he's very quick?
We need to sell 2 CB's if we're hiring another one.
He's got quite a long stride that is a bit deceptive. He doesn't look fast but he eats up the ground. He doesn't get skinned easily put it that way.
Jones and Bailly are going
Think he wants a left footed option to dictate the play. I don't think this guy is any better than what we have but he has a brilliant left foot.
Think we’ll really buy him this summer as he’s a Ten Hag player who’s suited to his team. I would also prefer him who is an established international as to someone young and learning like Timber
Would be a terrific rotation option for Lindelof. When one is out form we can switch as a like-for-like
And Leftback99 doesn’t know what Romano does or doesn’t know, to be fair.
Who would be cheaper Gvardiol or Torres?
So you mean Torres all season?
You don't know that either. That's how it works.
Hence my not claiming to.
You just did.
I know who would be better...that’s why we are trying to sign Torres...
Lindelof instead of van D kind of thing.
Though I think thts a very harsh judgement, he is a good defender, in terms of what we need and his price in comparison to other possibilities, as a signing for us I would agree.
Why are people obsessed with us having a ball playing defender. Whether you agree they are any good at it, and I wouldnt on most Varane is a ball playing defender, Magiurie is a ball playing defender, Lindelof people seem to consider a ball playing defender. This modern obsession with what players can do on the ball and then everyting else is decided by stats I dont agree with.
Of coruse the ability to keep possesion in the modern game is important, but I think Torres, strength, reading the game, pace, aggression, consistency though are all decent ar enot what we need.
Good players but personally a bit underwhelemed with the current seemingly big links of us with Torres, Nunez/Richarlison, probably all £50m+ fees and personal opinion, I dont think any of them are £50m players and think there ar emore suitable players for there fees and much cheaper, genuinely hope we are not in for any of them, though all good players. Npt sen enough of Nunez and though I think he could be suited to our league, jsut no way he is a £70m striker
Although the Laporte comparison is the most accurate, it's also important to remember that Laporte arrived at City half-way through Pep's second season, walking straight into a pre-existing system that suited him. He also walked into a side that already had the likes of Kompany and Otamendi in place. Two luxuries that won't be afforded to any new CB signing we make this summer.
Which is the real issue with Torres. I'd definitely have him ahead of any of our current CBs in an ETH team but I'm not sure I'd have him alongside any our current CBs in an ETH team. And worse again if we brought him into a CB pairing that didn't suit him in the very first stages of implementing a brand new style of play with all the teething problems that entails.
He's also been linked to City and Chelsea and I'd see both those teams suiting him more at the moment.
Which is the real issue with Torres. I'd definitely have him ahead of any of our current CBs in an ETH team but I'm not sure I'd have him alongside any our current CBs in an ETH team. And worse again if we brought him into a CB pairing that didn't suit him in the very first stages of implementing a brand new style of play with all the teething problems that entails.
He's also been linked to City and Chelsea and I'd see both those teams suiting him more at the moment.
Should be on the move this summer as they presumably need to sell and he is the most valued asset.
No one seems to be in for him this summer which is concerning, wonder if we'll go for him as I posit that he won't cost us too much.
No one seems to be in for him this summer which is concerning, wonder if we'll go for him as I posit that he won't cost us too much.
We need to sell Varane to PSG and get this guy or Ndicka.
In the games he's played against us he's always been carried by Albiol, he's not as good as his valuation suggests so that might have put a few teams off.
Because that's what this team needs. To get rid of our only CB with pace who has been part of a defence that has won leagues, champions leagues and world cups so we can get a new partner for Maguire and Lindelof.
No. That’s really not what we need to do.
I don't see the lindelof comparison at all
From what I've seen Torres is a class above Lindelof
From what I've seen Torres is a class above Lindelof
Yes that’s exactly what we need to do. Signing Varane was a big mistake and he will never come out good in EPL.
He has lost pace and remains injured 50% of the time. EPL is not suitable for him. Serie A would suit him best or a dominant team like PSG.