[Archived] Phil Jones

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

The difference is that Duff served his time. He contributed to this club for several seasons and left when he was presented with a chance to take that next step up, but this was well into his career. He didn't ditch us at 18/19 when the first suitor came knocking, he didn't immediately ask for a release clause to be put into his contract.

When Duff left us he was the best left sided player in the world and he deserved his move to show that on the biggest stage (although he had already impressed at the 2002 World Cup). Jones could have easily continued to develop here and enjoyed playing for 'his' club in the biggest league in the world. He's going to be a very good player, he could have waited another year or two.

I don't wish him luck. I hope that he, like Bentley and many others before him, rots away on a bench and wastes his talent.

Thats fair enough. I can understand why Duff is slightly different to Jones, I just think its harsh to criticise someone for joining Man Utd at a young age. Ideally, yes it would have been great for him to have stayed and its disappointing that he didn't, but I dont blame him for going. We got good money for him and I hope he does well.

[Seggie]

how did he play today?

He didn't look out of place, showed what we will be missing

[Ossydave]

how did he play today?

Very well, as did all their youngsters to be fair, they'll take some beating this year.

No bitterness towards Jones on my part, it's downright pathetic wishing him to break his leg etc.

[PAFELL]

Then don't pretend he didn't have a choice. He wanted the 'big time' and took the first opportunity to take it. It's the way our young footballers are raised these days. You no longer have to earn your corn at a club before you climb the ladder. Just show you have some potential and the giants will come a poachin'.

The guy's only 19 years-old. He has his whole career ahead of him. He could have easily stayed at Rovers for another year or two and still spend the best part of his career at a big club.

Very easy to say a player of 19 years old has their whole career ahead of them. A football career can be ended in the next bad tackle. No player can know how long or short their career will be. Which is also for any of us in our careers. Sometimes you have to take whats there when it is and hope.

i wanted some one to break his legs during the game, he's a tratoir dont leave blackburn for 1 of our rivals, november doesnt excist on my blackburn calender.

Pathetic

[Mattie456]

Jones was superb today. Didn't put a foot wrong. It's a shame we won't get to see him week in week out. The boy has a big future.

[grizfoot]

I for one will be booing him if he turns out for Manchester United at Ewood Park. Absolutely no respect for him as a man.

Make sure you get a seat near the dugouts then.

[Exiled_Rover]

You are almost describing the football pyramid.

What we have now, because of the Champions League, is a disproportionate number of top quality players at the top clubs, sat on the bench or in the stands because the rules still only allow 11 players on the pitch.

Once of a day, these players would have been playing at mid-table clubs, taking turns at upsetting the big boys. Forget Rovers in the 90s this has happened in the Abramovich era, and the idea of 23-man squads, filled to the edges will all of each countries talent, to support a Champions League campaign, is what has killed domestic football as a completion.

And it's only getting worse.

Spot on.

[cruz]

Id quite like to see Jones do well this season just to see how miserable you can get.

If he was at any other club then I would agree with you.

[Tom]

He looked good today, Smalling looked better though and has a bit of class on the ball as well.

Doesn't excuse him getting in the England squad from the United bench though.

Got to give Fergie credit he knows when to bring the youngsters through, Wellbeck looks like he may make it this season after a few on loan. Pogba is meant to be a talent as well.

[XLM]

You are almost describing the football pyramid.

What we have now, because of the Champions League, is a disproportionate number of top quality players at the top clubs, sat on the bench or in the stands because the rules still only allow 11 players on the pitch.

Once of a day, these players would have been playing at mid-table clubs, taking turns at upsetting the big boys. Forget Rovers in the 90s this has happened in the Abramovich era, and the idea of 23-man squads, filled to the edges will all of each countries talent, to support a Champions League campaign, is what has killed domestic football as a completion.

And it's only getting worse.

You're right to a point. But the 23 man squad (I thought it was 25?) was brought in to stop the big clubs from hoarding players. It just hasn't worked because of the difference in the ability to pay wages. No one else can afford City or Chelsea wages so the players are left to rot. The PL needs a wage cap, it would certainly improve the competition in the league and the national side by decreasing the number of foreigners in the league.

[Roversi]

im half and half with Jones. If i was him, i would have given another 2-3 years service at the club i support but in return the draw of playing under one of, if not, the greatest manager of all time and for a club bringing in 75,000 every week playing alongside top top players is hard to turn down. Ultimatly, i would have stayed for a further 2 years and got a move when the fans respected it. You can ask Scott Parker how good it feels to have the respect of fans enough that they acknowledge that you deserve a move to a bigger club.

But Jones will say he had a bad injury last season and what if it happens again and i dont get a move to a top club because of it, he couldn't take the risk.

[Andy]

He had a good 2nd half today, looks the real deal alright.

Had some doubts as to whether he was possibly riding one long wave of good form, but he is a class above the standard defender of his age group.

Having said that, Smalling at fullback was very impressive also against City.

[Al]

Make sure you get a seat near the dugouts then.

Absolutely right because he won't be on the pitch. The next David May with a bit of luck, but MMleftpeg won't remember him of course.

[thenodrog]

Completely back Jones on his move to United, people are in a 15 year time warp if they think we are any sort of rivals to United. He WILL succeed we all know how good he is, this thread still being active still shows how good we all thought he was.

Man Utd are too good to turn down and unfortunately for us Phil Jones is too good for us. He doesn't owe us anything, he earnt us £16.5m he has done his bit for us.

Alan Shearer showed loyalty to his club and turned down United, for a success point of view ... BAD MOVE!

Probably in agreement with this post EXCEPT for the bit in bold. Barring injury etc that figure will seem laughable before too long imo.

And he could easily have picked up an injury and never been the same player again. Football is their job. A move to United will set the lad up for life financially and give him the opportunity to improve as a player not to mention the opportunity to win things. I doubt any other lad in his position, at any other club, would have turned their back on the opportunity to join United.

Smalling didn't did he?

[thenodrog]

We were the Man City of the early 90's dont forget. We were ripping the best players from smaller clubs for several years. We just took Dundee Utd's best player but I doubt anyone on here really gave a damn about them. Its the nature of the game.

Nail on the head. It still aint right though. Prob pie in the sky but how good would it be if in a proper league everybody started off equal favourites?

[thenodrog]

I can't argue with most of that. There is no true hatred for Phil Jones, just disgust and extreme disappointment in someone who purports to support Blackburn Rovers. I do however hate the Scum with a passion. That is my right as a person who wishes to see fairness in football, which they do not subscribe to.

I dislike MU with every fibre of my body but you cannot blame them if they play within the rules .... you can only blame the rule makers and the moneymen who hold such influence over them.

[Mr. E]

I'm pretty sure Capello asks to be absolutely sure without a doubt that a player is no longer attached to Blackburn before selecting him.

[thenodrog]

You are almost describing the football pyramid.

What we have now, because of the Champions League, is a disproportionate number of top quality players at the top clubs, sat on the bench or in the stands because the rules still only allow 11 players on the pitch.

Once of a day, these players would have been playing at mid-table clubs, taking turns at upsetting the big boys. Forget Rovers in the 90s this has happened in the Abramovich era, and the idea of 23-man squads, filled to the edges will all of each countries talent, to support a Champions League campaign, is what has killed domestic football as a completion.

And it's only getting worse.

Completely validates this thread.........

http://www.brfcs.co.uk/mb/index.php/topic/25017-debate-of-the-week-would-english-football-be-stronger-andor-better-if-the-top-few-teams-left-the-pl-for-a-european-super-league/

[Amo]

Nail on the head. It still aint right though. Prob pie in the sky but how good would it be if in a proper league everybody started off equal favourites?

I would expect only lazy journalists to compare Man. City to Rovers of old.

[joey_big_nose]

Nail on the head. It still aint right though. Prob pie in the sky but how good would it be if in a proper league everybody started off equal favourites?

Oooooooooh sounding a bit like a socialist there drog meister - never would have expected that!

I suppose the opposite argument is where would it stop - the whole 92 clubs in the league should be equal? Or just the top 20? Or evey club in the land?

Its been mentioned but the american draft system is quite an effective counter balancing system - although it would withdraw much of the incentives from building quality youth academies (which seem to be paying big dividends to Rovers right now....)

[K-Hod]

Normally when our own players leave to join the bigger clubs, I can take it a bit more easily, but the way Phil Jones left made me sick. In fact, I lost most of the respect I had for him if I'm honest, and to think, I used to sing about him being 'Superman'. Disgraceful.

Even when Duff left, I knew that his transfer fee was that ridiculous, it was fair enough of us to accept it and move him on, this though, left a very nasty taste in my mouth, particularly as he was featured in interviews saying that

'Im living the dream, playing for the team I supported as a boy, and my family went to the 2002 Worthington Cup final',0 for him to trot on as soon as Fergie dangled a carrot in front of his nose.

[Al]

Normally when our own players leave to join the bigger clubs, I can take it a bit more easily, but the way Phil Jones left made me sick. In fact, I lost most of the respect I had for him if I'm honest, and to think, I used to sing about him being 'Superman'. Disgraceful.

Even when Duff left, I knew that his transfer fee was that ridiculous, it was fair enough of us to accept it and move him on, this though, left a very nasty taste in my mouth, particularly as he was featured in interviews saying that

'Im living the dream, playing for the team I supported as a boy, and my family went to the 2002 Worthington Cup final',0 for him to trot on as soon as Fergie dangled a carrot in front of his nose.

The difference being that Duffer gave us years of service before being sold to Chelsea and being sold were the operative words. He was on a plane with the rest of the team when he was taken off, reputedly in tears, when Rovers had sold him because they could not turn down the money. I would welcome him back in a heartbeat.

[Steve Moss]

The difference being that Duffer gave us years of service before being sold to Chelsea and being sold were the operative words. He was on a plane with the rest of the team when he was taken off, reputedly in tears, when Rovers had sold him because they could not turn down the money. I would welcome him back in a heartbeat.

That I can understand and still support the player. Which is the difference between Duff and Jones. Both are immensely talented but at least Duff created the appearance that he wanted to stay as opposed to acting like a donkey escaping a barn that is on fire.

Which in fairness may be the equivalent of the Rovers. The end of this week will give us a much better idea.

[onlyonejackwalker]

Normally when our own players leave to join the bigger clubs, I can take it a bit more easily, but the way Phil Jones left made me sick. In fact, I lost most of the respect I had for him if I'm honest, and to think, I used to sing about him being 'Superman'. Disgraceful.

Even when Duff left, I knew that his transfer fee was that ridiculous, it was fair enough of us to accept it and move him on, this though, left a very nasty taste in my mouth, particularly as he was featured in interviews saying that

'Im living the dream, playing for the team I supported as a boy, and my family went to the 2002 Worthington Cup final',0 for him to trot on as soon as Fergie dangled a carrot in front of his nose.

At face value I can accept your first / last paragraph and fully agree.

However, a new dimension has been introduced to our football club in the form of Venky's, their advisors and playthings, including the management. It may well have been a very easy decision indeed to leave the new Blackburn Rovers and the new club may have absolutely no relation to the club the player loved and new for many years.

[BuckyRover]

At face value I can accept your first / last paragraph and fully agree.

However, a new dimension has been introduced to our football club in the form of Venky's, their advisors and playthings, including the management. It may well have been a very easy decision indeed to leave the new Blackburn Rovers and the new club may have absolutely no relation to the club the player loved and new for many years.

Either that or his birds a WAG and Fergie is very persuasive