[Archived] Phil Jones

[True Blue & White]

I'm sure that this will be controversial, but I really don't think that there is a massive difference between having the best central defender in the premier league and the 30th best. Jones was good, but if we have Nelsen and Samba fit then our team is no worse off. When you lose an attacking player (as we did with Bellamy, Bentley or Duff) they are far more difficult to replace.

I disagree, Jones was playing even when they were fit and this season I would have expected Jones to take over from Nelsen who is clearly coming to the end of his career now.

[RibbleValleyRover]

That tackle on Bale...

[LeChuck]

That is a good tackle.

On the flip side though, Bale skinned him in the first half and Jones hacked him down on the edge of the box. I have no idea how it wasn't given as a foul.

[Clitherover]

Cheers RVR, the last thing I want to see is our former prized asset playing well for those scummers.

[John]

Phil McNulty on BBC:

Chris Smalling coped admirably with Gareth Bale at right-back, but the most impressive performance came from Phil Jones, brought from Blackburn Rovers for £16m and already looking a threat to the established defensive order of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Swift judgements are often rash ones but let us make one anyway. Barring accidents, this is a young player of power, poise and confidence who will be an outstanding leader for United and England over the next decade.

He is that assured. Jones performed as if he was born to play at Old Trafford. Early days, but it does not need a lingering look to appreciate such quality.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2011/08/man_utd_youngsters_lay_down_marker.html

[Tom]

That is a good tackle.

On the flip side though, Bale skinned him in the first half and Jones hacked him down on the edge of the box. I have no idea how it wasn't given as a foul.

Jones has a tendancy to jump in a bit rashly around the box for me but he will get away with it more in a United shirt, he did it twice against WBA and was lucky not to catch the man.

I also think that tackle above is a bit of a Warnock moment ie get caught out of position but end up coming out of it looking better off due to a last ditch tackle.

I was more impressed that he looked calm on the ball and slotted in without looking out of place.

[LeftWinger]

Red Cafe - Half way down page and onwards

They seem pretty delighted about his performance last night.

[BRFC4EVA]

That is a good tackle.

On the flip side though, Bale skinned him in the first half and Jones hacked him down on the edge of the box. I have no idea how it wasn't given as a foul.

It should have been a booking and a free kick on the edge of the box to spurs. The ref failed to give it, and it wasnt even mentioned by the commentators. Nothing really changes does it? Sickening.

[DeadlyDirk]

That is a good tackle.

On the flip side though, Bale skinned him in the first half and Jones hacked him down on the edge of the box. I have no idea how it wasn't given as a foul.

The game was played at Old Trafford.

Other than that though he had a solid game, like someone else said it gave me mixed feelings. I felt proud that he was a Rovers lad that came through our system and looks so good at only nineteen years of age, just a shame though he wasn't still in a Rovers shirt. There was probably no chance of keeping him once Manure were interested given the state of our club at the moment but you can't help but wonder. Still wish him all the best though. The way he is improving and progressing so quickly I honestly think he could be ahead of Ferdinand for club and country by the turn of the year, all he seems to lack is experience but if anything whenever he has to step up he seems to thrive under the pressure.

[Mattyblue]

I'm not going to 'wish him all the best', he means nothing to me.

[super_arran]

I'm not going to 'wish him all the best', he means nothing to me.

Why post; or even look on the thread then?

[Mc Love]

Can this thread be closed now? He has left the club!

[den]

He did OK. Looked fairly composed, but for all of Spurs nice passing in midfield they never really tested United's back four.

Phil Jones is a good central defender and he has the potential to become one of the best central defenders in the league. Having said that, I do think that many Rovers fans overrate his current ability. 16.5 million may end up looking a good price, but it will never look a bargain. Defenders simply don't go for THAT much money and that is a very high price for a central defender, especially one unproven at Champions League or International level (and quite frankly not even that proven at the Premier League level).

I don't know why so many feel that he is a shoe-in to be the next England captain, or for that matter to even start for the England team. On the basis of this season he is going to face some very stiff competition from Smalling (who has looked very good at right back, but is clearly a centreback) at both club and international level.

He may end up becoming one of the best defenders in the league, may even in the world, but there's also a very good chance that he simply ends up being a good central defender playing for a good team. Time will tell, but we certainly can't complain about the fee that we got.

As for being proud or sickened by seeing him turn out for United? I can't understand either emotion. He didn't play for this club for long enough to truly feel attached to him and, at the same time, he isn't such an amazing player that the club is lost without him.

Since our return to the premier league I have only been 'hurt' by the loss of two players: Duff and Bellamy. They were game changers. Players capable of something out of nothing and of doing something that was so wonderful that it made watching the match worthwhile (Bentley nearly got there, the likes of Tugay and Friedel were equally important, but left in different circumstances and at different stages of their career). They were irreplaceable. Jones isn't.

I'm sure that this will be controversial, but I really don't think that there is a massive difference between having the best central defender in the premier league and the 30th best. Jones was good, but if we have Nelsen and Samba fit then our team is no worse off. When you lose an attacking player (as we did with Bellamy, Bentley or Duff) they are far more difficult to replace.

Well after saying MGP is our best left back - and reading the above article, I have to question your judgement of a player Eddie.

I've always said that to make some kind of early judgements on a player, then don't so much look at their strengths - because they obviously do have some qualities - or they wouldn't have made a pro footballer, - look at their weaknesses. If they have a weakness, it could very well prevent them becoming top class. So, tell me, what are 19 yr old Phil Jones's weaknesses?

[Kelbo]

Well after saying MGP is our best left back - and reading the above article, I have to question your judgement of a player Eddie.

I've always said that to make some kind of early judgements on a player, then don't so much look at their strengths - because they obviously do have some qualities - or they wouldn't have made a pro footballer, - look at their weaknesses. If they have a weakness, it could very well prevent them becoming top class. So, tell me, what are 19 yr old Phil Jones's weaknesses?

Tell you what, for a debut at CB it was a hell of a debut and not many players give Bale 3 yards and still get a block in, hope everyone noticed Jones curved run which naturally took him goal side of his man, great defending!

[92er]

Tell you what, for a debut at CB it was a hell of a debut and not many players give Bale 3 yards and still get a block in, hope everyone noticed Jones curved run which naturally took him goal side of his man, great defending!

The one weakness I have seen in his game is when he has been out accelerated in the penalty area-left for dead by speedy strikers.

It will be interesting to see what happens about it.

[den]

The one weakness I have seen in his game is when he has been out accelerated in the penalty area-left for dead by speedy strikers.

It will be interesting to see what happens about it.

He does need to learn to avoid the occassional rash tackle and stay on his feet a bit more. He got away with one in the first half last night. I haven't seen him outpaced anywhere though, in fact some of his recovery tackles have been superb - something Gary Neville alluded to in his pre match commentary.

[Eddie]

Well after saying MGP is our best left back - and reading the above article, I have to question your judgement of a player Eddie.

I've always said that to make some kind of early judgements on a player, then don't so much look at their strengths - because they obviously do have some qualities - or they wouldn't have made a pro footballer, - look at their weaknesses. If they have a weakness, it could very well prevent them becoming top class. So, tell me, what are 19 yr old Phil Jones's weaknesses?

Sometimes dwells on the ball. Occasionally caught of a position. Goes to ground too easily.

I don't have the ability to provide video clips to support this. As I have said, he's a very good player, but at this stage is not the world class defender that many on here make out. He may become it, but it isn't a sure thing.

As for Pedersen? Well Olsson isn't a good defender and Givet is not a left back. I was simply putting it out there that MGP might be able to fill in as a left back and do a job, quite possibly better than Olsson or Givet (although in my opinion that is not saying much).

I'm one of the few on here who is adamant that we need a new left back and, quite possibly, a right back if none of the new signings are up to it.

[John]

MGP can't tackle and doesn't like physical challenges so how could he play left back effectively?

[92er]

He does need to learn to avoid the occassional rash tackle and stay on his feet a bit more. He got away with one in the first half last night. I haven't seen him outpaced anywhere though, in fact some of his recovery tackles have been superb - something Gary Neville alluded to in his pre match commentary.

I saw him outpaced twice-the first time I think was by Saha.

The other points you make are very valid.

[thenodrog]

Sometimes dwells on the ball. Occasionally caught of a position. Goes to ground too easily.

I don't have the ability to provide video clips to support this. As I have said, he's a very good player, but at this stage is not the world class defender that many on here make out. He may become it, but it isn't a sure thing.

As for Pedersen? Well Olsson isn't a good defender and Givet is not a left back. I was simply putting it out there that MGP might be able to fill in as a left back and do a job, quite possibly better than Olsson or Givet (although in my opinion that is not saying much).

Really? And how many World class players do you know at age 18 Eddie?

[Mattyblue]

Guardian:

'Others will inevitably compare Jones, Cleverley, Welbeck and Chris Smalling with the last group of United players to come off the conveyor belt and create such a frisson of excitement'

Eee that United conveyor belt stretches all the way to Brockhall

[Eddie]

Really? And how many World class players do you know at age 18 Eddie?

That isn't really my point. I was saying that many on here were treating him as if he already was a world class player.

By the way...waiting for you to get back to me on the fees for defenders.

[Clitherover]

Guardian:

'Others will inevitably compare Jones, Cleverley, Welbeck and Chris Smalling with the last group of United players to come off the conveyor belt and create such a frisson of excitement'

Eee that United conveyor belt stretches all the way to Brockhall

That's the sad thing, with a little help from the ignorance of those southern media w****** how long before people forget he ever played for Rovers.

Also who the feck uses frisson in sentences?, remind me never to read the Guardian.

[Eddie]

Not unique in that respect, they treat Smalling just the same.

[thenodrog]

Most galling thing that no one has commented om is Phil Jones comments that he loved his time at Blackburn but that training and playing at MU is at a much higher tempo. wtf is that all about? Tempo as with general fitness costs nothing and imo is indicative of poor training methods.