[Archived] Phil Jones

[Guest Rovers4Good]

Who can blame a guy for choosing Utd over Rovers?

Jones is a future England and Utd Captain for sure and think it's great to see an old boy do so well at a top club because he was wasted with us as our potition in the league can verify.

[imy9]

Rubbish. As Lawrenson said last spring "Phil Jones is a Rolls Royce". Maybe he doesn't catch the eye with his trickery as a Ronaldo or a Silva or a Messi do but I'm sure that other managers and people who know football from the nuts and bolts up will covet him more than any others. Jones's only dilemma (as is Fergy's) is being equally good in a number of positions CH , Full back / defensive midfield all in one. In fact I'd go so far as to say that if there were 3 Phil Jones's then Capello (and Fergy) would pick them all! Name me any other player in the world that that would ever apply to? How many others do you know like that?

Now that Vidic is injured I'd wager Jones will drop to CH and Fletcher will get the nod in midfield. Personally whilst he is young and seeing the job he did on the all conquering Spanish midfield I'd plumb for playing him there. Plenty of time for him to drop to CH should his physique naturally thicken up at the expense of his speed.

I said in the summer that it would not be long before he was compared to Duncan Edwards and it's already happening.

So PJ is just as good at CB as he is at Right back and defensive midfield? Could I have some of what you have been smoking?

For England he played RB and looked out of his depth and had a poor game, at defensive midfield he is decent at best and was one of a number of players Keane (Roy) referred to last night who need to up their game. His best position is CB and he looks good there but has played for England or Man Utd in that position?

Name another player? Iniseta plays in at least three positions for Barca as can a number of their players and Reals, that's off the top of my head, there a wide range of players who have done that and are capable. My favourite used to be Gallas who looked equally good at RB, CB or LB.

[thenodrog]

Name another player? Iniseta plays in at least three positions for Barca as can a number of their players and Reals, that's off the top of my head, there a wide range of players who have done that and are capable. My favourite used to be Gallas who looked equally good at RB, CB or LB.

Iniesta? Good shout imy..... Do you think 16m would persaude Barca to part with him to MU?

William Gallas? I personally thought he looked at his best when he was blubbing. Well funny that.

imy I must say following your unswerving and illogical support for the Venkeymob your opinions don't really carry much weight around here anymore do they?

[BuckyRover]

Iniesta? Good shout imy..... Do you think 16m would persaude Barca to part with him to MU?

William Gallas? I personally thought he looked at his best when he was blubbing. Well funny that.

imy I must say following your unswerving and illogical support for the Venkeymob your opinions don't really carry much weight around here anymore do they?

Most expensive teenage defender ever

[imy9]

Iniesta? Good shout imy..... Do you think 16m would persaude Barca to part with him to MU?

William Gallas? I personally thought he looked at his best when he was blubbing. Well funny that.

imy I must say following your unswerving and illogical support for the Venkeymob your opinions don't really carry much weight around here anymore do they?

Your memory is playing tricks on you, my backing of Venkys was never illogical, I don judge people on appearances you see, waited to see what they were like and then made my mind up, a pretty decent way to live life IMO.

You highlighted ONE paragragh out of THREE and commented on the FIRST line...could I be so bold to ask that you read the whole thing as Iniesta was ONE example I used.

Back to your original points when have you seen PJ play as well at RB or DF as he does at CB, take your time.

Gallas was a quality player in the PL, part of the invincibles? 84 caps for France and played for top clubs at the highest levels, glad the blabbing is what you remember lol!

Goetze, young German player is awesome and can play a variety of positions, how about Thiago at Barca who Owen Coyle wanted on loan, i heard 5 million rumoured in the summer? You only need to take the blinkers off and there are players aplenty.

Finally England need three Wilsheres not Jones, that's why we struggle at International level and why United are so fr behind the top Spanish clubs.

[T4E]

Name another player? Iniseta plays in at least three positions for Barca as can a number of their players and Reals, that's off the top of my head, there a wide range of players who have done that and are capable. My favourite used to be Gallas who looked equally good at RB, CB or LB.

Mascherano is a better example - he played RB, CB and CM for Barca last season.

[Tom]

Jones is quality but not at RB in my opinion, in fact he looks like a CB out of place when he plays there.

Lets not go overboard here

[imy9]

Mascherano is a better example - he played RB, CB and CM for Barca last season.

I did say other Real and Barca players but your example is far better than mine

Jones is quality but not at RB in my opinion, in fact he looks like a CB out of place when he plays there.

Lets not go overboard here

Theno thinks his Duncan Edwards in the making at RB and DF... Exactly lol!

[thenodrog]

Jones is quality but not at RB in my opinion, in fact he looks like a CB out of place when he plays there.

Lets not go overboard here

Overboard?

C'mon Tom we aren't exactly blessed with top quality right backs are we? Glenn Johnson can't defend to save his life and Micah Richards who imo has more talent in that position has a bit of 'history' and doesn't appear to be Capello's preferred choice.... also he's looking more like he should be a rugby player. His weight is starting to work against him. Jones's attitude would see him play before those two at the moment. Kyle Walker is being tipped for England but tbh I haven't seen enough of him to comment yet. At CH the 1st choice pairing are ageing fast with no really strong replacements coming forward and a natural deep sitting midfielder has been a priority for England for years. I still am of the opinion that although he can obviously only play in one Jones will become the 1st choice in all three positions.

[Tom]

Oh I agree he may become first choice but I thought you meant right now

[K-Hod]

Overboard?

C'mon Tom we aren't exactly blessed with top quality right backs are we? Glenn Johnson can't defend to save his life and Micah Richards who imo has more talent in that position has a bit of 'history' and doesn't appear to be Capello's preferred choice.... also he's looking more like he should be a rugby player. His weight is starting to work against him. Jones's attitude would see him play before those two at the moment whilst at CH the 1st choice pairing are ageing fast with no really strong replacements coming forward and a natural deep sitting midfielder has been a priority for England for years. I still am of the opinion that although he can obviously only play in one Jones will become the 1st choice in all three positions.

Kyle Walker and Micah Richards are both way ahead of Glen Johnson at RB in terms of ability IMO. There's only Capello that's blind to Richards' ability, though he does appear to be one to hold a grudge.

See Walcott's omission from the WC 2010 squad.

Jones is decent there, because he's an incredible engine, and that attribute is a pre-requisite of playing as an attacking RB. His best position is centre back though, I think that's clear to all.

[thenodrog]

Oh I agree he may become first choice but I thought you meant right now

You won't have to wait long.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Most expensive teenage defender ever

Both Henry Winter and Alan Nixon have stated that Rovers got good money for Jones. They are more knowledgable thanThenodrog, Den and other such 'luminaries'.

That's just a fact.

[thenodrog]

Jones is decent there, because he's an incredible engine, and that attribute is a pre-requisite of playing as an attacking RB. His best position is centre back though, I think that's clear to all.

Personally given his display a few weeks ago and viewing the squad as a whole I'd put him defensive midfield protecting the defence for the time being. With most international teams playing versions of 4-5-1 and consecutive managers being pressured into playing both Gerrard and Lampard in the same team England have been vulnerable to quality players playing from 'the hole' behind the centre forwards for years. I'll maybe ruffle feathers with this but imo if capello had played Lampard and Gerrard against Spain we'd have been mullered. Jones and Parker were magnificent.

[BRFC4EVA]

So can we all agree, he's a rubbish right-back (much like Smalling), average centre/holding midfielder and an excellent centre back?

[K-Hod]

Personally given his display a few weeks ago and viewing the squad as a whole I'd put him defensive midfield protecting the defence for the time being. With most international teams playing versions of 4-5-1 and consecutive managers being pressured into playing both Gerrard and Lampard in the same team England have been vulnerable to quality players playing from 'the hole' behind the centre forwards for years. I'll maybe ruffle feathers with this but imo if capello had played Lampard and Gerrard against Spain we'd have been mullered. Jones and Parker were magnificent.

You'll ruffle none of my feathers with those comments believe me! Parker has upset the (im)balance that Lampard and Gerrard have caused in England's team selection for years. Lampard hasn't performed well for England in over 6 years, Gerrard has largely been hit and miss and frankly, Parker has been outstanding each time he's played for the three lions. The reasons those two look(ed) so good for their clubs for so long, is the foreign players playing around them allowing them effectively a free role, when it came to England, they showed time and again they couldn't play together in a 4-4-2 as they both lacked the discipline.

[thenodrog]

Both Henry Winter and Alan Nixon have stated that Rovers got good money for Jones. They are more knowledgable thanThenodrog, Den and other such 'luminaries'.

That's just a fact.

Fact? Please explain. I have it down as their opinion. Speaking of opinions derrick your's as usual is worthless.

Tell you what, go and try buying him back then for the same money... better still offer em a couple of million profit even and see how you go on.

[den]

Both Henry Winter and Alan Nixon have stated that Rovers got good money for Jones. They are more knowledgable thanThenodrog, Den and other such 'luminaries'.

That's just a fact.

Another very interesting footballing point DGS.

Hmmm, "we have a gem" and "we have a £50m transfer budget this window". Yes, very knowledgeable.

Keep trolling mate.

[Paul]

Both Henry Winter and Alan Nixon have stated that Rovers got good money for Jones. They are more knowledgable thanThenodrog, Den and other such 'luminaries'.

That's just a fact.

If you read the thread I think you will find that's the general opinion on here and around Ewood but don't let that stop your trolling.

[Eddie]

The fact that some on here have simply written him in as the future England captain confuses me.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

If you read the thread I think you will find that's the general opinion on here and around Ewood but don't let that stop your trolling.

There are certain people who wont let the Jones transfer go and those are the people that my post was aimed at. He is a very good prospect but he left and plays for somebody else now, so why the wailing and nashing of teeth as well as the wild inflation of the player's ability?

I have a different opinion than your's and will express it until informed otherwise by the mods. You might call that 'trolling', I would disagree.

You need to calm down and get over yourself.

Another very interesting footballing point DGS.

Is Phil Jones no longer a footballer Einstein?

[den]

Can't be bothered with you DGS. Go find someone else to fall out with.

[BuckyRover]

Reading quite a few of the letters on football 365 in the last few weeks and there have been plenty of Man Utd fans criticising his ability.

* Not that I agree with them, just highlighting that not everyone thinks he is Duncan Edwards

[davulsukur]

With Vidic out for the season Jones might get to play in his natural role as a centre back, alongside Rio.

Be good to see how he gets on in his natural position. I think he's a top centre back and hopefully now he will get the chance to show it.

[steven]

Vidic is gone for the season. Best news ever for Jones. Not sure Ferdinand will play next season now assuming Jones continues to deliver.