Phil Jones

[#07]

Phil Jones has Jaap Stam like qualities but he'll need to play consistently at centre half to develop them. To write him off at this stage would be ridiculous. At the start of the season he was excellent so its quite clear the talent is there. What he needs is a proper run back in his preferred position, an injury free couple of months and, of course, experience. Lets not forget how quickly Evans was written off after a storming end to 2008/09 when he was awesome (especially against Inter). Players don't just 'lose it'. If they never had it that's one thing but if they did have it then usually its an external factor stopping them from regaining 'it'. Jones has had many of these to contend with this season but no doubt after a rest and with the experience of a run in behind him he'll be much better next year.

 

[Irwinwastheking]

My point stands, I don't think anyone is writing him off at all. In fact looking back over the last page every poster said something along the lines of him going to be a colossus for us.

 

[gooDevil]

I disagree with that, I think Evans is miles ahead of Jones in the centreback position and was miles ahead at the same age. Jones has something though that Evans doesn't have, something a bit special that you can't put your finger on. He has so much potential and quality in certain areas of his game that you just can't imagine him being any less than a top class player in a few years time but the areas he is lacking in now, namely; positioning, concentration and decision making, can be really costly to us and lead to some school boy errors that really let him down and take some shine off his star right now.

I'll be surprised if he settles in a position and makes it his own, I think he'll be very much a utility player for us and there is no shame in that. I can't see past a maturing Evans and the quality and classy Smalling as our future centre backs.

When I said raw talent I was speaking in the same direction as you did there, potential and quality, that something special. Evans is definitely the better CB now, and was at the same age, I agree. I'm a big fan of Evans, I didn't have a problem, at the time, letting Pique go because I thought Evans was better. But if both players reach their peak, of which there is a good chance with SAF, then I think Jones has the higher peak.

Evans has been brilliant for 2/3 of this season, deserves all the praise in the world.

 

[Solius]

I know he's only young, and you cannot avoid these things with young players, but some of the decisions he made tonight were some of the worst I've seen a player make. Stupid fecking choices. He needs to grow up fast.

 

[Carl]

One of the worst performances from a Manchester United player ever. OK, maybe not ever. But he was fecking shit.

Although he did performe defensively well he simply wasn't good enough with the ball.

 

[Orton]

He looks clueless and out of his depth. Luckily he has time on his side.

 

[RonaldoVII]

Think he defends well but he was terrible again going forward. Crossing as bad as Bebe's. There was a time when he could have driven into the box across the line but he just baloons it out of play.

 

[Robbie Boy]

What has happened to him?

His regression since the start of the season has been meteoric! Every time I see his name on the team-sheet - my heart sinks a little.

fecking disgraceful tonight. Needs to buck up.

 

[JonDahl]

His crossing is so shit. Panicks when the pressure's on. He's a pretty shit passer as well.

 

[Freak]

He's become one of our worst players suddenly

 

[Nate Dogg]

He was awful again, his touch and passing is simply abysmal.

The rate his is going he will be lucky to get into the Stoke team.

 

[Donut]

He must have hurt his head pretty badly that one game. He's been playing like a total retard ever since.

 

[ArmchairCritic]

His defending was spot on but his attacking was just shite. Yung n learnin.

 

[Fletcher's Jilted Lover]

He looks clueless and out of his depth. Luckily he has time on his side.

I'd agree with that, he doesn't seem to have a clue what to do with the ball when he has time on it.

 

[Solius]

Two things stood out for me as horrendous decisions.

- Him getting in a fantastic position to charge into the box and drill it across the face, and instead choosing to not run into the box, and float a cross to the back post where nobody was.
- Second, (and this had me fuming) was in about the 94th minute and he has his back to goal and just fecking hoofs it over his head into the box. Joe hart was absolutely elated to see that float in and caught it no trouble. Just no.

 

[adexkola]

He'll come good.

Remember when we sold the likes of O'Shea to make room for the young ones? This is the risk. Hopefully he will work on his deficiencies in the off season.

 

[Transfer United Till I Die]

He's been appalling for months. Young and learning and all that but he's been playing shite.

 

[pocco]

I knew people were talking utter shite when they were labelling this guy the next this player or that player. His technical ability is shite.

 

[ArmchairCritic]

Two things stood out for me as horrendous decisions.

- Him getting in a fantastic position to charge into the box and drill it across the face, and instead choosing to not run into the box, and float a cross to the back post where nobody was.
- Second, (and this had me fuming) was in about the 94th minute and he has his back to goal and just fecking hoofs it over his head into the box. Joe hart was absolutely elated to see that float in and caught it no trouble. Just no.

Young and in pressure situations, he'll learn.

 

[Unam333]

Two things stood out for me as horrendous decisions.

- Him getting in a fantastic position to charge into the box and drill it across the face, and instead choosing to not run into the box, and float a cross to the back post where nobody was.
- Second, (and this had me fuming) was in about the 94th minute and he has his back to goal and just fecking hoofs it over his head into the box. Joe hart was absolutely elated to see that float in and caught it no trouble. Just no.

I was banging my head when he did that. Horrible.

 

[Sultan]

He needs to calm down.

 

[#07]

Still don't think he's any kind of full back. That last ditch tackle on Nasri showed what his strengths are: Body on the line, flying into the thick of things but nothing like the support required by Nani and Valencia. Bull in a china shop with the ball at his feet sometimes. He'll learn and get better but at centre half not on the flank. Never a right back. Never.

 

[Sultan]

I was hoping Valencia would replace Jones at right back.

 

[Snow]

We needed some balance. We didn't have a proper left winger so little attack going on there. We had Jones at right back so no help for Nani there. No edge in the team because of that. I'm sure it would have been a better game for us with Rafael in the game. Only thing that Jones is better than Rafael at as a full back is defending set pieces and that's purely because of height difference and it matters so little overall.

Jones' first touch vs Rafael. When you see Rafael with the ball he'll probably deliver it to the right winger or if that isn't an option he'll find Scholes or Carrick. Jones mostly passes back. And he's an awfully poor crosser. With the team set up like it was, playing Giggs and Park, Rafael really should have been starting. After we went under you can't really sacrifice a sub to change that position.

 

[Orton]

I was hoping Valencia would replace Jones at right back.

Likewise, we wouldn't have fared any worse that's for sure.

 

[Garethw]

He will become a top class centre back.

 

[bosnian_red]

He is terrible with the ball at his feet, plenty of effort but no real skill. We should have started Rafael, who is a much better fullback. Still plenty of time for Jones of course but he's been way off form since the new year, after being brilliant in the first half of the season.

 

[Robbie Boy]

I was hoping Valencia would replace Jones at right back.

After that 'cross' when Toure let him go - I was screaming for Tony to come on for him.

 

[Orton]

He will become a top class centre back.

Based on what? Every time he's played there we have been shaky as hell at the back.

 

[Theon]

He was good in defence and saved us going two down, but shit attacking wise. His crossing can be brilliant at times but it was shit tonight.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He put in our best cross of the game.

Generally lacked composure though. feck knows how anyone sees him as a midfielder. Technique nowhere good enough for me. Defended quite well though.

 

[RonaldoVII]

Based on what? Every time he's played there we have been shaky as hell at the back.

Exactly.

 

[Number7]

Called it after that shocking cross vs Everton...he has no composure for situations like today and it was such a bad call by Fergie to play him over Rafael...a terrible terrible decision.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Rafael deserved to be dropped after his abysmal defensive display against Everton.

 

[CLK_FPC]

Agree with Solius with the 2 points he picked, those were annoying but it isn't really fair for everyone to have turned their back on him and react like he is shit all of a sudden.

He looks poor now because he started off so well, this is how he should have been playing worming out the mistakes getting used to what is expected of him.

Same as everyone else really, he will get better but he needs to be given time and support

 

[Rednails]

So what is Jones for?

 

[adam118]

Didn't think he was that bad tonight.

 

[Will Absolute]

Called it after that shocking cross vs Everton...he has no composure for situations like today and it was such a bad call by Fergie to play him over Rafael...a terrible terrible decision.

I thought before the game that the Park/Jones selections were inexplicable. Very negative. Fergie had his reasons, I suppose.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

He put in our best cross of the game.

Generally lacked composure though. feck knows how anyone sees him as a midfielder. Technique nowhere good enough for me. Defended quite well though.

Yep, great last ditch tackle on Nasri to keep us in the game late on. Just a bit hopeless going forward which is strange as he was one of our better crossers earlier on this season.

 

[Sultan]

Defended quite well though.

That's his biggest asset. He's very good when he doesn't have the ball. Powerful, and tough. Opposite to Rafael really.