SNes
Full Member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2014
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Make or break season for Jones, If he stays fit he's good enough If he's injured all the time we'll have to cut our losses.
Because the central area of the pitch near the goal is where you would naturally drop down to your hands and knees to crawl after a ball to head it out of bounds.Why would playing centrally be more harsh on his body? Playing right back, for example, is a much more physically demanding position.
Van Gaal started preseason with him and Blind starting together in preseason games. He could well have broken through last season instead of Smalling had he not been an utter crock.When fully fit I think he is better than smalling
But we haven't seen that for quite some time, and only so long you can keep giving him chances.
I agree with you but it's interesting how a player can be shite and have enough resale value to end up at a shite club who's willing to pay up or can be soo shite that he has no resale value and ends up getting chance after chance at one of the big boysI think we could afford to keep him around. His resale value is low due to his injury record. If he can prove his fitness and have continous games under his belt, we can assess from there. If he stay heathly, we could sell him at a higher price.
I've had enough of this playing players out of positions crap we've been served for the last 5 years.When we signed Phil Jones a few years back I truly believe we'd signed by far the best young centre back in the country and one of the best young centre backs in Europe but for one reason (usually injury) or another it hasn't happened.
It's arguable that moving him around between centre back, right back, defensive midfield and central midfield disrupted his development as he couldn't master one position but I think it's clear that playing centrally is too much for his body so would a permanent change of position help or should we cut our losses ?
Personally I like the idea of Jones playing right back if fit as none of Valencia, Darmian or Varela have made the position their own and with Bailly coming in as well as rumours of Jose wanting another centre back on top maybe Jones as a rampaging right back could be the answer for him and gives a completely different option at right back also.
Playing Smalling at the LCB position is a desaster waiting to happen.Wouldn't surprise me to see Mourinho try and give him another shot in something like this:
Shaw Smalling Jones BaillyMuscle and pace all over the shop.
De Gea
(If he can get close to staying fit of course)
Under Ferguson about half of his starts were in midfield.I remember there was a game SAF played him at a DCM role which was to nullify the opponents #10, and he did quite well. What game was that?
Real Madrid away vs Ronaldo. Shut him down.I remember there was a game SAF played him at a DCM role which was to nullify the opponents #10, and he did quite well. What game was that?
Suggested edit - 'Glass brick'.Still plays mentally and physically like a 20 year old brick that's been gifted a pair of legs but isn't sure how to use them.
Smalling's injuries were nothing like Jones'. A lot of Smalling's missed games were because he was behind Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans and Jones in the pecking order.He's only 24, which is young for a CB. Still believe he is a huge talent. Would definitely keep him around. Smalling was perpetually injured until the last season, and the patience paid off. It can with Jones too. He's got all the tools.
Classic. Agree totally.Get him gone.
He's the human equivalent of an untrained puppy.