Is a fit in-form Jones ahead of Maguire?

[Ted Lasso]

First thread in the mains, take it easy on me ladies and gents.

Seeing the training photos from this week I had a wave of nostalgia seeing Jones and remembering our last title, which he was a part of. Sure, he's had his lapses and been injured the majority of time here. But if he could find a swansong of fitness and form for a couple of seasons, I think he'd be one of our defensive mainstays.

Does he get ahead of Maguire? I think so. Partly because I became lost my patience with him after his comments this past season. I can forgive mistakes and bad form give the state of the club, but that kind of arrogance is everything I've hoped to be rooted from the club.

If we don't sign a defender, I sure as heck hope to see Phil Jones at his best. Him and a fully fit Varane would be my pairing of choice with the current squad.

 

[Berbaclass]

Does a fit Jones even exist?

 

[wolvored]

No such thing as a fit Jones

 

[CallyRed]

They say, a fit Phil Jones is a legend.

 

[Withnail]

Does a fit Jones even exist?

You're gonna have to work hard to suspend your disbelief on this one.

I'd probably agree with the OP. I think a hypothetical fully fit Jones would keep Maguire out of the team.

 

[RonaldoVII]

Maguire is twice the player if both are fit and on form. Jones always had a terrible error in him. Maguire had a bad season but hopefully that was it.

 

[Ted Lasso]

Does a fit Jones even exist?

No such thing as a fit Jones

They say, a fit Phil Jones is a legend.

Oh dear me. I see how this is going haha

 

[stevoc]

What do you mean a fit Phil Jones?

 

[Waynne]

Both are equally bad. One can't stay fit, the other can but is useless on the pitch.

I'm hoping Ten Hag can get something out of Maguire. Jones however belongs in a museum.

 

[foolsgold]

Maguire is twice the player if both are fit and on form. Jones always had a terrible error in him. Maguire had a bad season but hopefully that was it.

I have no idea what you're basing this one. Both CB positions are up for grabs, and any of the 5 or 6 players should be able to stake their claim.

 

[OleGunnar20]

Does a fit Jones even exist?

No such thing as a fit Jones

Schrodinger's Jones.

 

[Irwin99]

Good god no. People really go in extremes with their analysis of Jones from hating him for being injured and "stealing a wage" (as if his injuries are his fault) to really overrating his form when he has been free of injury and forgetting his catastrophic errors.

Sadly, the guy's best season for the club was his first and it's really been downhill ever since. Maguire is by far the better defender.

 

[Ted Lasso]

Good god no. People really go in extremes with their analysis of Jones from hating him for being injured and "stealing a wage" (as if his injuries are his fault) to really overrating his form when he has been free of injury and forgetting his catastrophic errors.

Sadly, the guy's best season for the club was his first and it's really been downhill ever since. Maguire is by far the better defender.

So I don't value my analysis of players very highly. The opinion is from Sir Alex rating him quite highly. Yes, the man hasn't always been right but Jones is a case where injuries have been a big part of his inability to improve.

 

[RedRonaldo]

Fit Phil Jones is the new Duncan Edwards.

 

[acolyte]

A fit Phil Jones is as imaginary as Batman.

 

[JB7]

Of course he’s not. What a ridiculous question.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

No

But why is Maguire's form not being considered?

 

[sglowrider]

The best ability is availability.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Another thread to bash Maguire, just what we all need.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Not even close.

Jones should have been binned from the club like 5-6 years ago.

 

[Swordsman]

Does a fit and in form Jones exist ???

 

[Ted Lasso]

No

But why is Maguire's form not being considered?

I suppose that's implied. Mainly due to comparison with Jones, whose form I link with his injury record and not getting a proper run.

 

[Red the Bear]

As of now he's completely past it.
In his peak however he certainly did better than whatever Harry has managed to do(the Madrid toe for example) but then again that was under you know who so I don't know how that would hold up, perhaps Maguire too would be a much better player had he played under Ferguson.

as it stands both seem to be surplus unless ten hag proves otherwise.

 

[Chicharo]

SAF wasn't perfect and like all human beings made some wrong decisions and made some wrong choices, but, damn we was as close to a perfect manager, as one can be, and we all still remember how optimistic he was when we signed Jones. There had to be something there, the trouble is that we've never seen nor we will ever see a version of Jones who is fully fit in the long term. But regarding the talent, I think he is definitely better than Maguire

 

[Bebestation]

No.

 

[Bondi77]

If Jones can stay fit I think he is a good squad option for us, he is better than Lindelof!

 

[Ted Lasso]

SAF wasn't perfect and like all human beings made some wrong decisions and made some wrong choices, but, damn we was as close to a perfect manager, as one can be, and we all still remember how optimistic he was when we signed Jones. There had to be something there, the trouble is that we've never seen nor we will ever see a version of Jones who is fully fit in the long term. But regarding the talent, I think he is definitely better than Maguire

Think you've captured my own feelings better than I could have.

Jones might just be pulling at my heart strings as one of the few leftover remnants from SAFs reign.

 

[Ted Lasso]

If Jones can stay fit I think he is a good squad option for us, he is better than Lindelof!

Perhaps that was the better comparison!

 

[Cloud7]

I would say yes because even as a teenager a fit and in form Jones was really, really good. The problem being fit and in form are arguably the furthest things from where he is right now. Is he even as mobile as he used to be? If he's less mobile than Maguire now then this is a moot point discussion.

 

[FatTails]

I do think Jones is better looking. At least with a neutral expression, not when he’s got one of the goofy expressions he often does.

He’s got that going for him.

 

[JJ12]

No he’s not but he would be a good squad option

 

[Belisarius]

First thread in the mains, take it easy on me ladies and gents.

Seeing the training photos from this week I had a wave of nostalgia seeing Jones and remembering our last title, which he was a part of. Sure, he's had his lapses and been injured the majority of time here. But if he could find a swansong of fitness and form for a couple of seasons, I think he'd be one of our defensive mainstays.

Does he get ahead of Maguire? I think so. Partly because I became lost my patience with him after his comments this past season. I can forgive mistakes and bad form give the state of the club, but that kind of arrogance is everything I've hoped to be rooted from the club.

If we don't sign a defender, I sure as heck hope to see Phil Jones at his best. Him and a fully fit Varane would be my pairing of choice with the current squad.

Yes. Keep Jones, Varane and Mengi. Try and sell the rest. Keep whichever of Bailly, Lindelof, Maguire and Tuanzebe we have the most difficulty selling. Start Jones / Varane at beginning of season and play the other two when they get hurt.

Jones has been healthy for about 6 months and he is better than all our other defenders except Varane.

 

[DJ_21]

If and it’s a massive if he stays fit, then he’s a decent option to have. One thing he has advantage over Maguire and that’s pace. Ten Hag will want to play in the opposition halve so he’ll want the pacy defenders.

 

[11101]

Of course not. When he was 18 he had potential but he's missed so much football he's not a very good footballer anymore. Every time he gets a run of games he makes catastrophic errors. Maguire is miles better.

 

[Freak]

I think a fit and in-form Jones fits Ten Hag's style much better than a fit and in-form Maguire.

 

[Idxomer]

Of course but that Jones doesn't exist, so it doesn't really matter.

For people who are saying Jones is error-prone, how is Maguire any different? Even when his form was good, he made some dumb mistakes out of nowhere both at United and Leicester.

 

[Sandikan]

Maguire has at least had a good season here at centre back.
I'm not even sure of Jonesy has now. My memory doesn't go that far back and suspect his best season was filling in different positions like right back.

 

[MDFC Manager]

Maguire is twice the player if both are fit and on form. Jones always had a terrible error in him. Maguire had a bad season but hopefully that was it.

Same as Maguire then

 

[kthanksbye]

Not much of a difference, as bad as Maguire is, I'd still go with him, Jones hasn't played regular football for so long that people tend to forget that he was nothing special, he did have his moments, he was quick for a CB, but he always made a blunder in him every 90 mins, not very unlike Maguire but if it's a choice between these two, I'd go with the one who is likely to remain fit for an extended period of time.

 

[Kag]

No.