Phil Jones Future | Reports: Observing United academy sessions

JediSith

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Let me get this right. Even when they’re out of contact we still can’t get rid of them? What next DDG going to start selecting himself in the match day squad?

But in all seriousness. I think it’s good that United allow Jones to stay occupied. Doesn’t mean he’s getting a job with United. Maybe he’s doing a coaching badge or just bored AF and the club are supporting him in retirement. It would be a very big and drastic change for a person to go from the structure of being employed by a premier league team to having nothing to do and no real reason to work to pay the bills.
 

rooneyberbatov

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What a strange thing to be so angry about.
Not angry. Perhaps sad or confused, yeah. I think I’ve been fed up a bit with the club recently, the senior management, the way the club handled De Gea, MG’s situation, etc. I’d like to see receipts when it comes to some actions, that’s it.
 

Pronewbie

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What's wrong with some of you lot.. Jones is exploring the transition to being a coach. I've argued previously (and gotten flak) that he should have explored a coaching/media/ambassadorial career years ago just like Fletcher and other players have but better late than never. We're a club after-all, and as long as Jones' suitability is assessed and hired based on merit I have no issues with this.

It's good that he seems to be shaking off what I'm guessing to be depression.
 

Champ

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Why are United fans so irrational about ex players being involved in the set up?

Arsenal Academy Manager: Per Mertesaker
Arsenal U18s coach: Jack Wilshire

Chelsea Academy Mentor: Claude Makelele,
Development squad assistant Chelsea: Jon Harley

Many many more examples too, especially within Europe as well.
 

Woodzy

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Why are United fans so irrational about ex players being involved in the set up?

Arsenal Academy Manager: Per Mertesaker
Arsenal U18s coach: Jack Wilshire

Chelsea Academy Mentor: Claude Makelele,
Development squad assistant Chelsea: Jon Harley

Many many more examples too, especially within Europe as well.
Because our desire to moan about things gets amplified the shitter our team get on the actual football field.
 

Sky1981

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His contract was renewed at least twice, during his career at United. I suspect United kept him on for other reasons, just as they are bringing him back now it's the man they appreciate, his dedication to the club and to keep going no matter what the odds. He was not the brightest nor talented of players, but if you want someone beside you in the trenches it was Phil Jones.
Getting paid while injured as much as him is no dedication.

Going relegated and stick with the club when half Europe wants you is dedication.

He's here because nobody would pay him better
 

Sky1981

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do people really have a problem with this? Pretty sure there are much bigger things to worry about for United. At the U18 level having literally any pro with his amount of experience is fine with me. I highly doubt he is running the show out there but he has been around the top level for enough of a time to help out with development of the defenders
Jones was a hard cold stone defender..but never the smart one.

And if you think any pro can just do the job. Look at La Massia
 

MegadrivePerson

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Has it been suggested that he might be coming back as a player? Apparently a last minute move for Sergio Ramos was made before he joined Sevilla, so I'm wondering if some of the defensive injuries are worse than we are being told?
 

pascell

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I’m more than happy with Jones joining the club if he’s qualified. But the statement says absolutely nothing. What does he do? Is he being paid? Does he pay the club? What’s the goal in here? It’s the lack of transparency that makes this whole thing a bit ridiculous.
Hrs observing training sessions to gain coaching bags, which every club does. The goal is for him to gaining coaching experience and is probably not paid no. Good enough for you?
 
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Marwood

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I’m more than happy with Jones joining the club if he’s qualified. But the statement says absolutely nothing. What does he do? Is he being paid? Does he pay the club? What’s the goal in here? It’s the lack of transparency that makes this whole thing a bit ridiculous.
Why worry about it? It's a nothing thing.
 

Sandikan

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Jonesy, Lingard and De Gea.
About 30 years of first team involvement between them yet the second they're free from us they can't get a new club
 

golden_blunder

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Why are United fans so irrational about ex players being involved in the set up?

Arsenal Academy Manager: Per Mertesaker
Arsenal U18s coach: Jack Wilshire

Chelsea Academy Mentor: Claude Makelele,
Development squad assistant Chelsea: Jon Harley

Many many more examples too, especially within Europe as well.
Because collectively we’re a bunch of dickheads who think we know more about football than we do
 

Maticmaker

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Because collectively we’re a bunch of dickheads who think we know more about football than we do
I tend to agree.
Phil Jones became a 'scapegoat' for many people because he was injury prone and had illness to contend with in the latter part of his career, but in his early career he showed great promise and helped SAF win trophies. Many people held him up as an example of some one 'leeching' off the club, but for me the fact that five United managers all kept him on, and renewed his contract at least twice, suggests there were other factors about Jones that they valued.
In the past this club has stood by all sorts of players with all sorts of problems which they brought to the clubs door, Jones didn't bring any of those problems, all he wanted to do was serve the club and it appears he still does. Well done and thanks Phil.
 

MancunianAngels

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There is an issue at the moment with fans being so sick of the running of the club that every single decision is analysed through that lense. So threads like this appear alongside loads of criticism.

Jones doing his coaching training with the academy set up is a perfectly reasonable thing to happen and in previous eras would have almost been accepted as that completely reasonable thing and attracted almost no attention.
 

Luffy

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Oh, so you enjoyed the fact you we gave you so much, eh? Well, how about you start giving something back, you plonker.

Truly, I wish him well.
 

Mas Risky

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I think "observing" here means an internship. Many former players did the same thing at their former club to get a coaching license.

On top of my head, Xabi Alonso (Madrid), Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Christian Chivu (Inter), John Heitinga (Ajax), and Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Well, if he doesn’t have coaching qualifications, then he cannot be a coach. A no-brainer. But no idea what he’s doing then. Our club’s incompetence strikes again.
Clearly, you didn't. He is trying to get a coaching license, and one of the requirements is to have a coaching capacity in a club.

I'm surprise you guys never heard about this.
 
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tomaldinho1

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Eggs in the faces of the 'jobs for the boys' brigade.
They said he was injured, he was actually just playing football manager. There’s no situation in football he’s not seen, no tactic he doesn’t know, time to create a ‘serious look at Phil Jones for next manager’ thread.
 

didz

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They said he was injured, he was actually just playing football manager. There’s no situation in football he’s not seen, no tactic he doesn’t know, time to create a ‘serious look at Phil Jones for next manager’ thread.
He'd be worth it just for the faces he'll pull at officials.
 

stefan92

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They said he was injured, he was actually just playing football manager. There’s no situation in football he’s not seen, no tactic he doesn’t know, time to create a ‘serious look at Phil Jones for next manager’ thread.
You mean this as a joke, but taking an interest in the theoretical aspects of the game is probably a good way to spend your time while being injured.
 

Oldyella

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Eggs in the faces of the 'jobs for the boys' brigade.
Good for him.

Also don't get the jobs for the boys moaning. We've always supported players getting into coaching haven't we?
 

stefan92

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Good for him.

Also don't get the jobs for the boys moaning. We've always supported players getting into coaching haven't we?
As with all things in football, as long as you are successful, everybody is fine with it. As soon as performances aren't as they should be, people start complaining about it, in this case about not getting enough external competence in the club but just giving "jobs for the boys" instead to actual qualified coaches etc.
 

pascell

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They said he was injured, he was actually just playing football manager. There’s no situation in football he’s not seen, no tactic he doesn’t know, time to create a ‘serious look at Phil Jones for next manager’ thread.
Said was same about McKenna & Carrick. The truth is, none of us actually know what's happening behind the scenes.
 

saik

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Huh? How is Phil Jones getting the credit here? Or is there a joke that went way over my head? :houllier:
 

Brophs

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-“GET YOUR HEAD ON IT, LAD.
-“But Phil, it’s rolling on the ground.
-WHAT ARE YOU, A TOPOLOGIST? HEAD IT CLEAR, YOU SOFT GET”
 

tomaldinho1

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You mean this as a joke, but taking an interest in the theoretical aspects of the game is probably a good way to spend your time while being injured.
Im assuming he did something - what was out for collectively? Must be years?
 

Halftrack

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Huh? How is Phil Jones getting the credit here? Or is there a joke that went way over my head? :houllier:
It's a joke poking fun at the people who got big mad about the club letting him be part of the coaching setup.
-“GET YOUR HEAD ON IT, LAD.
-“But Phil, it’s rolling on the ground.
-WHAT ARE YOU, A TOPOLOGIST? HEAD IT CLEAR, YOU SOFT GET”
:lol:
 

Hernandez - BFA

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Happy to hear he's doing well. People will mock him and say that he's been stealing a wage. He's had to prematurely end a football career that he's probably wanted from a young age - due to his body not being to hack it.

Glad to hear he's doing well and hope he gets a good career in the coaching/managerial mould.
 

stefan92

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Happy to hear he's doing well. People will mock him and say that he's been stealing a wage. He's had to prematurely end a football career that he's probably wanted from a young age - due to his body not being to hack it.

Glad to hear he's doing well and hope he gets a good career in the coaching/managerial mould.
Prematurely ended playing careers are what happened to a lot of today's top coaches. It surely doesn't harm to start coaching while your mind is still young and flexible to learn new stuff.
 

Hernandez - BFA

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Prematurely ended playing careers are what happened to a lot of today's top coaches. It surely doesn't harm to start coaching while your mind is still young and flexible to learn new stuff.
Very good point. I suppose the fact Jones had a top transfer to a big club at a young age, with one of the greatest managers ever stating he may become one of the best players ever for the club, to fall from grace from that high due to injuries annihilating you. For that reason, Jones receives more than the normal amount of sympathy from me.