Jonny Evans

[Solius]

How good can this guy become?

I mean he's only 21 and when he plays he seems to go under the radar slightly because he goes about what is needed doing quite well. Obviously he's made and will make a few mistakes in his youth but I think the fact that some of his performances are so low key are a testament to his ability. I mean I know there have also been performances that have gotten him noticed like vs Inter and Chelsea, but he just reads the game so well for someone his age that it's hard to notice the work he does. I know he's going to be good, for me it's just a question of how good.

Can he be better than Rio? How good was Rio at 21? I was old enough to remember but sadly do not actually remember because I am a bit of a spazzer. Is the shared opinion on here that he can become a World Class centre-back for years to come or is the jury still out? What do opposition fans think of him as well?

 

[VoetbalWizard]

i think lack of pace/turning circle as wide as a oil tanker will stop him from being as good as ferdinand. however i can see him anchoring our backline for a good 5-6 years, partnered next to someone who is a bit quicker.

 

[kietotheworld]

At 21 Leeds broke the British transfer record to sign Ferdinand. Evans is an outstanding player though, I have no worries when he steps in for Ferdinand or Vidic.

 

[dev1l]

Evans improvement has been incredible over the last couple of seasons. He certainly has the potential to be as good as RIo though there is something that Evans will never have - Rio's pace.

however, there may also be other aspects which Evans may develop better than Rio, like concentration for example.

 

[Devil_forever]

Evans improvement has been incredible over the last couple of seasons. He certainly has the potential to be as good as RIo though there is something that Evans will never have - Rio's pace.

however, there may also be other aspects which Evans may develop better than Rio, like concentration for example.

Evans seems to have better concentration for his age than Rio and seems to be far more consistent, from what I remember Rio wasn't this consistent. Though as a raw defender Rio slightly edged it over Evans, when he was younger.

 

[rednev]

Out of all the young players, he's the most likely to 'make it'. He's great cover for Rio or Vidic.

 

[dev1l]

Evans seems to have better concentration for his age than Rio and seems to be far more consistent, from what I remember Rio wasn't this consistent. Though as a raw defender Rio slightly edged it over Evans, when he was younger.

To be fair, Rio when younger was considered to be a more complete footballer than simply a defender. At times this played against him, in the sense that when he was transferred to Leeds, there were some who were very sceptic about his defensive qualities.

Evans is more of an out and out defender, but at his age is one of the top in business. Not many defenders played for a modest team like Northern Ireland and kept Torres in their pockets...

 

[Crerand Legend]

Going to be a great and homegrown,rare these days

 

[MUFCgal]

To be fair, Rio when younger was considered to be a more complete footballer than simply a defender. At times this played against him, in the sense that when he was transferred to Leeds, there were some who were very sceptic about his defensive qualities.

Evans is more of an out and out defender, but at his age is one of the top in business. Not many defenders played for a modest team like Northern Ireland and kept Torres in their pockets...

True, he's kept some of the world's top strikers quiet and out of the game, namely Torres and Ibrahimovic.

I've no doubt in my mind Jonny Evans will become one of first choice CB's for years to come after Vidic & Rio.

 

[datura]

Evans distribution from the back and composure on the ball is very good as well. I don't think he's that slow, definitely not slower than Vidic anyway. He's also very mature for his age and doesn't suffer from the concentration lapes that many young centrebacks struggle with.

I remember a game last season where he was having a go at either Neville or Ferdinand for a mistake which really impressed me.

 

[VoetbalWizard]

evans/rodwell future united cb pairing IMO

 

[Great Hat]

I think Evans can, and probably will become fantastic. Last year saw a big development from him, and he showed just how composed and assured he can be (Inter [A] being a good example of that). The defensive side of his game can still be developed a bit, and he's perhaps not strong enough physically, but his distribution is good, as is his awareness, and despite a few less than great performances towards the end of the season, he played pretty consistently for a defensive player just breaking into the first team.

He's got work to do on his game, and I don't think he's quite a commanding a presence as Rio was at his age, but he's come on leaps and bounds in the last 12 months, and his play so far, as well as his seemingly impressive understanding of the game, would suggest that he will most likely develop into a tremendous defender. It'd be nice to see him get forward a bit more next season, too, but you can't fault him for much so far, really.

On a similar note, Corry Evans has looked really promising for the reserves this last season. I think he'll make a few senior appearances this campaign, and it'd be interesting to see the two of them play together at some point.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

At 21 Leeds broke the British transfer record to sign Ferdinand. Evans is an outstanding player though, I have no worries when he steps in for Ferdinand or Vidic.

Sunderland were prepared to pay £10 million for Evans at the start of last season and his price will have continued to have risen over the past year.

 

[kietotheworld]

Sunderland were prepared to pay £10 million for Evans at the start of last season and his price will have continued to have risen over the past year.

Yeah, but the market has inflated vastly since then. I don't think in a market at the level it was at when Ferdinand was transferred, we'd get £18m for him. That's not to say he won't become a fantastic defender, or he isn't already, but his status as mainly a substitute would contribute to no-one wanting to spend that money on him.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Yeah, but the market has inflated vastly since then. I don't think in a market at the level it was at when Ferdinand was transferred, we'd get £18m for him. That's not to say he won't become a fantastic defender, or he isn't already, but his status as mainly a substitute would contribute to no-one wanting to spend that money on him.

I think the transfer price argument is irrelevent anyway because whether its Leeds or Man City throwing the cash inflated figures have always been a factor.

I do think though Rio was a better player than Evans at the same age though, Evans has consistency on his side though.