Is a fit in-form Jones ahead of Maguire?

youmeletsfly

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Im no Maguire fan but what you have said is ridiculous. Have a look how many own goals Jones has scored for a start.
Phil Jones has 3 own goals in the EPL, 1 in the FA cup and 1 or 2 in the UCL.
Harry Maguire made 16 errors leading to a goal last season until April. And yes, it's that bad.
 

Skills

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Jones can't stay fit, but was a much, much bigger talent than Maguire.

Maguire's done really well for himself to get where he has considering what he's got to work with talent wise.
 

Abraxas

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I'm struggling to recall which games Jones played but he looked pretty good when he came back in a back four. In fact he was one of our only good players on the day. But then Ralf thrust him into a back three and he was atrocious.

IF he actually got himself fit there may be a decent player left in him. I don't think he's ever going to be reliable enough to be someone you have down as a first choice CB. Lets imagine a world where he's consistently available - you would still have to protect him as he's not cut out for a season of PL football.
 

tenpoless

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In-form jones I believe can be better than current Maguire. However a fit Jones seems impossible, man looks like a character from sesame street.
 

CarbonStoolBites

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Phil Jones should be seeking whatever chance he has to play regular football at any level at this point, after being out of the game for years. I’m sure there is a PL or a decent a Championship club that will take a chance on him if he would be willing to take a wage cut. That’s a big “if” though, I don’t know what is it with our players but we’ve had too many Winston Bogarde individuals at the club, people with professional integrity and love for the game take wage cuts all the time, Pique did it recently for example, still a miles better player than Jones has ever been.
 

AltiUn

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Completely true, Jones on good form is far better than anything Maguire can produce. I do not think Jones even on form is quite good enough, and we really have no idea what he can do now though.
Obviously not considering Maguire got into team of the tournament at the Euros, which is a far better individual accolade than Jones ever managed.
 

bringbackbebe

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You can replace Maguire with a water bottle and you won't know the difference. The latter will actually be more effective to our team and help in hydrating our players. He's been truly terrible.
 

DanCPhillips

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Yes, however we've never seen it for a long period of time.

Jones when fit had some good defensive partnerships with Bailly and with Blind.
 

UnrelatedPsuedo

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Jones had bags of potential but you need to play games to realise potential. He hasn’t.

With that said, he’s still a pretty great centre half. Easily as good as the second string options at other clubs. He’s worlds better than Ake.

Maguire is a top tier centre half though. He had a stinker of a season but if last year was an anomaly, he’s streets ahead of Jones in 2022. He’s the player than Jones could have been had he stayed for for a career.
 

fps

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Yes, although I'd have a fit in-form Bailly or a fit in-form Rodwell in just ahead of him.
 

sunama

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It's like asking if the turd which my cat did this morning smells better than the turd which my dog did last night.
Get rid of them both!
 

Bobski

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Jones injury free, is probably club captain and England regular. He was a major talent but he has barely played in 4 years, I would be happy for him if he could get a season or 2 at another club to remind the greater footballing environment that he is more than just memes. A bit like how Smalling has shown at Roma that he was actually a pretty good defender.
 

hellhunter

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Jones injury free, is probably club captain and England regular. He was a major talent but he has barely played in 4 years, I would be happy for him if he could get a season or 2 at another club to remind the greater footballing environment that he is more than just memes. A bit like how Smalling has shown at Roma that he was actually a pretty dam good defender.
Yeah, that's way better than Maguire :wenger:
 

FootballHQ

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I actually thought he was OOC. Thought he signed new 4 year deal in 2018?
 

Bobski

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Yeah, that's way better than Maguire :wenger:
Jones was always more mobile and quicker than Maguire but weaker in the air. Jones's style I think it easier to build around and offers more tactical options, Maguire struggles massively when isolated or with space behind, limits how best to use him.
 

UnitedFire

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Has anyone considered how much of a factor the Maguire court case might be? Having something like that hanging over him can't help.

I guess it depends how many updates there are regarding the case so how often it reoccurs as a thought. Also what the potential range of outcomes might be.

Still, court case or not he won't suddenly become quick enough or turn fast enough and he should go!
 

RedSG

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He's been here for a decade. How are we still doing this and asking the same answered questions.
 

Oranges038

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Technically he's a much better player than Maguire. But, his body is just not capable of playing professional sport anymore at the level required. Because he's got no knees.

So, the answer is no, because he will never be fully fit again.
 

Leftback99

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Ignoring the injuries, when was this 'in form' Jones last seen? I can't remember a time when he was ever seen as important to us
 

Okey

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If only we could imagine a fit, in-form Jones. Sadly we will never know.
 

Hammondo

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Obviously not considering Maguire got into team of the tournament at the Euros, which is a far better individual accolade than Jones ever managed.
Is it? Didn't beat anyone good, had very easy opponents, played a defensive setup where he had a lot of protection. There is no easier situation for a CB.
 

AltiUn

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Is it? Didn't beat anyone good, had very easy opponents, played a defensive setup where he had a lot of protection. There is no easier situation for a CB.
Yes and it's not even close.
 

Dante

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They'd both be amongst the top defenders in the PL.

Prime Jones has superior pace whereas in-form Maguire has better passing and ball carrying.

In terms of what I personally like to see, I'd pick Jones. But it really depends on the system the manager is deploying. I think Guardiola would get more out of Maguire (who's an upgrade on Stones) and Klopp would get more out of Jones (who could certainly benefit from a special inhaler to him fit).
 

Zen86

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Jones is still a decent player but he's more a tale of what could have been, injuries sadly derailed his career. Maguire is obviously the better defender, he's just coming off the back of an awful season (you would think he was the only one with the way he's singled out).
 

Irwin99

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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.
I don't disagree with that at all, he could have been a fantastic player and maybe he can still turn his career around but the guy was always clumsy and error prone and has never been able to rid those things from his game.
 

Irwin99

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The idea that Jones is better than Ake or Maguire is absolutely insane to me. People seem to have forgotten all the calamitous mistakes- The FA Cup final, Sir Alex Ferguson's last home match against Swansea, Moyes last game for United the 2-0 defeat to Everton, the defeat against Spurs where he was terrorized by Harry Kane, that 3-3 match vs Sheffield United under Ole. These are all of the top of my head and there are many more.

I really don't like the cruelty aimed towards Jones or the memes, but let's not rewrite history.
 

Skills

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They'd both be amongst the top defenders in the PL.

Prime Jones has superior pace whereas in-form Maguire has better passing and ball carrying.

In terms of what I personally like to see, I'd pick Jones. But it really depends on the system the manager is deploying. I think Guardiola would get more out of Maguire (who's an upgrade on Stones) and Klopp would get more out of Jones (who could certainly benefit from a special inhaler to him fit).
Not sure about the ball carrying. Jones was a bit of a force when he was rampaging down with the ball. Played pretty well as a RB for a bit.
 

Dante

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Not sure about the ball carrying. Jones was a bit of a force when he was rampaging down with the ball. Played pretty well as a RB for a bit.
That was overstated at the time.

Jones dribbled like a runaway train steaming into empty space. Whilst the amount of distance he covered was impressive on a couple of occasions, he never really had the ball under control. And he wouldn't be able to get away with it against a high pressing side in 2022.

Maguire actually has better close control under pressure.