He's really stepped up in so far this season. Hope it can continue. Ideally, I'd still like an experienced player to talk to him and keep him in check, but his performances have been promising, in my opinion.
4
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 24
- Clean sheets
- 7
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 3
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
Yeah that's what I thought, they both seem like the need a cool and composed player next to them.
Has been phenomenal this season. Has held the back like Vidic at times. It's very promising stuff seeing as this is something we can build off, unlike the previous few seasons where we looked like losing every game due to our defence. Now we look more likely to hold down a clean sheet and scrape a goal or two. It's absolutely crazy to think Jones is only 22.
Liking the look of him at the moment. Got a real 'Over my dead body!' attitude to defending. And all them faces he pulls? That's just him conveying the mixture of terror and defiance the thought of conceding goals so clearly fills him with.
Really liked the look of him in 2011/12 as well, especially in the first months of the season, with those bursting runs forward and last ditch tackles.
Injuries and being played out of position in a struggling side haven't done him any favours over the last two years.
But he's young, and could yet turn out to fulfil the potential that saw both Wenger and Ferguson want to sign him.
Really liked the look of him in 2011/12 as well, especially in the first months of the season, with those bursting runs forward and last ditch tackles.
Injuries and being played out of position in a struggling side haven't done him any favours over the last two years.
But he's young, and could yet turn out to fulfil the potential that saw both Wenger and Ferguson want to sign him.
I think he's clearly our best center back this season.
Jones looks like the one capable of stepping forward and becoming the 'leader' back there.
A good performance from him, he is improving in my opinion and starting to look more composed both with the ball and in the tackle.
I still don't understand what everyone sees in him. He appears to be an average defender that makes up for his shortcomings in enthusiasm...
Woah there Captain Hyperbole. Phenomenal? Held the back like Vidic?
He's been what he always is, a bit of a clumsy oaf with the occasion game that is suited to his bull in a china shop style of play.
Ok, my bad. He's improved, a lotWoah there Captain Hyperbole. Phenomenal? Held the back like Vidic?
He's been what he always is, a bit of a clumsy oaf with the occasion game that is suited to his bull in a china shop style of play.
He's the real captain in waiting.
Woah there Captain Hypercritical . Clumsy Oaf? bull in a china shop ?Woah there Captain Hyperbole. Phenomenal? Held the back like Vidic?
He's been what he always is, a bit of a clumsy oaf with the occasion game that is suited to his bull in a china shop style of play.
I couldn't resist it
I just think we are seeing the reason why we bought him, To play Centre Half not right back or midfield
Of all our players he is the one that has upped his game this year.
Just want to say amongst all the transfers and excitement over the past few days, our phil has really impressed me so far this season playing in his natural position, love the way he was yelling at the rest of the defence last game when they were being sloppy, honestly think he can go as far as he wants in terms of becoming a world class defender, still only 22.
This. Love Phil Jones. Hope he continues to get constant games in his preferred position and continues to improve. Been very impressed with him so far this season.
He spent a lot of the game having to come to the rescue for the mistakes other players made around him. Exactly why I think he is our best defender.
The fact Jones can make up for his and others bad positional defending is great asset. He wont have to rely on it as much as he gets older because he should pick up good positions with experience, our best player so far!
Big season for Jones. I think he's going to step up, with a couple of others.
Has been very impressive so far this season. I shall start referring to him as 'One'.
#SmallingPlusOne
#SmallingPlusOne
He's really leading from the back. Very impressive, along with Blackett (who just needs to cut out the hoofing)
He is not going to be a Rio for us but his positional sense will get better as he gets older. Right now he's already starting to display leadership qualities of a seasoned defender. He's going to be fantastic for us.
Really impressed with how he has stepped up this season. Love his last minute tackles and interceptions; they have become so crucial for us already.
However, I have my doubts about his ability to play the in the middle of a back 3. The middle CB in the back 3 needs to be able to step up, carry the ball and pass it very well- which so far all of Jones, Smalling and Evans have failed at. What was also interesting to see was that LVG preferred Jones as the center of the middle 3 over Evans; I would have thought Evans would be preferred there for 1) his ability to pass the ball 2) Jones' ability to play right back. However, it was Evans playing at the right of a back 3; which possibly shows LVG trusting Jones more with the ball and/or as a leader
However, I have my doubts about his ability to play the in the middle of a back 3. The middle CB in the back 3 needs to be able to step up, carry the ball and pass it very well- which so far all of Jones, Smalling and Evans have failed at. What was also interesting to see was that LVG preferred Jones as the center of the middle 3 over Evans; I would have thought Evans would be preferred there for 1) his ability to pass the ball 2) Jones' ability to play right back. However, it was Evans playing at the right of a back 3; which possibly shows LVG trusting Jones more with the ball and/or as a leader
He is going to be the real for us. Has been excellent so far for England, he has that presence of a Centre back. Not giving one inch of space for the opponent to take advantage.I just hope he doesn't get injured.
He can be England's best centre back, and most importantly Man utd's best centre back.
He can be England's best centre back, and most importantly Man utd's best centre back.
Continuing on his impressive form for the national side. Good to see.
was always the case, not just this season. If he stays injury free and gets a run of games at CB, easily the best centre back at the club.
The only position he has the ability to become top class is centre half in my opinion. Barring an absolute emergency, I hope we resist any temptation to use him as a utility man this season. Now's the time for his development to be solely in central defence and hopefully we will then see the rewards.
I also think he already is the best centre back at the club to be honest. Not slagging off the others but I've always been a big fan of jones.
Did he play in the centre for England tonight?
Yes left CB with Cahill.
That face again
Got skinned by King which could have cost a goal. Otherwise fine.
No what could've cost us a goal was Cahill passing it to King in the first place!
That too. It was poor by both of them.
No thanks to Cahill and every CB struggles with those because they know the other player is waiting for the slightest chance to go over. You could see how compact he made himself when making the challenge to reduce the risk.
I thought he had a fine game.
Surely that's a commonly held opinion?
Yeah, exactly. He should have maybe been more fleet footed/decisive and shepherded him more but he reduced the angle well and didn't dive in for a silly tackle and probable Penalty which he usually did more before. He was thinking of it and then let him go instead on the narrow angle which though not ideal wasn't bad considering the pace at which he was coming and Harts position.
Am honestly not following the narrative that he's comfortable on the ball and is now a commanding centre half. I've yet to see ANYTHING in Jones' locker that makes me understand why he was rated so highly at Blackburn. He has a poor first touch, his passing is erratic at best and he is reckless at times when cooler heads would prevail. Every time I see him travelling with the ball my internal monologue is shouting "GET RID" because I know that a heavy touch is likely just around the corner or he'll try to hit a team mate and instead pass it straight to the opposition. All that's happening at the minute is that Smalling is even worse and is taking attention away from him.
The one game in his entire United career that I've been impressed with him was vs Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and he man-marked Ronnie out of the game. Any other time he has been meh or dross.
The one game in his entire United career that I've been impressed with him was vs Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and he man-marked Ronnie out of the game. Any other time he has been meh or dross.
Really just a label he carries with him since the start at United. The guy averaged 88.3% in accurate passes last year and he was played plenty in the midfield and as a full back as well.
Higher than Evans and Smalling as well as Kompany last year. This year has has greatly improved stats in terms of passing accuracy, tackling, long balls.
He has a heavy touch when playing in CM. For a CB his ability on the ball is very good. It hasn't shown thus far in a 3-5-2 due to Cleverly/Fletcher rarely offering for the ball and the defence needing to go long as a result but that should change when Herrera returns or Blind is in the side.
To say he's had 1 good game is a bit mental btw he had several excellent games when we won the 20th title.
Hopefully he'll never play RB every again, but I remember those marauding runs down the line that show more ability on the ball than most CBs. Being really composed on the ball is not his strength, it was more his ability to change the pace quickly with his movement that sometimes made him a success running down the line, but it still involved some pretty decent ball control. Playing in the centre it's more congested and we don't get to see this so often (probably a good thing incase he loses the ball in that area...), but his ability on the ball is definitely underrated.
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