We have quality options in a fully fit Jones, Smalling & Bailey. Keeping the fully fit on the other hand...
4
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 26
- Clean sheets
- 10
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
He is far supierior to smalling if he can stay fit, so calm in possesion and positionally superb.
3 games in a row too, happy for him.
3 games in a row too, happy for him.
if he stays fit, he will form a great partnership with Baiily.
Agreed. Don't we lose Baiily for the ACoN though? it will be vital to keep Jones fit and get Smalling back to fitness.
Dec 11th comeback date for both Baiily and Smalling.
Smalling should be on the bench at best.
Well done, Jones. Proving everyone wrong (including me), that's how it's done. Let's hope he manages to stay fit.
I wanted him to do well so very much. He always gave 100% when he played. But his terrible injury record was threatening his playing days.
Agreed. Smalling has indeed been poor this season, but only a fool would write him off completely when he's been one of the best players at the club for the past 2 seasons and hasnt often let us down.
Really really really hope his injury worries are behind him.
He's a cracking player, and let's face it he always been - but he's looking better than ever under Jose. I really hope he stays injury-free for a while. Love the guy; Calm, professional, strong and works hard.
Also a Fergie remnant
and English
Also a Fergie remnant
and English The only issue I have with him (and Rojo) is that they don't clear the ball well. They both have a habit of just putting it back to the edge of the box or in a dangerous area. Apart from that Jones has been really good.
There's this weird obsession with our fans to only prefer 2 defenders at any given time.
Smalling's been our best defender for the last 2 seasons where Jones has had a terrible run of injury. Now Jones is back, after Smalling had a bad game at Chelsea, suddenly Jones has always been better etc.
We should be celebrating the depth we have in defence, between Jones, Smalling, Bailly, Blind & Rojo they each have their advantages and disadvantages, and it's possible to like all of them without thinking another is crap because of it.
Smalling's been our best defender for the last 2 seasons where Jones has had a terrible run of injury. Now Jones is back, after Smalling had a bad game at Chelsea, suddenly Jones has always been better etc.
We should be celebrating the depth we have in defence, between Jones, Smalling, Bailly, Blind & Rojo they each have their advantages and disadvantages, and it's possible to like all of them without thinking another is crap because of it.
This is 100% true. Now for the first time three, Rojo is held quite high as well atm.
He's looking better than ever! Composed on and off the ball, and positioning himself so well.
We have a big month coming up, with Bailly off to the AFCON, i hope he can maintain his form.
We have a big month coming up, with Bailly off to the AFCON, i hope he can maintain his form.
When did he score a goal?
Looking good at the moment.
It's like he all of a sudden realized this isn't 1998 and got rid of the highlights. Good call Philip.
It's like he all of a sudden realized this isn't 1998 and got rid of the highlights. Good call Philip.
He is doing ok'ish, but good to have him back. I like that he takes over responsability and steps in when needed
Impressed with him against Feyenoord. Like everyone said, if he keeps fit, he could form a good partnership with Smalling (The Fergie dream!). I am glad we finally have a clean sheet after what feels like an eternity of conceding late goals.
Nice piece in the Guardian on Jones (sadly, it's written by that moron Paul Wilson...) Jose really seems to rate Jones. Couldn't be happier for him.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/26/phil-jones-jose-mourinho-manchester-united
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/26/phil-jones-jose-mourinho-manchester-united
He's Jose's type of centre back, no question of that. He's a physical alpha who has a nose for trouble and plays to his instincts, unafraid of putting his face where it hurts. I doubt his quality though personally and I'll be surprised if he's injury free enough to make 20 appearances this season.
Man Utd 1:1 West Ham
Another solid outing from Calamity.
Good again today, played with urgency, unlike a lot of the others. Hope he can stay fit, three games in a week is impressive for Phil Jones.
His front foot defending and aerial dominance is really good. Another solid game. Long may it continue.
Both him and Rojo were very poor in the air. They let Ibrahimovic bare the responsibility of defending set pieces and that didn't work out very well. I stopped breathing every time West Ham had a corner or freekick
Last edited:
Everyone has a man/zone to mark from set pieces. They can't be everywhere. Ibrahimovic was at fault for the goal today. Fact!
The fact is they were both easily bullied in the air at set pieces, almost none existent. West Ham won far too many headers and its something Mourinho must address before Wednesday when we meet them again. Bailly and Smalling are much better
That's just made up rubbish. We've looked pretty solid from set pieces since Rojo and Jones have been at the back, conceding one goal from a set piece, which neither was at fault for.
Im talking about today's game. They were both weak at setpieces thats not made up rubbish, and they both haven't really been tested in this run of games. I'd say West Ham gave them the most trouble. Rojo in particular was rushed into some bad passes under pressure
Has been very good. Not easy to just come in after such a layoff and be solid.
I thought he was done here. Good on him.
I thought he was done here. Good on him.
For people who are obsessed with CBs having to distribute the ball like they are midfielders so we can all pretend how important that is in a system that actually isn't really dependant on that, can someone show me how exactly either of Jones or Rojo helped our midfield and attack today? I certainly couldn't see the difference between how those two played today, and how someone like Smalling usually plays. Only difference is that those two looked bit nicer on the ball, but without actually doing anything effective with it. Smalling receives criticism in pretty much every game for his distribution and I am yet to see what Jones(Rojo too) brought with his "passing" game since he started playing lately.
It's not, actually. Jones is poor in the air, as is Rojo. In the past, we've conceded a fair few goals from crosses when they've played at centre half and this is something that'll continue the more they play.
Even from goal kicks, if you keep an eye on it, Jones has this habit of having to climb over the attacker to get near to heading it. On occasions, he gets under the ball altogether and the ball bounces into dangerous positions.
He's a generally good defender. A lot better than people give him credit for. But he needs somebody like Smalling that can dominate the box alongside him, otherwise players like Giroud will get a lot of joy in our box.
Man Utd 4:1 West Ham
Beastly performance so far. Impeccable.
This is the Jones I remember.
Good to have the crazy bastard back.
highligh of the game how he stopped that payet run
Really good today.
The guy is a quality defender. The big goofy bastard just needs to stay fit and he'll be a big player for us.
Good today apart from that airshot! Been great the past few games.
Another excellent performance. Uses the ball far better than Smalling. Had a brainfart near the end when he air kicked the cross.
Looking great isn't he? Read the game like a good hardback novel.
Could be a perfect partner for a returning Bailly.
Could be a perfect partner for a returning Bailly.
- Status