I enjoyed his imitation of a Phil Jones tackle... just needed to injure himself/his teammate/ their player/ a fan for it to have been the real thing
4
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
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As many have said, if he keeps fit he is an excellent defender. I'd easily take him over Smalling. Easily.
Don't think there is much doubt that properly fit and on form he is an asset, but obviously his injuries are the main problem along with the way he throws himself into challenges at times which leads to self-inflicted injuries. I'm sure I read somehwere that Mourinho is said to have told Jones he could be United's version of John Terry - I'm sure he is talking about on the field not off it though - but the injuries will always be a worry unless he manages to stay fit.
If the injuries become a thing of the past, his composure might improve also as he no longer needs to commit to crazy challenges if he is playing with an injury which affects his pace and recovery. When both are fully fit and on form, he is the better of the two from him and Smalling.
If the injuries become a thing of the past, his composure might improve also as he no longer needs to commit to crazy challenges if he is playing with an injury which affects his pace and recovery. When both are fully fit and on form, he is the better of the two from him and Smalling.
Watch his performance against Spurs at home in his debut season. Matching Bale stride for stride to make a tackle inside the box. He's rapid, only sluggish and heavy footed when coming back from an injury (which is quite often).
Superb performance. @GifLord can you gif that insane challenge at around the 24th minute mark. He took out the WHam player and his own player running back (Valencia/Eric I think). So Jonesian.
Can anybody post a gif of his tackle when he tackled one of ours, west ham players and himself at the same time 
He did well yesterday, put in the type of performance that shows why I rank him above Smalling. Injuries are a big issue with him though. Hopefully he gets a full season in this year...
A question: when was the last time he got injured due to a reckless tackle in a match?
Yep he's the far more exciting and talented of the two. Praying he stays fit, I'd hate to see a guy with so much potential who clearly works hard and tries hard go to waste.
Smalling is also very good. They both need Bailly beside them, who is, in my mind, without doubt our best defender.
Bailly and Jones looks like the centre-back 'pairing of choice' now, but its all about injuries with Jones, it might become the same with Eric, both at times have that 'kamikaze' urge when tackling.
Jones was like an 'exocet' missile at times yesterday, took out the opposition and one of ours as well.
It reminded me of Harry Gregg's days in goal, after he got so called 'shoulder-charged by Nat Lofthouse (1958 FA Cup final) Harry was determined it wouldn't happen again and he would come out for a ball and clear everyone, opposition and his own players. Billy Foulkes (our centre half) got more bruises from Harry than he did from the opposition............... sorry forgive me, I've got my 'rabbling old man head on' today
Jones was like an 'exocet' missile at times yesterday, took out the opposition and one of ours as well.
It reminded me of Harry Gregg's days in goal, after he got so called 'shoulder-charged by Nat Lofthouse (1958 FA Cup final) Harry was determined it wouldn't happen again and he would come out for a ball and clear everyone, opposition and his own players. Billy Foulkes (our centre half) got more bruises from Harry than he did from the opposition............... sorry forgive me, I've got my 'rabbling old man head on' today
Haven't got a clue who will start at the back for us at the moment. They both played well but i can easily see Jose deciding to change it up next game.
A Jones fit for even 80% of the season would be a huge boost
A Jones fit for even 80% of the season would be a huge boost
Smalling is a good defender but he just makes me nervous. There's always a mistake in him waiting to happen, and it's like he shits himself when in possession of the ball.
I still remember that. I remember Jones starting out as a meandering RB for us and he looked very promising in that position for a period of time.
His facial expressions are in a constant state of worry as well. His very best (start of LVG era) was quite a bit better than Jones has ever shown for United, and that was not a short period.
Our team is so full of big guys many times yesterday he didn´t even push up for corners and set pieces. He was great yesterday.. Ball playing and aggressive something Smalling isn´t.
Hope he stays injury free this time around..
Hope he stays injury free this time around..
And still got the ballCan anybody post a gif of his tackle when he tackled one of ours, west ham players and himself at the same time
I thought he was very good yesterday the only thing is how long can he stay fit for. You could repeat this ad nauseam after every decent game he has unfortunately.When fit he is very good CB. Shame about his injury record.
He is getting his confidence back, he is showing some confidence on the ball too.
He is getting his confidence back, he is showing some confidence on the ball too.
he stopped going for set pieces long back, maybe something to do with injuries.
Phil Jones when fully fit was always a more than adequate defender. No surprise really.
Come again?
Would love to see him stay healthy and locked down a starting spot
Jones was solid yesterday. When he's at his best he's got everything you want in a centre back. He's quick, strong, aggressive, brave, good in the air, good at reading the game and he could injure anyone who goes near him, which must put some of the mentally weak players off going in for challenges with him.
There was a moment yesterday when Hernandez had the ball near the corner and Jones was behind him anticipating everything Hernandez was trying to do. And you just knew Hernandez was not going to turn him or pass to a team mate. He didn't stand a chance.
If he can stay fit all season and be as solid as yesterday it will be like having a new signing. Hopefully all his injury problems are behind him and he can become uniteds best player ever (that's what SAF said wasn't it?)
There was a moment yesterday when Hernandez had the ball near the corner and Jones was behind him anticipating everything Hernandez was trying to do. And you just knew Hernandez was not going to turn him or pass to a team mate. He didn't stand a chance.
If he can stay fit all season and be as solid as yesterday it will be like having a new signing. Hopefully all his injury problems are behind him and he can become uniteds best player ever (that's what SAF said wasn't it?)
He absolutely destroyed Chelsea and Bolton from RB in that season. It's easy to forget now but he was genuinely good no matter where he played in his first season.
I still remember that. I remember Jones starting out as a meandering RB for us and he looked very promising in that position for a period of time.
I've said it before: Ferguson, Capello and now Mourinho can't all be wrong about him.
Capello compared him to Baresi, and people still laugh, but that's because they probably didn't actually watch Baresi play and imagine him to be a graceful Scirea/Beckenbauer-type libero....which is completely wrong.
He was a tough-tackling, intense, rugged beast of a player who charged forward decisively with purpose and simplicity; Jones circa 2012 was partial to such rampaging runs forward, and even now when he does step out with the ball it's justified. Baresi loved to defend, in the same way Jones does, and similarly used to take a physical beating as a result.
Jones is actually a better footballer in that regard than John Stones; he is far more efficient with the ball and his carrying of it upfield. Stones does Cruyff turns and has this really annoying habit of jogging 20 yards out of defence with the ball unchallenged, only to pass it 5 yards sideways; that's not a sweeper, it's a peacock and a liability on the counter.
I'm not saying he'll ever be Baresi, but not many will, especially in the Premier League; what he can be is a very accomplished, effective, complete defender and a mainstay of United defence for another half decade at least. When he's available, he starts for Mourinho; that says it all.
It's annoying that the fellas who put together the individual match compilations never seem to do any of Jones; I think if there were more accessible people would see how good he actually is.
Capello compared him to Baresi, and people still laugh, but that's because they probably didn't actually watch Baresi play and imagine him to be a graceful Scirea/Beckenbauer-type libero....which is completely wrong.
He was a tough-tackling, intense, rugged beast of a player who charged forward decisively with purpose and simplicity; Jones circa 2012 was partial to such rampaging runs forward, and even now when he does step out with the ball it's justified. Baresi loved to defend, in the same way Jones does, and similarly used to take a physical beating as a result.
Jones is actually a better footballer in that regard than John Stones; he is far more efficient with the ball and his carrying of it upfield. Stones does Cruyff turns and has this really annoying habit of jogging 20 yards out of defence with the ball unchallenged, only to pass it 5 yards sideways; that's not a sweeper, it's a peacock and a liability on the counter.
I'm not saying he'll ever be Baresi, but not many will, especially in the Premier League; what he can be is a very accomplished, effective, complete defender and a mainstay of United defence for another half decade at least. When he's available, he starts for Mourinho; that says it all.
It's annoying that the fellas who put together the individual match compilations never seem to do any of Jones; I think if there were more accessible people would see how good he actually is.
Please, please stay fit. Him and Bailly is an excellent pairing. Jones was excellent on Sunday.
I've made this point numerous times on the Caf.
Arguably the 3 best defences of the last 30 years were made by Fergie, Capello and Mourinho. And all of them love(d) Jones. When I see people fail to rate him, I can't help but question their ability to judge talent.
Disagreeing with managers is what this forum is about. But disagreeing with three of the best defensive coaches in history, when all of them share the same opinion... that should tell you something about how valid your own might be.
To be fair, I don't think the problem with Jones has ever been over whether he's got any talent, or as to whether he's got the potential to be good enough. When we signed him we new he was a very good emerging talent.
The problem's always been issues such as fitness, and ironing out the rashness in his game that was often present. Naturally, when he wasn't able to play consistently due to injury, improvement was always going to be partly limited.
It's during the after talks on NBC-SN with Jones that they show the full sequence. Jones is such a stand-up guy, he gave a sympathetic interview, very likeable, the clip would indeed be iconic, they had a mischievous plan that locked in perfectly! @GifLord
He joined in 87 didn't he?
You only noticed that yesterday?!
That's Gareth Bale, by the way. Playing for Spurs.
Note how much smaller he was then; I think he had a freak growth spurt circa 2012/13, and that's probably played a big part in his injury issues since. His coordination did seem to go tits up around that time as well....You only noticed that yesterday?!
That's Gareth Bale, by the way. Playing for Spurs.
He needs to take inspiration from Sergio Ramos, who's really curbed his impulsive, chaotic nature and become an immense central defender as a result; if Jones learns when to impose his physicality and gets into the habit of defending primarily with his brain, he can become one of the very best in Europe.
Brilliant story!Well spoken lad, I'm hopeful he'll have his best season this year. Looks like Jose is pleased one of their training routines worked very well.
Is that Jones?? Bloody hell he is fast!!You only noticed that yesterday?!
That's Gareth Bale, by the way. Playing for Spurs.
Most of our CBs are very fast. Jones is similar to Smalling in that his top speed is fantastic but he takes a yard or two to get there. The likes of Tuanzebe, Fosu-Mensah, and Bailly have acceleration to burn. Haven't really seen much of Lindelof to judge, and Rojo is hardly slow.
I think because of his physique, there's a misconception that he's slow and cumbersome but that couldn't be further from the truth.
Last year he had a spell in the side alongside Rojo and they looked very good together. I like Jones and rate him far higher than Smalling.
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