Why couldn't it have turned out the way it was meant to be. Remember watching the two of them as the starting CB pairing for the England U21s and thinking we have our CB positions sorted for the next 10 years and so do England, ah well injuries always seem to have a say don't they. Jones was some player back then, a lot of people forget he was only 19 when we signed him and was competing with Rio and Vidic for CB from the start. I'll always remember Fergie saying, after a game that Jones was MOTM maybe a season or 2 after Jones had signed, how he could become Man Utd's greatest ever player. Nobody says something like that lightly especially not Ferguson.
Everytime I see the lad play I always remember that quote and its sad to see how injuries have ruined him and it's funny how quick people are to forget and how fast they jump on the bandwagon of hate and mockery of the likes of Jones, Smalling and even Young. Yes they are not good enough for Man Utd anymore and at most squad players but these are 3 of the last players from the Ferguson era, have won the league, know the club inside out and played hundreds of games and did their best and for that they have my respect. I feel all United fans should try to do the same.