Great game today, especially a few moments in the first half where, with little effort, brushed off the Wigan player and won the ball going around him shoulder to shoulder - Rio style. He is the future of our back line if he develops as he should.
Jonny Evans | 2011/12 Performances
- Thread starter Sir Matt
- Start date
I was his biggest critic two seasons ago but now I have nothing but good things to say about him. He has developed brilliantly and hopefully he can continue to grow.
great game from Evans. One of the reasons I like seeing him in the team sheet is because he's one of the few defenders who looks to be be purposeful when he's playing the ball out from the back. Sometimes he does choose to go long ball but I like that even if it's a clearance, he will try and find a teammate whenever possible.
His distribution and composure on the ball are not that of a defender.
Lovely turn and pass to Evra for the first goal.
Lovely turn and pass to Evra for the first goal.
I think I'm right in saying that when he joined United he was playing as a defensive midfielder? I recall SAF saying in an interview something like "We've got a real bright prospect in Jonny. He reads the game phenomenally well, although he's a bit lanky at the moment I think he'll end up as a centre back."
Either I'm right and there's the reason behind his ability with both feet and his composure on the ball, or I dreamt it and this post means sweet feck all.
Either I'm right and there's the reason behind his ability with both feet and his composure on the ball, or I dreamt it and this post means sweet feck all.
Turns 25 tomorrow, would you believe! Thought he was going on 24, they grow up so fast though.
Good solid game from him today. Him and Rio didn't really give Wigan a look in today which was a nice change.
Oh I am sure there is that one person who is itching to point out that he blatantly missed cutting out the ball to the offside goal and he couldn't have known Kone was offside and Wigan scored that goal not only would they have won the the game but city would have got the news and scored another 5 padding their goal difference.
What a liability. Not
His distribution is fantastic, it reminds me a lot of Ferdinand when he was in his prime. Evans always makes sure he dummies/drags one attacker out of position to kick start our attack which helps create more space for our attackers. Good one Jonny.
He's improved dramatically over the last 18 months or so. Vidic being out has obviously helped but maybe the arrival of Jones and Smalling pushed him also.
We're now talking about one of the best centre backs in the league, and he's a youth player. Love it!
We're now talking about one of the best centre backs in the league, and he's a youth player. Love it!
MotM yesterday, IMO.
They grow so fast but they're still so young.Imagine the future CB partnership with Evans-Smalling
My fav moment is his tackle of drogba that left the Ivorian in spastic agony. Gif anyone
You mean the stamp on the chest while Drogba was in full flight? Loved it!
Drogba was in pain indeed but at the same time he overplayed it dramatically, like someone who was really about to die 
.
. I know how you feel. As I get older myself, even the younger players seem to age quicker. The next 2-3 seasons will be the difference between him being a very good centre back and a top top one. I think and hope it's the latter. Rewarded with a place in the team of the day. Hopefully he'll start to get the recognition by the mainstream media that he deserves and then maybe some of our more easily led fans will start to appreciate him.
Rewarded with a place in the team of the day. Hopefully he'll start to get the recognition by the mainstream media that he deserves and then maybe some of our more easily led fans will start to appreciate him.
Yep I agree but I can understand why some fans have a worry as his performance level was very worrying a couple of seasons ago. That is slowly eradicating thankfully with every good game he plays. Looking a superb player our John boy.
A couple of seasons ago he was only a kid who was put in a hugely pressurised situation and made a few huge errors that some fans of the club have not forgiven him for. That game at West Ham has been brought up countless times and by now you would think it was a title decider the way it's been blown up in peoples minds. It was a carling cup game IIRC and fans of this club need to start getting over themselves.
He's deceptively fast. I never noticed just how quick he was before. That or he's become faster.
He is brilliant when it comes to bringing the ball out of defense and venturing forward. I love the way he is so measured when he does it when compared to Jones who just runs full tilt until he loses the ball.
I recall a thread you made in the general a while back...
Shame, Pogue should come back to experience the Evans glory days here on the Caf. He's always defended Evans (& Carrick for that matter!) to the max, even through their worst times.
Now the poor bugger can't even say "I told you so"
Our top 3 performers this season is a tough one
RVP, Rafael, Carrick, Evans. Has to be 3 of those.
& just yesterday I read someone on the Caf still refer to Rafael as "can't tackle, poor positional sense etc", when comparing him to Johnson. Somethings just stick i guess, no matter what or how young the player. The Caf. Ffs.
Evans is quicker than hes been given credit for. To be fair he's deceptively quick in the same way that Gary Pallister was.
He must have become faster; pace has never been part of Evans' game before, but he must have worked on it quite a bit, I think.
Haven't seen you around lately. Welcome back.
Yeah, the way he outpaced Kone, surprised me a bit tbh
He's probably quite fast top end, but maybe it's his acceleration (that first 10 yards, getting off the mark) which were all thinking about?Quite likely, when he outpaced Kone it was over a long distance so he had plenty of time to get up to speed. Evan's likely just lacks that initial burst of pace that strikers often haveHaven't seen you around lately. Welcome back.
Yeah, the way he outpaced Kone, surprised me a bit tbh
Yeah, there's no way he would have improved his pace by a very large amount because of muscle fibres being so hard to change, etc etc.
Indeed. I don't understand why he seems faster though. Surely you can't work on something like pace? You either have it or you don't.Dunno, maybe it's just that we've never really noticed these bursts of pace before? I remember everyone being shocked by how quick Berbatov could be when he actually ran full pelt, which I think was twice in his entire time here. Evans is a pretty calm defender who doesn't really need to rely on pace, unlike a young Rio, or Phil Jones, who constantly break into bursts to make last ditch tackles.
I think Evans lacks acceleration, not speed.
Agree. He is quite rangy in his sprinting, those long legs cover plenty of ground it's just getting into stride to allow that speed. Kone is fairly quick but he isn't absolutely rapid though...if it was Bale, Walcott etc. no defender would get there.
Watched the Wigan game through again and the main point of note for me was his decision making....it was absolutely spot on. He is developing a genuine sense of composure and authority within himself, and his performances now appear effortless....this is a mark of experience.
I can't believe he's 25 now. I remember some years ago, when everybody on here was excited by a 18 yo old prospect who had just starred against Spain for NI. Time really does fly. I hope he will captain this club one day.
He was outpacing the striker twice, IIRC, plus once covering very well for Rio. Good to see as it was something I was not aware of.
BTW, yes, you can improve your acceleration and pace to a certain degree with the right training
BTW, yes, you can improve your acceleration and pace to a certain degree with the right training
You can improve your acceleration and pace to a fairly large degree tbf. If you look at the top sprinters in the world, they spend a lot of time in the gym working their legs lifting heavy weights. Some sprinters also say that you need to work on your pecks, shoulders and arm muscles if you want to get faster - all sprinters tend to be pretty huge, so that sounds reasonable. Ronaldo certainly got quicker as he bulked up - from being quick to becoming absolutely rapid. Evans has probably worked on this a lot to get closer to Smalling and Jones.
I think he's an excellent centre-half but I don't think Smalling and Jones have "pushed him" because they, in my opinion, aren't as accomplished or as experienced as Evans.
Evans can only get better and better, whereas I think Smalling and Jones have a heck of a lot to prove.
Haven't seen you around lately. Welcome back.
Yeah, the way he outpaced Kone, surprised me a bit tbh
thanks, was taking some time out after the birth of my son
im not sure its possible to improve pace drastically, maybe a change of running style?
Or maybe he just never was as slow as some of you suggests. I've always felt his perceived "lack of pace" to be a myth and more due to him making stupid mistakes at times which has left him no chance against a striker. He's always had decent pace, although by no means what I would call a quick player.
He's improved dramatically hasn't he? I'd personally like to see him play alongside Vidic (once he's clearly fit enough to play regularly) more than I'd like to see a re-introduction of the ever-so solid Rio/Vidic partnership of the past.
I still remember the foul-mouth tirade Sir Alex gave him at the San Siro.
I'm sure Jonny does too.
I still remember the foul-mouth tirade Sir Alex gave him at the San Siro.
I'm sure Jonny does too.
Congrats GB! hope mom and son are doing well!
I wonder if its just his position is now spot on due to experience and his reaction time/Concentration had sharpened that he gets a good jump on plays like Rio?
Hes been excellent this season and really gelled with Rio - they have conceded a fair few goals but dont think its always down to them and some of the passes hes played have been
http://www.footballfancast.com/prem...e-hype-surrounding-jonny-evans#comment-277851
Condensed shit in these 10 paragraphs slating Evans. I tore into him. Comparing him with Luiz for fecks sake
Condensed shit in these 10 paragraphs slating Evans. I tore into him. Comparing him with Luiz for fecks sake