Even when they pressed him he didn't turn and pass backwards. He was determined to carry the ball forwards. Good game from Jonny. Him and jones deserved a clean sheet. I agree with those saying he should be playing most games.
Jonny Evans | 2011/12 Performances
- Thread starter Sir Matt
- Start date
Evans has turned into a top notch centre back. One of the best in Europe with the ball at his feet. Makes such a big difference when someone has the composure to bring the ball out instead of launching it. (I'm looking at you, Rio!)
Osvaldo probably hates him considering how many times he bullied him with the ball at his feet.
To be fair to Rio he was awesome with the ball at his feet he's lost 20 yards of pace now and shouldn't be remembered as a lump it up the park centre back.
That's the way the top clubs have gone, they all now have centre backs that are superb on the ball as well as top defenders. I genuinely think that Evans is our best all round centre back now, even ahead of Vidic mainly due to his far superior ball ability.
Would anyone like a match comp of his performance?
Yes please
He'll probably end up as our best defender if he keeps up with his progression by the end of this season.
Making Evans vs Southampton now.
Nani and Januzaj are our 2 best attacking players right now in terms of pace, that side needs tweaking.
Honestly think Evans will be our captain one day
The "dislike" he seemed to have a few years ago was bizarre IMO.
This is his 6th proper season with the First Team and he had two years at Sunderland and a spell at Antwerp before that, incredible considering he is still only 25. He's always been a fantastic talent. Back in 08/09 when we went 1,300+ minutes without conceding, 7 of those games were alongside Vidic with just 2 Vidic and Ferdinand. I think people forget how long it takes for a defender to mature.
An 18 year old can come on a striker and keep nicking goals and the deficiencies in their game are ignored, a defender has nowhere to hide. If I was Moyes, he'd be the heart of my defence now alongside Vidic as long as Vidic can pick his form up.
Despite a few injuries, I thought he was our best defender last season by a mile. If he'd made maybe 5 more appearances he definitely should've been in the PFA team of the year ahead of Rio.
He should definitely be one of the first names on the team sheet when fit. I think the Rio-Vidic partnership looks to be done and dusted.
He should definitely be one of the first names on the team sheet when fit. I think the Rio-Vidic partnership looks to be done and dusted.
I think it's pretty set that we need Evans plus one in defense, right? Preferably Vidic?
Certainly in the big games. But with Vidic looking quite questionable at times, I'd be happy to see both Smalling and Jones given chances. Jones and Evans complemented each other well on Saturday for the most part, although they weren't really up against a seriously good attacking team.
Well said mate. This is why defenders are so underrated. The manager has to take a huge gamble to give even few minutes for a young defender but he can casually give loads of chances here and there to an attacking player simple because they won't be directly responsible for conceding goals which is what people tend to notice.
Evans has progressed leaps and bounds. Still remember that bollocking he got on the pitch from SAF against Basel. He'll easily take over command after Vidic and Rio retires. He always wants to play the ball forward and not sideways like many defenders. A defender who is good with receiving and distributing the ball is vital to the team. He probably has a better passing range than Fellaini
I may be wrong, but I remember seeing percentage regarding on/off Vidic, and it was crazy different. I know Vida screwed a bit in past games, but I still think he's the best defender we got. Evans is a closed second, but is fitter (is that right?)and younger.
I actually didn't think he was particularly great yesterday. I put that down to him not getting much football though, and would like him to get more games. This season should definitely see the break up of the Rio/Vidic first-choice partnership I think.
Just because Jonny is better with the ball at his feet doesn't equate to being a better all round defender than Vidic....and he isn't. On Southampton I thought Evans was ok but he still needs to sort his positioning out at times, he does like to wander on occassion. He also fecked up when tracking Lovren for the equalizer, all at sixes and sevens. Thought Jones was definitely the better of the two throughout the game.
Evans isn't nailed on in my view, Jones is playing better right now.
Really? I thought he was the best player on the pitch. He was so dominant in the box and his distribution was really good. He has to start now.
I do think that the one big plunge Moyes might have to take is to comit to a pair of centre-backs. Given that this season looks like it could be a transitional one / write-off anyway, and Rio and Vidic could well both be off, there's a good argument for him picking two of the young three and sticking with them. For me Jones and Evans would be the pair... I just don't see it with Smalling as much as others seem to, though the fact that he is better than Jones at right-back means he's got a decent future with us anyway.
Video finally uploaded. Enjoy.
Wait, how did I miss that header from Rooney right at the beginning... was it really early on while my stream was still loading?
Anyway, on the basis of that header I take back everything I've said. Rooney is our worst player.
Anyway, on the basis of that header I take back everything I've said. Rooney is our worst player.
Playing 3 at the back and 2 wing backs is just madness IMO. The organisation involved in terms of who covers who and making sure all step up for offside and cover at the right time is just too much.
Yep. Just looks pretty on paper. Not to say that it can't be done but given that we seem inept at defending the traditional way, adding another complication hardly seems helpful
Also, most teams only play with one upfront now and you're left with 3 centrehalfs marking one player.
I don't want us to play three centre-backs, but Jonathan Wilson and Michael Cox have helped perpetuate this idea that having three centre-backs is not resourceful against one striker. The three centre-backs don't have to remain stationary, they can cover for the wing backs and, in addition to this, they can move up into midfield. Also, if your right wing back, in this case Rafael, is out of position, then Jones covers for him, meaning that now you have a back four: Jones at right back, Smalling and Evans at centre-back, and Fabio at left back. It's a really neat system.
He's so good. He's had two excellent games and one average game this season. He deserves to start. He's our best CB IMO.
Couldn't agree more. Before the start to this season I'd have said Vidic 10 times out of 10, but Evans has started so well that I just can't see how he should be overlooked any time.
Apart from the goal I thought he and Jones were a really good combination.
Apart from the goal I thought he and Jones were a really good combination.
Just had a wee look in the MOTM thread and despite Evans being head and shoulders our best player on Saturday 5/37 don't rate him enough to even mention him in the top three.That's mental, it's almost like people have different opinions to each other.
Right smart arse. I have no problem with people having different opinions, I was just highlighting the fact that despite an imperious performance amidst a sticking pile of shite from most of his team mates he still can't get credit from a lot of own own fans. I have little doubt that if he made an error the same people would be in here complaining of these "brainfarts" that he's supposed to have regularly.
Mental right.
You don't think there's just a wee hint of arrogance / superiority complex in using a laughing smiley to take the piss out of other people's MOTM ratings?
For all you know, those 5 people thought he as the 4th best player on the pitch, but saw stuff in 3 other players that stood out a little more for them.
For all you know, those 5 people thought he as the 4th best player on the pitch, but saw stuff in 3 other players that stood out a little more for them.
Nope. I think he was so clearly the best player we had that to exclude him from the top three shows someone that lets their negative preconceptions completely cloud their judgement on a footballer for the club the pertain to support. For that they fully deserve a little green smiliy.
Again, if he made one error they would be on him like a ton of bricks. These are the same people that constantly rate Jones and Smalling above him despite neither doing anything to prove that rating. Idiotic notions being pointed out isn't arrogance any more that you coming in here to have a pop at me is.
(although having looked thought Feed Me's posts in this thread may prove that I'm wrong)
That's just total speculation on your part, and kind of makes it look like it's you that's got a particular bee in his bonnet, not them.
By this logic you could select anything anybody has ever posted on here and say it's the same - it's basically the same logic my four year-old uses if I tell her she's said something that's not nice, and she responds by saying "well that's not a nice thing for you to say". Ie it's childish nonsense.
There's an obvious difference between laughing at people's MOTM ratings (one of the main reasons, other than clutter, that comments were banned form MOTM threads), and somebody picking you up doing so.
Good video MoneyMay.
I said before he should be starting most games now. He's almost a Rio-Vidic hybrid. He has some of the best qualities of both of them. Won't be bullied and gets stuck in, and is so composed on the ball and his ability to bring the ball out from the back, even under pressure without just hoofing it is something we've missed imo. Made the 3rd most passes with just 9 fewer than Carrick and 8 fewer than Fellaini which shows how involved he was for a CB.
I said before he should be starting most games now. He's almost a Rio-Vidic hybrid. He has some of the best qualities of both of them. Won't be bullied and gets stuck in, and is so composed on the ball and his ability to bring the ball out from the back, even under pressure without just hoofing it is something we've missed imo. Made the 3rd most passes with just 9 fewer than Carrick and 8 fewer than Fellaini which shows how involved he was for a CB.