Phil Jones | 2013/14 Performances

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The thing about natural defenders is that they are happiest seeing the game in front of them. In midfield it comes at you from all angles, and is a different ball game altogether. This is why so few ball playing defenders are actually any good in midfield. Perhaps, David Luiz aside. But then again, I wouldn't call him a natural anything, let alone defender.

So the fact that Phil has started to look so good in that CM role is amazing to me. There are very few players I've seen excel across the two roles. Fernando Hierro being one. He's still got a long way to go but he's our best option for the time being.

There is precedent for big Phil playing in midfield as a youngster, as he did it at Blackburn on a few occasions two years ago. It even prompted Big Sam Allardyce to refer to him as the English Essien.
 
Still haven't seen a single performance at centre back where he's looked as good as he has in midfield. He doesn't have all of the skills of a midfielder (has he ever played a 50 yard pass?) but his ability to harry, create angles for teammates and keep the ball moving has been hugely refreshing for us.

That said, I still believe we could have a better 'true' central midfield player, and that a club with aspirations like United shouldn't be forced to shoehorn out-of-position players into a starting XI.
 
The only time we've look like a proper team, is with him anchoring our midfield. He doesn't have to be a "true" central midfield. He just need to do what he has being doing. Hasle and harry (harrie? uh harrasing?? :annoyed: ) the opposition non stop, while being tidy on the ball and his short passing, and making some runs into the opposite box if he has the chance.

Just by doing this, he take a big weight out of the rest of midfielders/offensive players, so they can focus in do their job properly.

edit: he is just 21/22yo? he will develop the rest of abilities just by keep playing regularly, and keep and eye on the likes of carrick, giggsy, etc
 
Beachryan said:
Still haven't seen a single performance at centre back where he's looked as good as he has in midfield. He doesn't have all of the skills of a midfielder (has he ever played a 50 yard pass?) but his ability to harry, create angles for teammates and keep the ball moving has been hugely refreshing for us.

That said, I still believe we could have a better 'true' central midfield player, and that a club with aspirations like United shouldn't be forced to shoehorn out-of-position players into a starting XI.
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Not every midfielder has to play a 50 yard passes. The job that he is doing for us in CM at the moment, is good enough. Far better than whatever Cleverly and Fellaini are up to at the moment.
 
He's starting to convince me that he can become one of the answers to our midfield malaise. He's a very good Footballer.
 
ArmchairCritic said:
He's starting to convince me that he can become one of the answers to our midfield malaise. He's a very good Footballer.
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He commits the odd reckless challenge that gets him the bookings and heartbreaking he will not play against Everton on Wednesday as we are screwed without him...If he can add goals to his locker then he will be an immense midfielder
 
he had to that foul after Rooney stupidly lost the ball in our own half... a shame he wont be for the Everton match. Thats a game we have to win...
 
Did very well again in that defensive midfield role. One slight criticism. He needs to stop being so risky right on the edge of the box. He got to think about when he should and shouldn't launch himself into a tackle. Giving away needless fouls there is asking for trouble.
 
Is it the right time we start calling him an oaf and complain about his endless fouling ? :rolleyes:

Odd game from him today, I'd say that he was doing very well with the tackling and so on in the middle of the park but once they've transferred the ball near our box you knew that Jones would do something odd. That foul leading to first goal was idiotic lack of concentration I'd say but overall it was ok barrring some fouls that will happen when you're playing such role for this club.

Oh, and it's hilarious how Spuds and their glorified midfielders couldn't dominate and trash us ( as many were saying before the season start / in the early days ) despite our midfield being piss poor.
 
Do you think Moyes bought Fellaini to be a combative hard man in midfield for us before he saw Jones play there.... and now he's really regretting that 27.5m.
 
Pexbo said:
Do you think Moyes bought Fellaini to be a combative hard man in midfield for us before he saw Jones play there.... and now he's really regretting that 27.5m.
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Finally somebody said it. Really annoying with the ignorance from people about this purchase. How could Moyes possibly know that Phil Jones who nobody knew was up for it would step up and make 5 matches in a row in DM of high quality? We still don't know if Jones will suddenly turn bad as he had some good comes combined with really bad ones last season in DM. I mean if he continues to play at this level he is one of the biggest talents in the world as a destroyer.
 
He's always been a central midfielder to me. He's really tough to stop once he gets his speed up and he's also good at challanging early in build up, and that's also why I don't like him to be our CB because he don't evaluate all the options - like getting help from his team mates. He's a very instinct based player and will rush into situations with his head first.
I don't think Jones should be in control of the ball at many situations other when we come to the attacking third.
 
Beachryan said:
Still haven't seen a single performance at centre back where he's looked as good as he has in midfield. He doesn't have all of the skills of a midfielder (has he ever played a 50 yard pass?) but his ability to harry, create angles for teammates and keep the ball moving has been hugely refreshing for us.

That said, I still believe we could have a better 'true' central midfield player, and that a club with aspirations like United shouldn't be forced to shoehorn out-of-position players into a starting XI.
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He's done well there as a fill in player but I think our opinion of him is skewed by the fact we have a shit midfield and no one actually doing that job. Once we sign a midfielder or two I think he'll go straight back to cb and do very well.
 
Next James Bond, and the only 007 to have the character adopt the actor's name.
 
In Italy, every town and City has a Leonardo da Vinci Avenue (as well as Martin Luther King and others.) In France they all have Jules Verne ways.

In England, every town and city will have a Phil Jones Street.
 
Hmm... how common are those names in comparison to Phil Jones?

Would have to further distinguish his street with something, perhaps a symbol or number or birthdate. Unless we presume it's that Phil Jones because is there really another?
 
MrMarcello said:
Hmm... how common are those names in comparison to Phil Jones?

Would have to further distinguish his street with something, perhaps a symbol or number or birthdate. Unless we presume it's that Phil Jones because is there really another?
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Put a picture of his face on the street sign.
 
Solid game, and not just for the absolute screamer that he scored, which might be the greatest goal of all time. Really good game. Great anticipation, coming to meet dangerous balls, great tackles, put himself about. His midfield performances are improving.
 
MOTM, with Januzaj a close second IMO. Play somebody like Fabregas next to Jones and we could potentially look quite good in midfield.
 
I hate that we have to rely on Jones in midfield. He's a destroyer and needed for certain types of games, but I wish we had a midfield duo or trio we could rely on week in, week out. Jones's, Giggsy's and Cleverley's 1 good game in 5 just isn't good enough in the long run.
 
Fair fecks to jones tonight. Second half he played like his life depended on it...regardless of that goal.
 
Not the Jonesest of first halves by Phil. But he was Phil in the second. Greatest goal ever? I'd say so.
 
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