Phil Jones | 2013/14 Performances

[Pexbo]

He's going to bring back the box to box midfielder until he's 31 or 32 and then drop back to centre back.

 

[Claymore]

Phil Jones, awesome.

 

[#07]

Glad to see Phil Jones refuse to accept we are in 'transition' in his post match interview. No ifs, buts or excuses. The way it should be at United.

 

[Gladiator]

Phil Jones gets what it means to be a Manchester United player. I think one of the reasons Fergie rates him so much is that he's a true winner and he sees some of himself in Jones.

 

[sullydnl]

Everyone says his best position will be CB, right? The sooner we get midfield sorted and have Jones established in CB the better.

 

[GloryHunter07]

Look at Wilshire or Barkley, then look at Jones. He is a centre back.

 

[The Neviller]

He's doing ok there because we are so short of decent options, all his strengths are defensive, throwing himself into blocks, winning headers and basically doing the stuff that doesn't involve passing. His future is as a top CB IMO.

So the stuff defensive midfielders are best at? What does people being out have to do with anything? He's playing well in that position because he's good at playing there.

 

[The Neviller]

Look at Wilshire or Barkley, then look at Jones. He is a centre back.

They're different types of central midfield player. Those two are more attack minded. Who would you rather have sitting in front of your back four away at the Bernabeu? An attacking midfielder like Barkley or someone strong defensively like Jones? There is room for both types in the same midfield.

I shouldn't have to explain this.

 

[Chabon]

Yes. Cleverley is actually a very decent CM. Some people seems to forget how good he was with Carrick over first half last season. He just need someone who's mobile enough to do a one-two with him, and could help him in defensive duty. Jones can provide that outlet to him.

There'd be absolutely nothing wrong with our cm options if they were Carrick, Cleverley, Jones and, say, Herrera (if he's worth the money). The problem is that Moyes, in his wisdom, decided that that fourth should be a useless mopman. Buy Herrera (or equivalent), sell Valencia and fire Fellaini into the sun and suddenly our midfield problems won't exist.

 

[Sam]

There'd be absolutely nothing wrong with our cm options if they were Carrick, Cleverley, Jones and, say, Herrera (if he's worth the money). The problem is that Moyes, in his wisdom, decided that that fourth should be a useless mopman. Buy Herrera (or equivalent), sell Valencia and fire Fellaini into the sun and suddenly our midfield problems won't exist.

That still lacks enough quality imo. I'd want Carrick and Cleverley + two more.

Let Jones go and play in defense.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

I am obviously in a minority, but i think that Jones is looking like he is going to be a world class defensive midfielder.

 

[holdsteady]

hes big hes bad hes phillip jones
something something giant stones
with goofy faces beware

 

[Glanville95]

Extremely impressive in the second half. I still see him as a centre back, but given our current midfield options he should be playing alongside Carrick when everyone is fit.

 

[pocco]

As good as he was at times tonight, he's really not a CM. Comparisons with Fletcher are poor, as Fletcher was better on the ball than Jones and just generally played the role better. He's got to be a CB in the future, for me. I'd have no problems in reeling him out for specialist Defensive Midfield jobs though, as he did against Madrid.

 

[Gaeilge]

Can't understand how his recent improvement in the middle of the park has rightly resulted in Caf praise, but, have somehow reaffirmed the need for him to be CB.

The man is getting better and better with each game he plays in midfield. His tracking back is imperious and his strength is fantastic. His passing is improving all the time and when he gets into the position, he is more than capable to deliver a quality cross. He even hit the back of the net like a striker today. I know he is making the odd mistake or reckless challenge but feck it, he is still growing as a ball player.

I would have him in the middle at every opportunity. I can't help but feel that the growing sense for him to be a CB is a jerked reaction to his own comments about CB...

Also,

Look at Wilshire or Barkley, then look at Jones. He is a centre back.

Da Fuk?!

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

I am obviously in a minority, but i think that Jones is looking like he is going to be a world class defensive midfielder.

Lots are impressed with his midfield performances. A bit more guidance from Carrick on reading games and slight improvement in passing/distribution, he can become a world class DM/CM.

If only Fellaini could gain his Everton form, a Jones-Fellaini middle can be daunting for opposition.

 

[Gaeilge]

Lots are impressed with his midfield performances. A bit more guidance from Carrick on reading games and slight improvement in passing/distribution, he can become a world class DM/CM.

If only Fellaini could gain his Everton form, a Jones-Fellaini middle can be daunting for opposition.

Only thing is that the imperious form that was shown by Fellani at Everton - came when he was applied much further up the field.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

A formation using Carrick and Jones in front of the back four, with Kagawa deployed as the more attacking option in a midfield three actually sounds really appealing to me.

 

[Red Dreams]

Can't understand how his recent improvement in the middle of the park has rightly resulted in Caf praise, but, have somehow reaffirmed the need for him to be CB.

The man is getting better and better with each game he plays in midfield. His tracking back is imperious and his strength is fantastic. His passing is improving all the time and when he gets into the position, he is more than capable to deliver a quality cross. He even hit the back of the net like a striker today. I know he is making the odd mistake or reckless challenge but feck it, he is still growing as a ball player.

I would have him in the middle at every opportunity. I can't help but feel that the growing sense for him to be a CB is a jerked reaction to his own comments about CB...

Also,

see him as a midfielder too. but he really can play well in CB too. Him and Carrick with a top playmaker in front will be excellent for us.

Kagawa...or someone else we may bring in.

 

[gooDevil]

Now that he's starting to get the hang of midfield, it's time to shift him further up the pitch, I'm thinking winger or behind the striker.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Only thing is that the imperious form that was shown by Fellani at Everton - came when he was applied much further up the field.

Barring his current slump, he can operate decently as CM too, just that he is better further up. With Jones we have 2 CM's who hold and attack, so compliment each other.

 

[Melvyn]

Wasn't he played quite a bit as a midfield for Blackburn?

 

[Bestie07]

He needs to improve on the ball. All the other traits for a very good midfielder are already there. He's going to be awesome, in many ways he already is.

 

[Feed Me]

The only way I can see Jones truly working as a central midfielder in the long run is if we get someone like Carrick consistently alongside him to dictate when we're on the ball. My concern with Jones, as well as he does individually, is that he's prone to taking an extra touch, playing safe balls and generally taking the sting out of our passing play. That's why Carrick's so important to us in possession - not many midfielders can play incisively, but also have a pass completion of 80-85%+.

 

[Cantona'sCollar]

I'm afraid I have to agree with gooDevil here.

He's already proven at right back & centre back, & now he's clearly got this whole central mid malarkey covered. What he needs most is a run of games up front. Once he has that nailed down (by mid January) we'll be ready to go.

-----------De Gea--------------
--------------------------------
------------#PJ4---------------
-------------------------------- Can't see what can go wrong.

 

[Jimy_Hills_Chin]

The only way I can see Jones truly working as a central midfielder in the long run is if we get someone like Carrick consistently alongside him to dictate when we're on the ball. My concern with Jones, as well as he does individually, is that he's prone to taking an extra touch, playing safe balls and generally taking the sting out of our passing play. That's why Carrick's so important to us in possession - not many midfielders can play incisively, but also have a pass completion of 80-85%+.

I agree.

He has been sitting as a pure DM in recent games. I got frustrated with him in the first half as he was not showing for the ball and trying to link up midfield and attack but in reality that was Giggs job. I think that Jones was playing to Moyes instruction and maintaining his position in front of the back four.

Jones does tend to have a moment in every game where he does something clumsy, last night he ran the ball out of play at one point. I think that those moments stick in some peoples minds as they are so bad, giving a negative overall impression. I don't think that anything wrong with a player of Jones midfield remit playing simple passes. But like you say, he needs a midfield partner of better quality than Giggs when it comes to linking play. Carrick is much missed.

 

[GloryHunter07]

They're different types of central midfield player. Those two are more attack minded. Who would you rather have sitting in front of your back four away at the Bernabeu? An attacking midfielder like Barkley or someone strong defensively like Jones? There is room for both types in the same midfield.

I shouldn't have to explain this.

Thanks for pointing out that they are attack minded - i had no idea.
Even defensive mids should have a level of passing which Jones doesnt have - he hasnt been bad for us there but that just highlights our lack of quality. For the record i would rather Wilshire against Barca, and Jones in defence.

 

[The Neviller]

Thanks for pointing out that they are attack minded - i had no idea.
Even defensive mids should have a level of passing which Jones doesnt have - he hasnt been bad for us there but that just highlights our lack of quality. For the record i would rather Wilshire against Barca, and Jones in defence.

Well if you know they are different kinds of midfielder, with different attributes and roles, then why the feck are you comparing them?

 

[Adam-Utd]

Let's be fair Jones is CB. He is 19 and has hardly ever played in midfield before, only at Blackburn when he was basically a 5th CB just clearing everything that came at him.

Learning how to play CM is not something you can just magically become world class at, you need to mentally be 1 step ahead, and be equally good with the ball under pressure - something Jones is still learning at.

You can see from his own interview he loves playing CB and want's to be there in the future, but the fact we have such little options his Physicality makes him the next best fit.

Once we manage to buy another competent CM, Jones will fit back into CB and his partnership with Evans will steer us forward IMO.

 

[pocco]

The Newcastle game alone should be proof alone that Jones isn't a midfielder. It was a horror show.

 

[#07]

Jones is like our Pepe or our David Luiz. He's a centre half who can make a decent centre midfielder in the right circumstances e.g. when there's a bit of space to work with and when the rest of his teammates are also moving up through the gears. In tight spaces in a furious midfield battle against the creme de la creme though you would probably not want Phil Jones in there unless he was acting as a the spare man in a midfield three.

That being said nobody should be talking down what Jones has done this season. When we've badly needed someone to step up, step into the breach and provide some fight and dare-I-say-it leadership Jones has done so: A kid, playing out of position has been the one who has stood up to be counted when the chips have been down. Credit to him.

 

[syrian_scholes]

Can't understand how his recent improvement in the middle of the park has rightly resulted in Caf praise, but, have somehow reaffirmed the need for him to be CB.

The man is getting better and better with each game he plays in midfield. His tracking back is imperious and his strength is fantastic. His passing is improving all the time and when he gets into the position, he is more than capable to deliver a quality cross. He even hit the back of the net like a striker today. I know he is making the odd mistake or reckless challenge but feck it, he is still growing as a ball player.

I would have him in the middle at every opportunity. I can't help but feel that the growing sense for him to be a CB is a jerked reaction to his own comments about CB...

Also,


Da Fuk?!

I was surprised by this, but it's true, he might become a full-time midfield player after all.

 

[syrian_scholes]

Thanks for pointing out that they are attack minded - i had no idea.
Even defensive mids should have a level of passing which Jones doesnt have - he hasnt been bad for us there but that just highlights our lack of quality. For the record i would rather Wilshire against Barca, and Jones in defence.

His passing success rate yesterday was 92%.

 

[marjen]

I love Phil Jones and he's done a really good job in a position that he really shouldn't have to play in, as Moyes admitted yesterday himself.

But he's incredibly frustrating to watch as a CM. He doesn't get where he's supposed to move to pick up the ball and he can't pass it forward. We lack the ability to play through midfield when he's the DM and his partner isn't having a God-like evening.

 

[dmode]

The wankfest has started... it'll be a hard earned season this time...

 

[NotoriousISSY]

His passing success rate yesterday was 92%.

That doesn't make him a good passer. Accuracy could mean he knocked it left right or backwards.

For what its worth though...he clearly isn't there to be the driving force (in regards to passing) He's there to put people under pressure, stick a foot in and anticipate which he did brilliantly in the second half.

I don't expect defence splitting passes...nobody should.

 

[Floyd]

Phil Jones.

CB og CM, I don't know.

What I do know though is that he has to play. The team is so slow and lazy, he's a warrior and a winner, exactly what we need to inject some energy into the team.

Phil Jones.

 

[GloryHunter07]

His passing success rate yesterday was 92%.

I remember Carrager in midfield for england had similar stats mate... You honestly think Jones will be a top class midfielder?

 

[GloryHunter07]

Well if you know they are different kinds of midfielder, with different attributes and roles, then why the feck are you comparing them?

Because i couldnt think of a young english defensive mid. The point i was trying to make wss that his passing and comfort on the ball is nowhere near other young english midfielders.
Stop swearing you condescending twat.

 

[Hannibal]

The Newcastle game alone should be proof alone that Jones isn't a midfielder. It was a horror show.

He's a CB & should always be played there. He's not a CB. If Fletcher is playing games for the reserves, why is he yet to play for the senior team? Can he be as bad as Giggs getting caught in possession at the edge of his own box?