Not heard much as I only had Goals of Sunday on, but Chris Kamara had a go at Jones performance yesterday.
Phil Jones | 2013/14 Performances
- Thread starter The Don
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Be nice to see him and Smalling paired together or one of them with Evans, it'll allow us to defend higher up the pitch.
He didn't have a go at his overall performance, just said that he should have got out quicker to block the cross for Giacherini's header
His recovery tackle after his mistake in the first half was 
It was 3 vs 1 in their favor. And then in came Jones.
It was 3 vs 1 in their favor. And then in came Jones.
I still would rather see Smalling start ahead of Jones... Jones strikes me more as the John Terry school of defending, whilst Smalling has the Rio (sans ability to pass) about him.
He's an absolute beast of a CB. Vidic will certainly be looking over his shoulder, as Jones looks like the ideal player to replace him in due time.
Phil Jones is no right-back. But at CB, I feel very safe. It was funny when he kicked the ball (unintentionally) at Vidic for the Sunderland goal though.
I agree with you, I think Smalling has a higher ceiling (and is already a better player), but I think we may be missing something cos Jones is hyped up so much (including by SAF).
I feel our definitions of what counts as comedy may vastly differ...
The wrong combination with Vidic.
As fair as pairings go I feel it's more safe with:
Vidic - Rio/Smalling/Evans
Jones - Rio/Smalling/Evans
Never anything other than that. Smalling/Rio/Evans in a combo just doesn't work imo without Vidic and Jones.
As fair as pairings go I feel it's more safe with:
Vidic - Rio/Smalling/Evans
Jones - Rio/Smalling/Evans
Never anything other than that. Smalling/Rio/Evans in a combo just doesn't work imo without Vidic and Jones.
If Jones could get a run of games at CB he would get better and better. Hard to expect himself and any CB pairing to perform to their best when they don't have time to gel as a defensive unit.
Broadly agree with that, Ghaliboy, although I'm glad Jones was there on Saturday what with Vidic having a rare off day. Evans-Jones is definitely the first choice pairing of the future for me at the moment, and if we had to play a CL final tomorrow I'd want to see Evans-Vidic.
Small 'g' my good friend from Brighton.
To expand on that I feel that Rio, Smalling and Evans are the best at playing the 'reading' role or the 'sweeping' type role with that Vidic/Jones style attacking CB next to them.
It's that Evans takes 4 or 5 games to get going I feel and when he was injured a while back he took ages to recover and he looked like a completely different footballer when filling in for the odd game. Once he got a good run through injuries everyone started to say 'THERE's the Evans we know' and to be honest was one of our best defenders at the time.
I still feel that is the case. Smalling is probably the most versatile out of all of them. I feel he 'could' play either role but I wouldn't want it that way if we could basically pair either Vidic with the three or Jones with the three I'd go with that every time. If Jones - Smalling gets to gel with the phase-out of Rio and Vidic I think they will form a pretty solid partnership.
I do like Evans but I feel there is a bit of a barrier for him at the moment.
To expand on that I feel that Rio, Smalling and Evans are the best at playing the 'reading' role or the 'sweeping' type role with that Vidic/Jones style attacking CB next to them.
It's that Evans takes 4 or 5 games to get going I feel and when he was injured a while back he took ages to recover and he looked like a completely different footballer when filling in for the odd game. Once he got a good run through injuries everyone started to say 'THERE's the Evans we know' and to be honest was one of our best defenders at the time.
I still feel that is the case. Smalling is probably the most versatile out of all of them. I feel he 'could' play either role but I wouldn't want it that way if we could basically pair either Vidic with the three or Jones with the three I'd go with that every time. If Jones - Smalling gets to gel with the phase-out of Rio and Vidic I think they will form a pretty solid partnership.
I do like Evans but I feel there is a bit of a barrier for him at the moment.
Evans' composure on the ball, obviously as well as his defensive ability, means that he really should be one of the first names on the teamsheet for most games. He's clearly ahead of both Smalling and Jones at the moment, and with Rio in poor form he should be at the heart of the defence for the foreseeable future.
That is a big maybe. I thought he was OK, but not much more than that. His attitude is brilliant, but he rushes into tackles a bit too eagerly at times. At the moment, I think Smalling looks the better centre back. It would be interesting to see them start at match together at CB, against Southampton perhaps - they are both good in the air and both have great pace, which could have us sit higher up the pitch.
TBF Komapany only became world-class at the age of 25 so I don't see why Jones can't get to that level in 3-4 years. Smalling looks the better CB I agree and with Evans we have some brilliant diversity and depth for years ahead.
Does it to you look like he is a young raw Vidic and Smalling is a young raw Rio?
To some extent, I would say yes, but they are also different.
Smalling vs Rio
They both have/had terrific pace and both are very good at reading the game. Rio is much better technically and a better distributor, but I think Smalling is better in the air. Smalling has some way to go yet...
Jones vs Vidic
Jones has much better pace than Vidic ever had. Vidic is better in the box and a stronger header. Jones is a terrific tackler though, but I'm not sure that he can compete with Vidic' consistency in terms of tackling and clearing the ball. Like Smalling, Jones has some way to go yet...
So yes, there are similarities, but also quite a few differences in their game. Vidic and Jones are more direct and offers a tougher playing style than Smalling and Rio who uses their reading of the game and pace (well, Rio used to) to stop opponents. At his physical peak, I think Rio was the most complete footballer of the lot, but he lacked a little bit of that raw edge that Vidic and Jones have. Sometimes, one can be too calm.
Fair enough, but I remember Kompany was a huge talent at 17 also, then as you say faded a bit. Kompany has size on his side, but Jones seems to win quite a few aerial duels - not as strong as Kompany I think.
Yes he was highly rated but faded a bit as he was being played out of position in midfield (Like Jones). I am not saying he will, but he has time and just needs to play at CB often.
Currently a better CM option than Fellaini while Cleverley is out. Same thing, CB in midfield
His performances at CB in the last 2 games (excluding the first 30mins v Sunderland) have been a real plus point.
He's going to be an excellent CB. My only worry is how we'll give Smalling and Jones enough gametime with Evans also at a good level.
It's a nice problem to have, maybe the future is a back three of them?
It's a nice problem to have, maybe the future is a back three of them?
He's going to be an excellent CB. My only worry is how we'll give Smalling and Jones enough gametime with Evans also at a good level.
It's a nice problem to have, maybe the future is a back three of them?
Smalling's got a lot of catching up to do IMO.
obsessed much?
You misspelled observant
No, it was worse than that. I meant to say "you're an obsessed cnut". Damn keyboard.
Sounds like you're as bad typing as Fellaini is shielding a defence.
Jones on the other hand did it just as well as he does, with the only concern being the same as Fellaini's. A little bit awkward in the tight space of CM
Well, if he'd still been on we would not have conceded.
Is that right? Sounds like you just made something up
He's doing really well at CB, i hope he gets a consistent run there for a change.
Him and Evans almost looked like a really good partnership today. Just needed to have room to breathe in front of them a bit more often really. If I was one of them I reckon I'd have been telling Carrick to feck off out of the way at least once every 30 seconds.
At the game today and Johnny played really well. His skills are underrated he has a great touch for a centre back and some of his distribution was top drawer.
Very good again tonight. He's going to be some player.
Showed great pace at times. Forgot just how quick he is.
I thought he was commanding tonight, deserves to keep his spot for a run of games IMO.
Evans should be the first centre back on the teamsheet so in games where we don't feel we need Vidic's aerial prowess then it should be between Jones and Smalling for the partner spot. And on these recent performances Jones is definitely ahead of Smalling.
Really good tonight. Looks to have an excellent understanding with Evans and was very solid. It's great to see a bit of pace and passing ability in the back line.
Could have scored a couple of goals as well.
Could have scored a couple of goals as well.
He was immense tonight I thought.
People used to say that he's going to be the new Terry. I think his ceiling is higher than him tbf. Jones & Jonny look like a future world class central defense.
Either way it's all good. If he becomes as good as terry we will have a 1st choice defender for more than 10 more years
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