Wow! The way people analyse Jones nowadays. Anyway, apart from his sloppy pass to De Gea today, I thought he was solid, as usual. He was also very good on the ball today, which I see no has decided to mention. Constantly running out with the ball and starting attacks. Hopefully he can continue. At 22, he will only improve, providing he's given regular games.
4
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 24
- Clean sheets
- 7
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 3
Exactly, every time I watch him it is so evident that he is not very smart.
What makes you say that?
I hope other clubs see what you see, he's not up to united standard. I would be very disappointed to see him as first choice next season.
He wears glasses offside the pitch right? There's something wrong with his eye vision. One time Van Persie headed the ball on our own half, Jones lumped into him randomly, very absurd. With his backpass on De Gea, he almost kicked De Gea in his face after he had saved the situation. Another moment where he jumped into one of our players when it was obvious they would get the ball. He is a genius of football 
He is an excellent prospect though. Go and look where Jaap Stam played when he was 22. And then you're forgetting that Jones has already put in his fair share of excellent performances for us, but obviously that doesn't count on here.
He is an excellent prospect though. Go and look where Jaap Stam played when he was 22. And then you're forgetting that Jones has already put in his fair share of excellent performances for us, but obviously that doesn't count on here.
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Tell me what was wrong with his performance today, apart from his sloppy mistake? Bare in mind, the comments should be based off today's game.
Because he constantly does stupid things. He's your typical British defender who relies on pace and strength rather then any real footballing nous.
He is always the one mopping up at the back too.
Some harsh comments in here. He was pretty decent today overall bar the mishap pass to De Gea. Much better than his last outing.
He looked decent from the bits I saw if the game.
Still, he's nowhere near the outstanding prospect I thought he might be when we signed him.
Still, he's nowhere near the outstanding prospect I thought he might be when we signed him.
Steady. If this one thing this country can produce it's proper defenders. A slight lull right now, perhaps, but England generally gets it right at the back. Jones' stupidity is of his own accord.
The lads 22, for God's sake. He's bound to make mistakes. Hopefully with experience and playing time as a centre back, he'll improve.
It seems to me like Phil is one of those guys who cant get away with anything around here. One or two mistakes and out goes all the good things he has done and his performance is rendered dodgy.
Thought he did alright.
The new Rooney.
The thread title is "Phil Jones - 2014/15 performances" and I believe he been either injured or very poor. His performance today was "meh" and my original point is that he should not be first choice for us next season.
He hasn't been very poor at all, he's been good in most games he's played. I don't think he should be first choice next season either but he's definitely good enough to be part of the squad and it's likely that he'll continue to get better.
I honestly think this is why he will never develop into a real top class defender. He is just not intelligent enough.
CB back pecking order next season -
New commanding CB
Rojo
Smalling
Jones
Evans
Not sure what Fergie was sniffing when he said Jones could be Uniteds greatest ever players.
New commanding CB
Rojo
Smalling
Jones
Evans
Not sure what Fergie was sniffing when he said Jones could be Uniteds greatest ever players.
I have been hoping Jones comes good because the athletic traits are there - quickness, strength, and drive.
What Jones is seriously missing, at least at the moment, is a footballing brain, the kind that stops you from bad decisions and rash decisions. Plenty more of those today.
What was he playing at with the backpass to De Gea? Even a man on the street who has only watched football knows that when a back is being pursued by someone on the side of goal, he should stop and pivot away to the touchline. Instead, he almost hands Leicester a goal when nothing was happening.
And why does he keep trying to outhead our own players? I could understand him wanting the ball RVP headed because he's the CB, but what business does he have trying to knock McNair out of the way, who also has played as a CB and also knows how to play that type of ball?
I think he had a 'good' game today because he wasn't tested all that much. He's still young and could improve but I don't see the mental traits that a good back needs.
What Jones is seriously missing, at least at the moment, is a footballing brain, the kind that stops you from bad decisions and rash decisions. Plenty more of those today.
What was he playing at with the backpass to De Gea? Even a man on the street who has only watched football knows that when a back is being pursued by someone on the side of goal, he should stop and pivot away to the touchline. Instead, he almost hands Leicester a goal when nothing was happening.
And why does he keep trying to outhead our own players? I could understand him wanting the ball RVP headed because he's the CB, but what business does he have trying to knock McNair out of the way, who also has played as a CB and also knows how to play that type of ball?
I think he had a 'good' game today because he wasn't tested all that much. He's still young and could improve but I don't see the mental traits that a good back needs.
Shouldn't start over Smalling but maybe Chris's not 100% fit to play.. Jones did well tonight. Still can't help myself but dislike brainless players. If he plays and stays fit he can clear away some of his stupid mistakes from his game and can be useful player
Looked nervous on the ball and THAT mistake to give Nugent a scoring chance.
The thread is indeed called "Phil Jones - 2014/15 performances", therefore, it baffles me when people like you start talking about next season, as opposed to what he was like in today's game.
If Jones can stay fit and put a run of very good performances together for us, there's no reason why he can't be first choice for us next season. This season, Jones, when fit, has been constantly playing as a centre back, whereas previous seasons has seen him playing at RB, CDM and CM, which has arguably stunted his growth at centre back.
He was pretty solid today except for one moment which was somewhat dodgy.
Seriously? He's so slow he may as well be trying to text the recipient in advance of passing the ball. He's the slowest 22 year old on most pitches. Movement slow, passing slow, actual speed of the ball slow. Caught in possession more times than any other player.
If this guy was in anything other than a United shirt we'd enjoy laughing at him. I'm wondering what he has to do to get dropped at this point. I'm genuinely afraid whenever the ball comes near him.
Keeps challenging his teammates for headers...very strange!
You're completely exaggerating but people do that regarding Jones often unfortunately.
Its because he's stupid. All blood and thunder, but no brains.
Its amazing to think hes only 22, feels like hes been around for ages.
Its also amazing how quick fans on here are to write him off given how good he has been for us in the past. Granted last season was bad (show me a player who wasnt?) and injuries this season have derailed him. Sure he has a few WTF moments but so do a lot of young defenders, its just apart of the position he plays. If a midfielder loses the ball its not a huge deal, if a defender does it he could very well cost his side a goal.
Its also amazing how quick fans on here are to write him off given how good he has been for us in the past. Granted last season was bad (show me a player who wasnt?) and injuries this season have derailed him. Sure he has a few WTF moments but so do a lot of young defenders, its just apart of the position he plays. If a midfielder loses the ball its not a huge deal, if a defender does it he could very well cost his side a goal.
It is amazing because Michael Keane is the same age and only just starting to make a name for himself.
He is struggling to come to terms with a style of continental football that is totally alien to how he has been brought up yet so many fans want to crucify him for it. He still defends very well. I actually think that he get better at advancing the ball from the back. There is someone earlier in thread slagging him off for running 40 yards forward and then making a sideways pass, in that situation he has made an important territorial gain, what do they expect him to do?
He needs to cut out the brain farts but today I think that he was in the mindset of not wasting possession or playing rudimentary football, as is Van Gaal's philosophy, but sometimes he has to play it safe, regardless of the philosophy.
Worth remembering that at the age of 22, Rio Ferdinand (one of the great defenders of his generation) was something of a clearly talented but also deeply flawed liability at Leeds. He was a mistake waiting to happen and people were quite stunned when Fergie forked out whatever he paid for him.
Jones is still young. Keep in mind that he's not been played primarily as a CB up until this season - this is his first season as a specialist CB without having to fill in as an RB/DM, without being benched because Rio/Vidic must play at all cost, and he's playing in a constantly changing back four with no stability.
If, and I acknowledge this is a big if, he can stay fit I can see him becoming an absolute rock at the back. He's quite clearly quite a refined footballer as well, not just brute force and physicality. Need to work on his decision making but a 22 year old Rio most certainly had to and did.
Jones is still young. Keep in mind that he's not been played primarily as a CB up until this season - this is his first season as a specialist CB without having to fill in as an RB/DM, without being benched because Rio/Vidic must play at all cost, and he's playing in a constantly changing back four with no stability.
If, and I acknowledge this is a big if, he can stay fit I can see him becoming an absolute rock at the back. He's quite clearly quite a refined footballer as well, not just brute force and physicality. Need to work on his decision making but a 22 year old Rio most certainly had to and did.
Yeah. His only saving grace is, like others said, he's only 22 and can play in midfield also.
Sorry i didn't conform to your opinion, I still think Jones is very average footballer and should not be first choice at Utd today or next season.
his physical skills are there his head needs work. if united go for another cb he'll be 4th choice next yr. up to him if he wants that.
would any club come in for him in the summer for what united paid 4 yrs ago?
Seems that he is either first or second choice at the moment so I am not sure how you figure that?
think that smalling (when 100%) and rojo are first choice. my hope would we'd buy someone better than all 3 in the summer.
i'd sell him if a club offered 16m for him double quick.
Well, you assume that, based on no evidence.
Rio Ferdinand was like Bobby Moore and Alessandro Nesta's more talented love child compared to Phil Jones at the same age. Ferdinand had flaws, but he was a sure fire hit when he was 22. You'd have had to be mental to see he wasnt going to be a top centre half eventually. "Deeply flawed" is a massive overstatement. Especially comparing him to Phil Jones. They arent even in the same level of class if you took 22 year old Rio and 22 year old Phil Jones. For one when Ferdinand made strides forward, he wouldnt suddenly pass the ball to the centre half who was standing in the place where he originally started his run.
And it was far from surprising when we paid 30 million for him. He was our best player 2002 world cup. His performance against Argentina was excellent.
Rio Ferdinand at his best though was the best CB in the world. Even if Jones never reaches that level he can be a great, great United player.
Where was Vidic at 22 though? At Spartak Moscow? All I'm saying is for a cb experience is vital - and Phil Jones is 22 years old having never been played consistantly in the position. Is it too much to expect him to improve, when he's quite clearly got all the tools for the job physically and technically?
Still think he can make it here, his main problem is staying fit imo. Same as Smalling, just a shame we can never rely on either consistently. Hopefully we sign a top partner for Rojo and have Smalling and Jones for back up. Evans future here probably depends as much on whether we'll be playing with a back 4 for the long term as injuries, but either way it doesn't look good for him.