+ that ridiculous pressing on the Spurs half around the 73 minute mark please
Won't be long before he starts pressing goalkeepers again, like he used to in the good old days. What a man.
4
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 26
- Clean sheets
- 10
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 3
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Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) discuss United's fantastic win away against Athletic Club in the semi-final of the Europa League.
They also pick out the positives of United's 4-3 loss away at Brentford, and Nik reviews a day out at Old Trafford watching Manchester United Women qualify for the Champions League.
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+ that ridiculous pressing on the Spurs half around the 73 minute mark please
Won't be long before he starts pressing goalkeepers again, like he used to in the good old days. What a man.
Ridiculous that people were having a go at him only a couple of months ago or having the audacity to be injured. Complete bellends.
Agreed. His anticipation and reading of the game is fantastic. Shame he gets called brainless a lot.
Agreed. His anticipation and reading of the game is fantastic. Shame he gets called brainless a lot.
He is a proper defender and always gives 100%
He's cut the bullshit to a minimum. Proving me wrong for sure. Let's see if he can keep this going for the rest of the season.
Still wish someone would replace his pic with a more "normal" one. He deserves better.
Such an absolute beast. Fantastic today.
He's intelligent but also uses his body very well.
Just a great all-around defender. So happy to see him back healthy and on good form.
He's intelligent but also uses his body very well.
Just a great all-around defender. So happy to see him back healthy and on good form.
A couple of positional issues early on but another good performance with 2 key pieces of play near the end.
I do think hes a better defender than Smalling when both are fit.
Nice to see him have a run of games now that hes fit. Gives it all, but that tackle at the end on Rose was fantastic. Didnt dive in, took the ball away out wide and won a free kick.
Nice to see him have a run of games now that hes fit. Gives it all, but that tackle at the end on Rose was fantastic. Didnt dive in, took the ball away out wide and won a free kick.
Why? It's his face, it hasn't been photoshopped to look deranged.
I'm sure we can find a good one of Jones as well
Hard not to be genuinely pleased for him, thought that he would never play for us again so this comeback Is so amazing
Gif of that Rose tackle?
Amazed he's not injured himself yet, long may his run of games continue.
It is not even close tbh, Phil Jones when fit is a far better player than Smalling. I actually like Smalling but he always makes me nervous. It is a pity that we will probably never see Jones live up to his full potential.
I think not so long ago I would have rated Jones and Rojo as the worst of United's five centre halves in the first team squad, fair play to them for playing so well and forming an effective partnership in recent weeks. Hopefully Jones can stay fit and continue his recent form, but it will be interesting to see who gets the nod when all the centre backs are fit - I am guessing it might be Bailly and Jones.
Our biggest problem in defence has been how readily we drop back when attackers run at us. It opens up so many spaces when teams counterattack at us and is responsible for the majority of the points we've dropped this season, I reckon. It's not just one man doing it, but the whole back four working in unison.
But I reckon a CB pairing of Bailly/Jones would push the back line up purely by virtue of the fact that they both like to press. Compared to Smalling and Blind, they'd be a massive upgrade in that regard. Shaw/Valencia are physical beasts as well, so the odd hole shouldn't be much of problem as long as the CBs do it up high up the pitch.
But I reckon a CB pairing of Bailly/Jones would push the back line up purely by virtue of the fact that they both like to press. Compared to Smalling and Blind, they'd be a massive upgrade in that regard. Shaw/Valencia are physical beasts as well, so the odd hole shouldn't be much of problem as long as the CBs do it up high up the pitch.
I've always felt that Jones has far greater potential than Smalling, who I've never been comfortable seeing in lineups. A couple of injury free seasons and who knows he might be able to reach heights similar to what RVP did as striker after his initial struggles with injuries
He has failed to win me over since signing but he's been excellent since coming back into the team.
Surely the surprise player of the season so far.
It seems Mourinho is doing wonders for him and his health.
Knock on wood.
Knock on wood.
Absolute rock.
100% agree with this.
Is the aerial duels thing accurate? I remember a few times he jumped/mis timed his headers in the 2nd half. Maybe it was Darmian but I specifically remembering 'there goes Jones, pressing high up into no man's land'.
Please, please stay injury free. I said it his first season he has the potential to be a monster.
His tackle in the penalty box in injury time was perfection, what a surprise he's turning out to be.
Beast of a player. Reminds me of his first couple of seasons with us when he was injury free.
The issue with jones has never been about his quality as a defender. It was just about his fitness and somehow prone to injuries.
The issue with jones has never been about his quality as a defender. It was just about his fitness and somehow prone to injuries.
United finally have "doctor/physio" like every other big clubs have.It seems Mourinho is doing wonders for him and his health.
Knock on wood.
Rock solid again, God i hope he can stay fit.
I have always been one to wonder why Jones stock always gets so low when he is injured, as if he is doing it on purpose or it is retroactively making his performances worse. I specifically remember during van Gaal's first season he was absolutely immense during pre-season and the first couple of months, winning player of the month once, but then he got injured and disappeared back into obscurity.
Fair play to him. He's really stepped his game up. Here's hoping he stays injury free.
Rojo Jones are playing superbly as a CB pair, now that Bailly is back Jose will have good selection problem for few weeks.
Jones is quality though, superb tackler and he is like Vidic when it comes to bravery. Hopefully he can stay fit, he has everything in his locker to become very good CB.
Jones is quality though, superb tackler and he is like Vidic when it comes to bravery. Hopefully he can stay fit, he has everything in his locker to become very good CB.
All 4 of our most recent managers prefer Jones to Smalling when both are fit and match ready. Smalling, to his credits, improved his ability on the ball quite a bit under LvG but his lack of early football education still fail him quite often. As pure defender, he's better than Phil, by a hair, but modern football can't be played with a CB who can't confidently find his teammates with a pass even if his life depends on it.
Hope Jose can develop Jones into the player we all hope he could be, otherwise I'd bet on him buying another CB to partner Bailly long term.
Hope Jose can develop Jones into the player we all hope he could be, otherwise I'd bet on him buying another CB to partner Bailly long term.
He has been fantastic, absolute joy to watch.
I would have never thought he still had it in him. If he can maintain his fitness, he is undroppable.
I would have never thought he still had it in him. If he can maintain his fitness, he is undroppable.
He's always had it in him. His problem has been the crippling injuries.
Give or take, he's always been first choice for United when fit under four different managers. Fergie pretty much insisted on playing Jones regardless of position.
Give or take, he's always been first choice for United when fit under four different managers. Fergie pretty much insisted on playing Jones regardless of position.
I had written Jones off as a United player so hopefully he can now keep up this form. It's vital he stays injury free for the rest of the season or as much as it he can.
He clearly loves defending, and is always willing to put his body on the line. He's passionate and can organise a defence as well, constantly talking to those around him etc.
He clearly loves defending, and is always willing to put his body on the line. He's passionate and can organise a defence as well, constantly talking to those around him etc.
I had written him off, I'll gladly admit it.
Seems like Mourinho is extracting his potential. I thought Mou's comments about him "being a defender that loves to defend, first and foremost", or something along those lines, were interesting. Could Phil be José's JT at United?
Just hoping he'll stay clear of injuries. Touch wood.
Seems like Mourinho is extracting his potential. I thought Mou's comments about him "being a defender that loves to defend, first and foremost", or something along those lines, were interesting. Could Phil be José's JT at United?
Just hoping he'll stay clear of injuries. Touch wood.
He does deserve a new picture. He's earned a nice one
This.
Ferguson loved him, which should be enough for us. He's just been crazy unlucky with injuries.
I think a-lot of people had, myself included. I honestly never expected to see him playing for us again and thought he would be shipped out over the summer. However, he has come back from the dead, just like Rojo, and been very impressive.
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