You'll find someone to disagree I'm sure but feck them, he might not be the best player we ever had but no one can ever fault his attitude or effort
Phil Jones will outlast Ronaldo and the Glazers
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If he can no longer play, maybe he should use this opportunity to work with ETH as a coach? Gain some experience and he might still have a future in the game.
It's our fault for handing him the 4 year contract, but very often, when players can't play any longer, they often try to negotiate a settlement and close out the contract. Not saying it's wrong of Phil Jones not to do that, but it's the sort of thing that can win a player a lot of respect with the fans. Not sure if Jones thinks he can still play football at the top level? It's sort of a thing that neither benefits the player or the club.
It's a very sad thing really. I know the money the not going to Bordeaux blah blah blah, but this guy in 2011 was electric under SAF and looked a superstar in the making. You rarely see that kind of passion and commitment on the pitch. Sad for a guy like that to have his body let him down and deny him the career he might have had.
Maybe send him to Holland and get the special therapy.
Hardly seen anyone with so many injuries. Well, he will be gone in the summer
Why not pay out the contract and be done with it. Either way, United will owe him whatever is left on the contract. Either pay it all out now and get rid or pay it out slower and get rid. Either way, the conclusion is the same
Utter waste of time and money and one of our worst ever signings. He'll be gone in several months anyway. Best of luck to him in life
I actually think we should give him a new contract... not as a player though. He's a living meme and should replace Fred the red as our teams new mascot, walking around the pitch making weird faces
From memory- the last 2/3 times he’s aged? He’s come in from a long spell out, played a match where he’s looked decent-good, then disappears again for the rest of the season. It’s really odd
He has taken the baton from Anderson who himself lasted long enough that it was hard to remember whether he was still at the club and eventually earnt himself a testimonial.
Jones (his agent) are definitely up to something. My suspicions were confirmed when he turned down a loan move to Bordeaux last season. He just wants to pick up his fee without actually doing anything or so it would seem, he must’ve realised supporters have cottoned on by now?
I would imagine Jones would have taken the opportunity to get his badges to go into coaching after he finishes officially at being a pro footballer. I don't blame him for taking advantage of United's stupidity of giving him a long term contract. It never made sense and it was proven to be the case
It would be a bit mental if he agreed to have one, in fairness. Him not wanting to just demonstrates regular self awareness. Plus, surely if he's unable to play competitively he wouldn't be able to play a testimonial?
How the feck is it shameful?
Just because he's been here 10 years doesn't mean he automatically gets one and Utd fans are forced to go and buy tickets for it.
A Phil Jones testimonial would be absolutely ridiculous, he's been here nearly 12 years and been injured for what feels like 5 or 6. Other than daft memes about his face what memories has he provided? What trophies did he help us win? He was backup in 2013 and was on the bench for a few cup finals. The one Cup final he did start in 2018 he fecking cost us the match with a braindead foul giving away a pen.
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I think he even jokes himself that only his mum & dad would come if he had one
He's pretty much had one consistent problem with his knee. It happened before he even joined Utd and it looks like it's just gotten progressively worse since he injured it again in 2016 or whatever it was.
I've been critical of him because he's basically sitting there not being able to what he's being paid to, play football, maybe he should have just retired already.
But this whole thing is on the club for offering him that new deal when it was clear he couldn't continue to function as a player.
With the benefit of hindsight it was clear he was finished in 2019 but remember this guy played for England in the 2018 World cup. Woodward was "protecting an investment" and hoped to sell him for decent money in 2020. We all know how that worked out .
The real mistake here was not putting him on a heavily incentivised pay for play contract, something currently being looked at by the club and being heavily criticised by various Muppets both on here and on TV.
He made his intentions crystal clear when he turned down an opportunity of getting some game time at Bordeaux. God forbid he has to earn his exorbitant wage.
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Yes, this is the type of attitudes I was referring to.
Yep. Exactly how I feel. His career has been genuinely tragic. In the true meaning of that word. Poor bloke. I feel desperately sorry for him. Have no time for anyone who would give him abuse. Wankers.
In hindsight, perhaps that level of commitment is one of the reasons why he was so injury prone. He should have learnt to protect his body and yet all he used to do was throw himself at challenges both on the pitch and in training. Plenty of players have to adjust their play style whether it be tactics or simply down to age. I think my opinion on Phil Jones is that clearly it wasn't happening at United and if he really did care about his footballing career then maybe he should have tried moving to a different club, if nothing else to get a different opinion from a new set of medical staff, but move away from the pressure and make a fresh new start. It's easy for me to say mind, as he'd be giving up a massive amount of money.
I would probably fit more into the 'wanker' category as Pogue puts it when it comes to the story of Phil Jones. At least he had the opportunity to train and play under Sir Alex and he did win trophies. Something that only a small group of people have ever had the opportunity to do. Hardly a terrible career and he's a multi millionaire, poor chap.
Who else but Woodward?
The contract was mocked the moment it was made. We’ve still got a way to go before everything he touched has been cut out.
The contract was mocked the moment it was made. We’ve still got a way to go before everything he touched has been cut out.
The man shouldn't have been anywhere near football. Probably a sound businessman but terrible on football matters.
He turned it down when he found out he would be going there, either uprooting his family for half a season or leaving them behind for half a season, and still not getting any game time. From all accounts he was interested until he found out they only wanted him for squad depth, so basically no different than what he had here.
If we renew his contract again I'll scream, surely we can't be that stupid?
Absolutely shocking decision to have given him that 4 year one in the first place, at the very least put him on yearly pay as you play deal, which is then reviewed at the end of each year.
Re his testimonial, he would be injured and unable to play in it...
Is there no way we can end his contract now, Im guessing he's injured again so there's no point having him on the books, just pay him off and he can then retire and do whatever is his next choice in life, although he can probably retire and not work again...
Absolutely shocking decision to have given him that 4 year one in the first place, at the very least put him on yearly pay as you play deal, which is then reviewed at the end of each year.
Re his testimonial, he would be injured and unable to play in it...
Is there no way we can end his contract now, Im guessing he's injured again so there's no point having him on the books, just pay him off and he can then retire and do whatever is his next choice in life, although he can probably retire and not work again...
He's probably holding on thinking he can come back again. But for his well-being he should really be retiring soon and figuring out what he wants to do next in life.
He worked hard to come back and be available last season. Was fit for preseason for the first time in years and then got injured immediately. He needs to let it go. His post-football health needs him to give up and find a new focus.
He worked hard to come back and be available last season. Was fit for preseason for the first time in years and then got injured immediately. He needs to let it go. His post-football health needs him to give up and find a new focus.
He's played 5 games in 3 years and 13 in the last 4.
Absolute legend.
Absolute legend.
Why would he uproot his family for a short loan spell and not have his playing conditions changed? I hate that uninformed opinions like this gets preached like gospel. Educate yourself.
Who said anything about uprooting his family?
It was a short-term loan to Bordeaux, not Brisbane. If he had football at the forefront of his mind, then it woud have made sense. It's one thing competing for places at a club like United, it's not the same at a club like Bordeaux. Koscielny had been dropped, and they brought in Marcelo from Lyon. Did he really not fancy himself being able to compete with those types of players?
Mourinho lived in his hovel at the Lowry whilst he was with us, his family was in London. It's something managers and players do all the time. Is it that much of a sacrifice in an attempt to get your career back on track to live in France for a few months?
He chose the easier option. Keep picking up his wages safe in the knowledge he was never under any consideration to play.
I can see the following happening:
- He will be picked up by Blackburn on a one year deal
- They will realise quickly he is truly broken physically and his football ability has atrophied so much from not playing the past few years
- Gets released after next season and retires completely
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Love this argument of "other players do it, so he should too."
Any idea what it takes to move your family from one country to another? Long term or short term it isn't an easy decision.
How many other CBs has he outlasted at Old Trafford? begins to look as if we can Maguire to the list...
I remember reading the thread when Jones signed a new contract. There were actually United fans saying it was a good decision. From that day I knew the best thing to do was ignore the majority of opinions from the average online football fan
Had you ever thought or even considered that he just doesn’t care?
Not all footballers remain “driven” once the big time has been hit.
Some narratives being thrown out that he should want too kick his career on etc or how much he’ll regret looking back at his career having just collected a wage (a wage that will leave him a multi millionaire and never have to work a day in his life again when he retires)
Sometimes players lose their drive, in the world of elite professional sports….it’s hardly un common.
It’s just frustrating for fans to witness a useless player earn his millions each year with zero contribution to the team, but unfortunately for the fans, that’s not his problem.
Yes and in some cases you'd be correct but I don't think that is the case with Phil Jones, the way he plays the game indicates he cares a lot, unfortunately the way he plays is why he's gotten injured so much and basically wrecked his career, I do know one thing though, I'd rather have 10 Phil Jones' to 1 Paul Pogba, Pogba as all the skill in the world but an attitude that stinks, Jones has a fraction of that skill but he gives his best pretty much every time
He has played around 1300 mins, so around 14 games.
4.5 * 52 * 75000 / 14 = 1.25 million pounds per match.
I do not understand this take. There was a thread this week about 'Player Power' being out of control with playing staff able to invalidate their contracts by refusing to train and forcing a move. Ultimately contracts and loyalty are a two-way street. If Jones was fully fit and was trying to force a move through to Bordeaux against the club's wishes, we'd be slating him. If he wants to stay and see out the rest of his contract while working towards full fitness, that's equally his prerogative. United have the option to terminate for the full value also, that's their prerogative.
If Jones had displayed incompetence and breached implied trust/confidence by returning overweight (Kalvin Phillips, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, etc.) or taken drugs punishments (Adrian Mutu, Rio Ferdinand, etc.) which had made their position untenable then I would understand some of the anger towards him. However, from any reliable source he is a dedicated professional, trying to return to playing regularly if possible and has a young family based in North West England with his daughter at school entry age. I would imagine his loyalties lie with their better interests understandably rather than reducing United's wage bill.
You're suggesting he's a pisstaker but there's no evidence of it. United understand his long-term needs for managing his condition and he's within his rights to remain here.
As said elsewhere, I doubt this is how he would want his career to have gone...
The club would probably have to pay out a certain percentage of probable bonuses in that scenario.