Phil Jones in midfield revisited

Brwned

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Apr 18, 2008
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Not good enough a passer to play there, quite simply. He's got a great attitude and I'm sure he'll improve that side of his game with time but he should be nowhere near centre mid until he does.

Obviously it's not an ideal situation to come into given it's always difficult to come on as a sub in centre mid and it being our worst performance in years, but still, in a season littered with shocking midfield performances that must be one of the worst.
 
Meh, came on for set-pieces really, it was shoddy but he's 20 and it's his 3rd game of the season in a position he's alien to.
 
He probably came on to help with set-pieces today but he should not be used in midfield, especially not in the role he appeared to be playing today off the striker.
 
I can see the point if he was playing defensive midfield, but putting him on as an attacking midfielder with Cleverley sitting on the bench? Big part of the reason we couldn't finish Reading off properly.
 
To be fair he was playing as our most advanced midfielder. He's not at all suited to that.
 
Never thought he'd be a midfielder, tonight showed that. He's a CB, and a fill-in RB.
 
Worst part was that he was playing as the AM. Not even close to being good enough there and one of the more baffling tactical decisions i've seen.
 
Really? I was honestly surprised and thought he did well. He had no clue what to do in the final third but I think his passing and drive was decent enough in the other areas of the pitch, certainly don't think he was any worse than what Fletcher has been a lot of the time this season.
 
No idea what he was supposed to be doing. I don't think he did either.
 
I don't get Fergie's decision (again). It's like he thought "shit, I've lost Anderson's driving runs so I'd better replace him with a powerful runner!", completely forgetting that Anderson's technical ability is a million times better than Jones'. We should have brought on either Cleverley to replace Anderson, or Hernadez to go upfront and bring Rooney back to play a little deeper.
 
Just.Don't.Get.It.
 
He looked like a sunday league pub league player...void of a touch and any technique.
 
Why did he spend the second half playing in Rooney's position while Rooney was doing a job in a position Jones could have done a job in instead?

Did he actually manage to pass the ball to anyone on his team at any point?
 
His positioning of the ball playing that far forward is woeful and like others have already mentioned before its not his fault really. Baffling decision to get him to play there when we had Cleverly on the bench.
 
I've always said he's just not good enough to be a long term midfielder for us. People have occasionally said that he could have the workrate and drive of someone like Keane, but the difference is that Keane had so much more footballing talent in general as a midfielder. Not as technical as Scholes, but he could still play a lot more than someone like Jones.

If it's as backup though and has to be done for a game, then so be it. I have no problem with that. Just as long as it isn't over a long period of time.
 
Huge difference between Anderson being amazing there and then putting jones there. Should have put cleverley on IMO, but still a good amount of time for jones there to get backup to fitness. Definitely not a midfielder though, not got anywhere near the required technique to play there.
 
Not as bad as some in the match thread suggested but wasn't great at all.

Would like to see him sitting in front of the back 4 and the odd surging run. But mostly play it simple.

I see no reason why he cannot adapt to that role.
 
KM said:
To be fair he was playing as our most advanced midfielder. He's not at all suited to that.
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He's always played there when we've played a midfield three because, well, where else can you play him? He's played there to give him as little responsibility as possible because he's positionally indisciplined and not a very reliable passer. A defensive midfielder doesn't have to run around and make loads of tackles, he needs to be the player who releases the pressure for the defence and always offers a passing option.
 
Gives the ball away too much. Its so weird, the first time I saw him he was playing as an extra defender in front of the Blackburn defence ala Makelele and he made tackle after tackle. I was sold on him straight away.

Now when we pick him in midfield he's the 2nd furthest player forward. Why?
 
Was so baffled by him there, I mean fair enough if he was coming in to play defensively but he came in and typically comes in actually playing attacking midfield. It's just way too important an area for a non natural to play. Reading weren't getting at us through the middle, it was crosses and set pieces so whilst I can understand Jones coming on I can't understand why he stayed a/m especially when it was clear we could get through reading. If Fergie wasn't gonna reshape the defence then why not switch rooney and jones.
 
Don't understand why he came on. I can only assume it was because we were getting shat on during the corners and wanted him defending in the box.

Once he came on though that was the only position he could have played in.
 
Ekeke said:
Gives the ball away too much. Its so weird, the first time I saw him he was playing as an extra defender in front of the Blackburn defence ala Makelele and he made tackle after tackle. I was sold on him straight away.

Now when we pick him in midfield he's the 2nd furthest player forward. Why?
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He does that because he just doesn't have the positioning to stay back, which is ironic considering his natural position is further back than in midfield.
 
He wasn't that bad, his final ball was shit but I don't think anyone would expect him to get an assist, he's not at all creative.

Today he wasn't even playing as a centre mid, he was more of an attacking midfielder which is completely different. He was shit against Liverpool there last season, but had a few good games in centre mid - like I say completely different roles.

He'll never have the touch or technique to play as a number 10 but that doesn't prove much. People on here, including you Brwned IIRC, mentioned that Rooney doesn't have the close control to play there and we should use Kagawa instead. So if Rooney can't Jones has no chance.

As a defensive midfielder he could be great IMO and that's where I think he will end up.
 
Brwned said:
He's always played there when we've played a midfield three because, well, where else can you play him? He's played there to give him as little responsibility as possible because he's positionally indisciplined and not a very reliable passer. A defensive midfielder doesn't have to run around and make loads of tackles, he needs to be the player who releases the pressure for the defence and always offers a passing option.
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Really?
I think that's the first time I've noticed him playing there, personally. You've an amazing memory though, so you're probably right.
 
I think Jones should have played on the right where he could his right back experience and help Smalling and Rooney should have been moved centrally
 
You are quite a positiv man Brwned. It's not only Jones passing.
He doesnt know where to position himself at all, doesnt have the first touch or generally the technique to play there.

He's a young project though but feck me, he's far off in midfield.
 
Confused both teams, hence the 2nd half draw.

Masterplan.
 
AttackingFlair said:
Cleverley should be getting more game time.
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You are quite right, but maybe their is more to it than we know? Maybe he is getting less game time at the request of the physiotherapists? It's all very strange.
 
A center back masquerading as AM/SS....sigh. I don't even know where to begin with this. Pointless sub when we had another midfielder who was left sitting on the bench. How much height did we need?

One of the worst games I have seen in a while. I am sure league 1 teams out up a better show. It's a minor miracle that we are top the league while playing like crap. I don't want to sound like a transfer muppet but contrary to my earlier perception this squad needs major investment in defense and midfield.
 
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