Thought he, along with Vidic, were very good today
Phil Jones
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I think he'll be far better at right back then at centre back. Very very good performance today.
Is a better RB than smalling imo.
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I refuse to believe he's 19 years old.
Brilliant player.
Brilliant player.
MOTM behind Rooney today.
ha ha, he really is a cracking footballer. The entire defence and Rooney played well tonight, the rest.... not so well.
Best player on the pitch.
Wouldn't be surprised to see him first choice right back by the end of the season.
Another quality performance. He's definitely better at right back than at CB.
I'll go with that.
Theres got to be so many teams wishing they had bought him now. What a great buy.
I dunno, I'm hoping Rafael will come back with a vengeance and Jones can form a partnership with Vidic in the middle.
I think Smalling will play alongside Vidic with Jones at RB
His own performance should inspire everyone else. He literally took the game by the scruff of the neck tonight.
When he plays CB he might need to be more disciplined, but at RB it's a joy to see him attacking so freely.
When he plays CB he might need to be more disciplined, but at RB it's a joy to see him attacking so freely.
Very talented footballer, puts some excellent crosses in from the right and with his height he's a great option to have at right-back. Rafael should tie that position up if he doesn't get injured but that's easier said than done. Playing at right-back will also help Jones improve on his positioning, you know you have a player on your hands when even the untrained eye can't deny his talent, he's going to be some player this boy. He's come into a new club at such a tender age and so far this season he's made the most appearances out of anyone in our squad, he hasn't looked out of place though and that's seriously impressive for a 19 year-old.
Don't forget how good Rafael is, I think the showing of Smalling and Jones is causing him to be overlooked but he really is a cracking prospect. Hopefully he'll be able to put his injury troubles behind him and make the RB spot his own again now, with Smalling and Jones jostling for the CB slots.
Rafael is brilliant and I'd love it if he could become our Number 1 Right Back again but he's just so injury prone it's hard to imagine him lasting a season. And Jones is quality at RB as well.
Quite a few teams already wished they could buy him when we did.
He's a fantastic player. Great defender and very good on the ball as well. His crosses are also dangerous almost every time. Would be interesting to see how many goals he played a big part in, as I think it's quite a few. Love his energy as well.
Quickly becoming one of my favorite players at the club.
Will be a world class centre back before his mid 20's.
I'd love to see a Jones/Smalling central partnership with Rafael at right-back.
That's the future.
Vidic is the best centre back in the world so I don't think that's going to happen too often.
Vidic is no spring chicken mate. Smalling and Jones are the future.
Love him at RB, still not confident with him in the middle.
Like I said a few weeks back, a run of games at rightback is what I'd like to see.
Like I said a few weeks back, a run of games at rightback is what I'd like to see.
Please Fergie, keep playing Jones at right-back and Smalling in the centre. They both look so much better in those roles.
My hope for this season is that Jones and Rafael can fight it out for rightback, Smalling can be first deputy for Rio and Vidic, Evans second deputy, and Fabio backup to Evra.
Obviously it wont always be that straightforward but i would hope to see us start playing players in the one position a bit more. I would still see Jones' long term future in the centre.
Absolutely. Jones and Rafael competing for RB, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evans at CB, Fabio and Evra at LB - that would be ideal in my opinion.
Of course, that would require the twins and Rio not to get injured at basically every opportunity.
Both Jones and Smalling are natural defenders and flourish in both positions. It's great to have that versatility but the more they play, the more it seems Jones is the one to play at right back when both are fit.
I can't believe he's just 19... It's like a natural born Ronaldo, only he's the god of defense...
I knew it! Ronaldo is genetically modified!
Another really good performance from the man-child at full back.
It's his spot to lose now IMO. Good luck Rafa!
It's his spot to lose now IMO. Good luck Rafa!
I would have liked to see him play CB today alongside Vidic, his forward driving runs would have caused Sunderland more problems the way they were set up.
Dont get me wrong he was brilliant at RB but i would like to see him play a more central role
Dont get me wrong he was brilliant at RB but i would like to see him play a more central role
This!!!
Right now, he's best at right-back. We can employ him as a CB when he's got Carrick ahead of him who has the intelligence and reading of the game to drop back to cover for him when he goes on one of his marauding runs.
I don't agree. I'm really not convinced by him as a central defender.
I suppose in a game like today where the opposition offer no threat whatsoever then it would be OK though.
Yeah thats what i meant, his runs do have a habit of leaving us exposed but today i dont think it would have been a issue.
His first touch was heavy a few times today. I've noticed it before when he's receiving the ball and immediately going on one of his forward runs he knocks the ball quite a way ahead of himself to run onto but when teams are pressing he needs to be a bit more careful, better teams than Sunderland could have taken advantage. Minor gripe though, overall he was very good once again.
Oh come on!
He is 19 and was awesome at the beginning of the season.Just lacks a bit of experience.
Oh come on!
He is 19 and was awesome at the beginning of the season.Just lacks a bit of experience.
Huh? I know and I agree. I just don't like him in the middle at the minute. Of course he'll get better with age.
Right Back is the perfect position for him at the minute. It makes the best of his forward runs, it gives him valuable game time and also offers us better protection at set pieces that the likes of Rafael.
I would like him to be a CB for us because realistically I don't think he will ever be a world class right back. Yes, he's going to be very good there but he won't reach the level of Evra, Lahm or Alves as a full back when it comes to the offensive bit of his game. It's a different thing with CB because I think he has all the attributes to be as good as the best players who played the game there in the last few years. The fact that he's no giant doesn't really matter when you look at Cannavaro for example.
On the other hand I am starting to lose my hope regarding Rafael. I don't think he will ever be fit enough to play a full season as a regular, and the same goes for Fabio really. They also have that frustrating tendency to be injured at the same time.
On the other hand I am starting to lose my hope regarding Rafael. I don't think he will ever be fit enough to play a full season as a regular, and the same goes for Fabio really. They also have that frustrating tendency to be injured at the same time.