Phil Jones

cw1984 said:
Do you think we've found ourselves in the rare situation where Jones has almost made himself undroppable yet we don't know what position he'll be playing in? It's just important to have him on the pitch?
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Definitely. He's played more than anyone else this season and that's because he's near undroppable, wherever it is he plays. With the injuries we have, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in midfield for a lengthy spell now.
 
Inigo Montoya said:
Because they're becoming bloody offensive and largely made by people who never saw the former play, and are not letting the latter be his own player
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Well I heard the comparison made by author and RedCafé's own Tom Clare. Who certainly did see him play. Was it offensive when he made the comparison?
 
cw1984 said:
Well I heard the comparison made by author and RedCafé's own Tom Clare. Who certainly did see him play. Was it offensive when he made the comparison?
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His is the only judgement on here I would trust, but most are made by people who never saw Edwards play.

At any rate, can you find the quote that Tom made? I'd be interested to see the text and see exactly what he said.I wouldn't be surprised if he made the comparison in terms of his midfield runs not the whole package.
 
Inigo Montoya said:
His is the only judgement on here I would trust, but most are made by people who never saw Edwards play.

At any rate, can you find the quote that Tom made? I'd be interested to see the text and see exactly what he said.I wouldn't be surprised if he made the comparison in terms of his midfield runs not the whole package.
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I didn't actually see it on here. He was on the radio talking about him. Saying how everything about him reminded him of Duncan. Physique, attitude, way he played the game, no fear etc etc.
 
From what Ive heard about Duncan I can see how Jones would be sorta the same type of player - young, fearless, versatile, physically and tecnically talented. But thats where the comparisons should end. Duncan is amongst United supporters widely regarded as one of the greatest football talents ever. Jones is a great talent for sure, but not in such a manner that people would be speaking about him in 50 years if his career was to end tomorrow.
 
Here are Tom's 2 posts on Jones from this thread.

TomClare said:
The following appeared in Daniel Taylor's article in the Guardian on Friday about Anderson - but apperently was later "pulled" from the piece at the request of 'somebody from OT"!

"But he is not alone. Tom Clare, who grew up alongside Sir Matt Busby's emerging team and wrote the compelling Forever a Babe, was moved this week to compare Jones to Duncan Edwards. "Watching his pace, his vision, his touch, his physique, his youthfulness and exuberance for the game, it brought the memories flooding back. Since Duncan's passing, no other player has ever done that for me. Until now."


Sir Bobby Charlton, who remembers Edwards's tackling as "a series of tank traps" and has openly admitted feeling inferior alongside him, has found himself making the same comparison over the past few weeks. Jones, at 19, has already shown he has the temperament, ability and competitive courage to be an ideal wearer of United's colours. "Some players come to a new club, a big club like United, and they take their time," Ferguson says. "We're very fortunate because Jones has just blossomed right away."


As I said earlier - the lad is not Duncan Edwards - however he is 'special' and I haven't been as excited watching a player as I am watching him. He's 19, and will still develop - but already he has all the attributes needed to succeed, and he has the wonderful temperament to do it as well. Fergie has watched the lad for the last three years -he knew then that this was a kid he wanted at OT - fortunately we are blessed that he was able to get Blackburn to part with him.

The lad was solid enough today, and another of those quick surging runs (and this is one facet of his game which REMINDS me of Duncan) resulted in another goal. This kid isn't yet the finished article, but my, when he is - we have some player to watch for the next 10 -15 years!
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TomClare said:
Phil Jones is Phil Jones -and the point of my article was to say that he is indeed something special. As I pointed out, it would be unfair and unreasonable to compare him with Duncan. There was only ever one Duncan. However, what is exciting me is the thrill I am getting watching a young kid who reminds me of the big fella'. Jones is going to be some player thats for certain, and I'll go out on limb now and say that he will eventually captain both United and England - that's how good I think he is.
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He's keen to point out that they are different players but that jones "reminds" him of Edwards.
 
Jones explains goal celebration
Phil Jones insists the triumph at Aston Villa wasn't all about his winner, but admits he enjoyed ribbing first team coach Rene Meulensteen about the strike, his first in senior football.

The 19-year-old played in midfield - before switching to defence when Rio Ferdinand was replaced in the second half - and got on the end of a Nani cross to show great composure in front of goal with 20 minutes gone.

After admitting recently during a recent ManUtd.com webchat that he wasn't sure how he'd celebrate, he decided to point to the bench after receiving some light-hearted stick from Meulensteen.

"I'm delighted to score but it wasn't about the goal," he stressed to MUTV. "It was about three points and I thought the lads did exceptionally well. We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game as Villa are a tough team to beat at home but we played terrifically well.

"After last week, when I stuck one in the back of my own net, I was delighted to score and get off the mark. I signalled to Rene as he was giving me a bit of stick for not scoring. It's just a coincidence that I scored today so I gave him a point of the finger!"

Sir Alex also had a chuckle about the celebration, adding: "We'd kept winding him up and saying: 'We paid £16million for you and we can't even get a shot off you!' The staff have been giving him stick so he was very, very pleased."

Jones, meanwhile, was satisfied with the performance and another clean sheet ahead of the important trip to Basel in midweek.
"We probably should have killed the game off," he added. "We had chances in the first half and second half but we're happy with the clean sheet and the performance.

"I suppose it is in the back of your mind [that City had already won and extended the lead at the top to eight points]. But we're focused on what we've got to do and, when we cross that white line, we're only in control of what we can control. The gaffer said we'll take ten 1-0 wins if we win the league so that's what we're doing."
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Fergie is :cool:
 
I think the most enjoyable aspect of Jones's performance at Villa Park was his passing, particularly in the first half. He's decent at picking out Rooney, Nani etc in space, between the opposition midfield and defence.

Also, he gives us some bite in CM, and did anyone notice how much higher up the pitch our pressing was, when he played in CM? This went to shit when he went back in defence as Rio was taken out. He doesn't half get around the pitch.
 
MadDogg said:
That tells me Jones really is as mentally strong and stable as what he appears. If Fergie is comfortable giving a 19yo defender stick about the price he paid for him, that player must be extremely confident in himself.
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Yep. He has settled in well as the fee is not a burden for him to live up to. Smalling also had a hefty fee - £10m then what about De Gea £18m for a 20 year old keeper. It seems our young players we have recently bought have been mentally strong - wonder if we now look for that in our signings?
 
I think that's been key to our transfer strategy since Sir Alex came to the club - mental attributes are key.
 
Brwned said:
I think that's been key to our transfer strategy since Sir Alex came to the club - mental attributes are key.
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I wonder how you would assess it? I dont think potential trasnfer sit a test! Must be the interview stage.
 
Commadus said:
I wonder how you would assess it? I dont think potential trasnfer sit a test! Must be the interview stage.
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Ferguson said particularly of Jones that he was impressed with his attitude when we mauled them 7-1 last season.

As the sixth goal flew in, Jones was giving players double his age a bollocking - and SAF thought it was a nice, vital trait in a player, that attitude and sense of honour.
 
Commadus said:
I wonder how you would assess it? I dont think potential trasnfer sit a test! Must be the interview stage.
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As marjen said I'm sure part of it's just simply how they act in a variety of situations on the pitch, of course that only gives a narrow insight into a players' mentality but it's a start. Following on from the Jones example Sir Alex said that he talked with Allardyce about him a number of times, so he'll have gained a lot of insight from that (even if it is second-hand information, it's trusted information) but aside from that there doesn't seem to be a lot else to go off.
 
Brwned said:
As marjen said I'm sure part of it's just simply how they act in a variety of situations on the pitch, of course that only gives a narrow insight into a players' mentality but it's a start. Following on from the Jones example Sir Alex said that he talked with Allardyce about him a number of times, so he'll have gained a lot of insight from that (even if it is second-hand information, it's trusted information) but aside from that there doesn't seem to be a lot else to go off.
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He'll probably talk with the player a lot when the deal is ironed out.
 
Of course but you'd think that when talks have gotten that far along he'll have identified whether he has the mentality to succeed long before.
 
Brwned said:
Of course but you'd think that when talks have gotten that far along he'll have identified whether he has the mentality to succeed long before.
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Yeah, I'm not entirely convinced that clubs do not talk to players before they're allowed to by the rules.. Don't think SAF would sign someone up without knowing anything about their personality and mentality. Probably has a lot of contacts at virtually every club, too, who can tell him something about players on a personal level.
 
I think a lot can be said about a footballer's personality when you look at his personal life too. As far as I know, Jones still lives with his parents, suggesting that he's down to earth and lives a quiet lifestyle. Adding to that, he doesn't seem like a party animal and has a girlfriend and thus is settled in that sense too.
 
Not convinced he's a more talented player than Smalling, let alone comparing him to Edwards.

Smalling's the one I'm most excited about.
 
Commadus said:
Yep. He has settled in well as the fee is not a burden for him to live up to. Smalling also had a hefty fee - £10m then what about De Gea £18m for a 20 year old keeper. It seems our young players we have recently bought have been mentally strong - wonder if we now look for that in our signings?
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As far as I know, we've always looked at that since SAF has arrived. How he obtains that information, I'm not sure but I'd guess it's a combination of things. SAF seems like he's one of those people that doesn't need much time or exposure to a player to get a sense of what the player is like. I'm sure his scouts and other contacts offer valuable information as well. There's been so many players that we've brought in through the ranks or as signings that are strong mentally. Bruce, Cantona, class of 92, Ince, Ronaldo, Rio, Irwin. I mean it goes on and on.
 
Edmeiste said:
As far as I know, we've always looked at that since SAF has arrived. How he obtains that information, I'm not sure but I'd guess it's a combination of things. SAF seems like he's one of those people that doesn't need much time or exposure to a player to get a sense of what the player is like. I'm sure his scouts and other contacts offer valuable information as well. There's been so many players that we've brought in through the ranks or as signings that are strong mentally. Bruce, Cantona, class of 92, Ince, Ronaldo, Rio, Irwin. I mean it goes on and on.
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Yep and Beb.... never mind.
 
Kevin said:
Not convinced he's a more talented player than Smalling, let alone comparing him to Edwards.

Smalling's the one I'm most excited about.
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Both are terrific defenders. I feel Jones is better offensively and provides more threat on the flank while Smalling is more solid defensively and feels much more comfortable in the centre, even though he has done well at right back.

They will both end up playing centrally though.
 
Sarni said:
Both are terrific defenders. I feel Jones is better offensively and provides more threat on the flank while Smalling is more solid defensively and feels much more comfortable in the centre, even though he has done well at right back.

They will both end up playing centrally though.
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I still hope Jones will end up playing in midfield. I said it before the Villa game as well. I think his offensive drive will be wasted in defense, which will be a shame. He is still so young, and when you have such a young talented player, why not mould him into a position where that offensive capability can be put to good use? He clearly has the ability to play in midfield.

I was a bit skeptical regarding his discipline going forward all the time and leaving massive gaps in midfield, but he really put that skepticism to bed last game. Showed exceptional positional discipline while still managing to go forward at the right time and get a goal. He could well be a true box to box midfielder in the making.

Smalling is going to be a great central defender no doubt.
 
Top player, proving himself as a more than capable midfielder, great attitude as well. He was pressing all the way into the 90th min, he's been ever present this season and I am absolutely delighted with the way he's responded to the chances that have been given to him.
 
The man is a fecking machine. At 19 years of age as well, unreal.
 
Honestly I can't believe how fecking good he is.
 
Playing next to Carrick helps as well. I just dont see him as a proper midfielder yet but that was a solid game, although he went missing inbetween
 
ArmchairCritic said:
Top player, proving himself as a more than capable midfielder, great attitude as well. He was pressing all the way into the 90th min, he's been ever present this season and I am absolutely delighted with the way he's responded to the chances that have been given to him.
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He was great today. I think he'll be 'capable' pretty much wherever you put him on a football pitch. He's got that level of all round talent. Long term, though, we need to find out in which position he can be outstanding in.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
He was great today. I think he'll be 'capable' pretty much wherever you put him on a football pitch. He's got that level of all round talent. Long term, though, we need to find out in which position he can be outstanding in.
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CB most definitely, those driving runs from deep will be a trademark. Him and Smalling will be a fantastic partnership.
 
Noticed how many times Jones were back to win a header or simply take some pressure off the defense today. I think we need to keep playing him and Carrick in midfield until we've ridden out this injury-crisis!
 
Kraftwerker said:
Love that Carrick Jones combo.

It's very solid, and Jones' pace puts the other team on the back foot.

Jones was brilliant today. Unlucky not to notch a couple of assists.
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still think his best position will be at CB eventually but what a bonus having a player who can play in the middle
 
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