Phil Jones

He had some awesome performances at C last year. What was the game where he played there with Carrick and everyone wanted him to play there for a while?

I thought he was really poor at CB.

At this point hasn't he played CM more than CB?
 
He is awesome. I love players with drive and determination. The scary part is that he has innumerable talent to go along with it. He might float around a bit for a year or two but his long term future is at CB. In the days of ball playing CB's this guy would be an asset when he will learn to curb his enthusiasm a little. Which undoubtedly would come with more maturity.

He is already one of my favorite players. Love watching him play.
 
Jones is a talented player but the criticism of his CB performances is warranted. He isn't a good CB... yet. He's got a lot to learn but that's obvious as he's still very young.
 
He's a CB with ability on the ball. But he needs to improve his concentration and positioning on the performances he's had there for United, which havent been many. I go back to seeing him next to Smalling for England under 21s where he outperformed him and vocally led the backline. He looked outstanding in the position there and its only natural to need some time to settle at United. Just because he had a few games flying forward from right back and had a game where he attacked well from midfield doesnt mean that he was perfectly settled yet.
 
I am amazed so many see his future in the midfield. I guess I must have missed something.

I guess we'll have to wait and see where SAF sees him long term.
 
I think he's a good CB now actually. He was fantastic at Blackburn, where he only had to defend. Now that he's come to a team where he has more chances to get forward, it's his decision making and naievity that is showing.

Essentially he's probably gone from a team where the instruction was not to go past the halfway line in open play to a team where most of the time our defenders are sat on the halfway while our attackerd do their jobs. And it's all too much for his brain to take at this stage. But it'll come.
 
he is going to be a CB. it is just he is also versatile that he is used at RB and CM as well. i guess he is going to play all over the place until 2 or 3 years when he cemented a place at central defence.
 
The first half season he was here, he was nothing short of sensational. The best first half season I have seen from any young player at United. I have very high hopes for this kid I think he's going to be an absolute beast of a player was first name on SAF team sheet for a large chunk last year. Criminally under-rated by many on here.
 
I look forward to having him and Smalling as CBs. They are both good defenders, Smalling edging it for me, and both are very fast - so we don't have to be as afraid of being outpaced through the middle, which enables the defense to stand higher on the pitch. Jones may be a bit erratic, but center backs usually take a bit of time before they settle, which is why it is a good idea to give him game time in midfield and rb (hopefully not at the expense of Rafael).
 
There was one moment tonight where Jones got tired of Fletcher and Carrick passing it around the back and he just 'attacked the space' was almost costly but God I've missed that. Great to have him back.
 
Good return IMO. Defended well and also attacked some space.
 
Played the role of the ugly centre back well tonight. Won all of his aerial duels and made 5 blocks. Our best player.
 
Randall Flagg said:
Agreed. Was very pleased with him.

Still looked fit at the end of the game too.
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We seem to be doing this properly this season in terms of making sure players are fully fit before coming back from injury. Weve seen it now with Rooney, Smalling and Jones all looking upto the pace straight away, it seems weve learned our lesson from last season when we rushed both Cleverley and Smalling back among others.
 
Its only one game but he already looks more impressive at CB than he did last season.
 
jb8521 said:
We seem to be doing this properly this season in terms of making sure players are fully fit before coming back from injury. Weve seen it now with Rooney, Smalling and Jones all looking upto the pace straight away, it seems weve learned our lesson from last season when we rushed both Cleverley and Smalling back among others.
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I think that's a very good point.
 
SkeppyRed said:
Its only one game but he already looks more impressive at CB than he did last season.
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I think we'll naturally notice an improvement with him at centre back. It'll be gradual and will take a couple of years, but I think we'll start to see him understand his role as a centre back better and better with experience. I rate him highly and think it's the position he's made for.
 
Yeah, looks a bit more measured in his approach. Fine on the ball, positionally sound, good courage.

Loved it when he gave the diving Gala-twat a real bollocking.
 
Did far better at centre back than I thought he would, but he wasn't tested much. The improvements in his defending is evident already, feck knows how because he's been injured but he was infinitely more composed and could actually hold a line. There were a few times I was expecting him to charge out but everytime he proved me wrong and kept it tight at the back. Still think he is a centre mid though.

Also, the diamond offers far more protection in front of the defence. There were four central players all in front of Jones, so even though he kept his shape tonight if we move back to a two man midfield he might lose that restraint.

But yeah he was great.
 
I thought he played well and it was good to see him play the 90 with no signs of tiring, if anything he seemed to get stronger as the match went on.
 
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