Phil Jones

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Where's Hectic?
 
Has great technical ability, vision, awareness, speed, footballing brain, etc. And he'll only get better. Really excited about this group of youngsters in our first team led by the reborn Rooney.
 
Ekeke said:
A lot of days last year when he was at Blackburn. Not sure why you are talking about it as a muppet dream when he's played the majority of his premier league experience in a DM role in front of the defence.
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Haha, don't take it so seriously. I've just seen a fair bit of "he could play as a DM!" answered with "lol why does everyone want players to play not in their best position" etc etc. I've already said I'd love to see him in DM myself.
 
Let in too many crosses( maybe he is confident about our defense in the air?) but 1 assist and 1 indirect assists shows he is extremely comfortable going forward.
 
Hes got a great footballing brain, incredible player. Hes only played a handful of games and hes already one of those players that you have to play him, regardless of which position it is. I want to see him in central midfield now, him and Anderson would be exciting together.
 
Now I kind of feel we stole a candy from a kid. I am referring to getting him on a cheap from Blackburn. We got him for 16-17m and Liverpool paid 20m for that giraffe?
Was not so thrilled about getting yet another defender as I thought we were loaded there. Now look, it is as if SAF new he will have such injury problems at the beginning. The we sold O'Shea and Brown and I a bit jittery but now, when a defender looks like they have a knock, I don't bat an eye.
Our decline has been greatly exaggerated.... on RAWK
 
rotherham_red said:
He's too complete a player to be in defence IMHO.His long term position will be midfield. Partly because of the potential of Evans-Smalling, and partly because of his completeness as a player.
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Nowadays you need defenders with those attributes. Plus he said he prefers being a CB
 
wasn't keen on the whole 'play him as a DM' idea which was thrown around a lot in the summer but witnessing his marauding runs over the past couple of games maybe its not such a bad idea. he's got so much drive and strength and he's just cool as feck on the ball

99.9% of defenders would've blasted that ball as soon as they entered the box with it but he had the composure to let the bolton lad commit and just calmly cut inside and get his shot away

he's solid gold this guy, a 19yr old piece of gold
 
Forget about the new John Terry, he could be the new Duncan Edwards.
 
I admit, I wasn't too excited when I heard we were about to sign him for 18m. But Fergie and the staff know best. :)
 
Unam333 said:
I admit, I wasn't too excited when I heard we were about to sign him for 18m. But Fergie and the staff know best. :)
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Me neither, but what a player this lad looks. Really can't believe he's only 19... he's a beast.
 
And yesterday was evidence that he can play in midfield too, like a few people suggested when we signed him. I hope to see him in midfield as he can box to box all game
 
Yeah i think that run into the box has propelled him back into the possibility of becoming a midfielder. Unbelievable talent and only 19.
 
Aye, a few have said it but he looks almost too good to be a centre back.

Seems such a level headed young bloke and totally unfazed by the sort of move that can phase a lot of players.

He's slotted into the team like he was always here.
 
I don't buy the 'too good for centre half' thing. He has great defensive capabilities and is the perfect player to start attacks from deep. Sure, he's great with the ball at his feet, but he just seems the perfect centre half to me. Didn't stop Rio, did it?! His versatility will be a real asset but I'm sure he will excel at centre half in the long term.

Regardless, if he carries on like he is now, he'll be very hard to drop, and Capello will have no choice but to play him too. Amazing debut season so far, long may it continue.
 
Built like a tank but glides like a ballerina.
 
Having seen him in midfield for Blackburn I thought he'd be a good option for us there. But I like this new idea of having great footballers all across defence too, it's really going to take us up a level. I can't wait to see him and Smalling in the centre with the Da Silva's/Evra in at fullback. We'll have a back four that is capable of being a slick, midfield four.
 
pocco said:
Having seen him in midfield for Blackburn I thought he'd be a good option for us there. But I like this new idea of having great footballers all across defence too, it's really going to take us up a level. I can't wait to see him and Smalling in the centre with the Da Silva's/Evra in at fullback. We'll have a back four that is capable of being a slick, midfield four.
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Indeed, we have players in defence who can successfully take the ball forward and make runs which is something new and brings a new quality to the team.
 
Its been a long time since I was so excited about a player. everything I have ever read and seen in old newsreels about Duncan Edwards seems to be eerily similiar to the way this kid plays the game. pace, power,intelligence, skill. not saying he is the next etc etc but the fans lucky enough to see the great Duncan cant have been any more excited or optimistic than the feeling this new kid gives
 
One more thing i was wondering.. Next time we play Barcelona.. will we have all ball playing players on the pitch.. other than Vida ( I guess)
A Defence of Jones --Vida-- Rio( Smalling) --Evra ( Fabio)
And a mobile midfield of Carrick ( Fletcher) Cleverly/ Anderson
Nani/Valencia Rooney Hernandez Young



Is this the way SAF wants to beat those Cules? have ball players all over the pitch.. play their game of possession against them..
 
I think it would help but I dont think thats our blueprint for beating them. We were looking to find the right midfielder afterall and decided that Sneijder isnt what we were after. So I think we're still trying to identify the midfielder that Sir Alex wants and in the mean time, having outstanding young defenders who can play the ball will help and can take the pressure off the midfield.

In the past couple of seasons, great defenders have been one of the main reasons why we've been so successful and the manager wants to make sure we're fully stocked on them in case of injury. If you can sign a young english defender you've seen a lot of potential in, who also has ability on the ball, why wouldnt you go for that player?
 
Everyone goes on about Barcelona, but if you had to pick two young defenders, at the same sort of stage, out of Smalling, Jones and Pique, then Pique would come third. Add Evans, and Pique would probably be fourth.
Well that cheers me up anyway.
 
When I kept hearing this 'should be played in CM' stuff I thought what a load of bull.

He is absolutely not a CM player. He will always be best as a defender particularly with the way that we're playing now. But this is where he could be very useful.

Some teams on the continent are now playing 3-4-3 to crowd out the midfield in a much more offensive formation. It doesn't always work however. It CAN work if you have the personnel for it and this is where Jones comes in.

If you remember the CL final Barcelona had a central defensive pairing of Mascherano and Pique. What actually happened is that because Barca had 66% of the possession, they effectively put a stranglehold on the midfield by pushing Mascherano up as the pivot in central midfield and playing iniesta and xavi in front of him. You need the right players for that.

Cue - Jones.

Can you imagine a scenario where we want a stranglehold on the game. For the last 2 seasons Carrick has played the pivot in front of our defense with 4 at the back and the full backs encouraged to push forward.

While we're in possession with the right intelligent footballer we could push Jones up a step and keep Rio, say back. Jones then operates the pivotal role to strangle central midfield and help Anderson and Cleverley keep moving the ball quickly while feeling they also have a defensive shield.

It could work. We're still learning this new system this year so we'll see!
 
We don't know what Ferguson has in mind for Jones. It's very possible he'll spend the first year or two playing different positions, like centre back, right back, anchoring the midfield, while he develops experience. We do know that he's an exceptional talent who will improve rapidly with games. With his drive and leadership he could develop an aura like Keane.
 
The_Midfielder said:
One more thing i was wondering.. Next time we play Barcelona.. will we have all ball playing players on the pitch.. other than Vida ( I guess)
A Defence of Jones --Vida-- Rio( Smalling) --Evra ( Fabio)
And a mobile midfield of Carrick ( Fletcher) Cleverly/ Anderson
Nani/Valencia Rooney Hernandez Young



Is this the way SAF wants to beat those Cules? have ball players all over the pitch.. play their game of possession against them..
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What the feck have you been smoking?
 
If he goes from strength to strength, I would think he would end up in central midfield, because he could have the greatest influence from there, defense and offense.

Though Pique has a good time marauding from CB and he could certainly manage it.
 
pocco said:
Having seen him in midfield for Blackburn I thought he'd be a good option for us there. But I like this new idea of having great footballers all across defence too, it's really going to take us up a level. I can't wait to see him and Smalling in the centre with the Da Silva's/Evra in at fullback. We'll have a back four that is capable of being a slick, midfield four.
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yeah, the ability to create from the back is a major asset. de gea also has very good distribution.
 
Our own Tom Clare speaking about Jones

In The Shadow of a Giant’s Footsteps

Nostalgia as I have always said, is a wonderful thing; simply and purely because nostalgia can be made to be anything that you want it to be. It can also be a dangerous thing in that it can cloud your judgment as you yearn for those past eras; those past personalities, and the events which they contributed to. Every generation hears about ‘the good old days’ from their older peers and the comparisons of individuals from years gone by, with the present day subject.

For younger people, it can be a frustrating kind of experience, and it can provoke heated debate, even argument, and that is quite understandable. I grew up in a time period of what I love to term as the ‘Golden Age of Football’. Football was vibrant, stadiums packed, and there were so many great British players to watch week in and week out. But even back then, there were always comparisons with players who plied their trade in the pre-war years. It was common place to hear statements like; “he’s no Hapgood”, or “he’s not as quick or skilful as Bastin was.”

My Grandfather, who I revered, and whose judgment I trusted implicitly, used to base his comparisons on a number of United players whom he had watched over the years; some from before WW1 even! For forwards he would use Joe Spence and Billy Meredith as the yardstick. For the halfbacks it would be the likes of Frank Barson, Alec Bell, Charlie Roberts, and Dick Duckworth. Believe me; if he likened a player to any of those personalities, then I can assure you, that player had to be something special.

As I grew up, he eulogized about Johnny Carey, Henry Cockburn, Stan Pearson, and Jack Rowley. Then of course, as I grew older, the ‘Babes’ were emerging. He was generous in his praise for Roger Byrne and he thought that he was the best Captain that United had ever had. Surpisingly, he likened Mark Jones to Charlie Roberts, although he thought that he was not as ruthless as Barson. He loved to watch little Eddie Colman, and again surprised me when he said that he was the best tackling player that United had at the club. As much as he liked Tommy Taylor, he preferred Joe Spence, but then he did say that Dennis Viollet was as lethal a player as he had seen. Today, I personally, would liken Viollet very much to Paul Scholes.
When we moved into the 60’s, Grandfather loved to watch Denis Law, and revered Bobby Charlton, who he said, was the perfect role model for any youngster coming into the game. He was a huge admirer of Paddy Crerand’s game, and said he was probably the best passer of a ball that he had seen. And then came George – and he was smitten. What he loved about George was not only his astounding natural talent, but also his tremendous heart and courage, and his indefatigable spirit.

My Grandfather first saw United back in 1898 when they were known as Newton Heath. Sadly, he passed away in October 1966, so had watched the club grow for 68 years. It’s a very long passage of time during which he had seen so many, many matches, and watched countless thousands of players. He was my mentor and my inspiration where United are concerned. As most of you know, I first attended Old Trafford back in the autumn of 1950, and attended my first senior game in September 1954. Like Granddad, that’s over 60 years in the bank where United are concerned, and just like him it’s countless matches attended, and thousands of players watched.

So where is all this leading to? During your lifetime, especially where football is concerned – there comes along that ‘special’ player, that one player who, because of his outstanding qualities as a player, is the one who becomes your benchmark. From the 50’s, United fans will probably look at players like Carey, Chilton, Rowley, Byrne, Foulkes, Taylor, Viollet. From the 60’s Charlton, Law, Creand, Stiles, Best. In the 70’s my own choice would be Martin Buchan, Steve Coppell, and Sammy McIlroy. From the 80’s Bryan Robson, Norman Whiteside, Mark Hughes, and into the 90’s, Steve Bruce, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Peter Schmeichel. After the turn of the Millennium, Rio Ferdinand, Ruud van Nistlerooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic. That’s some litany of exceptional players and I have probably left more than a few out.

For me, and also for my Grandfather, the one player who stood out like a beacon above all the rest was a young boy from Dudley in the West Midlands – Duncan Edwards. It says so much for him that even now, 53 years after his passing, he is still looked upon as arguably the greatest British player ever to have played the game of football. That’s some legacy. I’m proud and privileged to have watched him throughout his career and have so many vivid memories of him. Believe me, the stories about Duncan were not myths, he really was that talented, and that special.

Down through the years, many, many players have been saddled with the label of; ‘the next Duncan Edwards’. I’ve seen them all – but not one of them in my opinion, has lived up to, nor has come anywhere close to reaching the standards of Duncan Edwards. It’s a tough ask, and comparing players to Edwards is in my opinion, more than a little unfair. It’s a heavy label and burden for a player to carry, and I have always been wary of watching a player and tagging him with that mantle.

However, I was in Washington DC when United played Barcelona, and something stirred me – just a slight glimpse, but it was there. Again, I saw it in the second half of the Community Shield, and then in the later stages of the game at The Hawthorns, and against Tottenham, and Arsenal. Yesterday’s game at Bolton only stirred me more because what was exciting me, was something that was taking me back 50 more years and more. It was a young boy striding out in the shadow of a Giant’s footsteps. Watching his pace, his vision, his touch, his physique, his youthfulness and exuberance for the game, and it brought the memories flooding back. Since Duncan’s passing, no other player has ever done that for me…until now.

The moment that really electrified me was when he burst out from the back and made that surging drive forward with the ball which culminated in the third goal. It turned the clock back for me and made me inhale deeply.

Phil Jones is just 19 years of age, and it would certainly be totally unfair and unrealistic to tag him as being; ‘the next Duncan Edwards’. But through these old eyes of mine I know that we are seeing something that is very, very ‘special’. This kid is just so gifted, has so much natural ability, and a confidence without being arrogant, that already he looks to have everything that it takes to be the best in the game. He’s still a work in progress, and people should take that into account – and no, he’s not ‘the next Duncan Edwards’, he has his own identity. But I’ll tell you this, the team in which he is playing in at the moment has excited me like no other team that I have seen in the last 50 years, so enjoy every minute of what you are witnessing. For young Philip, he has the world at his feet – and he is something ‘very special’.
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[29] Tom Clare on Phil Jones
 
Great article...I haven't seen many of the players mentioned actually play, but I have the same sentiment Tom does; this team is as exciting and special a United team as I have seen

BTW CLK, where did you find that article?
 
That's awesome. When he made that run in the game day thread I said "Is that what Duncan Edwards looked like?" and someone said, "You'd have to ask Tom Clare."

I was looking up stats to try to tell someone Edwards developed faster than Jones, but 19 is when Edwards, according to wiki, came into the first team permanently and started playing in England's first XI.

And Jones was born on the same day Big Dunc passed away, 34 years later! Strange coincidence.
 
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