Phil Jones

Well, feck me... And here I was, saying this lad shouldn't be playing in midfield a game or two ago.

I thought he was decent against Wolves, and a beast today. His all-action style compliments Carrick's metronomic style, and the two of them tore QPR a new one.

His one-touch passing into our attackers was a surprise - I mean, I knew he had drive and hunger to break through the midfield, but his linking of play was much better. Only lacked a well deserved goal today!

Brings a lot of aggresivity to the CM, like Cleverley did earlier in the season. Always hustling and putting in tackles. Got the stamina to run box-to-box.
This is pretty much exactly how I feel. Just over a week ago I felt certain his long-term future would be in central defence. His drive was great in midfield, but I didn't think he had the passing, positioning and control to make it to the top there.

Well, after the Wolves match I somewhat ate my words and it made me excited to see more of him there, but ultimately I still thought his passing and vision would hold him back just a little there. But those things improved even further against QPR, and now I'm just holding my hands in the air and waiting to see what happens. If anything I'm now starting to lean towards the midfield.

I don't think playing him at centre back would be a waste of his ball-playing capabilities because they can still be put to good use there, but I'm beginning to think it'd be a waste of his engine. He just doesn't stop.
Agreed. His passing and technique would be good to have at the back so they wouldn't be a waste, but that drive and engine is what would have to be limited significantly. That is what would almost seem like a waste.

It's exciting. Saf prefers 442 in the league so when Clev/Ando return there's almost a selection headache. Those two were great early in the season and we'd all like to see that football return. But Carrick has improved and offers defensive cover. And then you've got Jones who is playing so well.
As long as Carrick is playing moderately well (let alone the super-Carrick we've had for the last month) he has to be there. He's simply so much better defensively than any of our other options that we need him there to sweep everything up, especially with Vida out for the season.

The question will be who partners him - Cleverley, Jones, Anderson or Giggs? Or a combination of two of them if we want to go with a three man midfield?
 
What a breath of fresh air he has been, eh? Like many here I reckon Jones' best position is in central midfield.
Is he, could he, will he be a great central defender?
Without a doubt, but his penchant for a lung bursting run right now (and for the foreseeable future), is best served IMO when it comes by a player who's first responsibility is not to be an anchor in the back four.
 
But wouldn't it be great if we had a CB with Vidic's defense while also having a very good range of passing and a great burst of speed if we really needed to attack ?

I'm with Jones, the lad says he see's himself as a CB and I'm pretty sure that's where he'll end up...

We're just missing TC + Ando
 
Big Jones is class and not only did we get a great player, we got a player who could've joined our rivals and been the new John Terry at a rival club for the next 10-15 years. Luckily we have him, and nobody else. :)
 
Watching Jones' runs from midfield the other day had me thinking that there are goals in him if we leave him there. Wouldn't be surprised if he scored 10-15 next season if that is where he is played. Technically he's not a shade on the likes of Scholes etc. but he wins the ball back a lot in midfield and this is something we have missed for a while too.
 
Watching Jones' runs from midfield the other day had me thinking that there are goals in him if we leave him there. Wouldn't be surprised if he scored 10-15 next season if that is where he is played. Technically he's not a shade on the likes of Scholes etc. but he wins the ball back a lot in midfield and this is something we have missed for a while too.

He's no Scholes but he has got some skills to be fair

And yeah how long has it been since we had regular goals from midfield? Would be great
 
Big Jones is class and not only did we get a great player, we got a player who could've joined our rivals and been the new John Terry at a rival club for the next 10-15 years. Luckily we have him, and nobody else. :)

Ahh Jesus, could you not think of a better player to compare him to ? :P

Jesus, for instance.
 
Needs to improve his shooting, we can't have him messing up one on ones like that. He makes me miss O'Shea, when O'shea shot, it was goal. I think he started 8 for 8 here.
 
I rewatched the highlights from our match yesterday; is anyone else a little concerned that one day soon he's going to mistime one of his many (many) sliding tackles? Some of them are a little lungey (might not be a word) and if he gets one wrong it could easily see him given his marching orders.
 
He made Martin Keown's "Team of the First 16 Games" in central midfield. Pretty amazing considering he's played there what, 5 times?

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Fergie: "Superb performance especially first half. Phil Jones will be sent for an x-ray TOMORROW. Young out for two-three weeks."
 
Mirror is talking rubbish, SAF is saying that he'll go to a x-ray tomorrow for examination.
 
Edit: Nevermind, I was remembering the US-Slovenia game where he did the same thing.
 
He made Martin Keown's "Team of the First 16 Games" in central midfield. Pretty amazing considering he's played there what, 5 times?

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Hasn't Vermaelen been out with injury for at least half the season? He just came back into the side.
 
hard to see obviously if it was a fracture but usually if there is a suspected break dont the physios put the player on oxygen? Also something that makes me doubt the severity of the injuryi (beyond my biased hope that hes ok) is that the physios allowed him to continue playing.

Couldnt see on the tv feed if there was alot of swelling common with breaks/fractures aswell
 
Ah, but I'm an American, and I have a grandfather that is an American. I have a picture of me hugging an American, and some of my best friends are Americans.

And they're all assholes.
 
He'll look like a maniac charging around the pitch in once of those face masks :D
 
I wish the Jones boy well, he's been a brilliant player for us, I'd never have imagined he was so accomplished a player and he seems mature in attitude beyond his years.

I hope he doesn't rush back, though it's a while since we had a player in a "phantom of the opera" mask....
 
BREAKING: Phil Jones has had a scan, and it turns out it's only a bruise. Nothing serious. Good news.

Fingers crossed, but I'm hearing from a few places this is true! :devil:

EDIT:

Also hearing he could be out for up to 6 weeks with a fractured cheekbone... Great! :(

Both are yet to be confirmed mind.
 
Good stuff, was worried we would have to play Park or Rooney in the middle.