Jones earmarked for Man Utd defence but better in midfield

Expert Opinion

13Jan

Jones earmarked for Man Utd defence but better in midfield

by Rob Smyth

The football world has a Jones for Phil Jones. We can’t get enough of him: stories of what he’s done, what he’s going to do, and particularly who he compares to. Since joining Manchester United, the great and the good of the football world have compared him exclusively to the great. Bobby Charlton cited Duncan Edwards; Fabio Capello suggested Franco Baresi and Fernando Hierro; Phil Neville preferred Roy Keane; Ray Wilkins went for Bryan Robson; and Mick McCarthy compared him to Paul McGrath. It can only be a matter of time before somebody announces that Phil Jones is the new black.

Few would argue with the essential point of these comparisons – that Jones is going to be a superstar, win 100 caps, captain Manchester United for the best part of a decade and possibly save the world – but another equally widespread assumption about Jones is more questionable: that he will end up as a centre-back.

Only Nani has played more games for Manchester United this season, yet Jones’ story has not been one of consistency. Though he has frequently been magnificent, his performance level has fluctuated wildly, as we might reasonably expect of a teenager in his first season at a club of United’s size. He has also flitted between centre-back, right-back and centre-midfield because of United’s injuries and Sir Alex Ferguson’s insatiable appetite for tinkering. Utility players are a manager’s best friend, but very few go on to achieve true greatness. It seems certain that Jones will nail down a position in the next 18 months.

Nine out of 10 pundits are sure that position will be at the heart of the defence; the observation is made with the certainty of those who own a DeLorean. Yet very few have actually explained why; and in his short Manchester United career, centre-back has been by far Jones’ least effective position. He had terrible games at home to Basel and away to Newcastle in particular, and was also unconvincing at home to Blackburn and Benfica. He can be bullied in the air, as Shola Ameobi and Demba Ba showed, he is slow on the turn and looks extremely uncertain when left one-on-one. These will all improve with experience, and playing alongside an unusually vulnerable Rio Ferdinand hasn’t helped, but the extent of Jones’ struggles in what was supposed to be his best position are slightly alarming.

Another persuasive argument against the deployment of Jones at centre-back is that it curbs his considerable attacking talent. He scored an adroit volley at Aston Villa and is capable of excellent crosses, best demonstrated by his beautiful ball into the corridor of uncertainty for Wayne Rooney’s first goal at Bolton. Then there is the most striking of his many assets, the ability to embark on exhilarating, regal forward runs. They produced goals for Wayne Rooney against both Bolton and Chelsea, and almost led to goals for Jones himself against Sweden and QPR. At centre-back these surges will inevitably be rationed. Why would you want to restrict a force of nature?

Fabio Capello has also noted Jones’s excellent decision-making, particularly in possession, another quality that is not maximised at centre-back. We can fantasise all we like about an English Beckenbauer, but it is never going to happen. As his game develops, Jones may carry on a lineage that includes Terry Butcher, Tony Adams and John Terry. He could easily become England’s central-defensive rock. But it is certainly not set in stone.

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Esquilax5

Plus he’s only 5 foot 10 apparently..
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1091919069 Egil Evensen

Pure class everywhere!!
sam

His best position is right back. Less defensive responsibility needed there, more chance to get forward and make the most of his crossing ability
Guest

“Jones may carry on a lineage that includes Terry Butcher, Tony Adams and John Terry.” Not much of a lineage, lets hope he becomes a better player than that.
Anonymous

Has looked best at right back- bombing forward like Cafu or Maicon.
http://twitter.com/MikeCjourno Mike Cotton

Didn’t people used to say Rio would better as a CM? Time will tell with Phil but the early comparisons are pretty stupid at the moment.
Robert Postuma

It way to early to speculate on his future ability.
TFP

Agree, he’s too short to be a CB
http://twitter.com/chewingthecoca Nick Dorrington

Nowhere near good enough technically to play in central midfield for a team like United on a regular basis. Yes he makes marauding runs forward, but I’d hardly call them ‘regal’. Forceful, powerful: yes; regal: no.

He is certainly a hard working, physically well-developed player who tackles well and has a good engine on him, but I haven’t seen anything yet this season to suggest he’s going to be at the level of 100+ England caps, United captain of forever, etc. But then again many people infinitely more qualified than myself believe he will, so I can only assume there’s something in him I’m not seeing.
Jake

By that description he sounds nailed on for 100+ caps for England. Who needs technical ability or positional sense when you can run and run and run and tackle and run some more?
johnshaft

He is a poor centre back and a mediocre midfielder. Lots to learn maybe, but this footballing identity crisis could easily make him the next John O’Shea. Might I suggest right back?
RedDevil

My Vote is Defensive Midfielder with that extra bit of pace… If moulded correctly in a couple of years time he can be one of the best defensive midfilders of this generation. He would be Man Utd s answer to Barca s Sergio Busquets. Phil has the brute physcial presence and a good footballing brain to tackle and win the ball and kick it out to the more creative midfielders ahead of him… and if either of the Full backs are caught off position Phil can make a seamless transition to a center back or Full back to give cover. And as rightly pointed he is more than capable of a lung busting unstoppable run through the middle for a strike… So defensive Midfielder is my suggestion..
Denzil Red

I’d like to see Phil used as an anchor at the base of midfield, restricting opposition movement around our box and carriying the ball out of defence. A Cleverley/Jones combination of a tackler and passer in the centre would really shore up the amount of chances we are currently conceding. RB is a worry as he seems to drift infield now and then and can be marginalised at times. He can be shocking at CB as well. Time will tell but the expectation is justified.
Ohioma13

Still not convinced about Jones. Looks “alright” but nothing special.
laduma

A similar article could be written on David Luiz. He started his career in
mid-field after all, and his energy, attacking instinct, and physical presence
would do well there. The fact that he is a liability at CB is beyond question.
Gh

Phil Jones is the new John O’Shea
Lagrange

pique, lucio, hummels
all fantastic ball playing centre backs who provide an attack dimension none are hindered by playing in their position
Rockstar Messiah Man

Time to move with the times: modern centre-backs need to be ball players and have an attacking dimension. The idea that being a good passer and runner and crosser makes you unfit as centre-back belongs in the stone ages.
Laingbardo

Jones has got the engine to make him an enforcer and Cleverly to ultimately be the playmaker. Am sure that as Jones gets to his late 20s/early 30s legs will be heavier and CB will be the best place for him..but definitely not now…
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[...] Jones earmarked for Manchester United defence but better in midfield – Life’s A Pitch [...]
Jnr

Largely agree with Rob. So far he has looked vulnerable at CB, but he is improving with every game played at CM. He and the much improved and in form Carrick were building a nice partnership before injury hit. Also, why all the commets of being a defensive midfielder, is not possible nowadays just to play in the middle of the park and attack and defending in equal measures?
SiD

Pointless article. You talk about lineage? Terry and Adams never had the dynamism to play in midfield, so it was never thought about for them. They were both all plucky English spirit and not much else!

However at a similar age, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell were being played in various positions. Neither had the concentration to play at centre back but both developed into quality centre backs and both proved their quality on the highest stages of international tournaments, Champions league and winning titles!

He’ll be a brilliant centre back, just give him time!
Anonymous

By the time he left, O’Shea was a byword at United; no one much missed him; but when he started he was the next great defensive player.

I Remember him ripping Juve apart in a CL game at OT, and making a mental note of his name as United’s next great player.

SAF never let him nail down a position, so he became Mr Utility. This was good for United as I saw him play 7-8 different positions including goalie!
It was a shame for him, as though he won innumerable medals, he never reached the greatness he could have.Hope Jones doesn’t go the same way. Needs to be kept as the box to box United player…á la Keane, Robson, Ince etc.
J Murray

oh and he should have stayed at Blackburn Rovers for at least one more season. The new Mike England.
Andrew

Damn right he should have done another season with us, and IMO he was as good in either position for Rovers. Funnily enough in the reserve team games I saw him play, it was always Hanley that seemed better of the pair, what happened there then?
dingo

Jones is a CM without doubt. Can attack and defend both well, but at the moment cannot defend well enough to be a CB. As a United fan a possible Jones-Cleverley CM partnership looks promising.
Condren John365

Those who are talking him up as England’s centre-back for the next 10 years are doing a disservice to his team-mate, Chris Smalling. Definitely a better defender, and probably always will be. But Jones would be a decent defensive mid – if fans and pundits could ease off on the hype and give him time to settle, I’d be happy.
TK

As a central midfielder or right back he will become another also ran, maybe an international with a decent amount of caps but nothing particularly special.

If given time at centre back he has the attacking ability and composure on the ball to become a legend in the mould of a Baresi or Beckenbauer.

In my opinion too many limited players get thrust forward from defence to midfield in the British game on the basis of the odd run forward whilst playing at centre back. They then lack the technical ability to be effective in the tight space of the midfield, so although defensively sound they reduce the attacking threat of the team overall and fail to maintain posession very well.

It should be the other way round, leading to centre backs who are comfortable on the ball and can disrupt the opposition’s defence when they roam forward whilst also being able to help the team maintain posession far better by not having to resort on the hoof ball forward when under the slightest amount of pressure.

Give the lad some experience at centre back and with a bit of patience from the media and fans hopefully England have one of the best centre backs the world has ever seen on their hands.

On a side note the same should happen to Ciaran Clark at Villa who is also looking like a fantastic prospect at centre back but has been shifted around alot. I have a feeling England may come to regret not trying harder to keep him out of Ireland’s grasp!
Rob_smyth

Makes a change from your usual shite about United in decline.
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