is phil jones a good midfielder?

I'm baffled as to how a lot of our fans have being slating Jones. The kid is 19! (Maybe 20 now). I'm 19 and, if I was a tenth as good as he is I'd hold hopes of getting in the England side.

I think he has his issues, his positional awareness, maturity etc, he at times can play very much with his heart over his head (not unlike Rooney, at his age) but I see the positives in this.

Ability wise, I think he's absolutely quality. I thought he was a good young player when we signed him, but seeing him at the start of the season I was delighted we'd signed him before a Barca/Madrid/Bayern/City snapped him up.

A small part of me thinks he could go some way to replacing Keane, then my head tells me he'll never be able to dominate a midfield position. It's a tricky one, though. Smalling and Evans look untouchable as far as future starters go, but we've seen in Evans himself how players can unexpectedly command a starting position after a surge in confidence and form.

A future United Captain? Yes.

Future England Captain? Strange things happen in the National side but, yes.

In what position? Only God (Fergie) knows.

I think Jones is a fantastic footballer who possesses such incredible natural talent for his age. His problem may be that he is too versatile (the same issues that went against O'Shea IMO). As he can play so many positions (great for us) he may not cement his own (bad for him). Very very pleased we signed him though, been great to have, particularly during our injury crisis.

RonAlvinhooo (U6117)

are you a good wum?

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No

is he the new John O'shea but with more talent ?

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Jones is coming in for some harsh criticism lately. Its unjustified. Yes, his positioning is often pretty poor, but he clearly has talent. I've heard him described as a young Paolo Maldini, but such comparisons are unhelpful, unfair and plainly wrong. He is only 19 and in his first season at the club, I think he's done pretty well. He still has a lot to learn but he will (or he should) have a big future at the club.
In answer to your original question; no, he's not a good midfielder. He is a defender.

I heard he was a young Baresi

It does seem he's being compared to everyone. Comparisons with footballing greats are never helpful.

More than anything, I love Jones' passion for the game. You can see the way he plays that he gives it his all, he looks like a born leader, hence the predictions about captaincy. At the start of the season his bursting runs from the back got everyone excited, but things have calmed down a bit and of course his performance has now slightly levelled off. In the future I can see him playing CB, and if needed, as cover as a defensive midfielder - I don't see his versatility counting against him, he is too gifted a player to just be called a utility player, but what he needs is games under his belt.

After Rio and Vidic go in a few years, it still looks solid with Evans, Jones and Smalling.

I miss JOS in a bad way, I think young Phil Jones will give us the same type of versatility -anything more than that would be gravy. Let him develop and let's see where he is by age 22-23. I think his best position will reveal itself. With Evans and Smalling in the middle and the Twins on the flanks, I think we're covered. We may make better use of him alongside Cleverly as a holding midfielder who can go on the attack when the opportunity presents itself. He's working alongside Scholes and Carrick in training, how much better could it get for him to develop, as well as having Vidic and Rio to work with him as a defender. He's in a fantastic situation here.