My thoughts regarding Phil Jones.
Last night the defensive side of Jones's game was solid. He even got forward and linked up well a couple of times with Nani/Valencia. However, on those occasions his final ball was crap, plain and simple. The work gone into creating something of an opening had gone to waste. We as fans were very disappointed, If Rafael had been in those postions we're all pretty confident the delivery would have been better.
But what so many people are trying to point out is that Jones is not a right back. He's not even a midfielder but if people do want to wind their memory back just a few months ago then he actually played quite well in the position. Asked to play in an unusual position for one of the biggest teams in the world young Phil Jones accepted the challenge without complaint and performed admirably. He showed courage and desire, a willingness to test himself and not shy away from the challenge. This is the sort of personality we need at United. Hell it's United's past and present players having this sort of personality that have made them so successful.
Jones has shown this season that he has bags of ability. I am convinced that he will go on to be one of the top centre backs in the world sooner rather than later. People harp on about Vidic and Ferdinand being world class centre backs.
Where were Vidic and Ferdinand when they were 20? Vidic was playing for Red Star Belgrade and only moved to Manchester United at the age of 25. Even then the fee was a paltry £7million. Not because he was so unheard of but because people weren't sure he was good enoungh and because he hadn't yet even come close to becoming the finished article that we have seen at United. He needed time! At the age of 20 Rio had just finished a loan at spell at the mighty Bournemouth. He was hailed as someone with exceptional talent and a future great but was also heavily criticized because of lapses in concentration and blew hot and cold. You don't need me to tell you how good he turned out.
Final point, imagine it was Vidic playing on the right last night. Would he of got forward to better effect than Jones. I seriously doubt it. Would his delivery have been better? Not by much. Does it mean Vidic is useless and has to be sold??
Catch yourselves on. It means that Vidic isn't a right back. Let's give Jones time.
Phil Jones
posted on 1/5/12
comment by Patriarch (U11015) posted 13 minutes ago
Have to disagree big time on your first two main issues, me. And I have problems with your last one too.
1) Rafael is actually quite good, he at least has done enough to merit a chance at claiming the spot as his own. With Jones and Smalling capable of playing that position then the purchase of a proper right back is definitely not a main issue.
With the decline of Evra and no left back alternatives then surely that side is a much more important issue?
2) De Gea is much better than Lindegaard. His form from the last few months has been near flawless and you want to replace him??? I can't figure that out
3)Who is this genuine, EPL experienced striker then? How much you think Fergie is willing to spend on him? What age would this proven striker be? It's not only the owners who don't want to spend big money on players over a certain age. Fergie doesn't either. His history in the transfer market proves that.
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He's ben pushing this agenda all season long claiming City will win the title by a mile
He suggested playing Berba as the lone frontman until we got a better striker
De Gea will be outstanding and he's already bloody good
I would ignore him. If he can't see the development of players like Danny and Rafael, he is beyond hope
posted on 1/5/12
jones needs a position first and foremost, and when we find him one he needs a consistent run playing in it.
posted on 2/5/12
comment by Patriarch (U11015) posted 1 day, 5 hours ago
Have to disagree big time on your first two main issues, me. And I have problems with your last one too.
1) Rafael is actually quite good, he at least has done enough to merit a chance at claiming the spot as his own. With Jones and Smalling capable of playing that position then the purchase of a proper right back is definitely not a main issue.
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It isn't just about disagreements. It's plain and simple Raphael just isn't good enough to claim the position for MUFC. AFC maybe but that's a different story.That doesn't really come into the equation. I think SAF is more than well aware of this, so I have no worries there. His brother has already being postioned out of the club. He won't be coming back.
posted on 2/5/12
comment by UnitedRedMacca- I taught Rooney and Berbatov t... (U2024)
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He's ben pushing this agenda all season long claiming City will win the title by a mile
He suggested playing Berba as the lone frontman until we got a better striker
De Gea will be outstanding and he's already bloody good
I would ignore him. If he can't see the development of players like Danny and Rafael, he is beyond hope
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Don't really see why I should respond to claims that are such falsehoods, but here goes.
I have made no prediction about who will win the EPL at any stage. Lie one.
Never suggested Berbatov should be the main striker at any stage. Lie two.
I have never questioned De Gea's shot stopping or ability to make astonishing saves. He will however make drop too many clangers (a la Barthez who was an unreliable joke) for him to be reliable enough for MUFC. I am a firm believe of reliability in GK's over camera saves. Think Hart, Given, Schmeichel, vdS.
Danny Welbeck may well make an average sub but, in the meantime MUFC do need a proper striker. Love the club but some times I despair about some of my younger colleagues rose-tinted glasses.
Oh, and by the way, don't lie about things I have written. It doesn't help anyone
posted on 3/5/12
Don't really see why I should respond to claims that are such falsehoods, but here goes.
I have made no prediction about who will win the EPL at any stage. Lie one.
Never suggested Berbatov should be the main striker at any stage. Lie two.
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This is what you wrote a couple of months ago and it wasn't the only time you suggested using Berba as the lone striker either or that City would win the league if we continued with Welbeck
You may retract accusing me of lieing now
See below
comment by me (U4566)
posted on 17/2/12
If the OPs formation was to be used for the 'run in' then MUFC will have to settle for 2nd place. When push comes to shove, for a sustained and genuine defence of the hardest title in Europe to win, the best XI (injuries considered) needs to be used as often a possible.
In the absence of Valencia, Lindegaard and Vidic the title defence needs to be built around
De Gea (shame but there you go)
Smalling
Rio
Jones
Evra
Nani (better on the left but ho hum)
Carrick
Rooney
Anderson/Giggs
Young
Berbatov
Wellbeck, Cleverley, or the twins are not ready (nor likely to be ready) for a real, or influential, career at MUFC. I realise that a lot of younger MUFC fans eulogise about these players, but then they have no real long-term experience of following a club of MUFC's genuine stature and the high level demands that requires from it's players.
Lot of faith in Smalling, and Jones has been a genuine revelation (despite very occasionally demonstrating footwork akin to that of the lumpen-footed John Terry).
Ashley Young has shown both the good and bad aspects of his career so far, but deserves another season at least. But if he keeps simulating like he did yesterday then he should be sent out to AFC asap (where the fans are less critical of such behaviour from their players), and Hernandez is only really going to ever be effective as a sub.
Second place is no great shame (just a tad embarrassing) when the team that wins has players of the class throughout that MCFC have. MUFC can match them next season with the addition of a genuine striker, Lindegaard in the no1 jersey, a proper right back (i.e one that doesn't defend 'brazilian style' and maybe a destructive midfielder (unless Jones is going to do that job). Then we shall see. Not bad apart from the cup performances really - but then that is the nature of cup competitions.
posted on 4/5/12
At no point do I suggest that using Berbatov as a lone striker is a good idea. Just the best of a bad lot of options. That is why I have perpetually called for the addition of a genuine striker. Look again.
To suggest I did is a lie. Call it what you like, dishonest, misleading, disengenuous, a falsehood it amounts to much the same thing. A lie.
Secondly, I have never made predictions based around what WILL happen (which is, after all, what a prediction is), only what COULD happen if the situation is or isn't sorted.
And, to further compound your lie, you haven't even addressed the issue of the magnitude of margins you suggested I predicted. Or have you forgotten what the details of your lie were? Always a mistake.
posted on 4/5/12
I have made no prediction about who will win the EPL at any stage. Lie one.
Never suggested Berbatov should be the main striker at any stage. Lie two.
That is what you wrote
Both were not lies as I have shown
posted on 7/5/12
comment by UnitedRedMacca- I taught Rooney and Berbatov t... (U2024) posted 3 days, 3 hours ago
I have made no prediction about who will win the EPL at any stage. Lie one.
Never suggested Berbatov should be the main striker at any stage. Lie two.
That is what you wrote
Both were not lies as I have shown
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Now you have added goobledegook to the recipe.
My request is reasonable. Stop mis-representing what I have written. Whether a deliberate lie or plain idiocy it helps nobody.
You have your views (as you are entitled to), and I have mine (which have turned out correct by the way). Do not pretend to (mis)represent my viewpoint again or you will be reported to the administrators. Is that clear?
posted on 8/5/12
Do what you like
I provided your post from a couple of months ago word for word so it is not misrepresenting you when people can clearly read it and make up their own minds
posted on 9/5/12
comment by UnitedRedMacca- I taught Rooney and Berbatov t... (U2024)
posted 1 day, 7 hours ago
Do what you like
I provided your post from a couple of months ago word for word so it is not misrepresenting you when people can clearly read it and make up their own minds
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You are still lying, and that can influence people's views. The more ovine type of people I'll admit, but people nonetheless. That doesn't bother me, but it, more importantly, doesn't help - as I've already mentioned.
You are clearly not prepared (or mature enough) to accept this, so I suggest you 'filter' me and I will 'filter' you. That way, at least, I don't have to read your lies and you will have nothing to lie about. Simple really.