I think Jones at CB is not good enough.

At RB he's not better than Rafael and it's unfair that Rafael has lost his place.

Fair enough but I remember everyone raving about him in the early season. What's happened since? Maybe his injuries have gone against him..

He has become the new scapegoat of the team now the plastics can't use Carrick to blame. Everyone can see he is an extraordinary talent and he will be a top player. Just look at some of the people who have praised him in the past.

How people expect a 19 year old to be the finished product is unbelievable.

I recommend ignoring their comments as they are idiotic

Welcome to the board.

Completely agree with you, ManUtdDaredevil and to a degree vidicthelegend (I will continue to blame Carrick for our midfield problems (see other threads)).

To be as good as he is [Jones] at his age, with so little experience playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a testament to his potential. Managed correctly, we hopefully have another world-class player on our hands.

I think this guy is the real deal! i see his future as a box to box midfielder and think he was great in that role earlier in the season

Fickle fans always need someone to whinge about! It's part and parcel of the game. They're probably home alone on their computer crying into their gatorade that SAF never picked them up as they could do a far better job.

Fact is they never really had a chance of being signed by Fergie, not only are they absolute pants at football, they've never even left the bedroom in their parents's house!

FIFA w@ nkers!

^^^true

He could easily be a world-class centre back when he learns the tricks of positioning, etc., at the very top level - and having Ferdinand and Vidic to learn from suggests he will.

I also think he has done fine at right back, albeit a little naive at times. The fact that he has at times been chosen ahead of Rafael suggests that Fergie (who sees 100 times more of the players, and knows 1,000,000 more about putting together a winning football team, than SLM or any of us) sees something better in his game or his attitude or his fitness.

As a midfielder he has impressed - good pressing, some dangerous surges forward, some nice passes.

We can't expect consistency and an absence of mistakes from a 19 year-old, especially one who hasn't had the chance to knuckle down and specialise in a single role. What we have seen is quality and footballing brain (e.g. that first time pass for Young in the England game), monstrous strength, and the sort of determination we have seen in some of United's leaders of the past. That's definitely good enough for me in his first season, and good enough to buy him a lot of patience if - as with a number of younger players - he has a dip in his second season.

Welcome to the board, by the way.

I think he will be a good prospect.
Not sure its at the back though.
He lacks a bit of speed, but does keep what pace he does have going all game.
Liked him better in midfield.
He will be an asset to the club. His reading of the game will improve, he will become better, fitter and stronger.

I agree, certainly a player with massive potential. It amazes me how quickly supposed fans change their minds on players. Everyone,of course has their opinion but some do not remain consistent, one bad game and get rid seems to be the attitude of the minority.

To anybody who's slating him, 19 probably seems quite old, if you get my drift. Wise to ignore them.

Welcome aboard the board

vidicthelegend (U8735)

He has become the new scapegoat of the team now the plastics can't use Carrick to blame.



The same people who were bigging Jones up as the best thing since Duncan Edwards are the ones currently using him as a tool to vent their frustrations.

He is 20 years old, and whilst he has his flaws, anybody who knows something about football knows they are things that come with experience (Positioning, concentration and decision making).

jones' best performances have come when he's played in midfield.

The simple fact that he's 19 doesn't come to the bitters minds anymore. He's got all the attributes to be able to play in different positions at the moment, and only with time is he going to start gathering an understand of position and decision making.

Did you know on the old 606, Ronaldo was slated during the first 2 years he was at Man United. One trick pony, all skills but no end product? He was 18-20 at that point as well. - Nobody is immune from pointless criticism unfortunately.

ole_1999

I'd agree but with the proviso that in midfield his mistakes / moments of naivety aren't exposed so badly.

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he was excellent when playing in midfield against wolves and qpr. admittedly both sides aren't up to much but he did play very well.

We have many, many glory hunters as fans... something unavoidable.

Unfortunatly, Jones (alongside Smalling, De Gea and Evans) have cost us points and, perhaps more importantly, champions league games.

This has led to a backlash against them.... Especially Jones.

These fans can't see the bigger picture. We are building for the future and will soon have a particularly strong defence.

These type of fans would rather we use the Chelsea model... snapping up ready made players and winning all they can with the same team.... without taking any risks to build a 2nd team.

If we end up potless this season... I will not be sat in tears. Firstly due to our amazing defence of out title.... but also safe in the knowledge that we have improved our squad greatly.

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His defensive positioning, heading and decision making are all pretty terrible
---------------------------------------------------
But they are not... Did you watch him for Blackburn.. He is a great defender.

He has, unsurprisngly, not nailed down a sport in our carosel of a defence.... So mistakes crop up even more... But he has everything in his locker to be really good.

Next time he plays CB, record the match and watch him.... He has no terrible attributes.... it's a ridiculous thing to say. Like most kids, he will make mistakes and is not a complete player.... but to use the word terrible... It just adds you into the pot of fans I was talking about.

"I would also argue that O'shea had a much better first season than jones has had."

This is a good point. I had high hopes for O'shea, the Figo nutmeg and all that. Then he just platoed (is that a word?) at 'very average' and stayed there, before becoming, imo, a liability for his last few seasons.

Like I said, if he's managed properly, hopefully we won’t see this repeated in Jones.

Jones was given the next duncan edwards, future england captain tag after about 3 games at the club, people in england just can't help over hyping and building up young players after a handful of decent games. I said on 606 when he signed that he's a central midfielder, not a centre back and i've seen nothing about him to change my mind, also Rafael should be playing when fit no questions ask, he's a very good player, tenacious and should start at right back for me.

He's only 19 remember and he will improve, i think SAF needs to speak to him and find out which position he's most comfortable and play him there and only let him fill in in other positions if (or when!) we have an injury crisis.

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