Manchester United Banter Archive September 12 2014

12 Sep 2014 15:14:10
I find it rather intriguing that a poster a bit down wanted Phil Jones to be unavailable in order to play a back four.

Well one cold truth for you, Jones has proven to be our best center back whether it is this season, or whenever he had the opportunity to play an extended run of games as a center back.

Yes, he does make mistakes. And yes, it is true that his last ditch tackles and interceptions are what makes him seem like a better player than he is. But here are the facts, he does not make any more mistakes than Evans or Smalling. But he is the only one who can make up for his mistakes. A Phil Jones mistake will eventually lead to him having to endanger himself, while an Evans/ Smalling mistake will also lead to a Phil Jones last ditch effort.

He has our best defender, and on that basis, should be the first name on the team sheet, bar none. Thinking anything different is quite weird, borderline deluded. Whether is back 3 or back 4, we need Jones in it.

It wasn't a dig at jones mate, he's my favourite defender we have and I have really big hopes for him and his career with us. Just if LVG is forced to play 4 at the back and we win then he may persist with it and when Jones returns he can slot into the back 4 rather than a 3.

Is this a sly jab at Fresh?

You've maybe taken the comment out of context, I don't think he wants Phil J to be injured he wants less CB's available in order to go 4 at the back.

Not sure how it would be a jab at me. I want to see a back four, but with Jones and Rojo. For me Jones has all the potential in the world and it is about time he fulfilled it.

12 Sep 2014 18:05:10
Well he won the united player of the month award. Ok wasn't much competition but still. I think he's first choice whether 3 or 2 centrebacks and the rest are playing to slot in alongside.

You would think Rojo would the favourite for a 2 with Jones and a shoe in for a 3. Leaves Smalling as first reserve for a 2 or the 3rd member of a 3. Its Evans that misses out either way at the moment.

Who knows by the end of the season we may not be so desperate for a big name signing.

My bad. I meant Anon :P

He is still not a good centre back IMO and the fact that you think he is our best tells me we are in dire need of CB's. He is way too often out f position and makes rash challenges.

I know he is young but still a long way from being a polished cb

Jones is developing. He's looked better for England than for Utd, maybe a sign he is better in a two?

I think Smalling is current better than Jones. Jones needs to learn to control his actions. Evans was better than both last season but his form this year is terrible.

I would say Rojo is our best centre back, presuming he settles in the uk and continues playing at the same level we saw in the World Cup.

Likely we'll see 3 at the back continue for some time I fear.

DodgyBanter,
how can you say Rojo is your best centre-back when he hasn't even kicked a ball for Utd yet let alone played in the premier league. Surely seeing how he plays first would be a better idea don't you think?

Simon

That's not what Dodgy said. He said he's our best CB assuming he settles and plays to the same level he did at the World Cup. Similar to saying Falcao is our best CF, assuming he settles and plays to the level he has been.

13 Sep 2014 12:34:09
If you're having to misquote someone to argue against them, then your argument isn't great to begin with.

He played well in the World Cup, and is a World Cup finalist. That's already put him at a level above what we already have, so his point is valid.

13 Sep 2014 12:35:32
And Tony's reply came in just after I posted my Dodgy defence :)

Apologies in this case, I seem to have misunderstood the comment. I agree we need to play a back four, and Jones/ Smalling being out might get Van Gaal to play it just because of our lack of options.

But honestly Jones is our only defender that has proven to be trustworthy so far this season and I'm still unsure whether Evans' troubles are because he had to play in a back 3 or a massive loss of form, therefore I'd be worried without the lack of cover in a back four especially since it's Rojo's first game here and Evans being rubbish

13 Sep 2014 17:49:56
No, Mick. It was Simon I was getting at, with his misquoting of Dodgy over Rojo. For some reason the first part of that post, including where I was addressing Simon personally, seems to have been snipped.

Lol, just seen this as away from the matrix mainframe in sunny Portugal.

Thanks for leaping to my defence, keep your boots handy, you both might be needed later in the season if our luck with injuries continues!

Looking forward to seeing our new players run out tomorrow, hope they can gel quickly. With other results going our way we can quickly get back into top four with a few wins.

12 Sep 2014 12:22:17
Is jones available this weekend? Kind of hope he isn't so we play 4 at the back.

No mate, Jones is out for atleast three weeks if I don't remember wrong.

Rafael is fit again and available for selection which could be good news. Shaw, Jones and Carrick I think are the only players that are unavailable for selection. It would be brilliant if on Sunday we see a back four again.

Luke shaw is back for selection

12 Sep 2014 16:15:15
Playing 4 at the back doesn't have anything to do with if jones is fit or not, it's wether raffael and shaw are fit.