I didn't want to ruin '' the 10 players'' thread, some on there said that our number 4 isn't good enough for United and wouldn't get into the Arsenal back 4, i disagree with that statement, Jones will be a United legend and will go down as one of Fergie's greatest ever signings in my opinion.
Two different things in your head here Matth, he is not good enough at present to get in the Arsenal back four, he will be in the future. If he gets half a season playing consistantly at centre back he will become a giant of the game (having a settled back four would help him too, not to mention the team).
You honestly think that Mertesacker is better than Jones, who said Scousers don't have sense of humour.
Mertesacker is slow, but at the moment he has far better positional sence and more experience than Jones. You just don`t get to be the German national team first choice for as long as he was if you are crap.
Every United player is better than every other player. Of course Jones is better- 96 Germany caps means **** all and Jones being the epitome of mediocrity means **** all too.
As usual it seems to be one extreme to another. Jones is not better than Mertesacker, but he's not a bad defender like some like to pretend. His development this season has stunted for a couple of reasons. Firstly, he was used as a DM for the first half of the season and was nothing short of excellent in that role, however that meant he wasn't learning in his natural CB position. Secondly, when he was brought back to CB, his partners have been chopped and changed virtually every game, as well as having no cover offered in front in midfield. Hardly the best circumstances for a young defender learning his trade. Once we sort out the midfield, I have no doubt he'll go on to be an excellent CB. In fact I would like him and Smalling to be given time together in that pairing. The CB position really isn't a priority for United.
I'd say it was personally. I get your point about Jones being played out of position etc. and I personally think he'll turn out to be decent enough. But with Vidic and Rio leaving/retiring what back up do you have. Jones, Smalling, Evans (is he staying?), my point being, they need time to play together and form a partnership, but if injury struck - what then? I don't know who you've got coming through the ranks etc, so I might be wrong - but for me it's a position you'll be very thin on the ground come the end of the season.
Evans I'm sure will be staying. I haven't heard any different tbh. I'd rather we stop fcking around with Smalling and Jones playing them all over the pitch and stunting the development in their natural positions. Although I agree with what you're saying, it's not a priority when you consider the fact they're having to cover other positions. Why not buy a RB (if he's not going to play Varela) and a DM. If you look, it's covering those positions which has caused us to move our CB's away, rather than the CB position itself. If we're lucky we'll buy 4 players this summer. We will need another CB at some point but there are other areas we should address first - RB, LB and 2 midfielders (maybe even a winger).
