Positional forays purposeful, but central defence awaits Jones
Were he to be transported back to a not-too-distant football past, Manchester United’s Phil Jones might well take gainfully to the role of swashbuckling, pint-swilling, roaring leader, a rampaging central midfield all-rounder of the type popularised in the 1980s. He appears more of the era of, say, Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce – where footballers would play hard and play harder – than the teetotal, yoga mat-hugging uber-athletes of today. Jones’s natural footballing talent, back then, would have settled discussions about his true calling: he’s a midfielder.
But positional trends change quickly in football, the requisite attributes shifting with the times. And there appears an urge, justifiably inspired by Barcelona’s tiki-taka, to populate the middle of football’s parks with arty, diminutive pick-pockets, metronome passlords and multi-faceted power players – the latter, coincidentally or not, predominantly of African descent. That’s not to say Jones isn’t technically adept, and he is certainly a powerful, run-all-day worker. But he isn’t technically cute or skilfully subtle, like the finest midfield talents of 2012.
His attributes are brazen, rugged, and more favourably appreciated in the context of modern defending. Playing him in midfield is a means to an end for United at the moment: a young athletic runner compensating for, or, more kindly put, complementing the less mobile Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes. That blend didn’t exactly work for Sir Alex Ferguson against Jones’ former club Blackburn Rovers on Monday – though you could vaguely argue that Jones helped wear down the stubborn resolve and resistance of Steve Kean’s side. United looked far more dangerous once Ryan Giggs and, later, Ashley Young, came on to add the attacking verve that was previously lacking.
Despite that, many United fans rightly say that Jones’ best performances this season have come in central midfield. The reason for that is relatively obvious; Jones lacks the maturity and positional dexterity to yet master a master’s position in central defence, but he fills a void in United’s team in midfield. Centre-back rewards wily know-how and chides inexperienced young bucks. Just look at the tough education Jones’ team-mate Jonny Evans has undergone. In seasons past he began to look a little lost and, for many fans at least, suddenly dispensable when Chris Smalling and Jones arrived. This season, he has arguably been United’s best defender, barring the 6-1 Manchester derby defeat in which he was sent off – but as that scoreline suggests, that match won’t be bolded up and placed prominently on any United player’s CV. More importantly, Evans has softened the blow of Nemanja Vidic’s long-term absence. At 24, though, it took time attaining his current high regard. Four years his junior and having only just left his teens, Jones has similar lessons ahead.
Jones has Wayne Rooney’s innate football understanding and his willingness to play in almost any position, but there should be no doubt that centre-back is his destiny. His use in midfield rewards his technical qualities in a conversely similar way to former striker Alan Smith’s tackling robustness served him out of position - it was an auxiliary but valuable asset as a striker, it didn’t make him a good midfielder, though it made it tempting to play him there.
Jones’ defensive style falls somewhere between that of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, which if fulfilled is a frightening prospect indeed. This, too, is a positional progression natural in football; to amalgamate previously disparate qualities. That is why it is highly unlikely that Jones will become the new incarnation of John O’Shea or Phil Neville – and that is not to disrespect two dedicated, valuable club servants. They were at times important players, just without a position to call home. Time and talent is on Jones’ side, and his youthful forays throughout the United team should only serve to enhance his all-round game when he drops back into central defence, where greatness awaits.
