What effect will Phil Jones have on Manchester United’s squad and formation? (Part 2)
After explaining in the first part about Phil Jones’ versatility and his probable deployment in Manchester United’s back four or as a defensive midfielder, it is now time to shed some light as to how the young Englishman will affect
the Red Devils’ squad. With Chris Smalling, yet another young English centre back and Johnny Evans in the Manchester United squad and far more experienced than the young Jones’, it is safe to say that both of them will be higher in the pecking order than the
former Blackburn defender at Manchester United.
However speculation is rife with regard to Johnny Evans’ future at Manchester United. United’s long standing defender has been linked to a move away from Old Trafford as his future at the club is now in ruins thanks to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Phil-Jones-c29903’
signature for the English champions. Same goes for John O’Shea, the versatile defender who has played at both right back and left back for United as well as in the midfield department, is destined for a move away from his childhood club as Sunderland are interested
in the Irishman’s services.
A massive squad overhaul might be on the way at Old Trafford especially after Ferguson realized the weaknesses of his team after their 3-1 defeat to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley. However will Jones be
able to make up for Evans’ and O’Shea’s possible departures? This is something that will only be revealed with time but judging from the Englishman’s performances in the past, he is well capable of filling up the void which will be left in the squad with the
departure of O’Shea and Evans.
Similarly http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Owen-Hargreaves-c28918 a pay-as-you-play deal means that there is an absence of talent in Manchester United’s midfield as well. Admittedly, Jones’ doesn’t play in a creative
midfielder’s position thus talk of him replacing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-Scholes-c29394 can be trashed right away. On the other hand, the Englishman has been known to play in the midfield region as a defensive midfielder, something that will come in handy for Manchester United in the
UEFA Champions League against teams such as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 and also provide them with an extra option given that Hargreaves was injured for a good part of the last two years for the English champions.
Elaborating a bit further on Jones’ prospects as a defender, eventually Ferguson will have to choose between him and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nemanja-Vidic-c27550, United have a long term defender despite the fact that the Serbian
hard-man is now touching 30. His robust style means that a player like Smalling will be more suited to replace http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Captain-c8314 retires from football altogether. Jones’ final place in the Manchester United squad will
be as a defensive midfielder and at just 19 years of age, Ferguson can take the youngster under his wing and mould him into a http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Mascherano-c18071 like player which physical presence suited to the Premier League.
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