SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S DUNCAN EDWARDS
WHY PHIL JONES HOLDS THE KEY TO MAN UNITED’S SEASON – AND WHY A SWITCH OF POSITION FOR HIM COULD SPELL AGONY FOR CHELSEA, MANCHESTER CITY AND LIVERPOOL
Exclusive sport commentary by FRANK WORRALL.
LOOKING back on the summer signings, some pretty impressive names ended up at the biggest clubs – and have made pretty impressive starts. I’m thinking of Stewart Downing at Liverpool, Mikel Arteta at Arsenal and Juan Mata at Chelsea. All class acts who, in turn, bring a touch of class, even if they arrived at a premium (£20million for Downing, £10million for Arteta and £24million for Mata).
Of course, there are some who cost a fortune and make you scratch your head and wonder why. In particular, I’m thinking of Jordan Henderson, who arrived at Liverpool from Sunderland with a fanfare and in a deal worth a reported £20million. Now, don’t get me wrong – I think Kenny Dalglish is doing a terrific job at Liverpool and I applaud his commitment in reinforcing his team with a British spine. Andy Carroll, Charlie Adam and the aforementioned Downing are all players who will help the foreign imports such as Luiz Suarez and homegrown genius like Steven Gerrard turn the Kop kings into a force to be reckoned with once again.
But Jordan Henderson? For me, he is a box to box player with a good engine (as the cliché goes) but is he absolutely top-notch? I have my doubts: he didn’t impress for England Under-21s in the summer European Championships and I don’t see much in him beyond a hard work ethic – a top-notch journeyman if you will. Of course, I hope he proves me wrong and becomes the new Steven Gerrard, but he has a long way to go.
Especially when you look at the player who is definitely THE best buy of the summer transfer market. Yes, I’m talking about the colossal called Phil Jones, who signed for Man United in a £17million deal from Blackburn. An absolute bargain at the price, I don’t think I have ever seen a player settle in so quickly at Old Trafford, or look so much the part from the very start of his career there.
This, remember, is the boy who none other than Sir Bobby Charlton said reminded him of the late, great Duncan Edwards, who tragically died from injuries sustained in the Munich air disaster of 1958. A huge bear of a boy-man, Duncan would have surely become the greatest player ever at United and England, and his presence in the national team could have even meant it would have been he who held the World Cup aloft in 1966 rather than Bobby Moore. Indeed, if Duncan had survived Bobby might not have made it into the team if, as would have been likely, they were both vying for the same starting position.
I can understand why Sir Bobby said he saw Edwards in Jones. The new boy is just 19 yet looks in his mid to late 20s such is his size and presence on the pitch. He is an excellent reader of the game and I believe he is the key to the success of the new United Sir Alex Ferguson is creating.
Jones has already played at full-back and centre-half for United and I am sure that even now, at 19, he would serve the English national side better than John Terry. Yes, he is that good, better than Terry and Rio Ferdinand and certainly a couple of leagues higher up the scale than Gary Cahill, who Fabio Capello astonishingly promoted ahead of him in Ferdinand’s absence for England recently.
But it is in another position that I believe Jones will save Fergie’s skin this season. As a holding midfield player with the vision to control and run the game. United began the campaign at breakneck speed with everyone talking about the new group of youngsters Fergie was blooding – Jones, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck. Looking at them closely, I would argue that only Jones and Smalling are guaranteed first teamers right now. The rest have potential – but who would you put up front with Rooney against Barcelona…Welbeck or Hernandez?
‘Chicharito’ would win hands down. Similarly, Cleverley clearly has potential but he is rather fragile. He needs to beef up – has he the physique and energy to play out a full season at United? This is where Jones comes in. After the injury-plagued Owen Hargreaves was allowed to leave, United lack a natural holding midfielder who has vision. I know Darren Fletcher can take on the role, but Jones is a natural and a much better player than the captain of Scotland.
Somewhere down the line, Sir Alex may find his ‘fledglings’ are suffering. Then, he may well slot Jones into this new role in midfield, to tighten things up and had a shield in front of the defence. Barcelona have Sergio Busquets to the job, and every great team needs someone to anchor so that the likes of Rooney at United, Mata at Chelsea, Aguero at Manchester City and Suarez at Liverpool can thrive.
Phil Jones, United’s new Duncan Edwards, could well turn out to be the best of the lot – and that would spell joy for United and agony for Chelsea, City and Liverpool…and maybe, just maybe, even the mighty Barca. Don’t be surprised if Sir Alex employs him in that anchor role in midfield when the going gets tough – and don’t forget where you read it first…in your No 1 Weekly Sport.
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