Manchester United's Phil Jones needs to be more dominant, more assertive, and more clever after nightmare display at Sheffield United
* Phil Jones always looked problematic in that back line against Sheffield United
* If Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge, he would have hauled him off after 15 minutes
* Instead of pumping ball into row Z for opener, he let Lys Mousset take it off him
Remember what Sir Alex Ferguson said about Phil Jones in 2013? 'The way he is looking, he could be our best-ever player,' the then Manchester United manager said of Jones, who was 21.
Fast forward six years and he is getting hooked at half-time by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. His career has certainly not gone the way Ferguson hoped. Had the Scot been in charge on Sunday, you wonder whether he would have hauled him off after 15 minutes.
Jones always looked problematic in that back line, then he was at fault for the opening goal. Instead of pumping the ball into row Z — like he should have done — he allowed Lys Mousset to take it off him.
The Manchester United defender was hauled off at half-time by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
No defender should let that happen or even take the chance. Maybe there was a hint of a foul, but Jones needed to be more dominant, more assertive, more clever.
I'm surprised Solskjaer opted for three at the back in the first place. Maybe he wanted to match up with the hosts, but it only created confusion. The man he shoehorned into the team made a mistake and it left United chasing the game. I saw a different side in the second half and the kids salvaged something for Solskjaer.
The shining light of the club is always going to be their youth players and they were the reason United left with a point. For the neutral, this was a great spectacle but what a day to forget for Jones on his first Premier League start this season.
PS: While Jones was floundering at Bramall Lane, his former United team-mate Chris Smalling was starring for Roma. Smalling, on loan in Serie A, scored with a header and provided assists for Gianluca Mancini and Edin Dzeko in the 3-0 thrashing of Brescia. A Mr O G Solskjaer of Manchester might be interested to hear that.
In 2013, former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claimed Jones 'could be our best ever player'
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