Cambridge United 0-0 Manchester United - 5 Talking Points

#2 Phil Jones Conundrum

Phil Jones in action during the matc

He is arguably one of the very best young English centre-half. Phil Jones today was just a pale shadow of himself. Unconfident in possession and diabolical while taking corners.

If not for the heroics of his defensive partner Marcos Rojo, Cambridge would have slayed down the Devils at the Abbey Stadium. Jones consistently gave away possession with his aimless long balls and at times due to his risky passing in front of his own keeper.

Jones was caught napping by Cambridge forwards quite a few times when he was put under pressure. At times, he was completely clueless about his surroundings as he clattered into his own teammate pretty often, especially in the first half.

He was decent enough in second half but nowhere close to his imperious best. Someone tipped for greatness was just wasn’t at his best against a side which is 75 places below his team in Football League pyramid.

Coming to his new found set-piece duties, it is really very baffling to see a 6 foot plus defender take a corner! Especially with the likes of Angel Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj on field. The gamble is failing miserably due to Jones’ pathetic delivery where he fails to get past the first man in 9/10 times.

With growing impatience at Old Trafford, Phil Jones can barely afford to have such horrendous displays against such mediocre sides.