Jonny Evans is Manchester United's best defender this Season

Jonny Evans hasn’t always been the greatest of players in recent times, but this season he has been arguably our best defender, leading the team with 12 clean sheets partnering Carrick, Vidic, Smalling, Jones, and Ferdinand. He was the leader at the back when both Vidic and Ferdinand got injured in the beginning of the season, where we got a glimpse of what the future of Manchester United‘s defense would look like when Evans, Smalling, and Jones, got there chance to play together.

Jonny doesn’t make the blistering runs like Jones, score diving headers like Vidic, or over shadow someone like Ferdinand, what he can bring has been delivering for the last three months, is quality and consistent performances.

When United lost consecutive matches against Blackburn and Newcastle, Jonny was out injured and in his place was Phil Jones, who I personally think would be a better RB or CDM because it allows him the ability to go forward and express himself, compared to Evans or Smalling who are more natural center backs than Jones.

Jonny, when starting this season, has only been involved in three losses in 26 appearance which is quite incredible for a man who has played with five different defensive partners and three different keepers. His passing is another quality that should be looked at as an improved asset, passing well over 50 yards, while his completion rate is 64% which ranks him fourth among CBs in the league.

Evans’ concentration has also improved and his disciplinary record has been top notch, ever since the City game, collecting only two yellows and no red cards, with only one of those yellows being shown during a league match.

Why do I think Jonny Evans has been Manchester United’s best defender this season? He has more clean sheets then any other central defender in the team, played the most games at CB in the league, and has been a vital member of the defense this season. He has had only one bad game this whole season and that was against City, losing 6-1 and receiving a red card, which many people would agree is a day that most United fans would love to forget.

If you observe over the last couple of months, Jonny has grown in confidence and has stepped up as a leader on and off the pitch, at the tender age of 25.

Now, Jonny is one of the senior players at Old Trafford. Here’s what Rio Ferdinand had to say on Jonny Evans, “he will probably be Northern Ireland captain at some point in the near future. He’s a top, top player and he’ll have a major part to play at Old Trafford in the coming years.”

If he can keep performing the way he has in the last couple of months, I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes over for Rio Ferdinand when Nemanja Vidic returns from his knee injury.

Written by Tyler DunneFollow him on Twitter @MUFC_CHAMP19ns9