With the likely purchase of Phil Jones ( Blackburn ) will the Man U defence be easy to predict ?
I know Jones has been used in midfield, but essentially, he's a centre back....what with Smalling pushing for a place & Ferdinand being injury prone, it won't be a forgone conclusion, who plays next season.

Sorry guys...posted in the wrong thread...can a mod move to the main forum please ?

Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra should be the first choice defence unless they sign a more experienced right-back. Jones has more chance starting in midfield at the moment.

Some people say he's the new " John Terry "....i can see Ferdinand picking up more injuries, so i wouldn't think it's a forgone conclusion ( but nothing is ! )
I think Smallings too good to ignore....

This was one transfer which i didnt want to happen. At Blackburn, he would of been nailed on to start and possibly scored well over 100 points. However, at Man Utd, will his playing time no be limited to just Carling Cup and FA Cup games? Smalling is one to watch, especially, with the amount of injuries Ferdinand suffered last season. There's to many if's and buts with Phil Jones, that im unsure whether to take the risk on him.

Think we need A Blackburn fan to confirm he ended the season playing defensive midfield

But pre season games may indicate where is likely to line up next season

Yes, it's a tricky one....i would have put him in my team, but not so sure now. ( even though deal not gone through yet. )

Is Fabio not ahead of Rafael now for the right back spot?

I think out of 60+ games next season for Man Utd, I could see Jones featuring in about 20-25? The Carling and FA Cup games perhaps starting at centre back. No doubt tossed in to start for a few league games as well during busy spells. Then some 20 mins cameo's perhaps at times in the holding midfield role.

I suppose if SAF lets Gibson go to Sunderland (which he obviously should!) and then fails to buy another central midfield player, then could be a case for Jones in midfield. I guess Cleverley might also join the queue.

Jones started in front of the back 4 for Blackburn last season as they had Samba and Nelsen at centre back, but after Nelsen got injured he finished at centre back alongside big Chris.

If you're going down the Man Utd defender route I think you've got to be prepared to pay the extra and get Vidic, Evra or De Gea (risky?), otherwise you end up disappointed. SAF seems to have a knack of giving someone a run up until sdt transfer window, make them look a dt bargain, then switch to someone else for that slot just after you make the change