Can Phil Jones and Chris Smalling form a strong defensive partnership for club & country?

Jones and Smalling need to improve their game

Manchester United once had one of the most successful defence partnerships in the world in the form of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic who rarely let anything get past them. The duo played a key role for United over the years but age finally caught up with them and they are now set to leave Old Trafford this summer with Nemanja Vidic already on his way to Inter Milan. Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson knew that the pair had just a few good years left in them and recruited Chris Smalling and Phil Jones as replacements. However, neither of them have fully established themselves as central defenders.

The duo cost Manchester United a pretty penny and were labelled as extremely promising players when they arrived at Old Trafford but haven’t really stamped their authority on the first team. Injury troubles halted their development last season but Sir Alex Ferguson should also take responsibility for their slow progress.

Sir Alex brought in the duo as potential replacements for Vidic and Ferdinand but has constantly played the youngsters out of position which is why they are struggling as centre backs right now. Former United boss David Moyes had envisioned Smalling and Jones as the clubs first choice central defenders but was let down by their below par performances. The youngsters looked understandably rusty at the back due to playing out of their comfort zones but now must be given a proper run as defenders as the time to form a successful defence without Ferdinand and Vidic has come.

Jones has been heavily used as a holding midfielder by Sir Alex and his successor David Moyes and has looked much better in a holding role than at the centre of defence. The 22-year-old was incredibly good as a defensive midfielder in last year’s game against Real Madrid and was very good in choking Arsenal’s midfield in one of this season’s earlier games. A good example of Jones’ rustiness as a centre back was exposed in the game against Everton where he was responsible for both of their goals.

Smalling has also been played out of position many times. The 24-year-old has been used as a right back quite often for club and country and has looked completely out of his depth in that role. Smalling simply does not have the pace or attacking instincts of a right-back and should not be used in that role anymore even in case of emergency. The former Fulham is very good in the air, holds on to the ball well and can be a very good centre back if he continues to regularly play in that position.

The pair have a good chance of not featuring too much in the World Cup due to the consistency of Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka at their respective clubs. Cahill and Jagielka both had slow starts to their careers at Chelsea and Everton careers but were never played out of position which is why they improved so much and managed to push themselves into the England squad. Jones and Smalling must pull up their socks or risk becoming like John O’Shea who never really had a fixed position at Manchester United.

Now for the main question. Can Smalling and Jones form a good partnership for club and country? The answer right now is no they are just too inconsistent. But that doesn’t mean they can’t improve and join the likes of Palister and Bruce and Ferdinand and Vidic as one of United’s great defence pairings.