Despite rumours linking him with a move away from the club, particularly after the arrival of defender Phil Jones, Jonny Evans has claimed he up for the challenge of working for his place in the team.
“I have always thought that being at a club like Manchester United, if you can’t accept a challenge of someone wanting your spot, you don’t deserve to be here,” he said. “That is what Manchester United is all about. You are constantly being tested. It is down to you, whether you are good enough, or whether you are putting the effort in to play for the first team.”
Man Utd News 24/7
Hope to see a return to form
Hope he fights and gets into the team – hopefully not because of injuries but because of how solid a defender he is. Right back could be his!
the old evans who kept pique out should come back PLEASE.
Swapping Evans with Evra is a disaster always waiting to happen…Right now,he needs to up his game,and start showing why he should be reckoned with..I just think he has alot to still show as a Man UTD player..
I just wish we could get back the Evans who was absolutely brilliant during that long defensive record that we had in past season
Evra and Fabio have left back, Evans and Rafael at right back would be a nice decision to make! Smalling, Jones, Rio and Vida in the centre.
Great attitude from the boy (as Fergie would call him), exactly right. He’s shown in the past that he’s got the potential to make it at the highest level, if only he can regain his confidence. The first part of that is guts and determination, the second part is getting the opportunities. The fact that Fergie hasn’t tried to sell him (as far as we can tell) should give him a big boost. I’d love him to succeed as it’s always best when home-growners push through, especially as United have such strong Irish traditions which need constant nurturing.
Never liked him as a player….always looks suspect at the back & defo wouldn’t be sorry if he left!!!
As far as I’m concerned, he’s 5th choice now behind Vida, Rio, Jones & Smalling. Useful backup when he keeps his head and doesn’t go to ground
don’t like seeing him in the starting XI, but will do as a squad player…….Needs to get his self believe back.
My starting XI for tomorrow
Anders Lindegaard – Rafael, Rio, Vidic, Evra – Nani, Carrick, Anderson,Giggs/Park – Young, Rooney
Always Be Closing: Evans at right back? What you been sippin’ on? ;o)
Evans is either centre or left back isn’t he? Can’t see him getting a sniff at right. Fabio can play both left/right. I guess Evans will be used as cover for left/centre. If Jones is going to get used as a DM then I think Evans can get some games next season… I hope he does come back to form.
He is an accident waiting to happen I hear he has a terrible attitude aswell spurs need a new centre back we should rip them off of some of the money their gona get off chelsea for modric.
@ Giles Oakley, you sir are a Legend….
Sir Giles
Excellent post as always…. Evans does have the ability, he has shown us that and like you say he needs to regain his confidence. Like you I also love the Irish connection with United.
Wonder if we could get Kevin Moran to coach Evans?
His biggest challenge this season is learning to play at right or left back. I have a feeling that we will need him to play those roles quite often seeing as we only have 3 natural full backs.
Costas
Smalling is extremely comfortable slotting in at right back as well
Funny how Jones is considered to have displaced Evans just because of a few key highlights of his short career so far. Evans had an off season, surprise surprise, it only happens to him apparently, no one else. He’ll be back to his norm soon enough, I remember seeing him decently in his last game last season. A defender doesn’t keep Drogba in his back pocket by relying on luck. To me, Jones has plenty to prove, and we’ll only know how consistent he REALLY is after at least seasons.
I like the spirit. One only have to read the things the likes of Ben Foster had to say off the competitive nature of things at United, which he (foster) had to run to his rock of mediocrity(birmmingham). I say all the best of luck to Evans this season.
It’s almost on now!!
YorYor
Very well said …… As for Jones I am of the thought that Sir Alex will groom him to be a midfield player
Evans is classy player, reads the game very well. Thought he had a solid finish to the end of last season too. Jones will have a fight on his hands for the fourth centre-back position. Happy to see him at left-back too, has good versatility and a great attitude.
@Cedars
Yeah that’s true, but I’d consider it a waste of his talents and like I said recently, I don’t want Smalling to turn into a utility man. I think this should be the the season where he starts getting the torch from Rio.
@YorYor
Well said. Jones isn’t ahead of Evans in the pecking order.
Hi CedarsDevil, I wondered about Jones in midfield, both defensive but also attacking as he’s good at surging forward, just as Smalling is. Would be great to have two attacking centre halves though, back to the days of Charlie Roberts. As for Kevin Moran giving Jonny a bit of special coaching, he may not be available just now, but he could always send Jonny a few limbs or other bits and pieces which fell off him, just as hints as to what’s required
I like Jonny Evans and he will be a top defender at United. Looks alot bigger this season. God my obsession with blokes bodies is worrying!
YorYor – Spot on pal.
keano99 – Where did you hear about his attitude? News to me. His attitude is always spot on to me including when he got that fucking roasting on the touchline two seasons ago
Phil Jones will be in midfield I honestly think. Not very tall and has all the attributes to play there.
Cedars – Hello mate. How are you? You beat me to it about him playing in the middle of the park.
Giles – Hello. A pleasure to see you on here. Hope the health is ok.
Sir Giles
Hahaha, I was actually surprised that Moran finished his career with all his body parts still in place, well almost! If ever there was a brave defender….
Whether Jones ends up as a center half or in midfield I do not mind, with him Evans and Smalling we seem set for the next few years defensively…
Costas
I would not want Smalling to become a utility player either, but when needed he can do the job and do it well…. Remember even Fletch fillied in at right back at times and so did Valencia…Both are not utility players by any means
If Jonny pulls his finger out and works his ass off at improving his workrate and concentration, we would not have to buy another defender for almost a decade.
@ Manchuchu – I wouldn’t question Evan’s workrate – always thought he puts in 100% effort and commitment into everything he does (Stuart Holden tackle – legitimate 50/50 – he was just unlucky). Maybe he has the odd occasion of lapses in concentration but which young centre backs don’t?. It’s all part of the learning process.
King Eric
I am well my friend, hope you are too………… Regarding Jones, the kid is built like a brick wall and I even dared comparing him to a certain Duncan Edwards (RIP) , well in terms of physique at least. Excellent ability on the ball and as tough as they come. If he is well looked after (Which at United he will be) than we will see a monster of a player in years to come, be it in the middle or at the back
i really hope evans bounces back this season.I have lot of faith in him
Is Evans our new Brown/JOS utility man?
@Cedars
No they are not, but they didn’t have to step in that position for a lot of games. If Rio and 2 of our full backs get injured for an extended period of time (not that hard to imagine), that will leave us with no alternative but to play Smalling on the right for multiple games. And that mean we would miss his services at the heart of the defence. That’s why I feel it’s better if Evans starts getting accustomed to that position.
I don’t see how Jones is ahead of Jonny. He’s only joined the club. Same with Young. IMO, Valencia and Nani are the first choice atm. Jones and Young need to earn their place in the team. Jonny has played in the fullback positions for Northern Ireland. So, that won’t be a problem for him. He suffered last season, from a lack of confidence. If he gets that back, we’ll have a very good defender again.
Costas
Blimey, you are pessimistic, even worse than me! hahaha
What if we lose Nani, Valencia, Young, Rooney and Hernandez due to injury… Then what?
evans needs to deveolp aggression,seems a bit timid to me and easliy bullied,good attitude but lad needs to get his confidence and mojo back.last year he was poor.
@ Cedars – Then up steps BerbaGOD!
BerbaGod
He controls the ball, he has skill, he has panache, he has style, he is full of class and his name is Berbatov
@King Eric hi mate i’ve been noticing a worrying trend about players bodies in your posts,haven’t started subscribing to muscle magazine have you?.
thanks for letting me know that sabatage times is for real,that blog is so ludicrous just thought it was a piss take.
Good luck with your sudden attraction to men mate i’m sure you can work through it,stay away from gyms.lol
@willierednut
I don’t see how Jones is ahead of Jonny. He’s only joined the club. Same with Young. IMO, Valencia and Nani are the first choice atm
There in lies the problem with the transfers we’ve made with young. Its simple. if you’re looking to “up it” we should be looking at a player with a strong case of playing ahead of any of those two you mentioned – nani and valencia
slim – I don’t buy the players mate. Just offering my opinion. It’s different with Sneijder. He’ll go straight into the team. Jones and Young have to prove themselves first and foremost. Competition is healthy I suppose.
in regards to the jones signing don’t really see how anyone can say who’s ahead of whom.it’ll be the players that step up,just because evans has been at the club longer means nothing.
half a dozen teams were chasing jones and utd forked over 18 mill so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise the lad is a exceptional talent,same goes with young its impossible to say he won’t start ahead of tony v and nani.the only pecking order i see at the club is rooney he appears bullitproof,don’t really see any other position being like that.
I’d say De gea. He’s our number one. Jones might have had teams chasing him, that doesn’t equate to walking straight into the team. That goes for Young as well. If they get their chance and end up taking it, then fair play. Jones and Young will provide competition for places. The likes of Evans, Valencia and Nani know, they have to be consistent.
you’d have to assume De gea will start,didn’t say jones and young will walk straight into the team,just think its a level playing field apart from rooney
Well, Rooney could get injured. His position, wouldn’t be locked down then. For that reason, Berbatov will stay at United. Don’t see Owen getting much game time. Hernandez will need a rest from time to time. The Berb will probably get more games, than people think.
I’m right with Willie here on Jonny.
This is exactly the attitude SAF wants from the squad when we buy new players. No way will ne have Jones ahead of Evans. They’ll both have opportunities to step up otherwise Jonny would have already joined Wes and O’Shea at Sunderland. I’m hoping he returns to hos peak form and if so Jones my find himself converted into a DM role.
yeah apart from injury doesn’t seem to matter how poorly rooney plays,berba deserves more starts but then again deserved to be on the bench in the CL final and didn’t deserve to be benched in the first place,so with berba i don’t understand why he is so under appreciated in the first place.
for me hernandez will be the most interesting,defenses will have figured out how to play him better,so watching him adapt and continue to improve i’m looking forward to.owen is there because of the pay as you play contract and always going to be a danger coming off the bench,good insurance at a low cost.
I think a lot of people will watching Hernandez this season, to see if he suffers from second season blues. I don’t think he will. Certainly, he’ll have to improve in other areas of his game. When he does that, he’ll get even better.
Wayne – Hello pal. Dont worry mate I am married . I am just a modern day metrosexual! Mens muscle magazine! Nice one mate.
I am at odds with the keeper thing. Mandy Henry clearly said on the Paddy show on Monday that Lindergaard had been given the number one shirt. She categorically said it. Thought De Gea had?
Pay over 20 million, for him to be a backup? Seems unlikely.
@KE
The modern man lol.
willie – Alright pal. Yes indeed. I am the modern man. Thats what Mandy Henry said mate. Cannot see it. I thought it was confirmed that De Gea was gonna get number one.
Mandy must be confused KE.
wayne, if the club ever leaked the news, or gave a slight indication, that Jonny Evans was available, betcha teams will come knocking.
They are all young, and are bound to hit a sticky patch some time in their careers. No defender doesn’t.
We have plenty of “2nd seasoners” this time round, really hope we don’t see anyone jumping on Smalling or Hernandez if they suffer even a small blip.
Great attitude shown by Jonny think hes a really good defender had a bit of a rough time last year granted and came in for way 2 much stick in my opinion
if he can get back 2 the standards he showed in his first season we have another top defender in our ranks
big season for the lad hope he does well
He is and always will be a good defender, he just needs to get over his jitters. This WILL come with age and selling him would be a massive mistake in my opinion!
Also, he’d be a beast as a defensive back, use the twins against weaker/mid teams and him and Evra for difficult away games.
i see him as our future wes brown..