gersnet article (image) Keeping up with the Jones

[Frankie 8,570]

On the main site today we have an enjoyable read from @Gizmo231 regarding how Jordan Jones has already changed his style in the short time since moving from Killie.

 

https://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/news-category/current-affairs/1048-keeping-up-with-the-jones

 

 

[Frankie 8,570]

It would be fair to say Jordan Jones’ summer arrival was one that slipped under the radar, not least because his capture was announced in January and fans had to wait months to finally see him in a Rangers shirt.

 

Even when he was eventually unveiled as the new number 22, there wasn’t a great fanfare over the former Kilmarnock man as he got down to pre-season with his new teammates and boss Steven Gerrard. But there’s no doubt that as Jones picked the ball up on the left hand side during Sunday’s thumping victory over Hibs, the packed stands in Ibrox knew exactly what to expect from a man who has stepped it up a gear since his arrival in Glasgow. What he did next was simply sublime and really highlighted how he has improved in the short two month spell.

 

Jones had the confidence to drive at the defence – much like he did for Joe Aribo’s goal in Denmark on Thursday night – and take the game to his opponents in a direct fashion. That he was able to slip in Sheyi Ojo who then set up Jermaine Defoe for the goal was the just rewards for Jones whose impressive initial play had led to the second goal.

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Having spent six years covering Kilmarnock, I saw around 100 players come and go – many of whom were never heard of again. Jones arrived at Rugby Park as part of a cringeworthy 10-player unveiling ceremony and could easily have gone down the same road as many of the others who were given contracts that day and vanished without trace.

 

His early career at Killie was no picnic and he struggled to get into the team under Lee Clark, finding starts hard to come by and struggling in his new surroundings. It would take a few months before he would get into the swing, helped by former Rangers manager Lee McCulloch who had taken over as manager.

 

By the end of 2016/17, Jones had started to find his feet and show a bit of early promise. That would turn into a proper run of form under Steve Clarke in his second season which would have initially alerted Mark Allen to the former Middlesbrough man. The problem he faced was that he was a lightweight winger who relied on a kick it and run style of play, fine for a team like Kilmarnock who were playing on the counter attack but many Rangers fans were asking if he was really what Gerrard’s squad needed. I was of a similar opinion and admit it to not being totally convinced it was the right sort of signing the team needed to build on an impressive first season under the new manager.

 

Jones is not a boy short of confidence but I’m sure he would have seen and heard some of the comments after he signed the contract at Ibrox. I’m also sure it would have made him even more determined to prove the doubters wrong and perhaps that is what is bringing out this brilliant form.

 

Going back to that second goal on Sunday, that whole passage of play from Jones was something we wouldn’t have necessarily seen last season. Normally he’d have ran the line and tried to get a cross in the box but now he’s taking the game to teams and driving the spaces in a bid to open the game up. He is also finding the killer final ball which is another thing which has let him down in the past.

 

Jones’ overall build is slightly bigger now too, meaning he’s harder to knock off the ball in the more physical encounters. The early signs suggest he will be an excellent addition to the team if he can keep this sort of form up while he also has the sort of ego that can fill a Rangers shirt.

 

Plus, if there was one thing Jones did thrive on, it was games against Celtic and coming up against his old pal Scott Brown – let’s hope he has the last laugh again when the teams meet next month.

[Frankie 8,570]

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[BlackSocksRedTops 3,752]

As much as Jones has impressed I think we need to hit the brakes. He's played a few games and looked good but let's judge him after a good run of games, not 2 or 3. Last season there was talk of bids for Coulibaly based on a few games and look how that turned out. I'm not being negative just realistic. Form should be measured on a half a season/full season not a couple of games. 

[ian1964 10,724]

11 minutes ago, BlackSocksRedTops said:

As much as Jones has impressed I think we need to hit the brakes. He's played a few games and looked good but let's judge him after a good run of games, not 2 or 3. Last season there was talk of bids for Coulibaly based on a few games and look how that turned out. I'm not being negative just realistic. Form should be measured on a half a season/full season not a couple of games. 

Agreed.

It's exactly the same with a player who hasn't started so well, he has had a good start and the hardest thing for him to do will be to maintain his good early form.

[Bluedell 5,627]

He's done well against 2 teams that were fairly open, but the real test will be when he's up against a 9 man defence.

[Frankie 8,570]

I don't think David is suggesting he's the finished article or judging him on two good games but that already he's shown a willingness to adapt his game to suit the team and doesn't seem overly apprehensive about the expectations of him.

 

As David says it's very early days but the signs are positive and let's hope Jones continues with the form he's showed so far.

[917 191]

On his first half performance on Saturday, he is better than Kent. 2nd half I thought he dipped when Hibs switched Whitakker to    LB to spare him further embarrassment. However that was exactly the sort of game Kent failed to deliver in last season, imo, so signs are looking good. 

[stewarty 2,027]

I'm always baffled at our support's desire to write players off after only a game or two.  Or even in some cases, before they've even kicked a ball for us.  A lot of what it takes to be a success at our club is confidence and mental strength.  So far, Jones has shown signs that he can embrace the challenge and step up to the standards we require.   Its early days though.

 

I think the key for Gerrard is having different types of players to suit the opposition and their tactics.   Where we play against that attack us or are stronger generally, fast ball carrying counter-attackers like Jones will be invaluable.  In other situations, we may need the ball playing trickery of Stewart, or the clever positioning of a (hopefully fit soon) Jamie Murphy could be better options.

 

 

[ian1964 10,724]