Isaiah Jones

The word that occurred to me about Isaiah's performance today was "languid".

A couple of occasions we lost the ball because he didn't go to meet it (off not great passes, but he should have seen the danger). A couple of balls given away sloppily. A few attempts trying to take a man he wasn't going to beat, including in areas he didn't need to try.

But other moments of good interplay and getting into good threatening positions, and linking up in promising moves.

His body language often reads casual, except seems to have started showing more frustration with teammates (misunderstanding with Smith in the first half, case in point).

To be fair, he does put a lot of running in as well, and being pushed up to the wing with a fullback covering behind him has helped cover his defensive frailties (but it must be said, Giles now operating at fullback looks the more threatening player of the two).

"Languid" isn't a good descriptor for a player unless they have the talent of a Berbatov (the archetype of languid) and it just gives the impression of a player operating at 90% in Isaiah's case at the moment. He's still a good, important player for us but it feels like there's more in the tank if it clicks for him on how to apply it all.
 
HolgateCorner said:
I’ve noticed over the years that a good proportion of our fans don’t particularly like creative players and prefer the steady system players.

Maybe going back a bit now but Juninho (played in a World Cup final for Brazil no less) had plenty of Riverside critics.

Adama almost single handedly got us into the play offs under Pulis but it still wasn’t good enough for plenty of Boro fans.

But Andy Peake, Adam Clayton, Paul Okon and a good few more….never a word said against them.
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I think its to do with expectations. Our creative and attacking threats are a target for criticism it seems because some people expect them to rip through defences at will. If Adama had an off day boy did you hear about it. And the same with Jones who does not always come off. Thats the nature of football. Patience from fans would help.
 
HolgateCorner said:
I’ve noticed over the years that a good proportion of our fans don’t particularly like creative players and prefer the steady system players.

Maybe going back a bit now but Juninho (played in a World Cup final for Brazil no less) had plenty of Riverside critics.

Adama almost single handedly got us into the play offs under Pulis but it still wasn’t good enough for plenty of Boro fans.

But Andy Peake, Adam Clayton, Paul Okon and a good few more….never a word said against them.
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Not sure that's the case. I think fans expectations of creative players are far too high and their understanding of football low. On 3 or 4 occasions yesterday when Jones received the ball deep in our own half the lads behind us wanted him to take his man on and go on a run, complete lunacy.
Jones' strength is when we get the ball to him in the final third against an isolated defender not running or dribbling the length of the pitch. Teams are doubling up on him and/or trying to stop the ball getting to him at all. Nevertheless he's still making a strong contribution and is a key part of the team, I'd hate to think he gets injured.
 
I suppose it is about people’s expectations, for me, he did win us quite a few free kicks, he is obviously the player with most pace in the side, he does create chances, but he seems to have stopped taking on that final man and as someone else pointed out he sometimes waited for ball to feet rather than attacking the ball, meaning the pass was intercepted, so a mix of poor pass from the supplier and poor anticipation by Jones but overall you need him in the side as a starter.
 
the_holgate_roof said:
I suppose it is about people’s expectations, for me, he did win us quite a few free kicks, he is obviously the player with most pace in the side, he does create chances, but he seems to have stopped taking on that final man and as someone else pointed out he sometimes waited for ball to feet rather than attacking the ball, meaning the pass was intercepted, so a mix of poor pass from the supplier and poor anticipation by Jones but overall you need him in the side as a starter.
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Ha ha - alias Smith and Jones!
When Jones failed to intercept a pass near the touch line in the first half, Smith gave him a right bollocking, and told him in no uncertain terms to get his act together!
 
Luton Town manager Rob Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"I'm not going to argue with the red card too much, there were a few fouls in the game.

"They were good in transition and Jones was a threat. We're asking all the lads to be physical, fairly - but it's disappointing to lose a man because it makes the job difficult then."


Pretty much singled out by the opposite manager of why they lost the game.
 
I think Jones is a victim of his own success last season. He burst onto the scene, was providing a load of goals for the team and ripping left backs apart for a good chunk of the season.

Naturally, this has built up his reputation amongst fans. They’ve seen what he’s capable of and obviously want to see more.

He’s probably not been quite as effective and clinical with his final ball this season, but I do think he’s turning the corner under Carrick.

He’s still a very young lad and his pace and trickery always means he’s going to be a concern to the opposition in their half of the pitch. One of the first names on the team sheet for me.

Giles naturally benefits from the opposition focusing on Jones too. How often do we switch the play through midfield and find Giles in acres of space down the left? Last season we only really had one outlet, this season we have two. It’s made a huge difference.
 
My only comment on Jones which I again observed yesterday is that he isn’t great at showing for the ball. He often stays behind defenders - Smith actually tried to scoop a ball over an opposition player yesterday to him. We get it wide on the right and too often he isn’t available and we go back or to often to the left. It may be a confidence thing but if he could try and get free and demand the ball he could be the real defining difference for us this season. I also accept he get clattered a lot and this may also be behind him hiding a little bit. Just an opinion.
 
A mixed bag from him yesterday.

Set some good moves going with some sharp first time passing.
Sufficiently worried Luton for them to try to kick him out of the game.

On the other hand some poor crossing, and one egregious piece of control just before half time.

A bit disappointing from him over all, but he played his part in the win.

I've not read the whole thread. I take it no one is daft enough to say we should be getting shot because he hasn't kicked on, or claiming that his performance must be due to bad attitude?
 
I have been a huge critic of jones this season but I thought he was very good yesterday, he was doubled up on at times and handled himself brilliantly. There was a turn he did to get passed bell and it was world class. Without jones we don’t win that game and Luton finish with 11.
 
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