Jonny Evans – Man Utd’s Best Defender This Season

Guest post submitted by @MUFC_CHAMP19ns9 from o-posts.net

Jonny Evans hasn’t always been regarded as one of United’s most important players in recent times, but this season he has been arguably our best defender.

Evans has lead the team to 12 clean sheets despite playing with five different centre back partners in Carrick, Vidic, Smalling, Jones, and Ferdinand. He was the leader at the back when both Vidic and Ferdinand got injured at the beginning of the season, where we got a glimpse of what the future of Manchester United’s defence looks like when Evans, Smalling, and Jones, got there chance to play together.

Jonny doesn’t make the blistering runs of Jones, score diving headers like Vidic, or organise like Ferdinand, but what he can bring quality and consistent performances when called upon.

When United lost consecutive matches against Blackburn and Newcastle, Jonny was out injured and in his place was Phil Jones, who I personally think would be a better right back or defensive midfielder because it allows him the ability to go forward and express himself, compared to Evans or Smalling who are more natural center backs.

Jonny, when starting this season, has only been involved in three losses in 26 appearance which is a great record for a man who has played with five different defensive partners and three different keepers. His passing is another quality that should be looked at as an improved asset, with his completion rate at 64% which ranks him fourth among centre backs in the league.

Evans’ concentration has also improved and his disciplinary record has been top notch, ever since the City game, collecting only two yellows and no red cards, with only one of those yellows being shown during a league match.

Why do I think Jonny Evans has been Manchester United’s best defender this season? He has more clean sheets then any other central defender in the team, played the most games at centre back in the league, and has been a vital member of the defense this season. He has had only one bad game this whole season and that was against City, losing 6-1 and receiving a red card, which many people would agree is a day that most United fans would love to forget.

If you observe over the last couple of months, Jonny has grown in confidence and has stepped up as a leader on and off the pitch, and at the age of 25 he has time to improve even more.

If he can keep performing the way he has in the last couple of months, I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes over for Rio Ferdinand when Nemanja Vidic returns from his knee injury.