|
Souness' ‘rebuilding' was instigated the instant his backside got itself comfortable in the Anfield hot seat in ‘91. His attempts at rejuvenating the Liverpool squad (which undoubtedly needed undertaking as key members of the squad were fast approaching the twilight of their careers) were enforced too quickly and his entuthaistic yet massively misguided decisions proved disastrous.
Out of Souness's myriad of signings during his tenure as Liverpool boss, only a handful managed to pull themselves above the parapet of confusion that his reign was engulfed by, and show some sort of potential.
However the best of this small band of ‘astute' Souness signings is arguably England's finest right back they never really had. A certain Rob Jones.
The Wrexham-born Jones was a product of Crewe Alexandra's now fabled production line of accomplished youngsters under the guidance of Dario Gradi. Many now see Rob Jones as the first ‘genuine' talent to come through Gresty Road's School of excellence and YTS schemes to then leave for big money.
From the moment he made his debut for the Railwayman, at the tender age of 17, Jones' class was there for all to see – his enthusiasm and cultured approach saw him instantly cement his place as Crewe's regular right back.
Withinin a few years Jones had made outstanding progress and having helped Crew win promotion into the old third division, Jones was starting to attract serious attention from top-flight scouts.
Souness, showing his old determination that served him so well as a player, yet displaying an often-absent eye for talent, moved the quickest to secure the future of the young defender as a Liverpool player with a £300,000 deal.
For Jones, top-flight football now beckoned, and a huge jump in pressure and competitiveness, whilst he was also fulfilling the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his Grandfather, Bill Jones, who himself had served valiantly as a Liverpool player between 1946-54, making 278 appearances.
The 20-year-old Rob Jones signed on October 4th, 1991 and within a matter of days was thrust into a baptism of fire for a debut against championship-chasing Manchester United and the threat of teenage starlet – Ryan Giggs, perhaps the first of Fergies Fledglings.
Jones produced a brilliant performance at Old Trafford that day, belying his tender years and lack of experience on the biggest stage. He kept the pace and trickery of the 17-year-old Ryan Giggs in check – thus helping Liverpool hold back a previously free-flowing Manchester United. Rob Jones' display typified what was to come from the skilful young full-back in the red jersey of Liverpool, and later on, the full England set-up as well.
During his debut season, Jones' cultured and energetic approach was a rare plus in a Liverpool defence that had to contend with persistent chopping and changing of personnel, as Souness tried to find the magic formula. Constant injuries were also a big reason for the obvious over-use of players in that department as was the inability of new signings such as Mark Wright to find their feet – regardless to say, the Liverpool rearguard of the time was of a rather shaky disposition. Rob Jones often stood out like a shining beacon.
Jones' first season with Liverpool also saw him proudly win an FA Cup Winners' medal as the Reds brushed aside Sunderland 2-0 in the final. Jones had soon become a mainstay of the right full-back position and was beginning to develop a good understanding with fellow right-sided youngster – mercurial winger, Steve McManaman.
Yet, the best of Rob Jones was to be seen 18 months later, under the watchful eye of Liverpool's new gaffer, Roy Evans. The new boss brought in some much-needed stability; a more vibrant playing style and later, a wing back system which saw Jones able to use the best traits of his game. He even had to adapt to an unfamiliar left back position which offered the right-footed Jones with new challenges.
In 1995, in his first full season in charge, Evans lead a revitalised Liverpool to the Coca Cola Cup final, giving Jones the chance to win his second piece of silverware for the club.
But injuries had started to become a big problem for Jones, he was now spending large chunks of campaigns out on the sidelines with problems such as reoccurring shin splints, thigh strains and, later on, even a cracked vertebrae in his spine.
A knee injury in 1999 proved to be an affliction too far for Jones, and after four operations as well as persistent back problems to contend with, he was advised to hang up his boots and retire – at the age of just 27.
So Rob Jones saw his career cruelly cut short, while Liverpool were denied the opportunity to benefit from the player's best years, which were undoubtedly still to come. Jones made just 243 appearances in some eight years at the club.
He also had the notorious tag of never having scored for Liverpool in a competitive game but it's not unfeasible to think that he could have gone on to finally break that scoring duck if he hadn't had to bring his playing days to a close so prematurely.
Rob Jones is still only 33 now, if it hadn't been for the fact his body gave up on him, who's to say he couldn't still be doing his stuff for the Reds now? – just look at Gary Neville at Man United.
Speaking of which, Neville's illustrious England career is owed in no little part to the absence of Rob Jones who would have surely been a fearsome rival for the Three Lions' right back position that Neville has taken for granted for the past decade or so and enjoyed unchallenged.
There are certainly many Liverpool players who are more decorated than Rob Jones, and that have played more games than him too. But despite a saddening short career, a lack of even a solitary goal for Liverpool (he came close on number of occasions though) you certainly couldn't doubt his pride and passion to wear the Liverpool shirt and admirable managed two winners medals during a difficult period for the club.
Add all this to his skill and enthusiasm as well as the promise of what could have been I believe, makes Rob Jones a bona fide Cohort of the Kop.