Jones get's the start at defensive mid. Game's on ESPN3.com Both teams are looking to keep pace with Bayern. This is a must win for both sides
JJ's with about six yellow card worthy challenges - one card given - in the first 30 minutes. Schalke is playing a 3+1 midfield, with JJ at the base and Draxler-Holtby-Farfan across. Draxler pinches in a little, allowing Fuchs to overlap on the left while Farfan is hugging the touchline on the right.
Farfan scores on an impressive breakaway in the 83rd minute. Jones is constantly being fouled and fouling.
It's good to see Jones back in the lineup at Schalke. I'm hoping we get to see him in the holding mid role JK wants to use, I think he's the best option there.
Love JJ for club, not happy with him at country level. played his heart out today, full 90 never stopped. he's enforcer, puts his team in bad spots with challenges and red card threat. sees the game good passes well out to the flanks. loved his spats with ballack, classic stuff today. on that wonderful farfan goal, JJ was running with him the entire time, both of them mad 80 yard runs. and i'll fist fight anyone that has anything bad to say about espn3.
There's a reason they call him a "bad boy" That was a VERY physical match today. Jones committed a few fouls that resulted in free kicks, but so did everyone else on Schalke Other than that, he put in a decent shift. Holtby is a freakin' traffic cone on defense, and Jones is often the one who has to compensate. Jones also had some great passing combos earlier in the match, including a good through ball that almost resulted in a goal. With the impressive away win, Schalke move up to 3rd in the Bundesliga while forcing Johnson & Williams' Hoffenheim to 7th
Also, keep in mind that Leverkusen is only half an hour from Gelsenkirchen. These two teams do share a minor rivalry. It certainly is dwarfed by the Revierderby (the yankees/redsox of German Football), but it is one of the reasons for the physicality.