[Rozay]

In the so called tougher games, we all cried out for Fred to go in with Bruno and Casemiro, as he gave us energy. Mount will give the same amount of energy, plus better ball retention and hopefully a better goal return, albeit missing a sitter against Lens.

As for possession, although he's not a dictator like Eriksen, you'd imagine his ability to run at a high intensity for a large period of time, will allow us to press teams for a lot longer.

A lot of times last season, we either dropped back a bit or ten Hag would take Eriksen off for Fred to give us that much needed energy late on in games. That won't really happen with Mount.

To be honest, the key here would be consistency. Fred offers all of those things, you just don’t know if you’re going to get it. But we have gotten it plenty, including in big games, and he too has offered great pressing and energy, and ability to run with the ball at high intensity. In recent times, also a more respectable goal threat too.

I sometimes think that in footy, especially when a team hasn’t been successful for a while, and also due to the obsessive nature of transfers in general - fans just need to see the name on a shirt change every so often. People will say Mount has won POTY at Chelsea - for me, Fred was our best player last season, and amongst our best for one season under Ole too. I honestly think that if we sold Fred this summer and bought Fred again, with a different name, it wouldn’t be a poorly received signing. As he is new, we would focus on the positives for sure. As I said, what will largely differentiate him from Mount should hopefully be consistency, but at his best, he does all of the above, including a goal threat and some penetrative passes.

 

[The United]

Which coincides with ten Hag's ideas, in that he wants United to be ''the best transition team in the world''. Bruno also does this fantastically well.

So that probably means it would not please the 'control' the game crowd then when they miss a few quick forward passes.

 

[Rozay]

So that probably means it would not please the 'control' the game crowd then when they miss a few quick forward passes.

I’m sure nobody would mind if we were actually ‘the best transition team in the world’. If we were just a ‘transition team’ that is wasteful in possession and fails to win enough games/trophies then I suspect a few complaints will follow.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

So that probably means it would not please the 'control' the game crowd then when they miss a few quick forward passes.

We have a blend of both, though, and often when people talk about ''control'', they think about in possession, but being in control out of possession, is just as important, and the addition of Mount will certainly help us to do that.

 

[JPB]

Given the number 7 shirt and then played out of position, poor fecker

Giving him the number 7 is the biggest crime in the past 20 years.

 

[Isotope]

In the so called tougher games, we all cried out for Fred to go in with Bruno and Casemiro, as he gave us energy. Mount will give the same amount of energy, plus better ball retention and hopefully a better goal return, albeit missing a sitter against Lens.

As for possession, although he's not a dictator like Eriksen, you'd imagine his ability to run at a high intensity for a large period of time, will allow us to press teams for a lot longer.

A lot of times last season, we either dropped back a bit or ten Hag would take Eriksen off for Fred to give us that much needed energy late on in games. That won't really happen with Mount.

Did Mount remind you of Fred or Eriksen, in terms of positioning, during this pre-season? When Fred/Eriksen played, majority of time they were in withdrawn role alongside Casemiro. Not in even one pre-season game that Mount spent majority of his time with Casemiro.

So I'm still baffled about people saying Mount as replacing Fred and Eriksen. For example, I can't imagine Mount is tasked to man marked KdB next season.

I think Mount will be used mostly as 9/10 hybrid. Bruno will be the deeper 8/10 hybrid or RW. ETH likes Mount energy, pace, and finishing ability. At times last season, he tried Bruno as this 9/10 hybrid but it was unsuccessful because somehow Bruno's finishing was degrading, and the team lost its main creative player. And it is a pretty tasking role.

In short, we actually haven't bought Fred or Eriksen deeper role replacement. Based on pre-season, Mount is most likely not.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I must have watched a different game with so many people claiming we didn't control the match.

I'm not sure what people are expecting/watching. We've looked much better at controlling games too while looking better at pressing higher up the field at times.

We've pretty much controlled almost every match thus far in pre-season. Our 2nd half vs Real was the best any side has played vs them thus far in pre-season too. We pinned them back throughout the entire half when they've been pinning teams back their entire pre-season.

 

[zaafi]

Did Mount remind you of Fred or Eriksen, in terms of positioning, during this pre-season? When Fred/Eriksen played, majority of time they were in withdrawn role alongside Casemiro. Not in even one pre-season game that Mount spent majority of his time with Casemiro.

So I'm still baffled about people saying Mount as replacing Fred and Eriksen. For example, I can't imagine Mount is tasked to man marked KdB next season.

I think Mount will be used mostly as 9/10 hybrid. Bruno will be the deeper 8/10 hybrid or RW. ETH likes Mount energy, pace, and finishing ability. At times last season, he tried Bruno as this 9/10 hybrid but it was unsuccessful because somehow Bruno's finishing was degrading, and the team lost its main creative player. And it is a pretty tasking role.

In short, we actually haven't bought Fred or Eriksen deeper role replacement. Based on pre-season, Mount is most likely not.

He is their replacement as in he'll play instead of them. It is not a like-for-like replacement in terms of playing style, but Ten Hag is slightly changing his midfield set-up.

Mount would also have no problems man marking De Bruyne, and would do really well at it considering he's one of Premier League's most efficient pressers.

 

[zaafi]

Giving him the number 7 is the biggest crime in the past 20 years.

It's a shirt number. How long are people gonna cry about this? Michael fecking Owen wore it already ffs.

 

[Adisa]

I'm not sure what people are expecting/watching. We've looked much better at controlling games too while looking better at pressing higher up the field at times.

We've pretty much controlled almost every match thus far in pre-season. Our 2nd half vs Real was the best any side has played vs them thus far in pre-season too. We pinned them back throughout the entire half when they've been pinning teams back their entire pre-season.

People expect the opposition never to have a counterattack or an opportunity. That’s not how football works.

 

[andersj]

To be honest, the key here would be consistency. Fred offers all of those things, you just don’t know if you’re going to get it. But we have gotten it plenty, including in big games, and he too has offered great pressing and energy, and ability to run with the ball at high intensity. In recent times, also a more respectable goal threat too.

I sometimes think that in footy, especially when a team hasn’t been successful for a while, and also due to the obsessive nature of transfers in general - fans just need to see the name on a shirt change every so often. People will say Mount has won POTY at Chelsea - for me, Fred was our best player last season, and amongst our best for one season under Ole too. I honestly think that if we sold Fred this summer and bought Fred again, with a different name, it wouldn’t be a poorly received signing. As he is new, we would focus on the positives for sure. As I said, what will largely differentiate him from Mount should hopefully be consistency, but at his best, he does all of the above, including a goal threat and some penetrative passes.

Disagree strongly.

Freds issue is that the midfielders these days are tools. Fred as an attacking midfielder (8) lacks output and x-factor. While deeper in the pitch he is too lightweight and easily byspassed. He also lose the ball too often (much due to being lightweight too). He is a decent player, but is not «well-rounded» enough.

Mount is very different. And I guess that is why EtH, Tuchel and Klopp liked him while Fred is currently chased by Fulham and simila

 

[izec]

I will make a prediction, he will be our Park, a utility player that will play on the wing, 10 or in midfield when needed. Sometimes on the bench, sometimes he will start with a clear plan in mind, but it is clear to me how this will go. For 20m, it was fine. However, for the fee we paid, i cant agree that this was worth it for an eventual squad player.

Amrabat can't come in soon enough, because we need more balance and quality on the ball, especially against the better sides. ETH will realise this soon enough.

 

[gajender]

I will make a prediction, he will be our Park, a utility player that will play on the wing, 10 or in midfield when needed. Sometimes on the bench, sometimes he will start with a clear plan in mind, but it is clear to me how this will go. For 20m, it was fine. However, for the fee we paid, i cant agree that this was worth it for an eventual squad player.

Amrabat can't come in soon enough, because we need more balance and quality on the ball, especially against the better sides. ETH will realise this soon enough.

I think he would actually be a key player under Ten Hag and would be regular feature in the team and Most of the critics would eventually come around and appreciate him as a player .

 

[Berbasbullet]

Giving him the number 7 is the biggest crime in the past 20 years.

 

[Borys]

I’m not sure about this approach, Bruno is somewhat restricted by playing deeper or on the right. Is Mason going to be THAT much better in the 10 that it warrants moving Bruno back? I don’t know…

Spot on. Playing Mount so high (he's actually performing VDB role) means Bruno is pushed deeper.

Therefore, my only question at the moment is do we really want to move Bruno away from goal? Does ETH see bigger threat in Mount than Bruno?

Mount will be getting chances to score just like any other attacker that roams around the box. So I still don't get the idea, are we going to play Mount as second striker that presses intensively and make Bruno more of a #8? Because apart from Leeds game (I think this was Mount best performance is you think of him as a midfielder), I didn't see him dropping deep, it's mostly Bruno out of those 2. Usually neither.

 

[11101]

Disagree strongly.

Freds issue is that the midfielders these days are tools. Fred as an attacking midfielder (8) lacks output and x-factor. While deeper in the pitch he is too lightweight and easily byspassed. He also lose the ball too often (much due to being lightweight too). He is a decent player, but is not «well-rounded» enough.

Mount is very different. And I guess that is why EtH, Tuchel and Klopp liked him while Fred is currently chased by Fulham and simila

When Fred was Mount's age he was being chased by Pep.

I think Ten Hag will like Mount because he is consistent but we are not going to see those Man of the Match performances Fred used to pop up with.

 

[Isotope]

He is their replacement as in he'll play instead of them. It is not a like-for-like replacement in terms of playing style, but Ten Hag is slightly changing his midfield set-up.

Mount would also have no problems man marking De Bruyne, and would do really well at it considering he's one of Premier League's most efficient pressers.

The post I was replying to, talked about what Fred or Eriksen did, and how Mount will be better than them. I questioned because like we both know that Mount and those two are playing on different role. But it's only based on pre-season, and Mount's role may change in the future.

 

[SirScholes]

Giving him the number 7 is the biggest crime in the past 20 years.

Sanchez Di Maria Owen all say hello

and maguire being the club captain is waving hi

 

[tenpoless]

Glad he is the number 7. That myth needs dispelling. A number is as good as the player and not the other way around. So its not related to flying wingers or captain fantastic and all that.

 

[kettledrumhamster]

To be honest, the key here would be consistency. Fred offers all of those things, you just don’t know if you’re going to get it. But we have gotten it plenty, including in big games, and he too has offered great pressing and energy, and ability to run with the ball at high intensity. In recent times, also a more respectable goal threat too.

I sometimes think that in footy, especially when a team hasn’t been successful for a while, and also due to the obsessive nature of transfers in general - fans just need to see the name on a shirt change every so often. People will say Mount has won POTY at Chelsea - for me, Fred was our best player last season, and amongst our best for one season under Ole too. I honestly think that if we sold Fred this summer and bought Fred again, with a different name, it wouldn’t be a poorly received signing. As he is new, we would focus on the positives for sure. As I said, what will largely differentiate him from Mount should hopefully be consistency, but at his best, he does all of the above, including a goal threat and some penetrative passes.

Agree strongly with all of that. I think mount will turn into a very good signing. But fred has also been a good signing, however people don't like to admit it. Probably amongst our 3 best performing players in each of the last 3 or 4 sessions. He just has the occasional really bad game. I'd mount can avoid that, and I think he will, then he'll be a step up. He should also add significantly more goals.

 

[CM]

Mount's problem is that he's fundamentally a number 10 who will be shoehorned into a number 8 position for the majority of this season, and that won't do him any favours. It didn't really make sense to target him as the marquee midfield signing this summer because the things he's good at weren't the traits we were desperately missing from our midfield.

The same problems will exist in build up, ball retention and defensive security as when Eriksen was playing that position last season. There might be some differences because Mount won't gas out at 60 minutes and will be better at winning the ball back higher up the pitch, but equally he's not as incisive with his passing at Eriksen, so we'll lose something there. Maybe that would change if we sign another midfielder like Amrabat and Ten Hag isn't afraid to rotate him with Mount accordingly, but given how hard the manager pushed to sign Mount I get the feeling that he'll almost always play when available.

 

[FrankWhite]

We can all say shirt numbers don’t matter, but Garnacho’s Instagram name is garnacho7.
He wanted to follow in the footsteps of CR7.
Mount surely would have accepted any number.

I would say that's pretty presumptive of Garnacho. He has great potential but is still 19 years old and not even a starter yet. I think ETH not giving Garnacho the No 7 just yet is a way keeping him grounded and working towards a goal.

 

[FrankWhite]

We have a blend of both, though, and often when people talk about ''control'', they think about in possession, but being in control out of possession, is just as important, and the addition of Mount will certainly help us to do that.

Take the Lens game, people will probably feel we didn't control the game. At least not in the way that Arsenal and City do. However, we had 63% possession.

 

[Zlatans Knee]

Giving him the number 7 is the biggest crime in the past 20 years.

Is that you Donald?

 

[FrankWhite]

Disagree strongly.

Freds issue is that the midfielders these days are tools. Fred as an attacking midfielder (8) lacks output and x-factor. While deeper in the pitch he is too lightweight and easily byspassed. He also lose the ball too often (much due to being lightweight too). He is a decent player, but is not «well-rounded» enough.

Mount is very different. And I guess that is why EtH, Tuchel and Klopp liked him while Fred is currently chased by Fulham and simila

Exactly! You can add Lego Pep to that list too. Arsenal, Liverpool and United made him their number one midfield target this season, to play in the middle of the park. Yet somehow Caf members know better and have concluded he's crap, before preseason is over.

I understand he's not the controlling DM type we all thought we needed. Hell, I made a thread about how the midfield profiles we've been linked with made no sense to me. It's clear the manager has a different idea in mind. Let's back him and give OUR players a chance.

 

[Halftrack]

Take the Lens game, people will probably feel we didn't control the game. At least not in the way that Arsenal and City do. However, we had 63% possession.

You can even control the game with 35% possession. Controlling the game about making it play out the way you want it to.

 

[RuudTom83]

I hope Mount has got thick skin, he's gonna need it! even from his home fans.

 

[Lyng]

I hope Mount has got thick skin, he's gonna need it! even from his home fans.

He will get plenty of support from the match going fans. Thankfully

 

[Borys]

I rewatched first half against Lens, he's actually playing Sabitzer role for us. Utterly bizarre if this is the idea. I like him as a player, he will be useful, just not sure how to get most of him not to disturb team/midfield balance (what we're doing now).

 

[Chairman Steve]

I can see him scoring a few goals in the absence of a No.9 (Hojlund or Martial). He is very good at finding good positions to get into like yesterday where he horribly miscued it (90% of the time it’ll be on target at least). I can see Bruno, Antony and Garnacho laying chances on for him, and he’ll link up with them too.

 

[surf]

A comical miss yesterday but was impressed how he got up immediately and continued playing as if nothing had happened, rather than beating the ground in frustration as a lot of players would do.

 

[Rozay]

Disagree strongly.

Freds issue is that the midfielders these days are tools. Fred as an attacking midfielder (8) lacks output and x-factor. While deeper in the pitch he is too lightweight and easily byspassed. He also lose the ball too often (much due to being lightweight too). He is a decent player, but is not «well-rounded» enough.

Mount is very different. And I guess that is why EtH, Tuchel and Klopp liked him while Fred is currently chased by Fulham and simila

But in spite of this, he has had several games, big ones at that, where this has not been the case. Ultimately, he cannot be relied upon. He was also a player wanted by Mourinho and Guardiola when he came here, seeing as that counts for something.

If we could get the best version of Fred weekly, I’d say there’s much of a muchness in terms of the level of him and Mase.

 

[Bluelion7]

I rewatched first half against Lens, he's actually playing Sabitzer role for us. Utterly bizarre if this is the idea. I like him as a player, he will be useful, just not sure how to get most of him not to disturb team/midfield balance (what we're doing now).

Well… this has ALWAYS been the issue with Mason though. He thinks he’s one of the best players on your team: guarantee it. But he doesn’t have a position, and his opinion of himself far outweighs reality.

he is good at a ton of things in every position you try him in, but he also has glaring holes. Out wide has always been a disaster. People talk about link up as if he’s super creative like a Bruno … but he’s not. He would have the makeup of a super 8, except he struggles physically and always ends up creeping forward.

I actually still like him. I was told ETH had an idea of how to unlock him as a player, and I actually hope that’s true.

 

[zaafi]

Well… this has ALWAYS been the issue with Mason though. He thinks he’s one of the best players on your team: guarantee it. But he doesn’t have a position, and his opinion of himself far outweighs reality.

he is good at a ton of things in every position you try him in, but he also has glaring holes. Out wide has always been a disaster. People talk about link up as if he’s super creative like a Bruno … but he’s not. He would have the makeup of a super 8, except he struggles physically and always ends up creeping forward.

I actually still like him. I was told ETH had an idea of how to unlock him as a player, and I actually hope that’s true.

I took your post seriously up until the point where you said he struggles physically.

 

[Rockets Redglare]

But in spite of this, he has had several games, big ones at that, where this has not been the case. Ultimately, he cannot be relied upon. He was also a player wanted by Mourinho and Guardiola when he came here, seeing as that counts for something.

If we could get the best version of Fred weekly, I’d say there’s much of a muchness in terms of the level of him and Mase.

Mourinho didn’t want him, and the rumours of him being wanted by City were just that, rumours.

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

Spot on. Playing Mount so high (he's actually performing VDB role) means Bruno is pushed deeper.

Therefore, my only question at the moment is do we really want to move Bruno away from goal? Does ETH see bigger threat in Mount than Bruno?

Mount will be getting chances to score just like any other attacker that roams around the box. So I still don't get the idea, are we going to play Mount as second striker that presses intensively and make Bruno more of a #8? Because apart from Leeds game (I think this was Mount best performance is you think of him as a midfielder), I didn't see him dropping deep, it's mostly Bruno out of those 2. Usually neither.

I think EtH sees Bruno as the creative hub, even though he is the best goal scorer behind Rashford, his importance as the "chance creator" outweighs his importance as the "goal threat" hence why he'd be pushed right or deeper, and with Mount making runs into the box, it would increase Bruno's options. That is how it seems to me, looking at the chance Mason fluffed, only Bruno sees that ball out to Garnacho due to his excellent vision, and I'm sure Bruno would've made the same run as Mount and probably might've scored, but I don't see Mount making the same pass as Bruno, or most likely he wouldn't make the same pass.

 

[Rozay]

Mourinho didn’t want him, and the rumours of him being wanted by City were just that, rumours.

Right.

 

[Borys]

Well… this has ALWAYS been the issue with Mason though. He thinks he’s one of the best players on your team: guarantee it. But he doesn’t have a position, and his opinion of himself far outweighs reality.

he is good at a ton of things in every position you try him in, but he also has glaring holes. Out wide has always been a disaster. People talk about link up as if he’s super creative like a Bruno … but he’s not. He would have the makeup of a super 8, except he struggles physically and always ends up creeping forward.

I actually still like him. I was told ETH had an idea of how to unlock him as a player, and I actually hope that’s true.

His skillset is really good, all the basic attributes are on a high level already. But he just seems to exist on the periphery of the game what I really don't like. But it's a problem in general for players like van de Beek, Sabitzer etc. I really doubt what we've seen so far is what ETH wants the team to do. I hope so at least.

 

[WeePat]

Yes and City wanted Fred and Maguire also.. Mount might have been 5th or 6th on their list. On our list he was nr1

Caicedo to Chelsea
Lavia to Liverpool
Chelsea reject Mount to United.

Haha cant make this shit up. I thought we were heading in the right direction but this decision have proved one thing, we havent changed at all.

Theres no way this group will make top 5. No way.

It was more a case of Mount rejected Chelsea (or Mount’s dad and agent, the United fan, but that’s just my conspiracy theory). Ownership wanted to keep him and Poch wanted to keep him. I’ll happily refer to him as a Chelsea reject though, especially if he flops. Makes me feel better.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Thought he played a lot better in the 10 when Bruno dropped deeper 2nd half and actually prefer Bruno in the deeper 8 position as his retention increases and I find him a more physical player than Mount so gives us a bit more balance/ physicality deeper in the midfield and it's a better balance so hope this is how we keep it going forward.

Another issue is how we insist on playing either Bruno or Mount on the wings, I hate this advanced playmaker and really don't think it works without a proper number 9