Mason Mount looks a perfect fit for Erik ten Hag's system at Man United and could play in midfield or out wide... the energetic £60m man is likely to replace Christian Eriksen next season
- Manchester United are set to confirm Mason Mount's signing early next week
- The midfielder will join from Chelsea in a deal potentially worth up to £60million
- He is an ideal fit for Erik ten Hag and his versatility would ease any depth woes
Slowly but surely, Erik ten Hag is modelling Manchester United in his own image.
Immediately after taking charge at the start of last season, he set about instilling a possession-based style, one stretching from the goalkeeper to the forwards.
However, he is still not satisfied and all too often was made to compromise and lower his on-the-ball demands in his first full campaign at the helm. Now, even in the face of financial headaches and a protracted takeover saga, he wants improvements.
Working to a tight budget and against a background of hesitation on behalf of the club's much-maligned owners, Ten Hag has identified three areas to strengthen.
He is targeting a new goalkeeper, with David de Gea simply not up to the standard required to play out from the back, as well as a forward capable of scoring regularly. Also on the agenda was a midfielder, though this is one box that can now be ticked.
Indeed, Mason Mount will officially complete his move to United early next week. He is believed to have a medical pencilled in upon his return from holiday on Monday and will sign a lucrative five-year contract containing the option of a further year.
Almost immediately, he will help Ten Hag's side begin to adhere to his blueprint more effectively, such is his talent in the middle and final thirds of the pitch. Last season, his new manager will have been given glimpses of his supreme talent.
Chelsea endured a miserable campaign on their way to finishing 12th and Mount will certainly be the first to admit that he too dipped below his usual lofty standards. His versatility, though, makes him a useful asset even on a poor day at the office.
This willingness and ability to play in a deep or advanced midfield role and even out wide will ease at least some of the selection issues that have plagued Ten Hag, with United's push across multiple fronts hamstrung by a lack of genuine depth.
Ten Hag's plans for his new recruit are transparent and obvious.
Mount's profile makes him a natural fit for the tactician and his push to move United's play style on, but he will require time to fully blend into the system.
He is likely to replace Christian Eriksen at the heart of United's midfield, a role that would see him partnering Casemiro. With Luke Shaw afforded freedom to bomb forward and invert when needed, Mount would have plenty of passing options.
From here, Mount would be expected to play as a No 8 and use his dynamism and passing range to split his opponents apart. When the likes of Shaw, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford are on the ball, he could make late runs into the penalty area.
Moving to United will bring with it a reasonable number of gambles, especially in light of the fact that Mount is at the height of his powers in a machine already functioning smoothly. Last season, Ten Hag's side stuttered in fits and starts.
At their best, though, United have been smooth and fluid, allowing them to ease through the gears when transitioning. Players are expected to shift the ball quickly and use good angles, with intelligence and nous must-haves under Ten Hag.
Mount stands out here, as demonstrated by both Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate playing him regularly and entrusting him to make their systems tick. He is also a firm favourite among his managers because of his defensive diligence.
He has stood head and shoulders above many of his peers when seizing the ball back around the final third and then driving forward. These runs will quickly drag out markers and free up space, which United have used superbly under Ten Hag.
Nonetheless, there is a sense United's strong campaign masked a soft underbelly.
All too often, Ten Hag was visibly forlorn on the touchline after his players lost possession cheaply and were bowled over by opponents seemingly more hungry than them. This was a complaint often used by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, too.
There is an evident weakness in the middle of United's midfield in the absence of the combative Casemiro, and the imminent arrival of Mount will help to fix this.
Eriksen in particular has suffered from a lack of physicality and mobility when made to turn back toward his own goal, with his signing seemingly a short-term solution. Should Mount come in ahead of him, he would form part of a devilish triumvirate.
He is also more suited to Ten Hag's demands than Fred and Scott McTominay, and it comes as little surprise that both of the midfielders may be sold this summer.
United supporters would do well to remember, though, that Mount is not a prolific goalscorer in the centre of the pitch, nor is he an electric, creative playmaker. In fact, in his 129 Premier League games, he has scored 27 goals and registered 22 assists.
What he will provide is a relentless engine that allows him to press his opponents and harry them into gifting away possession. United look to pile on the pressure from the front and force turnovers, and Mount has a proven track record in this area.
He has also shown promise playing off a lone striker, allowing Ten Hag to also use him as a 10 should he wish to rotate and create unpredictability. Playing Mount here would allow Eriksen to distribute from deep, another string to United's bow.
Ultimately, Mount would help United to better progress up the pitch and his last-ditch sprints into the box would add another dimension to their attacks, providing an update on Eriksen. His willingness to defend in a shape is equally important.
Ten Hag has refused to allow himself to be carried away by his impressive work to date but perhaps now, with Mount in the bag, he will afford himself a wry smile. There is still plenty of work to do, of course, but this move represents good business.
"fit" - Google News
July 02, 2023 at 02:55AM
https://ift.tt/v9qxCTr
Mason Mount looks a perfect fit for Erik ten Hag's system at Man United - Daily Mail
"fit" - Google News
https://ift.tt/E2NzUC5
https://ift.tt/9Q2ZbxH
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Mason Mount looks a perfect fit for Erik ten Hag's system at Man United - Daily Mail"
Post a Comment