I think Frank could have used him more sparingly. Personally not that convinced by him even though I agree he does a lot of running. Not many assists and goal scoring touch has looked terrible recently. I don’t see how he’s in the team instead of Kovacic and RLC was way more effective going forward prior to injury. RLC was useless defensively though. 

15 hours ago, ozboy said:

I think Frank could have used him more sparingly. Personally not that convinced by him even though I agree he does a lot of running. Not many assists and goal scoring touch has looked terrible recently. I don’t see how he’s in the team instead of Kovacic and RLC was way more effective going forward prior to injury. RLC was useless defensively though. 

I think you've answered your own question. It's seems that it is not about having the best 11 players on the park more about the best fit to execute Frank's approach. 

At the moment Mount and Kante get picked because they are capable of executing that high press. Kovacic less so, even though I think he is a cracking player.

I've been saying for a while that RLC won't fit that system either. We may well have to bin the high press, because it's not going to work with Ruben in that system. He really came into his own when Sarri ditched the press last season and I think Frank would be wise to do the same.

15 hours ago, ozboy said:

I think Frank could have used him more sparingly. Personally not that convinced by him even though I agree he does a lot of running. Not many assists and goal scoring touch has looked terrible recently. I don’t see how he’s in the team instead of Kovacic and RLC was way more effective going forward prior to injury. RLC was useless defensively though. 

The highest chances of winning this season has been a combination about Mount+Tammy playing in the same time. Our best attacking duo, sadly Pulisic is injured but he has been great prior to his injury, our best attacking trio this season has been Pulisic-Mount-Tammy. 

Mount has more goals and more assists than Kovacic, Mount has 5 goals and 5 assists, last season RLC had in 24 games 6 goals and 2 assists, they are very similar so Mount isn't an inferior player to any of our midfielders that participate in the attack regularly and he's only 21, far from a finished product.

People really need to stop bashing our players, it seriously has no real basis.

On 08/02/2020 at 09:19, ozboy said:

I think Frank could have used him more sparingly. Personally not that convinced by him even though I agree he does a lot of running. Not many assists and goal scoring touch has looked terrible recently. I don’t see how he’s in the team instead of Kovacic and RLC was way more effective going forward prior to injury. RLC was useless defensively though. 

I'm sure Lampard would have preferred to do the same, but with the injuries we have had this season and some players being out of form, it has meant he has had to use Mount a lot.

Depends on whether frank sticks to his 433 system and high press or not as Mason is really a no.10 and wants to sit behind the striker or strikers as his fluidity on the ball is his best asset. And he will get goals from that position too.

RLC perfect for 433 as he has the running power to surge from deep and actually Kova can do that too. Kante much better in holding role as is Jorginho.

so for me, to get best out of MM need to change to a diamond with Mason at the top and Kante at the bottom with RLC and KOva either side. Then 2 from Tammy, WIllian, Pedro, Pulisic up front.

Not sure yet whether MM top class and worth building the system round him.....

11 hours ago, ws6blue said:

Depends on whether frank sticks to his 433 system and high press or not as Mason is really a no.10 and wants to sit behind the striker or strikers as his fluidity on the ball is his best asset. And he will get goals from that position too.

RLC perfect for 433 as he has the running power to surge from deep and actually Kova can do that too. Kante much better in holding role as is Jorginho.

so for me, to get best out of MM need to change to a diamond with Mason at the top and Kante at the bottom with RLC and KOva either side. Then 2 from Tammy, WIllian, Pedro, Pulisic up front.

Not sure yet whether MM top class and worth building the system round him.....

The return of Carlo's diamond. I could get behind that. 

I said in preseason we looked better with the narrow diamond. Should have listened to me when you had the chance. 

18 hours ago, Spiller86 said:

The return of Carlo's diamond. I could get behind that. 

 

5 hours ago, Munkworth said:

I said in preseason we looked better with the narrow diamond. Should have listened to me when you had the chance. 

Carlo played a diamond for all but 10 games at most. Largely we played a Christmas tree formation..

3 hours ago, Jangz said:

 

Carlo played a diamond for all but 10 games at most. Largely we played a Christmas tree formation..

Yes I was going to point that out but Lampard played a diamond in preseason and I liked it!

5 hours ago, Jangz said:

 

Carlo played a diamond for all but 10 games at most. Largely we played a Christmas tree formation..

Christmas trees, diamonds whatever it was we were f**king amazing that season. Best team to watch of the Abramovich era. 

Then Ballack, Cole, Deco and Carvalho all left that summer and we replaced all that talent with Ramires (who was good but not quite that good)

First of three summer transfer f**kups after we won the league.

5 hours ago, Spiller86 said:

Christmas trees, diamonds whatever it was we were f**king amazing that season. Best team to watch of the Abramovich era. 

Then Ballack, Cole, Deco and Carvalho all left that summer and we replaced all that talent with Ramires (who was good but not quite that good)

First of three summer transfer f**kups after we won the league.

We are famous for not strengthening after a title win, we usually go a step backwards.

6 hours ago, Spiller86 said:

Christmas trees, diamonds whatever it was we were f**king amazing that season. Best team to watch of the Abramovich era. 

Then Ballack, Cole, Deco and Carvalho all left that summer and we replaced all that talent with Ramires (who was good but not quite that good)

First of three summer transfer f**kups after we won the league.

Bizarre as two season later we won the CL and Ramires got the crucial first goal at the Nou Camp.

6 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

Bizarre as two season later we won the CL and Ramires got the crucial first goal at the Nou Camp.

I've often reflected how insane it was that our best squads under Jose and Carlo never won a Champions League and yet two years later despite a much worse squad and with a rookie manager we won. No one could ever say the footballing gods don't have a sense of humour.

1 hour ago, Spiller86 said:

I've often reflected how insane it was that our best squads under Jose and Carlo never won a Champions League and yet two years later despite a much worse squad and with a rookie manager we won. No one could ever say the footballing gods don't have a sense of humour.

Perhaps they were signalling Roman, it's not all about the money big man more just about getting the right manager rather than the 'best' one.

18 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Perhaps they were signalling Roman, it's not all about the money big man more just about getting the right manager rather than the 'best' one.

Or let us manage the team... In any case that is one title we did strengthen after. Sadly we then wasted most of it when Jose came back. Second most exciting team of the Abramovich era was the first 6 months under Jose. Jeez we had some talent.

Love Mason to bits, but he was overplayed by Frank. The lads needs rotation and a rest, however with Pulisic being out Lampard didn't have much of an option than to force him.

First season in the Premiership, only recently turned 21 and playing through injury at times

Feel some of the criticism aimed at Mount is unfair. He's bound to be inconsistent and has possibly been overplayed at times due to RLC being injured but it's clear to see this kid has a bright future with us. His work rate and pressing has also been great this season 

2 minutes ago, Sparkz said:

First season in the Premiership, only recently turned 21 and playing through injury at times

Feel some of the criticism aimed at Mount is unfair. He's bound to be inconsistent and has possibly been overplayed at times due to RLC being injured but it's clear to see this kid has a bright future with us. His work rate and pressing has also been great this season 

 

12 hours ago, Sparkz said:

First season in the Premiership, only recently turned 21 and playing through injury at times

Feel some of the criticism aimed at Mount is unfair. He's bound to be inconsistent and has possibly been overplayed at times due to RLC being injured but it's clear to see this kid has a bright future with us. His work rate and pressing has also been great this season 

I think this is his greatest asset really, he puts his heart into absolutely everything. 

Also how is he so good at hitting a dead ball but so poor at passing a moving one?

Unstoppable today, MOTM for me.

What an assist that would've been if Tammy scored that, absolutely superb, was it Vertonghen? He left him for dead. 

Mount was a terrier, best I have seen Barkley (first half) for ages. Good job. That was a red easy for Lo Celso 

Edited February 22, 20206 yr by Bradish

Mason has already beaten Jose more times than Arsenal!

Got to love Mount's energy.

He might struggle to create assists and goals sometimes, but his passion, work rate, and energy is undeniable. Always love to have a guy like this on a team.

He made the 2nd goal, his pressing is phenomenal, and he does look more physical now as well