Mason Mount Falling into 'Black Hole' at Old Trafford

Since his £60 million move from Chelsea to Manchester United, Mason Mount's career trajectory has taken an alarming downturn, igniting concerns over his future at Old Trafford.

Chris Sutton, speaking on Mail Sport's podcast 'It's All Kicking Off,' poignantly observed, "Mason Mount looks like he's fallen into the biggest black hole the world's ever seen." This stark assessment mirrors the issues plaguing not only Mount but also manager Erik ten Hag’s broader strategy at Manchester United.

A Promising Start Gone Awry

Mason Mount's transition from Chelsea to Manchester United was one of the high-profile moves of the summer. Hailed as a promising talent, Mount's inaugural season at United commenced with potential, featuring in the starting lineup against teams like Wolves and Tottenham. However, an injury sidelined him for a month, disrupting his initial momentum. His return wasn't triumphant, marked by defeats in crucial matches against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Despite a glimmer of hope in the 2-1 victory over Brentford, Mount soon found himself relegated to the bench, making sporadic appearances in games against Copenhagen and Sheffield United. His limited impact in these games, coupled with United's disappointing 3-0 loss to Manchester City, where he failed to turn the game around, have intensified criticisms. Echoing Sutton's sentiments, Ladyman added, "Gary Neville made the point on Sky Sports on Sunday that Old Trafford is becoming the type of place where good players go to die. And Mason Mount, if he's not careful, is going to be the next one."

A Shift in Role and Effectiveness

During his time at Chelsea, Mount's effectiveness was primarily in an attacking midfield position, where he delivered 13 goals and 16 assists in 53 games across all competitions in the 2021-22 season. His dynamic play and contribution to Chelsea's offense were substantial. However, at United, under ten Hag's system, Mount's role shifted to a more retracted midfield position, often playing alongside a sitting midfielder. This change has seemingly diluted his offensive contributions.

For instance, in the crucial Manchester derby, Mount was substituted in for Sofyan Amrabat at half-time, only to find himself in a less familiar setup, with Scott McTominay pushing forward and Bruno Fernandes out wide. Neville critiqued this strategy for leaving the team too exposed. Nevertheless, ten Hag defended his decision, stating, "We had to create because we were losing the match... With Mason Mount, we can expect creativity."

Underlying Challenges at Manchester United

The concerns around Mount are symptomatic of broader issues at Manchester United. Under ten Hag, the team has lost half of their 10 league matches, finding themselves in a precarious eighth position in the league, lagging significantly behind leaders and rivals. With the team only managing to score 11 goals, equal to what individual player Erling Haaland has achieved at the same time, questions are being raised about ten Hag's tactics and the utilization of his signings, including Mount.

Another big transfer gone wrong?

Mason Mount's situation at Manchester United exemplifies a talented player struggling to find his footing in a new environment and a system that does not play to his strengths. As pressures mount on ten Hag to turn around the team's fortunes, the focus will also remain on how he can revive Mount's career at Old Trafford, ensuring that this £60 million investment doesn't become another cautionary tale in the world of football transfers.