Gary Neville suggests where Mason Mount should play for Man United to improve

Gary Neville suggests where Mason Mount should play for Man United to improve

Faruq Ibrahim 16:25 - 16.08.2023

Manchester United legend Gary Neville berates Manchester United's midfield against Wolves, and suggests a new position for Mason Mount.

Although Manchester United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 in the opening league game of the season at Old Trafford, they were put through the wringer by the visitors, who were a poor refereeing call away from a chance at an equaliser from the penalty spot.

The club's legend, who is now a renowned pundit, Gary Neville, in speaking about the game, amplified the views of many that Manchester United looked porous in midfield, and he suggested a way to mitigate that. 

What Neville said 

The Red Devils conceded 23 shots against a Wolves side with a new manager, worrying many about their readiness for the season. 

The visitors looked dangerous every time they broke, as the hosts lacked a proper breakwater in the middle of the park. 

Although Manchester United started three midfielders in Casemiro, Mount, and Bruno Fernandes, the Englishman and the Portuguese pressed high, leaving a bigger territory to cover for the former Real Madrid pivot. 

This informed Neville's tweet, where he suggested new signing Mason Mount be moved wide to enable Ten Hag to play a double pivot, pairing a ball-dominant midfielder with Casemiro. 

"I think Mount may end up out wide,” Neville said, per MUEN.

Mason Mount in action for Man United - Photo Credit || Imago
Mason Mount in action for Man United - Photo Credit || Imago

“Maybe even vs. Spurs Mount, Rashford, Anthony; Fernandes, Mc Tominay. Casemiro. A guess but something has to change. Can’t see Garnacho at Spurs."

The tweet is consistent with his post-match analysis, where he said the Manchester United midfield was nonexistent, and that a balance had to be found there. 

“Manchester United's midfield was non-existent. They were empty.

"The front three didn't work hard enough in a defensive sense, and that will be a massive worry for them. Wolves were much the better side, they were fantastic, they got everything except a goal or maybe even two.

"We spoke in pre-season about how [Mason] Mount and [Bruno] Fernandes were playing so high-up in those No.10 positions that Casemiro was being left all on his own. That can't be allowed to happen because no team can leave a defensive midfielder on their own.

"I think Ten Hag is going to be forced to bring somebody else in to play alongside Casemiro, someone that can hold the ball well. It [the Old Trafford pitch] might not be as big as some, but it's big - so when you're giving the ball away and tracking back, you make it harder for yourself."

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