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Three big questions: Chelsea’s Mason Mount and being crucial

By Travis Tyler

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Mason Mount of Chelsea looks on during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on July 19, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alastair Grant/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Mason Mount of Chelsea looks on during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on July 19, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alastair Grant/Pool via Getty Images) /
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and Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount vies with Chelsea’s English midfielder Ross Barkley West Ham United’s English midfielder Declan Rice during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The London Stadium, in east London on July 1, 2020. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
and Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount vies with Chelsea’s English midfielder Ross Barkley West Ham United’s English midfielder Declan Rice during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The London Stadium, in east London on July 1, 2020. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Will he play more as a “winger” or as an eight?

One of the reasons why the Pulisic versus Mount narrative persisted was Mount playing on the wing this season. Mind, it usually came as a response to injuries elsewhere and Frank Lampard does not really use wingers so much as “wingers” so there was some merit in the decision.

Furthermore, Mount also played plenty as an eight and some argument could be made that he played as 10 briefly as well. Next season, Mount will need that versatility if the likes of Kai Havertz joins.

There are arguments and reasons to play Mount in both roles. Higher up, he is given more freedom to roam on and off the ball. Deeper on the pitch, he has more time on the ball and can allow himself better decisions. Overall, he is probably more suited to play deeper than higher up but he has to restrain his press and aggressiveness somewhat to make it viable.

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Assuming Havertz does join, Lampard’s most difficult decision will largely come down to Mount or Mateo Kovacic. With Mount, it would most likely be a 4-3-3 with dual eights and a defensive midfielder would be required. With Kovacic, it would be more of a 4-2-3-1 and Lampard can get more fluid with his choice for a third midfielder.

But there is another issue Lampard has and that is a lack of wing depth. Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, and Callum Hudson-Odoi will be available for two starting spots but that is at least one short of being comfortable. One of Mount, Ross Barkley, or Ruben Loftus-Cheek may have to become one of Lampard’s “wingers” to fill in numbers.

Mount has the reps in the role and Lampard’s trust. It may not be the ideal use of him but it is an option. The real question may not be where Mount plays, but how often he plays where next season.

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