Rob Green has been negative in his assessment of Mason Mount after the Chelsea star’s performance yesterday for England in the 0-0 draw against the United States.
Gareth Southgate’s England side had a bit of a reality check on Friday night after being held to a goalless draw by the United States.
The Three Lions still look pretty strong favourites to qualify from their group into the knockout rounds, but it was a tad concerning for England supporters to watch how the team attacked last night.
For Mount, he played 90 minutes as the attacking midfielder.
The Chelsea playmaker did go close with one attempt on target and put a real shift in out of possession.
However, he couldn’t provide a match-winning contribution that people crave.
It feels like the clamour from supporters to fit Phil Foden into the England line-up continues to grow stronger.
Mason Mount against United States
BBC pundit Rob Green, who had a spell at Chelsea towards the end of his playing career, did single out Mount for some criticism yesterday.
He’s admitted it was a big surprise to see Southgate keep him on the pitch for the entire match.
“Mason Mount has been a bit part. I’m a big fan but he has been off it,” Green told BBC Radio 5 Live (8:24pm, 25 November).
Green added post-match (9:45pm, 25 November): “When England were making the first substitutions I had Mason Mount down to come off. It just didn’t come off.
“That doesn’t make him a bad player, it happens. It was baffling that he stayed on for the 90 minutes. It was strange.”
In our view, Mount does continue to be a scapegoat for the casual England fan.
It’s fair enough to suggest the Blues player needs to do a bit more in the attacking midfield position. He’ll probably admit he’s desperate to contribute directly to goals, too.
However, it feels a bit wrong to single him out specifically when several England players dipped in the 0-0 draw with the United States.
Described as a top talent by Declan Rice, Mount is still offering plenty in the side without quite being at this sharpest.
It feels like Chelsea teammate Raheem Sterling may be the one in more danger of axing from the starting XI.
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