I think that the plan isn't counter attacking football, it's attacking football. Now, against sides that hold possession high up the pitch, the attacking pass is a direct ball to the channels, and we've seen that works. Against low block teams, it's supposed to be wave after wave of attack, changing the angles and trying to pull the oppo out of position and then that final killer ball.
However with Pogba out for so long, Pereira making the wrong decisions and Mata on the decline and getting caught too far forward, that killer pass isn't coming. One player could easily change our results against low block teams, we just need to get them on the pitch.