It's a bit funny that people think we are trying to keep possession and are just bad at it. I think we are way more of a counter pressing direct passing team than a possession orientated one, and that is by design. If that is the right way forward I don't know, but I don't think this is unintentional.
But isn’t that
because our players aren’t good at possession football?
In terms of just straight up ability on the ball, I’d rank the side something like this:
De Gea - poor on the ball;
Dalot - good ball progressor, but average on the ball when pressed and just generally;
Varane - average on the ball
Martinez - top tier
Shaw - very good. Press resistant, good ball progressor. Weakness is that he’s very one footed;
Casemiro - average/poor under the press, good long range pass when in space (suits counter attacking)
Eriksen - average/poor under press, good passer when given time, very two footed (suits counter attacking)
Fernandes - creative juggernaut but treats the ball like lava. Can’t dribble
Rashford - poor/average; very much a counter attacker;
Antony - very good at ball retention, can also dribble;
Sancho - quite good at ball retention, but a lot of timid passes
Martial - very good at holding the ball and playing under pressure;
McFred - both better off the ball than on it. Very much counter attacking players who are poor with the ball.