"We can only play counter-attacking" is an over-simplification and, with all due respect, meaningless point of view. Pep's City is a top team that is hard to beat with any style. Just a look at their bench and comparing who they could bring in to the field, compared to us, was terrifying. Try beating them with whatever style and see how easy it is. Not to mention that we were not "counter"-anything the first 30 minutes.
It's not that we were counter-attacking, it's that City wasn't parking the bus against us. So, yes - we have a problem with teams who park a bus, but so do most other teams. That is not our main problem. Sheffield wasn't parking a bus against us and neither was Villa. And honestly, with the tenacity of Rashy today and the grit of Martial, we could break down any team, bus or no bus. That is not the point, the point is - Rashy and Martial don't always play t he way they did today or the way they played against Spurs. Not to mention how different Fred played in the last two games.
Our main problem is lack of consistency. With the attack and defense boys played today, we can do top 4 easily, this season. We also need depth of the squad, because the same starting 11 cannot play entire season, not a season like EPL. Just not physically possible.
It is clear that our summer signings worked out. AWS, Maguire, James - all three start every game and make us better. Maybe we overpaid for Maguire, but who cares - we paid what we had to, at least we are better, even if he's not anywhere close to VVD. Compared to stupid signings we'd made in the past, this summer was great. If we buy 3 more players that are as good, in the right positions, next summer and keep improving the likes of Green, Tuanzebe etc. - we'll be in a good place.
It's too early to judge Ole. Not because he has not had enough games (he has), but because he's not had enough players coming in. Objectively, he's neither been an instant success, nor instant failure. Clearly he's not an idiot, an idiot couldn't have won today's game or the one on Wednesday. Long-term, we'll see what's what.