I understand what you’re saying to an extent. My issue is that if your system is reliant on a player that is supposedly a one off, then that is probably not the smartest system to set up.
The fact is he did set up another system, and should have done so at united. We will not make too 4 with mctominay starting for us week in week out. I know our play is improving, but the other teams are too strong to get away with the number of handicaps we have.
Nobody has said, nor did I say that the system relied on a one off player.
The one off player is simply the absolute best at that position coming into his prime and possibly available. We are Manchester United, our ambition should be that player.
If that player says no then there are other players of similar profile as back up targets but those players are inferior (ie we won't be held to ransom on price, player may need a supporting structure around him in midfield that means deeper investment) and if we are priced out or whatever, we will coach a player in the squad currently to perform the function for now until an alternative is identified or someone is coached to the level required.
And if this happens, then you have to accept the level of investment we have done in this window is probably not all that is needed and should judge things from that perspective.
If we had sorted out the scouting network etc before ten hag came then you could argue this was all on him
But we didn't, and the club is in the state it is in because of the club organisation not the current manager of the first team that's been in the job weeks.