If Pogba plays on the left, we're unbalanced and have to leave out one of Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood. And if Pogba plays in a 2, our midfield gets overran, unless Ole instructs him to stay back which he doesn't seem to want him to do.
We are not necessarily unbalanced just because Pogba plays on the left. On the contrary, a player of his ilk might be an even better fit in some games than a player like Rashford on the left because Pogba could balance out vertically the moves from Shaw. Also balance can be just as easily gained back as it can be lost - just by instructions, if Pogba joins midfield, somebody has to fill the gaps, thats it - basic stuff more or less. But obviously pretty difficult, if the players figure out that type of things on their own instead of being given a plan.
Following this particular thought, I think, the first thing that needs to die, that there is a way to set up United to be a balanced side with cramming all our attacking talent on the pitch. That just isn't happening, we have to keep up with modern football, where teams attack and defend as a team, which means more work but much more possibilities.
In conclusion, start with Pogba on the left drifting in certain games, play Donny on the right drifting infield in others. Play Rashford on the left as an insight forward in some games, as a winger in others. We also have Greenwood and Sancho for the mix. That gives us so many different skillsets which, in theory, should enable us to cause any playstyle opponents can use against us problems. Which is the plan after all, I guess. I am not against adding more attackers during the game when the situation requires that.
So what do you think we should do? What team and what formation? Can Bruno and Pogba even play together with our current squad?
Of course they can but not just plug and play but by having a plan of what to do and when. There are so many factors that could be experienced with like
- integration of coordinated pressing system to win the ball further up the field
- getting more compact as a team moving as a unit in defence and attack (by applying a higher line with the defense)
- asymetric formations
- differing midfield partnerships out of Fred, McTominay, DVB and potentially Matic
- increase overall workrate and defensive application, be it Rashford or Greenwood, when they don't play as the CF, there is just no chance whatsoever that it is ok to have both of them staying high in attacking positions at the same time. At least one has to support defense or at least be engaged of a meaningful builtup play.
Two years ago, we got step 1 from the "Top team playbook": become a weapon on the counter. We have done that, now it is time for step 2: when you can't counter be great in possession. It is just a natural progression in my eyes: as teams know our capabilities on transitions they will defend deeper on their own to not give room to go in behind to us. The natural step is now that we have to increase our capabilities to recycle possession while finding ways to consistently create good chances. To do that, we have to be more patient for sure, we have to work harder off the ball to challenge defensive organisations and force errors. But we can't just wait for the players to figure that out on their own.
But the main factor still is - do not overload the team attacking wise, always strive for balance as the baseline setup, which of course can and should be adjusted depending on a match in-game or, before a game, to the available players.
Short term solution:
1. Experiment with DVB in the double-pivot to see if there is potential or not. So worst case scenario is that we at least know at the end of the season if its worth the time investing in him transforming to a CM.
2. Make sure that no matter if Bruno or Pogba plays - at all times one of them should be available as an option for a short pass from the center mids to stop the isolation.
3. See if a higher defensive line counterbalances the gained decrease of isolation of midfield against the risk of counters.
4. Increase scouting efforts for a midfielder carrying the necessary skillset (depending on the playstyle the manager wants) to have at least Option A, B, C and D to choose from when the time is there.