It's shaping up nicely but it's still very one dimensional. It's "go direct or go bust" in the sense that we are becoming very good at exploiting spaces but we still have trouble generating them on our own. I'm not going to pretend that the midfield doesn't need to be fixed but when we're constantly asking them to regain possession and play the ball vertically, all in three touches maximum, all the time, we're not making it easy for ourselves.
Firstly, the positives. Martial seems to be growing into his role. He's more willing to come deep and when he receives the ball in those areas he looks more aware of his surroundings than ever before in his United career. Rashford's runs have become more intelligent too. With an overlapping FB, he would look absolutely lethal because he would get better opportunities to play nearer the opposition box. James attacking the spaces in wide areas (taking advantage of the spaces modern FBs leave behind) creates balance because it provides us with width and it allows both Martial and Rashford to attack the opposition box. The #10 role sticks out like a sore thumb, obviously but, then again, it's one of the roles we wanted to get an improvement in. So, there's still hope that we will get it right eventually.
As for the negatives, the first one is that we are one injury away from having to readjust every role in the attacking plan. The other thing is that when plan A goes out of the window, we're left with very few good ideas. Martial isn't a forward that will give the opposition centre-halves plenty to worry about either with his intensity and aggression or his movement. This makes it more difficult to unbalance compact defences. Which leads the ball wide. And Rashford getting on the ball in stationary positions and away from goal with no room to exploit isn't exactly what we want because he's not the Hazard-type of left-winger. And if these two are out of the equation, we generally struggle in front of goal.
I believe a striker with the ability to harass the opposition CBs should be in the squad as an option. We thought that we could put Rashford there but it doesn't work because Rashy has pace and he works hard but he's not the Vardy-type who will chase down every ball and will always make something out of nothing. He won his place under LvG because he showed that he can pick his moments inside the box.
The #10 role will be crucial. People may hate the 4231 but with an attacking that consists of Martial, Rashford and James the need for a player with the ability to operate in the spaces between the lines, find little pockets of space and get on the ball while facing the goal is quite telling. I don't think that Martial will be as pivotal as Firmino or even Benzema for us to sustain a 433. He may end up being a greater goal scorer than both, he may improve his overall game but he will not become the one who will generate plays and open up spaces for the others. So, we'll need that player. Dybala would have been great because he's very clever and much more unselfish on the pitch than most people realize. I don't think Pogba can be that player but when you have Lingard and Pereira there, i guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a try at some point.
