You have a point but I don't think it applies to Phil Jones. He's always tried hard whenever fit, which admittedly is rarely. Same with Juan Mata.
Our problem has more has been the amount of first team players we've signed who aren't totally committed, or who give up once they get to a point they're happy with themselves. We've had too of these types of players over recent years and it's bogged us down. Di Maria, Sanchez, Pogba, Lingard, Schweinsteiger, Cavani (this year), Falcao, Martial, Memphis, Valdes, etc.
I'd like to see us be more ruthless to newer players who clearly aren't good (a la Chelsea and Bakayoko). Remember when we shipped out Tosic after a year?
I'm sure if we had a functioning team + Phil Jones then I'm sure wouldn't be a massive problem. Anderson was here for 7 years, most of which was a successful period for the club.