He is, without doubt. He might not want to be, or claim that he isn't, but his whole tactics are cowardly. This isn't what we were promised when he came in. We might as well have backed Jose, at least he has the pedigree to win titles. Even when we win, it is built on a completely negative setup for the most part... exactly what Jose was criticised for.
I dont think he ever talked about attack either tbh. What I heard first and foremost was 'high energy' from all his players.
What is energy as a component of football? Is it attacking or defensive?
To me its defensive because it requires energy to press, run and tackle, run back in to position to maintain a position in a formation etc.
He wants energy from his players and he sets us up defensively to try play for that defensive energy.
Consider Mctomminay, Fred, Bruno and Pogba vs Pogba, Bruno, VDB and Fred - what do we have in the first that we lose in the second? Energy in defensive areas. We can have more attacking freedom or creativity, not exactly attacking energy.
We see him using Daniel James out wide in a 4231 - for what? Defensive energy.
It's a shame that an ex player of ours doesnt have that attacking mindset when managing us.
The whole 1st half we defend trying to tire the opposition out ( with energy) and we become more creative in the second half is such a poor tactic. It can work but it's a toss of a coin.