If we are going to get the best out of Matic and Pogba, we need a three man midfield with a tireless but competent passer of the ball beside Matic.
Pogba's roaming is killing Matic and our defense.
Lewis Cook would be perfect but there’s no way Woodward or Mourinho would sign him - won’t sell shirts and would need to be developed. Would already be an upgrade on Herrera, plus another signing, ideally Toni Kroos or Weigl.
I think the 433 actually fits our players better.
Pogba obviously
Martial is better as a left forward
Sanchez is better as a left/right forward
Matic needs help in the middle
It's only really Lukaku who hasn't played in a front 3 much before. The rest should all benefit. It's the 4231 that is shoehorning players into unfamiliar positions.
But the 4-2-3-1 is Mourinho’s default formation, so the signing of Pogba while taking this into account was akin to Real Madrid’s moronic golactico policy; Kante was a much more valid fit for the system, as would a Kroos/Modric-type, and an orthodox #10.
People are complaining about the 2 in midfield but it’s only an issue because of Pogba; put a Carrick-level player next to Matic and the system would suddenly work.
If things continue the way they are, it’ll be 2 seasons of Pogba overall being an underwhelming tactical misfit - perhaps it’s time to sell him and reinvest in competent players who actually optimises the manager’s tactics rather than burden them. Real Madrid and PSG would surely be interested, and a cash plus Kroos/Verratti deal would be ideal, as would Asensio/Isco with the cash being reinvested in Weigl.
Despite the prolonged expectations they would, neither Veron or Anderson ever came good, and there’s a very good chance Pogba is on the same path as those two - superbly talented individuals all, but not ‘proper’ midfielders.