One defensive minded midfielder just cannot be done. Gone are the days when they can hold the midfield by themselves as most teams will just dominate them. Even if Pogba plays more defensively it wont work except in a few games and then all you are doing is limiting Pogba. You need 2 midfielders that put in the defensive work. Even if you dont agree with me then its obvious that Ole wants it that way hence playing McFred and pushing Pogba on the left. So that's the way it will be. The only way I can see this working is that we go to a regular 4-3-3 but that means Bruno in midfield and Bruno and Pogba is too attacking and would limit Bruno's strengths. Or and what I want is to play Bruno as a false 9.
-------------------Henderson
AWB----Lindelof-----Maguire----Shaw
--Bissouma-----Neves--------Pogba
Greenwood------Fernandes------Rashford
This is a much more balanced team. Bissouma and Neves have the ability to do the defensive work, plus keep the ball, plus pass forward, plus contribute to attack. It frees up Pogba to play his natural game. Bruno is the furthest forward pressing the keeper in a lot of games so false 9 should suit him. If Neves 30 mill and Bissouma 40 mill is ever a possibility then we would be crazy not to snap them up.
I think the team above is much better but it can obviously be improved. as below. But its a fantasy as we would never have the cash for all these players. I added Grealish if Pogba leaves. I think this is the team that can challenge City. Plus we would have Greenwood, Martial, VDB, McTominay, Fred, Telles, Lindelof etc to rotate. Not bad.
-------------------Henderson
AWB----Varane-----Maguire----Shaw
--Bissouma-----Neves--------Grealish
Sancho------Fernandes------Rashford