So I've been thinking about the depth of our squad and the balance issues that we have. I thought a chart would help visualize what's going on. This is a rough idea of where each player tends to be most comfortable or seems to drift too. Based on strengths and tendencies:

• http://imgur.com/gallery/SjbWy

if we consider these approximate positions we can see that we are lacking depth in important spaces and that even though we have a lot of attacking talent we have a case of having a lot of the same type of attacking talent. The 10/false 9 area and the right and left channels are filled with players but with no natural wingers, very few fullback options, and a lack of holding players able to release the fullbacks we tend to be a very narrow team.

• Here has been a typical/ideal Starting XI: http://i.imgur.com/KS6yTkk.jpg

In theory this is a strong XI, full of players who can play on the ball and make use of small amounts of space. We also have a fair amount of speed on the wings, and a creative midfield.

• In attack the structure would ideally look like this: http://i.imgur.com/hf8QjQj.jpg

We have a good amount of width from the full backs, three finishers attacking the box and creative distributors looking for incisive passes.

However often times due to the tendencies of our players the structure devolves into this:

• http://i.imgur.com/W5WpS9u.jpg

This creates lots of sideways passing and the lack of penetration in our play. This I think is what Jose means when he's baffled about his players not following instructions. They start to roam into where they're most comfortable and breakdown the structure he's instructing them on keeping. While Jose is not the rigid dictator that LVG was, don't be fooled into thinking that he doesn't expect structural discipline in his tactics.

A fix that we've seen that has made us more incisive is the influence of Carrick. Why he's so influential is because the formation tends to work in practice as a 4-3-3 even if the broadcast shows us in the 4-2-3-1.

• http://i.imgur.com/XKPK8e9.jpg

Carrick's natural tendencies puts him in the position of the single holding midfielder and while Pogba and Herrera work back to support in the build up, during extended periods of attacking possession the formation tends to structure like this.

• http://i.imgur.com/uizgTHC.jpg

Which is actually less effective in giving choices to our ball players but creates more effective space due to the natural tendencies of the players. Zlatan playing as a false 9 actually works to our favor. Martial and Rashford are channel strikers not wingers. Pogba and Herrera are afforded time and space to distribute and have the safety net of Carrick both in covering lost possession, as an outlet pass, and also a deep lying passer who can switch the field of play from long range.

This highlights the necessity for retuning the squad in a few ways. If we are to continue to play in the 4-3-2-1 we need to start a true striker and wingers as they create the forward movement towards the box that vacates the space behind for our 10 and fullbacks and pins back the opposition so that the holding midfielders can still contribute going forward. Meaning we need to reshape the squad and mold our younger players into staying disciplined when given one of these roles. We also need to address the fact that we have too many people who want to play at 10; Zlatan, Rooney, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Lingard we have too many players who disrupt the space for one another and who lack discipline. Personally I like Zlatan and Mata as they seem to have the first touch, composure, and class required. We also desperately need some transfers for a defensive minded midfielder, and preferably two wingers.

If we were to adjust to effectively playing the 4-3-3 we need the replacement for Carrick as his time is limited with the club going forward.

Just my thoughts on the current squad during the break.