Despite the poor performance, I actually feel a little better, because our deficiencies are becoming more and more obvious. There's weak links and there's no hiding behind a single 'bad day' any more. Young and Valencia simply don't enhance the system. Their failings stem from a poor defence and what follows is a chain-like reaction of people unable to do their job because someone else isn't doing theirs. If we're going to play the ball through the wingbacks this much, we need better wingbacks. We have world class attackers but we're bypassing them most of the time by giving the ball to Young/Valencia, hoping their limited abilities can somehow produce a chance. The new system helps in that it places our top attacking players in the positions they're best at, but it's not working since the ball never gets to them.
Which is why losing players between now and Monday will be more beneficial to the team than the players we bring in. We've got the star signings, shored up the back a little, and - if Blind is on board - a more versatile midfielder. When the injuries return, I think the team on a purely personnel basis is near to where it needs to be.