What Solskjaer did was build a system with a back-four and two grafters in front of them so that our most creative player can enjoy a free role on the pitch as a roaming play-maker, and also so that our main attacking outlets wouldn't have to worry much about their defensive duties. During the course of his tenure, he also shifted from mid-press tactics to sit back, absorb pressure and hit on the counter because this is exactly the kind of football they thrive in. It worked for him... up to a certain degree. The question in the OP remains, what if this is as good as it gets with these players leading the line?
It's funny that you mention Pogba because i believe that, up until Eriksen's injury, we weren't missing him a bit. It is funny because the main cause for the never-ending quest for Pogba's "best position" on the pitch (one of the Caf's favourite pastimes) was his limited positional sense, which meant that others had to create pockets of space for him to receive the ball. Whereas Eriksen, despite being the lesser overall player, can read the game in order to position himself to receive the ball on the turn and release it with one touch. Subsequently, he offers us more rotational options in the midfield (since he can receive the ball in front of the defence with Casemiro moving further up the pitch) which can be essential for opening up spaces by not allowing the opposition to settle in their shape. But you would keep Pogba in this team because 1v1, he's better than Eriksen. I believe you can see the difference this season with an in-form Eriksen in the side.
Similarly, no one is questioning Bruno's numbers. No one doubts his impact on this side. And yes, Odegaard wouldn't have had the same impact as Bruno on this particular United side. But no one's claiming these things. The people who approach this in this manner are missing the point of the discussion and they are basically arguing against themselves. The premise is to prioritize the system over the individuals in orders to produce better results. Not because we have nothing better to do with our time, but because the "system" teams are the ones who are dominating the field and because we still look miles off them. Not on points, on the general outlook. When people compare KdB with Bruno and they use the stats to showcase how brilliant Bruno's numbers are in all the #10's metrics, they are missing a key element. What makes De Bruyne such a great player is that he achieves such productivity while integrating himself in the system and (therefore) working on the pitch to open up spaces for others, and not vice versa. Which is what (players like) Bruno needs to get these numbers. Which is also what Pogba needed at United.
Look, i understand your point. When we get down to brass tacks, facing the reality of our situation, i can definitely see where you're coming from. I saw the OP as an exercise. There are players who are like that. I remember, while i was growing up, that i loved Baggio. I wouldn't hear a bad word about him. He's one of the most naturally gifted and talented footballers i have ever watched on a pitch. The fact remains, that in the four seasons Juventus were trying to build a team around him, they couldn't even get close to the scudetto Yeah, Milan were a different beast in the era, but still, a not-really-challenging second place was the best they could manage. His replacement, while not the maverick Baggio was, but a player easier to fit in the manager's plans, left a far more lasting mark. Sometimes, you are forced to reevaluate your options and your general approach. The relationship between Gerrard and Liverpool also springs to mind.
Apologies for misinterpreting the tone of your previous post.
