That's where someone like Greenwood would have come in handy.
When Rashford is out on the left touchline, the right winger should come inside and offer another inside passing option, so that AWB can bomb forward, giving us more numbers in the attack. When Dan James plays, even if the ball is on the other touchline, he still hugs the line and it affects the CM's, the RB, and the strikers.
It affects the RB because the RW taking up his attacking space, it affects the CM's because it takes away one central passing option, leading to less central penetration, and it affects the strikers because they have one less man to play off with their partner stuck out wide on the other touchline, and are they are thus more isolated (especially if someone the caliber of Lingard is supplying them).
Rewatching the match, there seemed to be quite a few structural issues in the team and Dan James constantly hugging the right while AWB stays back like a 3rd CB looks like one of them to me.
I disagree. For a start, Rashford is hardly ever on the left touch line - he spends virtually his entire time infield. Time and time again Shaw gets the ball out his feet and has no reasonable progressive passing option. Rashford’s contributions to the general play are much more positive on the odd occasions where he remembers what his strengths are and, regardless of whether it’s starting from the touch line or the inside left channel, plays on the turn, making runs and providing penetration.
On the occasions where James does occupy a more central position, closer to the other two, the attack looks particularly limp. I remember that being the case in a recent game but can’t recall exactly which one (Watford springs to mind but unsure), and the one which clearly sticks in mind was the dreadful first half against Sheffield United where we played a back three and wing backs. The front three were closer together there than in any other game of the season and were absolutely woeful.
Maintaining width does affect the right back, centre mids and forwards - but in a positive way. Wan-Bissaka is not a wing back, he is not in his element running the flank. Having James on the ball down the right flank in attack is preferable to seeing Wan-Bissaka in the same position. James being stationed in front of him also does not mean Wan-Bissaka cannot get forward. If James picks up the ball under pressure facing his own goals then Wan-Bissaka should maintain depth and offer support, but when he receives the ball in space and is able to turn that gives Wan-Bissaka license to overlap. There is an argument that he should avoid getting involved in those situations anyway to allow James to isolate the full back and either have a run at him or look for a one-two around him, but overlapping is always an option.
Central midfielders may have one less central passing option, but then they have one more wide passing option as well as more space centrally for themselves and for the other passing options in the middle to operate in. Martial wants passes to feet and comes towards the ball, as does Rashford currently. Having James attempt the same thing hampers central penetration rather than aiding it.
What you are proposing as a general template for attacking is perfectly viable. There’s more than one way to skin a cat though, and no particular attacking shape or pattern is ‘right’ or ‘best’ without considering the strengths of the players taking up each of the positions in the system. Greenwood will come off the line more naturally than James does from the right wing position, but that doesn’t compliment the natural abilities and tendencies of the other players in the side.
A major problem in this team, as has been the case for years now, is a lack of appropriate spacing between players in attack. Overall, I am delighted with James’ contribution on the right compared to what I have been watching in recent seasons. I find it a great shame, though, that when we finally use a player in the right attacking slot who actually works within the parameters of that position, we attempt something on the other side of the pitch which is more akin to what we have been doing on the horribly underwhelming right hand side of previous years.
