Unfortunately for you I only bet with emotional stakes like Honour and Humiliation
Your hypothesis is an interesting one, by all means, and I’m not claiming it couldn’t work, or that there aren’t costs as well as benefits to playing Bruno. However my point is that there is very little evidence of teams with Bruno in their squads chosing solutions without him and profitting on it. Even Stramacciforgothisname at Udinese, and Fernando Santos at Portugal, both whom struggled to release or accomodate Bruno The Chance Creator (Goals/assists/chances made/key passes), still found places in their set ups for him in the team, and came to find that better than the alternatives. Even if the no 10 role is clearly his best, coaches have used him as LW, RW, SS, B-2-B and even no 6 at a stretch, but importantly - hardly ever subbed him for a specialist in these positions to see the team improve. So I remain sceptical about the potential in releasing a team from this hypothesized ‘straight-jacket’, even if there isn’t much evidence against it neither.
I take issue with some of the argumentation re his negative impact on team performance of the type that his characteristics are poorly understood and his limitations have tactical consequences that are underestimated as opposed to overestimation of ‘hollywood moments’ or ‘stat padding’ detrimental to team tactics. These are the type of things that fool laymen, not coaches above a fairly modest level I think, and are comparable to overruling medical teams decisions on what kind of a treatment a player needs. We just don’t know enough factors.
I see more technique, positional ability, short passing/retention qualities than you do in Bruno, undoubtedly, and I’m not saying I’m right about that. But I believe he would be capable of playing a no 10 role in a Pep team very well if that’s what he’s told to. I also find it interesting how Ten Hag, notwithstanding his inability to create a flowing play out of this season’s squad status, several times have pointed out our lack of positional discipline both in and out of possession, while sticking with Bruno as both captain and ever-present. I’m inclined to accept that Ten Hag can choose the wrong tactical medicine for this squad this season, but I’m not prepared to believe he can’t see very easily which players function or malfunction in regards to his central tactical concerns. Well, there is certainly a chance we’ll be able to learn more about this next season.