Do you have any actual examples to add to this comment?
Fred and Sanchez are both struggling massively with the most basic concept of footballing. Pereira was awful the last time he got to play. Really, really awful. All of them are liabilities right now.
So that leaves Scott McTominay.
Is he a better player than Mata or Lukaku?
It would be possible for Ole to make some substantial changes to how we approach the games, if the players available on the bench were not having AWFUL seasons.
Mata and Lukaku are literally the only players that Manchester United have in their squad that are of a substantial quality to defend playing in a XI squad against Chelsea.
The manager is dealing with a squad that is currently as deep as a waterdroplet.
Yes. Here are the three alternatives to the failed plan B I was referring to (Lukaku central, Mata right)
1. Different formation - it would be based on two forwards, either a diamond (preferred) or a 352. In either scenario, he could use Mata as the attacking mid or Sanchez. Would also give the chance to have Lukaku pull out to the right where he has looked better this season.
2. Non-Academy Alternatives (433) - Lukaku on the right, although he still has limitations, he has been mostly competent and occasionally very good (Arsenal). The other option is Dalot, who could be used as a winger in an emergency situation (He can run, tackle, hold he ball and dribble). Both are not ideal, but both are better than Mata on the right.
That still leaves an issuevith Sanchez on the left, personally I still believe in him, but the following few ganes are the acid test on his United credentials. Appreciate that he is not in everyone's favor, so my other alternative is youth
3. Academy Options - Greenwood, Chong and Gomes all have promise and have done well at lower level. Apart from a question mark on the latter (can Gomes do well in the flank?), they all offer something different in the front line. Yes it's a risk, but they are a different solution that could succeed. This brings me on to my final point.
Lukaku (central) and Mata (right) are experienced, but as far as this season goes, they have been closer to abysmal than competent. If OGS makes the same decision to play them there, then we are asking for failure. This is my current issue with OGS, he has seen them underperform (in those positions) during and before his tenure - the big question is what is he expecting to achieve with the doing exact same thing again?
Yes we lack depth in certain positions, but that is no excuse for making the same mistake again and again. My preference would be to use youth and see if that works as it did for Busby and Fergie. If it fails, then go for the lesser of two failures.