Agree on that fear factor
@PeteC
Saw it at Utd, and was so obvious. Smalling at the time in one particular game, Palace i think it was 0-0 er...
Would receive the ball on the edge of the box from the keeper, time after time, opposition had retreated to their half way line, yet instead of running with the ball, then drawing out an opposition player and laying it off, would look to give it wide and then sit almost immediately after receiving the ball without travelling first.
It's a rigidness that takes away any self thought, dynamism or speculative football.
Clear this was on instruction to not commit the space. Plus the endless knocking it back inside from full backs, which in fairness to Jose, may be something he specifically advocates, but is another fashion, like playing out from the back, the game could do without.