Isn't that exactly the point - that they can't do it?
It's like trying to build a flatpack with a spoon, and instead of getting a screwdriver, persisting with the bloody spoon.
If Silva was pragmatic, he ditches it for man to man and gets back to basics until he has the players to do it. I don't buy the argument that persisting highlights the weakness, because if he doesn't know it's a weakness by now he's braindead.
If he wants to defend a certain way, bring the players in in the summer to do it - until then, given you know what the issue is, temporarily fix the issue until you can permanently fix it later.
It's called management.