There was a batch of stats reported in one of the papers, which proved that we are signficantly slower than last season. Blowed if I can find it, but it would back up your post which, I believe, hits the nail on the head. When the players are confident enough to ping the ball about quickly, they stand a chance of working it through the opposition. When they dither, the other lot pounce. When Martinez first arrived, IIRC, he was talking about giving players confidence to hold the ball and pick a pass, rather than just hoof it to safety. It appears that, now that confidence is in short supply, a less elegant approach is required.
I want Moyes back. He would know what to do. He might even relish the prospect of a budget £30m+ per annum more than he had before.