Wasting time constantly bombing in crosses is just as bad as costantly cutting in, and taking shots or playing horizantally. Apart from Giggs, neither of them are good crossers, so whats the point?
We can still play low crosses or cut-backs into the box. We scored by using a cut-back against Chelsea in the Community Shield, but the players don't seem to want to go wide (except Evra, of course).
I think playing the ball on the ground has gone a bit over our heads this season. Given what we have, it may seem like the only appropriate thing to do, but it hasn't been paying off for six matches. We have Scholes, Carrick, and Giggs who can all play the ball long from anywhere on the field. A combination of ground play and long balls should be more effective. Instead we're far too one-dimensional, and subsequently ineffective.
It hasnt been paying off in six matches because of the lack of a real 9. Even the lack of Rooney. Why would Carrick and Scholes want to play long balls to Tevez and Giggs?