I suspect a lot of this is down to a 'play by numbers' style where players are told what position to be in in given situations. This in the name of 'shape'. Very often, when a player realises that he should make a certain run, or take up a particular position, he is reluctant to do so because the shape of the team might be distorted or compromised.
Better teams with more intelligent players can handle this because they are good enough to read the game and adjust/compensate accordingly. Our lot can't do this, which is why they play for us at the level we're at. They are limited; most can't even see/read what's on, which is where good coaching comes in. No coach can install a footballing brain into a player who hasn't got one. BUT there are many passing routines that can be drummed into players through intensive and repeated practise until it becomes second nature.
As
@CroJack has said above, as have I until I'm sick of saying it, we have lost the
art of pass and move, of keeping possession by doing so. This was started by Flynn then improved and polished under Rodgers and Laudrup. As we all know, this style started to go tits up during Monk's tenure simply because he didn't have either the ability or the DNA to coach it. As a lower league journeyman during his playing career, he didn't know any better, so our footballing ability was first diluted then entirely ripped out of us under his stewardship.
My concern is that Cooper, although well meaning, seems to be failing to get the message across to his players. No doubt he's trying as we see little snatches and glimpses of some really good football at times. BUT WE ARE NOT CONSISTENT. Cooper must be ruthless. If any player fails to deliver what is required then he gets benched, whoever he is (eg captain Grimes). We have some decent options now and I have a feeling that if Cooper stumbles on the right lineup, we could do really well this season. I say 'stumbles' because I don't think he really knows yet who is best options are. But it's his job to find out and find out quickly. Meantime, he and the other coaches should be drilling pass and move until the players can do it with their eyes shut. Maybe then we can start getting back to what we once were.