If the 1 in the 4-1 midfield we currently use dropped back when we're out of possession we wouldn't get over run quite so much as we'd then have 5 across the middle, unfortunately that doesn't really happen.
It won't as that one is Harvey Barnes. And nor should it (IMO). Every time you see so called experts on TV / radio they all go on about flair players tracking back. I don't believe in that. Hazard doesn't do it, Salah doesn't do it, Best never did it, Maradona never did it, Ronaldo doesn't do it, Messi doesn't do it etc. Now I know we're talking Albion in the Championship and not world class teams but the same principal applies. You don't want your flair players knackering themselves running all over the park in a defensive capacity.
Football teams are made up of workers and magicians (in a relative football sense). If you play like Pulis does, yes you need everybody to defend but if you play predominantly on the front foot you need less of that.
You can have a 3-5-2 sure, but then Barnes either plays in midfield which will not suit him, up front where he won't be able to receive the ball to his feet facing goal or you don't play him at all.
One thing for sure, we're not getting the best out of him at the moment because teams have figured out how we play and where Barnes is likely to be and they know if you stop Barnes you stop Albion.
Just to pick up on your stats you posted earlier but if you took the samples from our first three games and our last three I'm guessing the stats then favour the first three games. Not being pedantic, honest