When did I hear about this playmaker-less strategy? Is it Ajax under Ten Hag?
Actually the one who promotes this kind of thing is no other than Sir Alex Ferguson. Ironically, he is the one who want to use playmaker but never can replicate the good playmaker environment, see Veron under him.
SAF team always build on technically drilled player with strong spearhead as their striker. Yorke, Cole, Solksjaer, Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Rooney, Chicharito. But their winger and midfield always a top top discipline player with Giggs, Park, Nani (well this is exception)
4-4-2 is a classic formation without playmaker, Mourinho even tinkered that to 4-3-3 with central player like Lampard who is a goal scorer rather than playmaker