Why would we move the ball quickly when there isn't anyone to move it to? No aspect of the game is quantizable the way people want it to be, because these are humans with affects, idiosyncracies, and intentions.
When you have goalscorers, you look for them. You receive the ball and you immediately try to play them in if possible. The opposition has to respect that, and if they do there is often an alternative outlet getting less attention. Play is stretched or broken and the game state opens allowing quick play.
There are different configurations. A false nine allows you to leave someone free high on the flanks for the same purpose.
There has to be a real threat. Someone you believe in, someone who has the right physical attributes, someone who is calling for it, moving for it, who the players trust to make something happen. Without that, you're just setting up for the next counter against you, playing risky balls just so you can desperately track back. It's psychologically draining and demoralizing.
