One thing that cannot be held against Ralf Rangnick when his interim tenure as Manchester United manager comes to a close is his upfront nature when speaking to the media. Prior to United's meeting with Everton on Saturday, he exuded his typical frankness when insisting, "The squad needs to be rebuilt in the summer, it is clear."
Meanwhile, Rangnick verified that there is an agreement on a contract for a prospective advisory role next term and possibly beyond, confirming that he has already been in dialogue with the board in regards to his views about the squad. Based on the aforenoted quote, there appears a blatancy that his recommendations will be majorly unfavourable towards large portions of the squad. His inside intel could be invaluable.
Aligned with Rangnick's suggestions, there are many reports that Erik ten Hag, who United seemingly have an agreement in principle with to become their next manager, has asked the club to be heavily involved in the present and future transfers strategy. With a seeming willingness from Ten Hag to take particular ownership of incomings, outgoings and contract talks, there is further reinforcement as to the necessity of a rebuild.
Many who follow United, however, won't need any reinforcement to acknowledge the requirement of a significant refresh.
As the weeks tick by, the climax to the Premier League season is spiralling further and further from being a case of engagement in a Champions League battle for United. More so, it is becoming merely a chance for players to audition themselves to any manager that may be in the pipeline. Predominantly, though, it is growing into an opportunity for pending coaches to gain education of United's flaws.
Presently, there are many, many flaws.
United, now for some time, have grown renowned for unconventionality. Things aren't being done in any conventional manner, evidenced by the frequency of mysterious stooping down to and below the level of sides beneath them in the league standings.
Such was the lack of any authoritative stance on proceedings against Everton on Saturday, the affair was made to feel like a relegation contest for sizeable periods. From near-enough the very outset, aside from a pair opportunities for Marcus Rashford denied by Jordan Pickford, there was an overarching sense that United were inferior to their opposition.
Considering that Everton came into the fixture only a point above 18th-place Burnley, staring down the barrel of their first relegation since 1951 having lost 17 of their 22 league matches prior, such inferiority was damning.
United's start, despite sporadic hints of liveliness, was riddled with turnovers and considerably lacked in energy in a vein reminiscent of the draw to Leicester one week beforehand. Such a slack beginning to proceedings ultimately foreshadowed major shortcomings which were strewn across the entire performance - both quality-wise and attitudinal.
Tempo levels wavered and technical deficiencies were rife, even though there were glimmers of the defensive frailties that have marred Everton's season. It felt as though stories of United's entire season were condensed into 90 minutes of football, much like against Leicester.
The contest quickly emerged as one almost reminiscent of a lower-league, even Sunday League match. Neither side were able to sustain much possession, with United particularly proving an incapability to execute a bulk of the very basics. The lapses were often unconceivable, with the simplest of passes going awry. As a result, there was no establishment of any fluidity or rhythm.
Conjunct with the shortages of quality, creativity was limited to the extent that it was essentially illusive. Continual abject decision making was a definite contributing factor to United's lack of invention and overall control, with numerous misplaced crosses, aimless clearances and 'hits and hopes' on display.
Everton were able to step onto the front foot, and Anthony Gordon's goal just short of the half-hour mark was a pinpoint encapsulation of United's pitfalls.
Nemanja Matic's dearth of both intent and awareness saw him susceptible to being put under duress after receiving a pass from Fred, inviting a press and seeing himself dispossessed by Gordon around the halfway line. From there, Gordon was afforded infinite space to set himself to thread a pass to Richarlison.
The pass was overhit, yet Aaron Wan-Bissaka failed to track Richarlison's run and showed a distinct lack of endeavour to assert himself on the Everton man. Again, there was a mass of space allowed, with Richarlison placed under no pressure and able to cut the ball across. A further absence of consciousness saw Gordon left free on the edge of the box to pick up the ball after nick off Iwobi saw it come loose.
The shot was uncontested and a wretched deflection off Harry Maguire gave David de Gea no chance of denying the effort. It was an entirely preventable goal caused by a widespread lack of defensive urgency.
The concession wasn't even an isolated case of a seeming lack of desire. There were often hints those on the pitch being almost devoid of motivation. United lost their most tenacious asset in Fred through injury shortly after the goal. And by full-time, United had startlingly run a whole 10km less than their opposition, who were likely more fatigued having lost a gruelling encounter with Burnley in midweek.
Onwards from the Gordon strike, tension amongst the Everton ranks was eased thus United's woes were further compounded. Previously growing hostility within Goodison Park diminished and the Everton players flourished, playing with confidence irreflective of their prior struggles.
Richarlison even took the opportunity to string multiple keep-ups with his head early in the second half.
The response from United to such audacious showboating?
Nothing. Not a care in the world. It was a start embodiment of the lifelessness that riddled the entire performance.
Maguire entered a dispute with Jadon Sancho after the essential allowance of Richarlison's showboating. With the aforementioned incident an example, the wholesale disconnection at the club was plainly evident throughout the game through various means.
Possibly the most striking moment in proving the inchoation was the introduction of Juan Mata with just shy of half-an-hour remaining, with the Spaniard not having played a single Premier League minute this term before entering the fray.
Jesse Lingard was an option on the bench, yet Rangnick opted for Mata instead. In January, Lingard was prevented from joining Newcastle United due to his apparent importance for the second half of the season.
Widespread confusion was exacerbated by the fact it was Matic withdrawn, effectively leaving a dysfunctional midfield consisting of three attack-minded midfielders as Mata joined Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes. In addition, Rashford found himself hooked even though he had proven United's biggest goal threat.
The game ebbed and flowed with the occasional forward surge from United, but there was repeatedly some form of ceding possession which led to a breakdown before anything positive could ensue.
United only regressed from the draw against Leicester in spite of the return of a focal point. Cristiano Ronaldo was an isolated figure, starved of service due to an abundant inability of his teammates to progress the ball. The lack of service was so substantial that Ronaldo may as well have not been on the pitch for the most-part, with the only times that he ever had an input on the action when he dropped to around the halfway line.
Overall, United lost possession 182 times, which included 93 times in the second half alone. When the focus was primarily on just keeping hold of the ball, creation was always bound to be sparse.
Ronaldo's most defining moment came at the full-time whistle when he slapped a 14 year-old Everton fan's phone from his hand, causing it to smash and allegedly bruising the child. The teenager was simply filming Ronaldo make his way down the tunnel, but petulance prevailed and a police investigation has been provoked.
Ugly scenes followed an ugly performance. It summed up United's season in many ways.
Nearly three years on from a 4-0 defeat at Goodison, Saturday's 1-0 loss is almost tougher to take from a United standpoint. There has been no progress since the former result, only further deterioration. United currently perch inside Europa Conference League territory - the third tier European tournament.
In the words of De Gea, the situation is a "disgrace" - a strong but true evaluation.
A Champions League finish can be all but forgotten about with sides like Tottenham Hotspur free-scoring and stringing together consistent results at present. Frankly, United look a fair few levels away from competing with Europe's elite anyway.
The next manager, most likely Ten Hag, has to be afforded time. Right now, it seems it will take time just to halt the runaway train that is Manchester United.
Solid piece as always