If this really is to be Manchester United’s season, the question remains over whether this regime should really represent their future. Nobody can be surprised by this latest defeat, 2-0 at Watford. They’ve lost to the bottom club, but there’s no sense this is the campaign bottoming out. This is just what it is, the level.

The wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City were obviously positives, but they were not the signs of progress many had hoped for, and instead actually prove the major problem.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plays small-team football – on the break, ceding the play, hoping for breaks. The fact they still have some top talent like Marcus Rashford means that can work very well in the open space offered in behind by the bigger clubs, but evidently doesn’t work at all when anyone tries to close up against them.

And the latter is going to be the case in the majority of games, since this is United we’re talking about. It’s just this isn’t really United in the way they’re playing.

They don’t control games. They don’t impose their football on the opposition. They generally don’t know what to do when they’re granted the ball.

Ratings: Watford vs United Show all 22 1 /22 Ratings: Watford vs United Ratings: Watford vs United Ben Foster - 8 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 07: Ben Foster of Watford warms up ahead of the Premier League match between Watford FC and Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road on December 07, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Adrian Mariappa - 6 Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford (L) vies with Watford's English-born Jamaican defender Adrian Mariappa (R) during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on December 22, 2019. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Christian Kabasele - 6 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Jesse Lingard of Manchester United misses a chance as he is challenged by Christian Kabasele of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Craig Cathcart - 6 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Jesse Lingard of Manchester United is challenged by Craig Cathcart of Watford in the area during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Kiko Femenia - 7 WATFORD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Kiko Femenia of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Burnley FC at Vicarage Road on November 23, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Etienne Capoue - 7 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Etienne Capoue of Watford is shown a yellow card by referee Lee Mason during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Will Hughes - 6 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Will Hughes of Watford battles for possession with Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Ismaila Sarr - 8 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Ismaila Sarr of Watford is challenged by Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Abdoulaye Doucoure - 7 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford battles for possession with Scott McTominay of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Gerard Deulofeu - 8 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 07: Gerard Deulofeu of Watford looks on during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road on December 07, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Troy Deeney - 8 Watford's English striker Troy Deeney (L) vies with Manchester United's English midfielder Scott McTominay (R) during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on December 22, 2019. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United David de Gea - 3 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: David de Gea of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Watford vs United Aaron Wan-Bissak - 5 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Manchester United battles for possession with Troy Deeney of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Victor Lindelof - 6 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Victor Lindelof of Manchester United arrives ahead of the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Watford vs United Harry Maguire - 6 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Harry Maguire of Manchester United arrives ahead of the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Watford vs United Luke Shaw - 5 Manchester United's English defender Luke Shaw (R) vies with Watford's Senegalese midfielder Ismaila Sarr (L) during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on December 22, 2019. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Scott McTominay - 5 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Scott McTominay of Manchester United heads the ball before Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Fred - 6 Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Fred slides off the pitch during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on December 22, 2019. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Daniel James - 5 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Daniel James of Manchester United in action with Kiko Femenia of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Imag Ratings: Watford vs United Marcus Rashford - 5 Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford (R) vies with Watford's English-born Jamaican defender Adrian Mariappa (L) during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on December 22, 2019. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Jesse Lingard - 6 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Jesse Lingard of Manchester United battles for possession with Etienne Capoue of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images Ratings: Watford vs United Anthony Martial - 5 WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Anthony Martial of Manchester United shoots wide under pressure from Troy Deeney and Etienne Capoue of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Manchester United at Vicarage Road on December 22, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images

There are more basic stats than possession or those pitiful through-ball numbers – bottom of the Premier League – that illustrate this.

United have won a mere six league games this season, just a third of their matches. Four of those victories came against the current top six, and they are the only side to take points off Liverpool, but four of their five defeats came against those in the bottom half. The other loss was against ninth-placed Newcastle United.

The other wins, meanwhile, came against the two bottom-half clubs that will really open up against you in Norwich City and Brighton and Hove Albion. That's not a coincidence. It's consequence.

This is how it’s been, and how it looks likely to be. It is not a recipe for a top-four place or long-term development. There remains a fundamental issue with how the team sets up, and how Solskjaer and his staff do not seem to coach this side to play the co-ordinated attacking football that really separates the sides at the top level of the game. This is fundamentally what is missing.

Many might point to the absence of Paul Pogba, and it felt so pointed that he came on against Watford to play the pass of the game, but if your entire attacking approach is based on one player it is a problem in itself. It is actually an indictment of the system you’re supposed to be trying to integrate your players in - especially if the many murmurs are true and they don’t plan to sign midfield quality in January.

It similarly means the question does come back to one man, but it’s not Pogba.

It’s Solskjaer. There’s no getting away from it, or the prospect of Mauricio Pochettino. Serious questions must still be asked over what exactly the Norwegian’s idea of football is.

It has never really been clearly articulated other than in the vaguest and broadest of terms, and has never been clearly shown, beyond quick counter-attacks.

There are still serious doubts over whether he is the right man for such a job. Ed Woodward is invested in Solskjaer, and feels there are a lot of good foundations being put in, but it still feels such an unnecessary shot in the dark for a club of this size, when a manager of Pochettino’s proven ability is just waiting for a job.

Pochettino's availability clouds Woodward's faith in Solskjaer (Reuters) (Action Images via Reuters)

There was an irony to those wins over Spurs and City in that such good results seem to come at exactly the wrong time for many that wanted United to make the ruthless long-term decision to bring in the Argentine.

It’s taken no time at all for everything to level right back out, to something so underwhelming, and yet so predictable.