After United’s 3-2 loss to West Ham last night, a friend emailed me with the subject “We Are No Longer A Serious Team.”

At the moment that the message was sent, few minutes after United’s failed to clinch the fourth spot and most likely a place in the Champions League next season, many United fans would have been more damning in their assessment and criticism of the club.

My friend was not trying to be moderate with his word choice. Knowing him, I sensed that his use of “Serious” is more loaded than most United fans will give him credit for, but I also sensed that like most, he was lost for words to express the disappointment that United had caused.

No one expected West Ham to be a walk over. They have been one of the best teams this season, beating Chelsea, City, Liverpool and Arsenal. They drew with Leicester and Tottenham. West Ham have been exciting to watch, combining flair and wisdom with grit and intense physicality in equal measure. For their Payet, Noble and Lanzini, they have Carrol, Kouyate and Antonio. They have been compact at the back, direct at the front and energetic in the middle.

The same cannot be said for Manchester United. Barring De Gea, Smalling, Martial and increasingly Rashford, United have been an unmitigated disaster.

But given the stakes of the game, United fans expected a bit more from their team. United have been disappointing all season, but a win here would have atoned for most of their blushes, although the perennial question about van Gaal’s future would have remained.

The stakes were higher for United, but it would have been difficult to detect if the person watching doesn’t follow football closely. United came out without intensity and little attacking intent. They were nervous and the booming voices of the home fan unsettled United even more.

The West Ham defeat was a summation of United’s season (granted this has been said for many games this season). Against the Hammers, United were timid, tentative, immobile, unfocused and unambitious.

United went behind early after a bad pass from Schneiderlin and an equally bad clearance from the box. That was the twelfth time United conceded the first goal this season. From those, they lost 10, drew 1 and won 1.Those numbers say more about the post-Fergie era more than anything. Remember when United were the kings of comeback?

United’s response was a playground skirmish or rather a pillow fight between two lovers who have mutually agreed to go separate ways—the goal was not to inflict harm. United failed to register an attempt on goal in the first half. They were caught open many times in that half and were it not for West Ham’s profligacy, the tie would have ended within 45 minutes.

United came out in the second half with a bit more intensity. The early pressure paid off when Anthony Martial tapped in a Juan Mata cross. It was game on. Champions League seemed very possible again. United slowed down a bit, inviting West Ham to attack. The Hammers went back to basics: use Carroll to unsettle United and hoped for free kicks and scuffles in the box. United did not have an answer.

Then Martial scored again, off a signature run. The finish was easy, more reflective of Darren Randolph’s error than of Martial’s brilliance although the young Frenchman run past James Reid deserves credit.

United should have gone looking for a third or should have defended better. They failed to do both. West Ham piled their assault and involved Carroll more and more. It was only a matter of time before United cracked given the flow of ball into the final third and the growing intensity of the West Ham chants.

United gave away too many silly fouls. With Payet’s free kick brilliance and West Ham aerial superiority (Antonio, Reid, Carroll, Kouyate), United were exceptionally stupid in conceding cheap free kicks. West Ham scored two goals from these: one directly of the free kick, the other from a poor clearance of the free kick.

The main culprit behind the unnecessary fouls was Ander Herrera. Herrera’s limited role in Van Gaal’s team has been one of the most contentious issues for United fans and for many a sign that the Dutch coach has lost his tactical nous. On a night where he should have repaid the fans’ faith, Herrera orchestrated the circumstances that undermined their faith in United and broke their hearts.

With 3-2 on the scoreboard, it was an uphill climb for United, but it was not impossible to stage a comeback win or at least force a draw. It was not the case. United failed to mount a threat.

Then Van Gaal showed his true colors by throwing on Lingard, a footballer whose only asset is his work rate. United did not need a worker, they needed a dribbler and a scorer. That person was Memphis Depay, a player pushed on the fringes by the man who brought him to United to replace Angel Di Maria.

Memphis was United’s best bet. A proven dribbler and shooter. He would have, in theory, put more balls in the box and run at Cresswell and Reid. In another bizarre move, United brought on Adnan Januzaj. Not bad for attacking purposes, but Januzaj has barely seen first team action and throwing him on with less than ten minutes to go was an act of desperate cluelessness more than anything.

Manchester United can still clinch the fourth spot, but the possibility is slim. It will take a big miracle. Swansea will have to beat City and United will have to win against Bournemouth. We can count on Swansea, but I doubt if we can count on our team to complete their end of the deal.

Before the game the bulk of the debate centered on van Gaal’s future. A win last night and a win in the FA Cup final would have made it difficult to fire him. From a performance stand point, he would have exceeded the minimum required standards (Champions League) for the club.

After last night, keeping van Gaal will be difficult. It will be even more difficult to mount a reasonable argument to justify his retention. Keeping him will definitely signal that we are no longer a serious team.