Even in their wildest nightmares Manchester United fans, when Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of last season, and anointed David Moyes as his successor, would not have expected their team to be in such a miserable position come April.
Sitting seventh with hopes of a Champions League gone, Manchester United have made one of the worst ever defences of the English Premier League title. What has been even more alarming, though, is the manner in which United have played this season, a season in which records have been broken, not the good ones, but of teams beating them at Old Trafford, and completing league doubles, which had previously not been achieved for several decades.
Under Moyes, United have played some seriously dour football, not able to penetrate any defence well enough, despite having an enviable attack, while the defensive discipline, so successful in Moyes' Everton sides, has been found wanting as well.
Following the 2-0 loss to Everton, where United did not even remotely look like scoring a goal, while conceding two poor ones, the Glazer family's patience finally seems to have run out, with almost every single newspaper in the UK suggesting Moyes' time as United manager could be coming to an end.
The Scot signed a six-year contract at United, with the club determined to give the new manager the feeling of stability as he looks to mould his team to his ethos, but after seeing little to no improvement over the past eight months, it looks like the end of the road for Moyes, according to widespread reports.
Former Manchester United defender and current Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes the overwhelming reports of Moyes' impending sacking suggests it could be curtains for the former Everton boss.
"I fear for him," Neville told Sky Sports. "When these explosions happen and all the media outlets go wild usually it ends up inevitably in a manager getting sacked.
"I have to say Manchester United as a football club do not normally comment on anything but they are going to have clarify this position quickly because this [Monday] afternoon has been strange.
"I find it repulsive the way in which these rumours break. I don't like it and I'll never get used to it even though I suppose it's the world in which we live in.
"But I think it has to be clarified pretty quickly by the club and they might have to break ranks and do what they don't normally do and that's make a statement pretty quickly."
Neville, though, does not believe sacking Moyes is the way to go, insisting time is essential for any manager to move on from the massive shadow of Ferguson.
"I've supported the club for 15-20 years and played for the club for 18 years, so I've been associated with the club for 30 years and that's what I have always believed [the manager needs to be given time]," added Neville, whose younger brother Phil is part of Moyes' coaching staff.
"Alex Ferguson himself got time in the early years when it was difficult for him. So I genuinely believe that when you give a man a six-year contract he deserves the opportunity and the time both professionally and out of respect.
"I've always felt Manchester United should be different and hold themselves up as a club that stands against what is happening in the game.
"I don't like it when professional people come out with statements that a manager should be sacked. It's not something that you'll ever hear from me because it's a difficult job and something that I've never done.
"For David Moyes, I do fear for him because of the explosion that has happened today, but I'm hoping the club will just come out and clarify it and maybe it won't be true."
Ryan Giggs has been tipped to take over the manager's duties until the end of the season, if Moyes is sacked, with the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Loius Van Gaal, Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Martinez, Diego Simeone and Laurent Blanc all reportedly on the club's radar as long-term replacement options.
