Man United managed to come away from Goodison Park with what turned out to be an entertaining point as after 70 minutes, the team were 2-0 down but thanks to late (ish) strikes by captain Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte, Ruben Amorim managed to get something out of a match that for a long time, looked like we would get nothing.
However, that point, as much as we would've taken it, did next to nothing in terms of the table as we remain 15th. What that late comeback could potentially do is give the players a boost moving forward.
On the other hand, we've said that far too many times as well only for them to let us down in the next game.
And there weren't too many positives to take from this match either.
1. Too many turnovers
Everton were winning too many balls, too easily and in dangerous areas of the pitch.
This goes back to that hunger shown by the home side and lack of it by the away team. Everton just wanted it more which was evident when looking at the amount of turnovers they had all over the pitch.
Their second goal comes from one after Gueye pinched the ball from Casemiro before it was played in behind Maguire which eventually led to them doubling their lead.
We were too slow when moving the ball and in our movement which made it simpler for the Toffees to nick the ball. United can also be quite one-dimensional and predictable as there was no variety to our play.
It displayed a lack of awareness and focus by us as they didn't recognize what was around them nor did their teammates warn them about the possibility of them being put under pressure.
2. Concede stupid goals
This is a problem we've been having all season.
United have this habit of letting in the dumbest goals you'll ever see. Not once do you think that perhaps we were a little unlucky or it was brilliant play by the opposition or that it was simply a wonderful strike that you can do nothing about.
All the goals we concede can be prevented.
Corners have been an Achilles heel for so long I can't remember a time when we were good at defending them.
That first goal by Everton wasn't even one of those deliveries that were pinpoint and one that would cause trouble. It was a standard ball in the box that we should've dealt with.
There were 7 or 8 headers from both sides with United having the majority of those to clear their lines. But due to lack of willingness to win the ball and being hesitant meant that the chance was still alive to which the Toffees took full advantage. The headers themselves aren't even convincing and often get headed back into danger by our players.
The second was as bad because a poor pass from Bruno to Casemiro allowed Gueye to win the ball back and give Everton the possession. They then played a simple ball in behind Maguire who was too slow in getting back which resulted in a simple square ball that put us in trouble.
There were also hardly any players busting a gut to get back and help in defense almost as if they didn't care leaving us a little short at the back.
Onana then pushes his save from Harrison back into danger when he should've palmed it out wide and between him and Maguire, neither reacted quick enough or was determined enough to go and win the second ball.
We gifted Everton 2 goals just as we gifted Spurs their goal last week, just as we gifted Leicester their goal and just as we gifted Palace their 2 strikes as well.
For some reason, even with five defenders and a CDM, we simply cannot defend.
3. No more high fives in defense
I know that this may not seem that important to people but what I noticed in this draw was that there were no high fives, fist and chest bumps and celebrating of good defensive work as we've seen in the past.
I also know that there wasn't much to celebrate considering how poor we were defensively, but there were times when we did put in a good tackle or make a good block that was key for that sitaution.
In the past, we used to see the players at least give a simple high five even if they just put the ball out for a corner.
This time though, nothing. Nothing at all.
Even when it was a mistake or a bad pass back to the goalkeeper, the back line (and team overall) didn't go over and try to spur on their teammate and try to lift him after making a silly error. They just left him.
This maybe much ado about nothing but it could be signs of a lack of team morale that the players aren't even trying to lift spirits or display some adulation for a good piece of defending.
I'll obviously keep an eye out for this in the next match but it could be something that went under the radar.
4. Communication and winning the second ball
Amorim spoke in his press conference about how the players are bonding and understanding their style as "even the sound of the training is different."
What he meant by that I don't actually know but I interpreted it as communication. We know that we struggle with that as well so hearing Amorim say that it was better this week was a positive.
When watching the game though, it didn't appear that way.
If anything, there looked to be a lack of communication as far too often, players wouldn't go for balls thinking that their teammate would get it or both would go for the same ball when it should've been one.
When it came to clearing or heading the ball out, again, nothing was said and even the goalkeeper wasn't talking much.
Communication doesn't only have to be in these moments but just overall during the game to either help teammates when they're in a difficult situation, tell them to do something that they weren't doing and to also try to inspire them whenever they cocked up so as to help them forget about that mistake and move on.
Winning of the second ball and being physical was something that Amorim was talking about before the game yet again, it was another aspect of our performance that the players didn't fulfill.
We were second to most every ball and weren't hungry enough in the tackle allowing Everton to win possession pretty easily.
The goals were grreat examples of the lack of communication and desire to win the ball. Not clearing your lines when you have several opportunities to do so; for the second, the communication between Maguire and Onana on who should clear the ball was nowhere to be found and neither showed that determination to win the ball giving Doucoure that easy header.
Clearly what the manager wanted to see wasn't heard by his players.
5. Downed tools?
Have the players finally done what they've done for previous managers and have seen enough?
If so, it wouldn't be surprising although to do so after just three months under Amorim would be something new.
Those 70 minutes before Bruno's goal were absolutely shocking. We've seen these type of performances before but for some reason, this one felt a little different.
I believe that why I think this was different to others was because this is now 22 games in with Amorim rather than just 12. The players probably feel that we've been doing this for so long yet have seen no change so what's the point?
With our squad, we know they aren't good enough and have that tendency to eventually give up with a manager and we start to see what we saw in that first 70 minutes.
There was no energy, no passion, no fight, no desire and when looking at those goals, simply pathetic. To not show anything is unacceptable for any club let alone United.
We saw the reports in the week about them 'losing faith in the manager's system' so it wouldn't be surprising if this was the case.
While we don't like to lose or drop points, we are more forgiving of it when we see good performances and players giving their all, which is not what we saw at Everton.
That group just looked like they couldn't care less. From the first minute to Bruno's goal, we showed nothing as our first shot at goal came in the 41st minute and was a long range effort by Ugarte which gave Pickford no problems.
41st minute. From our CDM.
The lack of care shown in possession and lack of focus with and without the ball is something that is hard to explain. People talk about the system being a problem but our players either can't do the basics or aren't willing to.
Both are a problem.
The silly thing is is when they do look like they care (even just a little), the football isn't too bad and we do make things happen. The instances down the left between Dorgu and Bruno were prime examples. It was just simple football and the basics being done properly.
The fact that I'm championing that tells you everything you need to know.
Those last 20 minutes also indicated that these players are good enough to win most games and play Amorim's system as we were the better side who looked likelier to win it.
Why?
Because the players actually cared and did what the manager wanted.
It's the Liverpool performance all over again. How we managed to do that at Anfield is why we get so upset with this team because they are more than capable but it's about how much they want it.
Background player image: Manuel Ugarte helps Man Utd get a point against Everton | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)