Man United still on track despite defeat

Following Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Newcastle, Jose Mourinho said that it was one of those days when even if Manchester United had played another ten hours they would not have scored. Maybe so. They created four clear-cut chances and didn't put them away in part because they weren't as clinical as they could have been, in part because Martin Dubravka had a monster game in the home goal.
But that doesn't change the fact that Newcastle had chances too, mainly because United had serious issues in midfield and at the back. Eric Bailly can't come back soon enough. (It looks like he's facing a battle to be fit in time to face Sevilla next week.) As it stands, it's not at all clear that Phil Jones and, especially, Chris Smalling (pathetic dive aside) are the sort of center-backs with whom you win major trophies. Not as starters anyway.
(Sure, there's no doubt that someone will point out Smalling has already won two Premier League titles and Jones has one. So here's some context: Smalling started 21 games in total in those two title-winning seasons, many of them at full-back. Jones started 13 in his title-winning season.)
It doesn't mean you write them off. Jones has been slowed by injuries and doesn't turn 26 until later this month. Maybe he can come good in some capacity but it's obvious they have not performed -- and not just on Sunday -- at the level you expect from a United center-back.
That said, they weren't helped by the fact that Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba in particular were poor. In Pogba's case, it's the second consecutive start in which he badly underachieved following the Tottenham game.
Because it's United and because it's Pogba, you'll get all the familiar tropes.

Was he fit? (Mourinho says he was; others doubt this.) Why can't he play in a two-man midfield? (He can when those around him are doing their job but he's just probably better in a three.) Shouldn't a guy who cost so much money be able to play anywhere? (That's just stupid. Neymar cost more than twice as much and you probably wouldn't want him at center-back. More to the point, you generally want your biggest assets to be put in a position where they do maximum damage to the opposition.).
Why doesn't Mourinho go with a 4-3-3? (Because Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera are injured, Michael Carrick is 36 an Sunday was his first Premier League appearance and Scott McTominay has started two more league games this season than Scott Baio; in short, Mourinho's alternatives are nothing to write home about though you'd imagine he'll move in that direction at this point.)
All of this provides talking points, as does the debate over how best to use Alexis Sanchez and whether Antony Martial belongs on the right wing, but the key thing to remember is that as poor as United were, the ratio of quality chances created to those conceded is squarely in their favor. They're still second, they're still far ahead of where they were at this stage of the campaign in any season since the Sir Alex Era and they're making forward progress. The fact that their "noisy neighbours" at City are breaking records makes them look worse, but there's no reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater just yet.
That said, this summer will be key. Mourinho has had enough time to figure out what works and who works and who ought to be shown the door. Get to June without slipping and they can live to fight another day.