How much worse will it get before it gets better?

Depends on how willing the club is to take drastic measures. if there is a mass clearout (i'm talking 10-15 players sold or released or not renewed plus massive backing and independence for the new manager), then the period of pain may be limited to one or two years. But if the club keeps on believing that somebody will fall out of the sky somewhere and somehow make these players great, then be prepared for 5-10 years of pain.
Has any manager in history had that though. If ETH is good we shouldn't have to create totally unrealistic scenarios as the only way he can have success next season, success is top 4 btw
 
It can’t get worse then this for a club like United (with its financial resources):wenger: The positive: It can only go upwards from today.
 
Everytime I think it can't get worse it does so right now wouldn't like to speculate as might make Nostradamus sound chipper.