MP is a great guy, a true gentleman. Probably great listening skills too. I also think he gets along very well with TB and FS. He also appears to be a very pragmatic person, and I am sure in his vast career he has learned which battles to fight, and which not. And he is just too old to change, maybe a bit too stubborn too, despite pragmatism.
What he did last year was just minor fine tuning, and it worked. Everybody was pleased, and he was probably looking forward to applying the same formula again, only this time it's not working. More than a few players appear demotivated, tactics is not working, and if not for occasional moments of brilliance, results would have been even worse. There is no plan B, and he is probably under strong directives from DoF as to what type of play to develop (possession based, slow build up), as it's the system that suits Silva and Aguero, and it's also TB and FS's comfort zone, due to their background.
And MP, being a pragmatist, smart, experienced, and paid enough not to go against his bosses, is not doing any drastic changes. But it's not working and there are no signs that things are improving. I think he knows he will not be fired so easily, as it would send a wrong message to Peps and Klopps of this world. And they do not need to scapegoat him, as they probably have too much credit with the Arabs and feel secure.
So, both MP and the duo are just buying time, and there will probably be some sort of 'soft' exit at the end of the season, to appease the media and make room for the new guy. Pep is ideal, (although personally I hate to watch his teams, even managed to f..k up Bayern), but not sure if he will be willing or available. I would love to see Klopp, but he just does not fit in - different style of football, excessively strong willed...
But one thing is sure, it will not be boring, and that's what's all about.