For United, or more specifically Ineos, this summer's window has been one of retreat and surrender. With Champions League qualification and the momentum garnered by the impact of Michael Carrick and his staff, we were expecting more - much more - than what the club's higher ups have so far delivered.
The manager, himself, said as much on Friday. Of course, he was measured. Diplomatic. But Carrick, like all of us, were expecting more after what he had delivered to the board last season.
"It can't be for the sake of it, but yeah, of course, we want to improve, we need to improve," the manager admitted. "It's something that we're working towards, for sure.
"We need to keep pushing for more. There's one or two areas where we'd like to improve and we feel that there's the possibility to improve, but again, that needs to be something that we can do that makes us better and improves the group, whether that's quality or whether that's a little bit of depth.
"That's pretty obvious."
A cast-off from Chelsea and a decent, though injury-prone, buyout option from Aston Villa. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans: two players to replace the old lion, Casemiro. A player who epitomised all that has been wrong with this club since Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival over two years ago.
Now, this column is a fan of Santos, we've been following the 22 year-old since he captained Brazil at the U20 World Cup six years ago. But he'll be the first to admit, he's not Casemiro. As is Tielemans. Again, a talented player, potentially a great player. But with an injury record that has held that potential in-check. Given Casemiro's form over the second-half of last season, as it stands, one plus one won't be enough to reach two.
As we say, Casemiro and the way he responded - and supported - Carrick in the final months of his United career encapsulated everything that has been wrong with this club in recent years. Before Carrick's appointment, Casemiro had made up his mind on the final year of his contract. Offered a pay-out by management, he took it. And who could blame him? Those running things let it be known they believed him overpaid. That his legs were gone. That he was little more than a passenger. A dead weight. Of course they didn't say this directly to the Brazilian, but this opinion did make it's way to confidants in the press. It's often how it works.
In contrast, Carrick saw a world-beater. A player's manager. A motivator. The Geordie saw someone with still plenty left in the tank. He wasn't writing off Casemiro - not by a long chalk. And that show of faith and support was repaid in spades. The on-field interaction between the pair during last season's revival spoke volumes. Casmeiro jumping all over his manager's shoulders. Grabbing him. Hugging him. Game after game. Win after win. Carrick had found a way to release the veteran from this Ineos cage. Just as he did with Kobbie Mainoo.
Again, like with Casemiro, before Carrick's arrival, Mainoo was made to feel unwanted. A burden. A chip to be cashed in - and little else. But an arm around the shoulder from his manager and Mainoo sparked into life. The local from Stockport finished the season with a new contract, a place in England's World Cup squad and having helped his club make a Champions League return.... and with no thanks from those upstairs.
We've said it before here. Mainoo. Casemiro. The revival of the pair, along with the team as a whole, was a nice achievement for Carrick and his staff. But the bigger accomplishment was the manager rescuing the reputation - and potentially careers - of those whom hired him. Ratcliffe and Ineos have happily received the plaudits - and avoided scrutiny - from the press since the end of last season. But make no mistake, it was Carrick and his appreciation for the culture and traditions of Manchester United who rescued last season. He rebuilt confidence. He rescued careers. He achieved it all in spite of the behaviour of those inside the board room - and not because of them.
Which is why as disappointing and frustrating this market campaign has been for United's support, it can be no surprise. United managed barely a whimper in the battle with Manchester City for Elliot Anderson. Things were even worse regarding Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and competition with 17th-place Tottenham. For this column, of the three in play, Tonali was the player to push the boat out for.
“Tonali can player anywhere," AC Milan's twice European Cup winner Alberico Evani recently told Football Presse, "because he is a great player, a player of international calibre, and he is someone who can adapt to any type of league.
“He would do well in Italy, he would do well in Spain, he is doing well in England, because he is a modern player who knows how to play both phases of the game and plays with a great personality.”
Bryan Robson. Paul Ince. Roy Keane. Tonali was the player to bring it altogether for United's midfield. But instead of acting like the United of old, the United that Carrick and his team had revived, Ineos shrunk and shriveled in the face of Tottenham's ambition and spending power.
Which is why Carrick now finds himself having to make a decision on Marcus Rashford. Offered no alternative by Ineos, it does appear the England international will be integrated back into the squad by Carrick. A good thing? A bad call? That's for another column. But what is obvious is that Ineos have given their manager no other option. Let's put it this way, can any of us see Ineos moving for a goalscoring winger, at 27 years of age and with Rashford's experience in these final weeks of the market...? In the past, of course. But not now. Not with this management team.
And that's the problem. This isn't the Manchester United of the past. Carrick, by going back to traditions, of tried and trusted ways, gave the fans some hope. But Ineos have reverted to type. And given their actions so far, there's little that suggests things will change.