So the main thing to be gleaned from manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's latest utterances is that challenging for the Premier League title next season would be "a miraculous season".
Then there was his pre-Huddersfield top six warning, saying a title challenge is "not realistic" next term - "you don't suddenly catch 27 points in one season" and then adding: "You've got Leicester, Everton, Watford, probably Newcastle, you've got clubs that want to chase us."
It would be easy to draw lazy comparisons to the negativity of David Moyes. Except Ole is not a negative person, albeit like Moyes he has not won anything as a manager. However, remember unlike Moyes he was a winner as a player. Big time.
His demeanour lately has been a smile, a nod and a wink, as if the Norwegian knows his targets. He has his game plan of bringing in younger players "who will stay at the club" coupled with bigger names (are there going to be any) many of which he hopes to get over the line, it seems before the start of July. Good luck on that.
It is good news in terms of stability to get Phelan in, and it seems clear that the idea of a director of football is still not something that is imminent, which means, unfortunately we have Ed Woodward still orchestrating things, and that might be a problem.
On the positive side, we are at last seem to be going about our work in terms of next season early, unlike the shambles of previous season. The big question is are the players we are bringing in going to be good enough for a club like United, when top players will be looking at even Spurs before United for next season.
There are players who are not the biggest stars who, I think, would walk into our team now. Diop of West Ham, for one. Doucoure of Watford, for two. And they would not be overpriced for the talent like Maguire would be.
I think he sees next season as transitional, that appears to be the road he is going down. That there will be big changes and we will see a different, perhaps less experienced United. If we cannot attract as many of the big name players now, we have to look at players who could develop into stars and stay.
Ole says Ronaldo and Rooney were not ready made stars when they arrived at Old Trafford. But neither did they stay.
So are we going to remain a feeder club for Real?
I am on the fence with it all. Ole HAS to be given a chance now to implement his strategy with Phelan. The question is that will he be given the tools to do the job. And has he got enough about him to be the manager we all want him to be?
I would have been a lot happier if the long touted director of football actually materialised and that Ed Woodward's hands were off the football side. But no. That has not happened. Why?
Ole has said that the strategy has effectively been him and Phelan discussing with Woodward.
Sunday will effectively be the start of it all, with a couple of our young players starting against what is a meaningless match against Cardiff. My money is on Chong, for sure and Mason Greenwood.
It may be meaningless in terms of the Prem, however, it may well speak volumes about the direction of the club going forward under Ole and Phelan.
I may have my doubts as all United fans will to a greater or lesser extent, but we have to give this new stage in United's history a chance.
Then there was his pre-Huddersfield top six warning, saying a title challenge is "not realistic" next term - "you don't suddenly catch 27 points in one season" and then adding: "You've got Leicester, Everton, Watford, probably Newcastle, you've got clubs that want to chase us."
It would be easy to draw lazy comparisons to the negativity of David Moyes. Except Ole is not a negative person, albeit like Moyes he has not won anything as a manager. However, remember unlike Moyes he was a winner as a player. Big time.
His demeanour lately has been a smile, a nod and a wink, as if the Norwegian knows his targets. He has his game plan of bringing in younger players "who will stay at the club" coupled with bigger names (are there going to be any) many of which he hopes to get over the line, it seems before the start of July. Good luck on that.
It is good news in terms of stability to get Phelan in, and it seems clear that the idea of a director of football is still not something that is imminent, which means, unfortunately we have Ed Woodward still orchestrating things, and that might be a problem.
On the positive side, we are at last seem to be going about our work in terms of next season early, unlike the shambles of previous season. The big question is are the players we are bringing in going to be good enough for a club like United, when top players will be looking at even Spurs before United for next season.
There are players who are not the biggest stars who, I think, would walk into our team now. Diop of West Ham, for one. Doucoure of Watford, for two. And they would not be overpriced for the talent like Maguire would be.
I think he sees next season as transitional, that appears to be the road he is going down. That there will be big changes and we will see a different, perhaps less experienced United. If we cannot attract as many of the big name players now, we have to look at players who could develop into stars and stay.
Ole says Ronaldo and Rooney were not ready made stars when they arrived at Old Trafford. But neither did they stay.
So are we going to remain a feeder club for Real?
I am on the fence with it all. Ole HAS to be given a chance now to implement his strategy with Phelan. The question is that will he be given the tools to do the job. And has he got enough about him to be the manager we all want him to be?
I would have been a lot happier if the long touted director of football actually materialised and that Ed Woodward's hands were off the football side. But no. That has not happened. Why?
Ole has said that the strategy has effectively been him and Phelan discussing with Woodward.
Sunday will effectively be the start of it all, with a couple of our young players starting against what is a meaningless match against Cardiff. My money is on Chong, for sure and Mason Greenwood.
It may be meaningless in terms of the Prem, however, it may well speak volumes about the direction of the club going forward under Ole and Phelan.
I may have my doubts as all United fans will to a greater or lesser extent, but we have to give this new stage in United's history a chance.
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