The problem with that line of thinking is...guess what?
Context: United fans beyond those who actually loved the idea of Jose (and those who absolute hated it) thought, roughly, this: If he still has his mojo, he'll spend a season getting the basics in order - and then he'll mount a proper challenge.
And then he'll probably have a meltdown - but let's worry about that after he's won something big (which we need right now).
He never came anywhere close to challenging, though.
Which is why 2nd was, indeed, "nothing". It wasn't a step in the right direction - it was...nothing. And the season which followed hammered home the suspicion many had - namely that he wasn't going anywhere (other than edging further and further towards the inevitable).
Whatever you think of Ole, he actually bounced back last season.
If he had started the season brilliantly, looking like a challenger - and then gradually regressed to finish 3rd by the slightest of margins...well, do you think most "Ole-inners" would've been fine with that? If so, you're attributing cult-like traits to a large number of fans (or members on here, if you will) who simply found something to be positive about after Bruno's arrival and a tangible, undeniable change in the way we performed (which lasted pretty much for the remainder of the season).