This time last year Sir Alex Ferguson spoke of United's cycle and of a team in transition, inferring that the club was in a growth phase. It's not the Wizard's way to make excuses, but he is not averse to managing expectations and one suspects, at that time, he wondered whether a League title could prove beyond United - the 19th as it was.
city should have been better than they were - spending £30million+ on a lamppost of a striker midseason only to play without wingers - and Chelsea couldn't have been worse for a period of five months mid-season. But, last season's successes notwithstanding, it feels like United's transitionary era continues apace.
Paul Scholes has retired; Gary Neville just beat him to it. Edwin Van der Sar has gone. Hargreaves - gone. The Bebe enigma - gone. The Obertan experiment seems likely to be terminated; although merging Thierry Henry's physique with Mr Tickle's nervous system always seemed long-shot.
Bids have been accepted for Wes Brown, Darron Gibson and John O'Shea, surprisingly in the case of the latter. Whilst Kuszscak, Mame-Biram Diouf and Macheda must all be close to the exit door, too.
And almost inevitably - given the manager's apparent lack of faith in him - rumours continue to circle of Dimitar Berbatov's exit from the club. Marginalised during the second-half of the season; the Bulgarian was seemingly barred from playing with Rooney or Hernandez.
Berbatov remains a player of intelligence and craft, but perhaps his personality just doesn't fit with the manager's style. Although any sale of the player may also be predicated by a formation change, with Wayne Rooney adopting the lone striker role more often next year.
The trimming of the tree won't stop this summer either, as the club seeks to stimulate the growth of new branches. Ji-Sung Park is openly discussing his retirement; Ryan Giggs may only have one more season left; Patrice Evra has been increasingly lax tracking runners; and with the club now replete with central-defenders - specifically, young ones needing games - one from Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic may also be deemed expendable within the next twelve months, too.
Nani? Valencia? One is inexplicably unpredictable; the other explicably predictable. Both players have real value but a player whom can combine their attributes might be sought to upgrade eventually.
And after myriad excuses, qualifying his performances, this year must be the last chance for Anderson, too. Intuition, intelligence, stamina and foresight are not the Brazilian's strong points, but all are paramount in an elite midfield pairing. One wonders whether Anderson's dynamic 'Chaos Theory' approach will be utilised nearer the final third this year.
So, where will the team go from here? Well, United moved early in the transfer window, committing to £50million+ in fees on Ashley Young [£15m], Phil Jones [£20m] and David De Gea [£18m]. It is tempting to look at that trio and feel the first eleven hasn't been improved, perhaps with some validity, but all have qualities.
De Gea is the best goalkeeping prospect since Buffon and perhaps before. Despite being 6 ft 3, the Spaniard's reflexes are so catlike that he could easily be wearing a collar. De Gea will require patience on occasion, though, as he tries to impose his style on the Old Trafford crowd - a propensity for giving away, but then saving, penalties is almost his trademark.
Phil Jones, the centre-back and occasional defensive-midfielder, has regularly evoked images of Paul McGrath; given time he will become a real Rolls Royce of a defender and also a comfortable first choice.
Ashley Young? Arguably the most consistent left-winger in the country in the last two years. He'll add directness, pace, versatility and hunger; although 7 out of 10 performances, rather than 8.5s or 9s have seemed his staple up to this juncture.
But, irrespective of the three new boys, as last year and the year before, the area of the team that most concerns United fans is the centre of midfield. Who the manager brings in there is the million dollar question.
The club have spoken to Wesley Sneijder's agents throughout the season, but with a transfer fee of £30million and a salary of £10million per year, the player's cost for a five year package would be £80million. It seems hard to believe that the club would countenance such expenditure on the Dutchman, given his age [27] and the unlikely realisation of value through resale at any point in the future.
It would also be surprising if Ferguson introduced a player who effectively consigned Rooney to the left-wing or else Javier Hernandez to the bench; for as good as he is, Sneijder lacks the attributes to perform in a central-midfield two - he has only ever operated productively as a number '10' - a role where Wayne Rooney is arguably Sneijder turned up to 11.
It feels more likely the manager would look to secure a player capable of performing in a midfield two and ideally dictating it. Schweinsteiger; Luka Modric; Javi Martinez; Arturo Vidal; Fabregas; even Jack Wilshere - to name some ambitious candidates.
There has been some talk that the club's business might be done, but that would seem "brand" suicide on the Glazer's part. Having been afforded the opportunity to restructure their finances [post-economic collapse] by the moderate fans, parsimony this window could be one year too many for the tastes of too many. Should United deem Ashley Young to be their aspirational signing, it will be difficult not to assert that we have been left with the 'Netto Neymar'.
But United being United - and despite it being a laudable policy plunged into a shade of grey by financial imperatives - the club will also look to homegrown talent and there is a surfeit around the club.
Tom Cleverley seems likely to be given his opportunity. The Bradford lad excels as an attacking-midfielder with space to cut inside or centrally with runners around him. His greatest strengths being interplay; good vision; and very good feet. A player of perpetual movement, Cleverley may ultimately prove to be Ji-Sung Park's squad replacement.
Ravel Morrison, the 18 year old attacking midfielder, could benefit from being plunged in at the deep-end; the impatient, brooding teenager becoming more focused by a sink-or-swim experience. Football has perhaps come too easily for his brilliant talents until now and the challenge of the Premier League might help him.
There are moments when the Wythenshawe Red seems to be channeling Michael Laudrup and if he can connect with the Old Trafford crowd, he has a chance to be first choice for the duration of his career. Though, if you think football should only be played by those equally at home in the tennis clubs of England then Morrison might not be for you.
Paul Pogba is further Academy produce ripe for plucking. He has been compared to Patrick Vieira in some quarters, but his style is more creative - all drag-backs, quick feet, great vision, blessed with a torpedo right-foot seemingly composed more of banana than bone and with a lolloping gait - he is far closer to the brilliant Brazilian Socrates.
It would be no surprise if Pogba is promoted to the Carling Cup team immediately and pushes hinself higher by the Spring. Although his integration into the first-team won't be seamless, he is the safest bet for a career at the highest level.
Ryan Tunnicliffe - last year's Jimmy Murphy award winner - is a tenacious and energetic midfielder whose style could also add value within the right squad construct. Rumours currently link him to Peterborough, which makes sense.
The manager also stated that Danny Welbeck should return from Sunderland. Danny may never be first choice at United but he is capable of playing from the left in a front three with top four effectiveness, as his performance against Chelsea showed for Sunderland, when working off Asamoah Gyan.
Will Keane, the young striker, is another who could feature in Carling Cup games next year, particularly if Dimitar Berbatov leaves. A former winner of the club's Jimmy Murphy award, the Stockport-born United fan is a goal-machine. Sceptics might decry his readiness, but - anyone who has seen him play - ask yourself this: would Will Keane have offered any less in the FA Cup semi-final than Berbatov? It does not tell the full story, but would he have scored less?
Will needs a year on the club's patented Ronaldo-diet, for sure, but integrating from fifth choice might accelerate his growth better than a loan spell - snapping at the heels of those out-of-favour by March.
The composition of next season's squad is, of course, impossible to predict, but one thing is certain: to have seen the manager auteur the club's perpetual evolution without missing a step, thus far, just reiterates that we remain in the presence of a true genius in his field.
But, onwards and upwards or as that shirt logo thingy says - "relentless" - what does the season ahead hold?
Tottenham? With a stadium to fund in the near future and a manager as unimaginative as Harry Redknapp, they should offer no threat to every big club's financial Holy Grail: the top four finish.
Arsenal are trapped in a state of flux; United meddling with Nasri, perhaps to encourage a Bosman next summer; Barcelona enjoying their annual Fabregas hunt; Wenger trapped between his football snobbery and the acceptance a club needs to win trophies. All set against the backdrop of new ownership and a season ahead that may yet fail to bring in Champions League football/ revenue.
Whilst Liverpool currently seem to be increasing their squad depth, rather than their first eleven's quality.
It would be a surprise to see either Arsenal or the Scousers challenge for the anything higher than fourth place, unless they make some extravagant signings.
Chelsea were steamrollered by a midfield of Carrick and Giggs last season, but they will be a different proposition under the craft and bouffant of their new manager [Villas-Boas] particularly with a shopping-list that is likely to include some from Modric, Moutinho, Sanchez, Aguero, Falcao, Hulk and numerous others.
Small mercies? This era might represent Abramovich's last run at the Champions League with Chelski; Mother Russia perhaps calling her wealthiest children back home permanently in preparation for the World Cup of 2018.
city? Given the Manchester Evening News' obsession with United and Sneijder, it seems likely the Blues will move for him, giving the McEN their traditional transfer coup story; as Tevez gave them; as Rooney almost did. Ibrahimovic would seem plausible. They also sent Ronaldo a car full of money. I think I need a wash.
If the greatest challenges in the League will [naturally] be from city and Chelsea, then in Europe it seems inevitable Real Madrid will challenge the English teams for the mantle of 'best of the rest.' Particularly with their hierarchy acquiescing to Mourinho's desires and spending more money.
But in a global context - how United expect to be measured - Barcelona remain the ultimate benchmark. The Catalan club are on a different level right now; more than just the best players, their team represents an evolutionary leap in the interpretation of football; shared intelligence is alluded to in science fiction and that is exactly what Barcelona have, at least in this cycle. That is United's challenge.
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