It shouldn't be for Manchester United.
After last season's chaos, things were meant to be better from the start.
A transfer strategy that was aimed at getting rid of that Ruben Amorim did not want, and a squadron was supplemented with signs that were chosen by hand to meet the requirements of the Portuguese manager.
But while United is preparing to start their pre-season campaign against Leeds in Stockholm on Saturday, it is difficult for everyone to suggest that this was the smooth and decisive summer that Amorim had expected.
Instead, the Old Trafford -Outfit just appears to be better equipped with United against Arsenal at the end of May at the end of May.
And, demonstrably, still confronted with all the problems with which they were then confronted – with time.
When Amorim and his players flew to the Far East on the last day of last season after beating Aston Villa – a victory that was still overshadowed by the consequences of their Europa League defeat by Spurs four days earlier – it came after a public apology from the manager.
Amorim said to The United Faithful: 'I know you are really disappointed about me – and really disappointed about the team.
“Now we have to make a choice or get stuck in the past. We fight each other or stay together and move forward.
“When I took over, I told you that the storm was coming. After this rampart season I want to tell you that the good days are coming. If there is one club in the world who can overcome any situation, it's our club.”
That implied rapid decisions. Fast action.
Nothing has taken place. Apart from the significant dismissals behind the scenes and cost -saving movements that were deeply unpopular.
United has done an early strike and Landing Wolves' Brazilian Ace Matheus Cunha in a £ 62.5 million deal.
Moreover, after more than a few moments of doubt, they maintained skipper Bruno Fernandes, who struck the chance of a Mega-Bucks Saudi payment day.
But they were rejected by both Liam Delap – whose decision to become a member of Chelsea instead has already brought a Club World Cup winners medal – and Arsenal – bound Viktor Gyokeres.
And while United made their pitch for Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo more than a month ago, they did not succeed in getting it over the line, with two bids, both apart from the £ 70 million appreciation of the bees, rejected so far and apparently little chance that the cameroonian will be on board on Tuesday.
That would be bad enough.
But Amorim's decision, supported by the United Hierarchy, to separate and insulate the five-player “Bomb Squad” by Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrrell Malacia, added the problems.
While Fernandes remained as a boost for the team, it was a problem for the balance sheet – United could bank the full £ 100 million compensation for their PSR calculations.
United will be able to do the same with deals for Rashford and Garnacho, but will be confronted with accounting losses, unless they can get important costs for the others.
And knowing that – and the wages that Rashford and Sancho are in particular means that United Low is balled when questions are asked.
It means more uncertainty about the team when Amorim had preferred certainty and calmness.
A situation that was not facilitated by the hamstring injury that threatens to rule andre Onana from the start of the prem campaign -even if many United fans had brought in a new no. 1.
Last season it was clear that Amorim had no team that was designed to match his 3-4-3 formation, too many square pins that are battered in round holes, the worst season of the club, because they were banned the natural consequence more than 50 years ago.
But tapping the clock, Amorim does not seem better than when he did those public apologies. No wonder the United fans are worried.