The entire summer the conversation in Manchester United was about changing the culture of the club.
After 12 years of unrest since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and the worst season of United in more than half a century, drastic measures were needed to cure the problem – and Ruben Amorim was the man to do it.
A 'bomb team' has been made to eradicate the unwanted were that he does not want to eradicate. A leadership team of six players was set up to improve discipline and companionship. More than £ 200 million has been spent on new signing sessions that match the specific system of Amorim.
Behind the scenes, new staff were appointed at all levels to create an elite environment that corresponds to the new Carrington Training Complex that has undergone a make -over of £ 50 million.
But for everything that looks new like United Under Amorim, some old problems have chased the Portuguese coach and his players in the first weeks of the season that brought one point of two Premier League matches against Arsenal and Fulham, followed by Wednesday evening's calamitic Carabao Cup in Grimsby Town.
Amorim's new order collapsed around him in Blundell Park as the League Two humiliated United by taking a thoroughly deserved lead of two goals and then walking through 12-11 on penalties.
It has asked serious questions about the direction that United comes in under Amorim and the culture he hopes to create at Old Trafford.
As if it was not alarming enough to hear the 40-year-old admission during the pre-season tour through the US this summer that he feared last season for competitions because he knew what could happen to his team, the sight of United's head coach who hid in the dugout at Grimsby during a marathon penalty shootout no trust at all.
Can you imagine that Ferguson makes such an admission, or cries out of sight during such a crucial part of the game? Could Moyes, Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjaer or Ten Hag have done the same? A manager leads from the front, he is not hiding at the back.
More disturbing were Amorim's comments after the game and several times that his players really spoke loudly about what they want 'with their performance. He would not go into, but it hinted to a separation between the coach and his players.
That is never a good sign and neither the sight of a coach who distinguishes himself in the course of the problems of his team, as Amorim did so memorable in January by describing United as perhaps the worst team in the history of the club.
On Wednesday evening he hinted against deeper problems and said: 'We were completely lost and that is why I think they spoke very hard. I think this is a bit the limit. I think something should change, but you can't change everything in one summer. '
Yet, after strongly spent it on new players, this must now be seen as an Amorim's team. He can no longer hide behind the fact that he was appointed in the middle season or has not had enough time to work with his team. The starting XI in Blundell Park cost more than £ 400 million, but United lost for the first time in their history of a fourth-level team.
Much more of this and questions will be asked about whether the change that Amorim spoke about in the dugout should be. After all, this is a coach whose 24.1 profit percentage after seven victories in 21 Premier League matches is the same as the Neil Warnock degraded twice.
It is no secret that some of the players who went on loan or have confronted an uncertain future in United Prior to the Transfer Deadline of Monday, wonder whether they can survive Amorim at Old Trafford.
Another special sight in Blundell Park was that of new £ 74 million striker Benjamin Sesko who walked to the place while the last outfield player in the shootout before both keepers stepped in and we entered a second round of punishment.
Sesko should certainly have been one of the first to put his hand and take responsibility. Just like Amorim, he should have led from the front, without a doubt in the hope that he would not be necessary.
It is of course early days, but Sesko has hardly set the world on fire in the three games since he moved from RB Leipzig. Two rather anonymous performance as a replacement against Arsenal and Fulham were followed by another disappointing representation at Grimsby.
Through Newcastle Te Gazon to sign Sesko, United has anything but specified on Rasmus Hojlund, but is the Sloven an important upgrade based on early evidence?
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have made better starts and it was a shame that they were two players who failed the place on Wednesday – but still not a good appearance.
Cunha's effort was saved by Grimsby goalkeeper Christy Pym when United had an advantage in the shootout early. After Mbeumo led the Fightback from 2-0 down with his first goal for the club and then turned one penalty, his second attempt against the bottom of the bar turned out to be decided.
Cunha and Mbeumo were the two top goals of the top transfer this summer. They were signed to lead the generation under Amorim, and there is every hope that they can still do. But at a time when old problems to bully the new order, there will certainly be concerns that United is again in danger of becoming a cemetery for good players.
The striking problem with signing Mbeumo and Cunha to play in the number 10 positions in the 3-4-2-1 system of Amorim is that the Bruno Fernandes has forced in a deeper midfield roll that does not fit so well with him that United has affected their captain and best player.
Fernandes struggled in Fulham on Sunday when the opponents of United cut through midfield – another known problem – and he missed a penalty.
After he had come to the same position on Wednesday, Fernandes helped bring his team back into the game from two goals by a dumping anniversary in the second half of the second half, and also converted two attempts in the shootout.
He will come back on Saturday in the starting line-up against Burnley in Old Trafford, when Amorim desperately needs a first victory of the season before the international break. United's first two games after the resumption against Manchester City and Chelsea are ominous.
We are still in August and there is no suggestion that the club is considering the position of Amorim at this stage. They have invested far too much in the project to panic now. But he has victories and quickly needed.