Even with no domestic games to contend with at the moment, Erik ten Hag is too busy to reflect on his short time in charge at Manchester United and rate himself out of 10 - keeping his notebook in hand to jot down any potential targets he has been impressed by at the winter World Cup.
While it has given supporters, pundits and general observers a unique change of pace mid-season, for Ten Hag and other top-level managers, the Qatar showcase has provided them with a chance to do some pre-window shopping. Think of it as football's equivalent to circling those must-haves in the Argos catalogue.
Christmas has already come early for United supporters, though. Investment is being welcomed and, with public opinion at an all-time low, the Glazer family seem to have finally got the message, while further changes could be on the horizon behind scenes.
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But for match-goers and those who watch United from afar, the biggest momentum shift has already come. And it can be attributed to that man Ten Hag - along with his backroom staff.
Brought in from Ajax following his trophy-laden spell with the Amsterdam giants, Ten Hag was greeted with revived optimism. His methods have given the club a fresh on-field identity and qualifying for the Champions League would, no doubt, help the Dutchman take the next step with recruitment.
Whoever replaces the Glazers will, too, have their eye on statement signings. But while summer incomings have all made their mark, the biggest credit that can be paid to Ten Hag, so far, is that he has galvanised several players who struggled so openly under previous regimes.
That has encouraged supporters who have longed for a side to compete at the summit once again, even after one or two alarming early defeats.
MEN Sport reached out to the fanbase to get their views on topics that really matter at Old Trafford and beyond. In our latest survey, which garnered over 12,000 responses, 52.7 per cent stated they were pleased with the current state of play at the club. Dating back four months, that figure was someway short at 31.8 per cent.
Ambition, too, saw a dramatic upcurve (up to 56.6 per cent from 30.1 per cent) and the response to summer transfers was also boosted (from 26.1 per cent to 52.7 per cent) - with Casemiro and Antony signed late on in the summer from Real Madrid and Ajax respectively.
At the time our last survey was launched - in August - Ten Hag was 'trusted' by 73.8 per cent and that has gone up marginally to 76.1 per cent.
When asked if they feel an emotional connection with the squad, 63.3 per cent of fans answered 'yes' and that has spelled a huge increase from 40.7 per cent four months ago. It culminated in 80.4 per cent describing themselves as 'excited' about the future with only 19.6 per cent 'concerned'.
You might attribute that second column to ongoing matters in the boardroom, at least to some degree, given that Ten Hag has attracted such a positive response in other areas of our survey. As such, he can save the ink for transfer shortlists as United supporters have made it clear that their manager deserves high marks all-round.
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