Manchester United were billed as an "adult version of Disneyland" when Ed Woodward attempted to lure Jurgen Klopp eight years ago.
Woodward, the club's then-executive vice-chairman, was the man delivering the sales pitch, which left the German less than impressed. It didn't completely turn him off the idea of taking charge at Old Trafford, but by no means had the desired effect.
United were on the brink of sacking David Moyes, less than a year into the job, and had set their sights on Klopp, who was still in charge at Borussia Dortmund. In the end, the Red Devils would opt for Louis van Gaal whilst Klopp would stay in Germany before eventually arriving in England with Liverpool after rejecting United.
It was stated in a biography of Klopp, Bring the Noise: "Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had flown out to see Klopp in Germany. David Moyes' short tenure at Old Trafford was coming to an end, and Klopp was United's favourite to replace him, to bring back a sense of adventure to the Red Devils' game.
"Woodward told Klopp that the Theatre of Dreams was 'like an adult version of Disneyland', a mythical place where, as the nickname suggested, the entertainment was world class and dreams came true. Klopp wasn't entirely convinced by that sales pitch — he found it a bit 'unsexy', he told a friend — but he didn't dismiss the proposition out of hand either.”
The vision of what United's chief thought they were became increasingly evident. Months after his conversation with Klopp United were spending huge sums. They signed Radamel Falcao on loan, handing him big wages after a period out injured. He would go on to score just four times.
Angel di Maria was signed for a then club-record fee but offloaded 12 months later after failing to deliver in Manchester. A teenage Anthony Martial was signed the year after, again for a then-record fee with Van Gaal stating he had signed the Frenchman for "the next Manchester United manager".
United have now had two permanent managers since then and Martial now finds himself out on loan at Sevilla, where he has failed to rediscover his best form. In the dugout, United have handed big contracts to managers who, with the benefit of hindsight, had question marks already hanging over them.
Both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were axed within months of penning new deals at Old Trafford, further adding to the payouts they would receive. Safe to say, Woodward's idea of Disneyland has been anything but a blockbuster hit and he departed earlier this season with the club miles off the summit of English football.
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And so those on the red side of Manchester have turned to Erik ten Hag. No Disneyland pitch was given to the Dutchman, who instead made his own feelings clear on the club. In an interview with United chiefs John Murtough and Darren Fletcher, he laid bare their shortcomings.
Ten Hag took aim at the recruitment and scouting work done at Old Trafford. Huge sums have been spent on players, many of whom fail to live up to expectations. That has been a theme that has lasted - from Falcao and Di Maria, right up to the Solskjaer-led purchases of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The incoming boss is due to lead an overhaul, although it is unlikely to be successfully done in just one transfer window. That said, Klopp has shown how, after one summer, moves in the right direction can be made. Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum were signed in his first summer, two pioneers of their recent success, whilst the Reds played football in the manner we still see today.
Ten Hag, whose Ajax side have impressed for several years, will need to be measured in his approach as he sets about redefining a culture post-Woodward and post-Solskjaer. He was picked ahead of the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, who had prior Premier League experience, and has no easy task ahead of him.
