Each new regime (management or ownership) has to be considered different because the changes hugely affect the team. Rodgers came in and we were miles behind both in points and in quality of players. You can't just expect top 4 straight away. It's not possible. You need a few years to build up and bridge that gap, which for us was a massive one. Rodgers and the board targeted three years; we've done it in two. I don't see what's "god awful" about being realistic in expectations.It (3 year or 5 year plans) has been something that has been said since the days of Houllier and is god awful tbh. It actually sets you back and is unecessary - as this season has shown. Your target every season is top 4 and if you don't get it, that should be seen as failure. Same applies to United, Arsenal (City and Chelsea in the modern era). Since the day Henry took over the aim has been to finish top 4 and rightly so.
Realistically, United have a crap tonne of work which is needed to their team, they'll have a new management again and are a long way shy of fourth. Should you be targeting fourth? Absolutely, you need to be back in the CL. Realistically, will you get fourth? I don't see it. LVG will be looking at the season after. If you finish 5th next season, with a new group of players, settled and playing good football again, will that be a failed season given your current situation? I'd say no. It would be a great platform to challenge the season after.
I think it's very easy for fans to loose sight of what their team is capable of doing.