Another season, another admission, in January, that Newcastle United are a club going nowhere.
, after a fruitless month long search for a successor to Alan Pardew.
Unable to land one of the European names on their wanted list, or lure Steve McClaren from Derby, the club have decided to make do until the summer.
It was the same last year when they flogged Yohan Cabaye for £19 million, and banked the cash rather than find a replacement.
The message then, and now, is the same. Another season where survival will do nicely.
Another year written off, with the calculated gamble that Newcastle probably have enough points to stay up (27 so far) and keep the £70 million of annual Premier League TV income flowing in.
Last season's sale of Cabaye sent a wave of apathy through the Newcastle dressing room. Players who had been as high as fifth suddenly realised they were at a selling club with no ambition beyond being in the Premier League.
The result was toxic, and defeat followed defeat. Carver's job is to ensure the same doesn't happen this year.
If sought-after stars like Moussa Sissoko and Tim Krul thought a new big name boss was about to arrive to rekindle a shot at the top eight or beyond, increasing their profile before a big summer move, they can think again.
If Newcastle fans thought that driving Alan Pardew out was the answer to the club's problems, they now see that it is only the start.
It may become clearer that Alan Pardew was actually a decent coach, who tip-toed through a political minefield from owner Mike Ashley, to boardroom, to dressing room and on to the terraces, just about holding together an uneasy coalition.
Carver will remain at the helm for the final 16 games and hope to make an impact, with the target being top ten so the players and club staff get their bonus.
He speaks well, has a no nonsense approach and has worked with the likes of Sir Bobby Robson.
Being confirmed in the job may confer more authority on his methods, and improve on his record of a draw and three defeats since Pardew quit.
Or it may not.
He will face a nervous few days until the transfer window closes with man of the season Sissoko in particular vulnerable to a large bid.
Fans will wish Carver luck, and hope for the best.
Some will see as proof that the Newcastle “head coach” job isn't as attractive as the number of applicants (80) suggests.
Newcastle have been told to wait, or faced complications in doing a deal, with all their preferred candidates.
McClaren refused to quit promotion chasing Derby, for now.
Likewise Ajax boss Frank De Boer, who wants to wait until the summer. But that will only increase his job options, rather than guarantee a deal with Newcastle.
Remi Garde wanted to complete his sabbatical and demanded two coaches who are currently in work at his former club, Lyon. Were United unwilling to spend on compensation, mid-season?
The list of “no thanks yous, not now” is probably even longer.
MD Lee Charnley said: “At the beginning of this process it was my desire and intention to appoint an individual to the position of head coach who would be available to start immediately.
“Having now explored at some length the options available to us at this time, the decision has been taken to defer the appointment of a permanent head coach until the end of the season.
“The head coach will be a long-term appointment that will play a major role in shaping the future on-field progression of Newcastle United and it is vitally important that we get the right individual.”
Carver will preach ambition, a quest for top ten, and a chance to make the job his own.
But his job is clear. Get the club eight or nine more points and to Premier League safety, as quick as possible.
Then Mike Ashley and Charnley will be happy he was a gamble worth taking.
Another year of drift complete.
Another season consigned to mediocrity for the 19th richest club in Europe.