Celtic fans are on the floor after their Champions League disaster, and they might need to bypass anger and go straight to acceptance this time. Just like the Parkhead board, the people in positions of power hope to get the Champions League rather than expect it, or actually plan for it.
It wasn't the suits to blame for the shocking collapse in Austria the other night though. You could have given a Lowland League side a four-goal start and got them to hold out for an hour against just about anyone.
It wasn't Michael Nicholson who had two of the three midfielders 70 yards up the pitch for LASK's third goal the other night, neither pressing nor tracking when the ball was shelled forward. No, Martin O'Neill and his team soiled their nappies big time, and while the subs highlighted the lack of depth in the Hoops squad, the baw was well and truly on the slates when the first-choice side were on the pitch. The changes only made it inevitable.
Celtic's game plan without the ball
Celtic's game plan with the ball is hoping their good players do good things. The strategy without it is anyone's guess. They are no longer a high-pressing, ferocious counter-pressing outfit like the days of Ange and Rodgers. The set-up seems to be to allow opponents the ball and hope it breaks down before they take a pop at goal. It's probably safe enough to cope in Scotland.
Of course it was bizarre the levels of risk Celtic took by failing to add some muscle to a midfield, or bolster a defence that shipped three to Midtjylland and Roma last term, as well as four to Stuttgart, a couple at home to Braga and even Utrecht, that also includes two players who struggle to last 90 minutes.
It's a backline that finished 21st in the Europa League. So why expect them to be Champions League class? This side dug deep to get over the line in the league last term but managed just one clean sheet in their final 11 games.
Deficiencies when going up a level
Falkirk, St Mirren and Dunfermline found a way to the net, so it should be no surprise LASK did likewise. For some reason, either the management or the board, or both, don't see the deficiencies in the side when it goes up a level.
Or perhaps they are not really that bothered. The team will probably do just fine in Scotland, so what's the point in pushing the boat out to have a bash at competing with proper outfits? They might have a point. You can spend big and still get walloped by these boys, so why bother?
Why bother planning for the future either when Europe is so much hassle? If Celtic had any grand plan, some kind of five-year road map, then they wouldn't be pulling the plug on some of the big targets they had on the back burner if they did get that tasty Champions League cheque.
Long-term thinking and the transfer window
The likes of Niko Sigur and Gvidas Gineitis sounded decent, and the pair at times were keen on coming to Celtic. But another £10m plus to take on St Johnstone and Omonia Nicosia? Nah.
Except these kinds of signings would not be for those games. If there was any long-term thinking around Kerrydale Street, they would notice the Scottish champions will have three qualifiers for next season's Champions League.
A downbeat O'Neill admitted in Austria Celts were 'a million miles away from the finished article'. If the club are a million miles off it with a week left in the transfer window, how are they going to look in the second qualifying round on July 20? They might need to get Nir Bitton back by then.
That is the big issue. The work for next summer should be getting done now. They admit themselves January is a stinky window, so the foundations need to be laid earlier.
That's how modern, ambitious clubs function. Pretty much the opposite to Celtic's old-fashioned cautious approach.
Those eight out of 10 failed qualifying campaigns – where they faced teams with less resources each time – could have been used to build an established Champions League club, but that ship has sailed.
It's back to being just better than Rangers occasionally scraping into the big time every now and again, but battling to finish in the top 24 in the Europa in most seasons and in the Conference in others. Celtic fans can wail and stamp their feet as long as they like, but it won't get them anywhere as the situation isn't changing any time soon. It might not be worth the grief.
