Celtic just cannot get over their current big game hump. They blew it again on Thursday night, this time losing to Hungarian side Ferencvaros in their Europa League opener, and at home, no less.
Ferencvaros took the lead and then retook the lead two minutes after Celtic equalised, and they scored a stunner within two minutes of the second half starting to effectively take the game out of reach.
Look, we can talk tactics all day, and it's no secret that Celtic don't have the required strength in midfield to compete reliably in midfield.
But it's clear to see that this is not a question of tactics in these big games, it is a question of courage. How many times are we going to see Celtic play aimless passes to or across the back line.
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with patient build-up, but the Hoops are rarely building anything. They attack, of course they do, but they don't do so by passing through the lines, they are unable to with the makeup of their midfield.
So, the result is countless passes across the back line, and many of the passes into midfield are to midfielders with an opposing player up their back, leading to instant return passes.
Credit where it is due, Mika Baur will have a go when he receives the ball in space and try to get forward. But Celtic don't have anyone who will try to turn a player and show some skill.
It's not just the midfielders, either. Even the wingers are delivering early crosses instead of trying to beat their man to the byline or cut inside with a true piece of skill and look to open up the defence.
What's frustrating is that this isn't a constant theme. Celtic will do those sorts of things against lesser teams in the Premiership. But when these big occasions arrive, players are shying away from taking chances.
There is always a place for a clear structure and operating within it, but you cannot win big games against good teams without taking a chance here and there. No one is asking midfielders to try to turn their man in their own half, but take a chance in the opposing half.
Players have to believe they can beat a man, rather than carrying the ball to the halfway line, seeing an opponent and turning back to give the ball to a teammate. It improved in the second half against Ferencvaros, but it was too little, too late.
There will be games in the Europa League where Celtic lack quality, but that has not been a valid excuse for these big games against LASK, Rangers and Ferencvaros.
The problem here is that Celtic are the embodiment of the lion from the Wizard of Oz.
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