The good news after today is that we are top of the Premiership, a point ahead of Aberdeen with a game in hand. This is reason for confidence.
With the unwanted exclusion from European distractions, Celtic can focus entirely on the domestic season in pursuit of another treble, which we probably won't achieve.
At full strength, Celtic are comfortably the best team in Scotland with the added bonus that, despite the best efforts of Willie Collum, our nearest challengers Aberdeen seem to take stadium restrictions too literally and leave all their bottle outside the ground.
The golden boy of Scottish coaching Derek McInnes lauded because – well the Scottish media need someone with no Celtic connection to laud – has shown himself to be reassuringly whiny when resolute leadership has been required. This is precisely what Celtic need at the helm of their closest rivals.
Not so Robbie Neilson, who has shown the ability to instil resilient belief in a squad in adversity and see it through to the end. However, it would be surprising indeed if Hearts were to make up ten points on Celtic over 19 matches.
But the reason we are unlikely to secure a treble is that the domestic clean sweep is typically won by a team that is emphatically dominant in a way that Celtic haven't shown themselves to be.
The match at Tynecastle is a perfect barometer of our season. A point gained away from home while suffering two early injuries to a squad already missing its captain and top scorer, with certain culprits providing the ineptitude that will have critics rubbing their hands.
Thus the attackers and defenders of the board, coaching staff and players can unite in smug vindication and I-told-you-sos with which to bring in the new year.
No, despite rumours circulating over recent weeks that he would be replaced (by David Moyes, Neil Lennon or an O'Neill – Michael, yes, Michael!) the wheels have not come off the Ronny bus. But the signs are there that the axles are creaking.
In the absence of Scott Brown, the team seems to allow the tempo to drop, a leaderless confusion of players, rather than a unit with a coherent plan.
A shooting gallery of wide players and central midfielders interchange pressing, moving the ball quickly but without a sense of conviction that they know to what end. A defence barely weakened by the return of Tyler Blackett, again looked suspect, even before Dedryck Boyata was injured and both Mikael Lustig and Efe Ambrose hobbled out of heavy challenges.
Without Leigh Griffiths, Nadir Çiftçi continues to labour, plodding where fleet-of-footness is required, and raising the spectre of Anthony Stokes like the no-good ex-boyfriend, ever in the background, ready to romp without care or commitment and scorning the mayhem he might wreak.
There remains vexation about Stefan Johansen, division over Kris Commons, sympathetic disappointment over Gary Mackay-Steven and latterly Stuart Armstrong with increasing exasperation over James Forrest who, despite patience and predictions, has yet to up-and-come.
At full strength, the current squad should comfortably win the Premiership. But with absences, individual losses of form and a divisive tactical approach, there is room for genuine concern.
This must be resolved before February. Doubtless there are one or two players who could be allowed to leave but a reliable central defender, a quick goalscorer and cover at right-back are the least that are needed if Celtic are to push forward in the coming months.
There may be a time for speculative signings on John Parks's intuition that one of them may be worth a lot of money some day but this is not it. Ronny Deila needs to be allowed to sign players who can reliably be expected to perform now, because they have proven ability to do so.
Another crop of recruits who have flattered to deceive or spent enough time in treatment rooms to be consulted on the décor will not do.
And those making the executive decisions would do well to ponder something. If the squad is not suitably strengthened and the points gap at the top of the table does not increase, those currently happy to bicker amongst themselves may start looking in the same direction and even consider their financial support for a strategy that ignores their wishes.
No, the wheels have not come off but they're sounding rather squeaky. So grease them!
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