In a week where debate raged over how Premiership sides should approach the increasingly futile task of lining up against Celtic, one key point feels overlooked.
Whether it be parking the bus or trying something altogether more daring and expansive, trying to get a result at Celtic Park requires a bit of belief above all else. But there's compelling evidence the prospect of getting out of Glasgow's east end with a result has become a ridiculous notion to all who attempt it.
In thumping St Johnstone on Saturday, Ange Postecoglou's relentless team ensured they would finish 2022 with an unbeaten domestic home record. The only blot on their Parkhead copybook, if you can even call it that, was a draw with rivals Rangers back in May, one that suited Celtic down to the ground given they'd all but wrapped up the Premiership title anyway.
Almost from the very outset, there was little danger of Saints going one better on the reigning champions' final home outing of the year. It quickly became a microcosm of why Celtic have been so dominant on their own turf over the past 12 months, and why it's difficult to see how they can be stopped heading into the second half of the league campaign.
Saints will have felt they were coping fine in the opening exchanges, but by the time the clock struck 18 minutes, they were two down and out of the game. That's the thing about this team Postecoglou has built, they can hurt you in so many ways, at any given moment.
The absence of both Josip Juranovic and Anthony Ralston forced the manager to deploy Reo Hatate at right-back. Ordinarily, a slight of stature midfielder dropping into defence might signal a potential source of weakness, but it was Hatate who arrived right on cue to fire Celtic into the lead, albeit with slight thanks to a deflection.
After a lethargic win over Livingston in midweek, Postecoglou criticised an "unacceptable" contribution from his forward players, but there was much more to like about their display here. The attacking thrust and clinicality of finishing was back, with a Kyogo Furuhashi double putting Celtic well out of sight by the time the half-time whistle sounded.
Postecoglou has his team operating so effectively in attacking certain areas of the pitch - namely getting into positions to provide cutbacks for strikers and onrushing midfielders - and it's incredibly difficult to stop when they hit anything approaching their stride. It's indicative of the different stratosphere Celtic are operating in that there's been some questioning of Kyogo, the Premiership's top scorer, and his position in the team. Admittedly, much of that has been fuelled by transfer speculation surrounding Giorgos Giakoumakis, but it's hardly as if the Greek forward is being kept on the bench by a man not delivering the goods.
Kyogo's two goals were so typical of the player; darting across an unwitting centre-back and finishing with aplomb before they've even realised he's there. Giakoumakis will argue he can provide a similar service, but the reality is Postecoglou appears to have his preference and there's no real way to justifiably question it.
His team have now won 17 of their 18 league matches this term, with Kyogo starting most of them. The sheer size of Celtic demands there always be some sort of narrative around which to frame debate, but the only current argument for including Giakoumakis ahead of him seems to be personal taste in strikers.
The former VVV Venlo forward, at least, got a run out in an academic second-half. Hatate, clearly toiling with the transition into right-back, helped himself to a second after yet more neat interplay, and almost made it a hat-trick with an effort that clipped the outside of the post.
Saints, for their part, continued to dig in and were rewarded with a Drey Wright goal on the counter that caught Celtic napping. The goal award was delayed by the involvement of VAR, another theme of the afternoon.
All but one of the five was checked retrospectively, to the sound of exasperated groans all around Celtic Park. The match-going experience with the technology needs work, it must be said.
VAR can be tiresome when watching at home, evenwith the aid of multiple replays that can, at least, give an indication of which direction a decision is likely to go. But in the stands? There's nothing but an anxious, frustrating wait for supporters, who are informed a check is taking place but receive little in the way of additional detail until the officials make the call.
Thankfully for man in the middle Kevin Clancy, he wasn't compelled into disallowing any of the goals long after the fact, which I'm sure even the referees themselves take no pleasure in doing. Of course, football fans are hardly renowned for their saintly patience with officialdom, but there's an element of bewilderment around grounds when VAR becomes involved, and there surely are ways to make the whole process more transparent for punters in attendance.
The technology did have one significant say before the final whistle, however, intervening to send off David Turnbull for a high challenge on Saints keeper Remi Matthews. Clancy had initially shown the midfielder a yellow card, but a consultation with the pitchside monitor convinced him the incident was worthy of heavier punishment.
Additional viewings confirm the eventual call was the right one. Turnbull only had eyes for the ball, but there can be little doubt it constituted serious foul play.
Ultimately, it was but a footnote on another stroll in the park on home soil for Celtic. The vast gap in resources between them and 10 of the other 11 Premiership sides mean they really ought to win all of their Celtic Park outings, but it does take a certain relentless mentality to get over the line every single time.
Players are prone to off days, but apparently not this team. And the longer that goes on, the more the belief of those challenging them in their own backyard will continue to shrink.
Park the bus, throw the kitchen sink - none of it seems to matter when nobody can get near Celtic either way.
