This time last year, Scotland manager Craig Levein returned from the world cup 2014 qualifying fixtures meeting. Judging by his demeanour at the time, it's fair to assume Levein was content with his lot - particular emphasis, we were told, had been placed on getting off to a good start in the forthcoming campaign, and two home games against teams considered to be among the weaker sides in the group fitted that bill nicely.
This, of course, was understandable - after all, previous campaigns had unravelled following a slugglish start. And so, in a group devoid of one of the so-called big guns, the perceived wisdom was that points garnered at the outset would set the Scots up nicely for tougher fixtures ahead against the likes of Belgium and Croatia.
Or so we thought. Despite the fact neither Serbia nor Macedonia are likely to trouble the protagonists in Rio in two years´ time, Scotland failed to secure three points against either country despite home advantage, and assurances form Levein that the squad continues to make great strides in terms of progress.
On the latter point, the evidence would suggest that the side has at best stagnated. Whatever the case, a return of two meagre points from the opening brace of fixtures may have done irreparable damage to the national side's 2014 prospects.
Despite a relatively easy ride from the media to date, Levein's popularity with the Tartan Army has never been great, and that is for two reasons:
Firstly, Levein's notoriously cautious approach may have made Scotland difficult to beat, but it has done precious little to galvanise a support which has become disillusioned following the failure to qualify for the past seven tournament finals. That Scotland have evidently given up on the idea of playing with any semblance of attacking verve is disheartening.
Secondly, the manager's continued insistence that progress is being made despite appearances to the contrary has long since wearied supporters who cannot equate this with petty feuds which continue to deprive the team of genuine talents in the shape of Steven Fletcher and Kris Commons. Levein's penchant for talking up modest talents cannot ignore the fact he's not man enough to make peace with players who might just provide his team with the impetus required to win matches.
Indeed, it's obvious to many observers that, whilst the players at his disposal are some way short of world class, Levein is simply not getting the best out of those resources anyway. The ability to rise above such squabbles is the name of the management game after all. Does anyone doubt, for instance, that the likes of Jose Mourinho and Alex ferguson don't have to indulge in a touch of ego-massaging in a bid to coax match-winning performances from self-obsessed footballers occasionally?
But there's the rub. Levein is clearly a man with a deep-rooted arrogance (not, it must be said, based on a glittering management career to date) that prevents him from altering his approach to appease and encourage the fans, far less reach out to truculent players.
Meanwhile, next month's trips to Wales and Belgium loom, and it's surely no exaggeration to suggest that further disappointment from those might just put paid to Levein's tenure as national team manager. The clamour for a proven manager such as Gordon Strachan to replace him would surely become relentless.
World Cup qualification is already unlikely, but should it become a virtual impossibility with fewer that half the fixtures completed, Levein's position will be untenable.
Rightly or wrongly, few would mourn his departure.