When times have been bad for Barcelona in recent years, or even when times have been marginally not-as-good-as-usual, there has been plenty to fall back on to promote optimism for the future, both short- and mid-term.
Lionel Messi, major trophies, big-name signings, Lionel Messi, youth graduates from La Masia and Lionel Messi have perhaps made up the most frequent ports of call when fans start to seem down about the team's on-pitch fortunes, but at least a couple of those haven't been as much in evidence this summer.
A solitary Copa del Rey title last season, the departure and (so far) non-replacement of Neymar and a dearth of talented players breaking through from the youth academies in the past couple of seasons leave the Camp Nou faithful a little downhearted at present—but there could be a turnaround in sight.