It looks more difficult than it is, they say.
That, however, looks more difficult now that Mr Wahid has been welcomed by so many of the world's leaders.
Every game you lose it looks more difficult, but until it's mathematically not possible we'll keep going, but if we play like that then we'll be bottom by a million miles".
What is even more worrying is that in this type of situation, the same task looks more difficult in comparison to when we feel that we have higher resource levels, making it even less likely for us to choose to engage in this task.
"Yes, globally things are looking more difficult this year than this time last year but the global economy is growing and is forecast to continue to grow," he said.
Had the Americans finished second in Group C, their path would have looked more difficult.
Making the case towards the International Olympic Committee that male golf should continue in the Games beyond the existing point of 2020 has never looked more difficult.
Nida Ali, an economic adviser at Ernst & Young, said that the data made the government's goal of reducing borrowing by £30 billion in the current fiscal year look more difficult to achieve, "especially with economic growth looking likely to disappoint".
The bank's losses have now hit £52bn since its bailout and Ross McEwan, its chief executive, admitted the share price slide meant a further sale of the taxpayer stake was looking more difficult.
The National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, argues that the government's green targets may now look more difficult to achieve, but says that is no reason to ease up.
