I DIDN’T think it was possible, but Celtic’s performance against Dundee United at Tannadice yesterday was actually worse than the miserable night at the same venue in December last year.
That was the dark evening when the woeful Wilfried Nancy entered the history books as becoming the first manager of the club to preside over four consecutive defeats in their first four games.
It was also the first time the team had been turned over in a quartet of fixtures in 47 years.
At least, no-one could accuse the Frenchman of inconsistency.
Brendan Rodgers’ successor, who had signed a two and a half year contract, kicked off his mercifully brief stay in Glasgow with a Premiership loss to Hearts at Parkhead, a midweek Europa League home defeat to AS Roma and a Premier Sports League Cup Final nosedive against a grateful St Mirren at Hampden.
CONDEMNED MAN…Wilfried Nancy looking despondent at Tannadice in December.
Three games, three bloody noses, a domestic Cup carelessly chucked onto the silverware scrapheap and eight goals conceded into the bargain.
Was it any wonder the patience of the Hoops fans snapped during another startlingly inept showing from a collection of players who were clearly clueless as to what their new gaffer expected in a formation that had been foisted upon them by a coach who should never have been allowed anywhere near a Celtic dressing room.
Tannadice shuddered under the vehement and insistent calls for Nancy to remove himself from the post.
Okay, the less than eloquent message from fed-up supporters went along the lines of the time-honoured ditty: “Nancy, Nancy, get tae f***.”
Blunt and to the point, you have to admit. Certainly succinct. The services of a translator not required.
On this particular night, the followers had watched Daizen Maeda fire in a 13th-minute opener and it looked the ideal platform for a long-awaited first success for the former Columbus Crew head coach.
OOPS…Johnny Kenny misses his kick from four yards as Celtic head for defeat against Dundee United in December.
The game should have been out of sight by the interval, but Johnny Kenny contrived to miss three excellent opportunities – one a mishit from four yards with the keeper stranded – and the champions had to be content with a single goal advantage at the turnaround.
However, two strikes – both avoidable – in three minutes around the hour mark for the hosts turned the game upside down and once again the black hole of dismay beckoned for Celtic.
That revved up the atmosphere somewhat. The decibel levels reverberated around Tayside and must have come close to registering on the Richter Scale.
Four games – and two more defeats – later, Nancy did indeed pack his bags and leave the premises.
I still tremble uncontrollably at unwelcome reminisces of the utterly hapless Frenchy. I hoped I would never again witness such a diabolical display at this venue where the skills of groundsmen do not seem to be utilised.
Lo and behold! I only had to wait just over three months for that painful and mundane experience to be surpassed by the alarming fare served up yesterday.
Nine of the players who went through the motions in December returned to the scene of the crime. Kieran Tierney, Liam Scales, Luke McCowan, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, Benjamin Nygren, James Forrest and Yang Hyun-jun were the gluttons for punishment.
LOOKING DOWN…Martin O’Neill is crestfallen at Tannadice yesterday.
Martin O’Neill looked slightly wild-eyed in a postmatch TV interview and, reflecting on the second-half, admitted: “We lost our way completely.”
No-one could argue with that crisp and terse summation.
Watching the incompetency of Celtic this season can only be likened to the ordeal faced by those unfortunates condemned to a death by a thousand cuts.
Can it get any worse than this? Surely, that is an impossibility? Isn’t it?
Attempting to rid the disturbing images from my mind, I will try to remain positive.
Seven games to go, four at home. Twenty-one points up for grabs.
Celtic can still snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Can’t they?
ALEX GORDON
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