FORMER goal hero Chris Sutton has likened Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic to The Titanic as the champions sail unerringly towards a soccer iceberg.
The Frenchman has seen the side lose five out of seven of his seven games in charge – by far the worst record for a new manager – as they have dropped nine precious Premiership points, blew the chance of domestic silverware and added to the pressure to remain in the later stages of the Europa League.
Now Nancy and his shattered players, all looking bereft of confidence since his arrival, are preparing to the derby confrontation against Danny Rohl’s Ibrox side at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon.
So far, it’s been a sequence of utter disaster and Sutton insists there is only one question for the board to answer.
“Do Celtic stand the best chance of winning the Premiership with Nancy at the helm?” asked the one-time England international striker. “Based on what we have seen, the answer to that is a resounding no.
“I’ve been watching Titanic Sinks Tonight on the iPlayer and that ship’s captain dithered, took 45 minutes before realising the seriousness of the situation and that his unsinkable ship will sink. The rest is history.
“So, with a manager who is set in his ways and players who can’t adapt to them making it highly likely Celtic will sink and not win the league without making change to one of those aspects, the onus falls squarely onto the powers-that-be at the club.
“Either back him with quality players to fit Wilf’s way immediately or make the decision to get a more pragmatic, adaptable manager and sack him.
“Put simply, this situation can’t be allowed to drift. Nancy is attempting to play fantasy football with a squad who can’t do it. Well, this is the real world.
“Forget the Rangers game being make-or-break for him. This situation is far, far bigger than just one match, even if it’s the biggest of the lot.
“I’m always in for long-term planning and actually hate myself after such a short space of time for even hinting that a guy should go.
“But, if Celtic choose to keep him and take a long-term approach, he needs five or six new faces. Not at the end of the month. Now.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Listen, I don’t like being knee-jerk with things, but if he stays and that doesn’t happen, I think Celtic are screwed.
“January was always going to be big and the club needs decisive action after a period of jumbled thinking and knock-on effects. It really is an easy choice.
“I actually don’t blame Nancy for this current melee. I blame those responsible for bringing him in, the ones who overestimated the quality of the player that Celtic have.
“Maybe Nancy has also underestimated the Scottish game, but I think the decision-makers must carry the can for it.
“If this was always going to be Nancy’s way, whether it was Paul Tisdale or whoever, they must have known he was going to do this. A bit like Ruben Amorim who outlined his plan before he arrived at Manchester United and wasn’t going to budge. So it’s on them.
“The first question for them should have been: Do we have the players who are capable of doing this? We know the answer. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
“So if they’re going to keep Nancy, they either have to go all in and back the guy immediately or they just need to do the right thing.”
Sutton added: “It was catastrophic at Motherwell. With respect, that wasn’t Roma schooling them. Celtic are all over the shop.
“I believe Nancy said there were some good aspects at Fir Park. The guy’s in cloud cuckoo land with that sort of statement.
“But, as I said, this is about the bigger picture. Whoever decided the current playing squad was capable of actually adjusting to Nancy’s ways has got it badly wrong.
“You can’t be played off the park by Motherwell. You can lose, but not like that. If Nancy’s not prepared to change and tweak things, then this will just keep going.
“Celtic face Rangers on Saturday and, for the first time in recent years, I think Rangers will win. And they are not good, either.
“Nancy’s team is a shambles. They do look a threat, but every time a team attacks their box, they look like they’re going to score. In his system, he’s asking individuals to do things they can’t do.
“Asking Liam Scales and Anthony Ralston to step in and play. Yang at wing-back. You need the players to do it and what about the boys to come back from injury.
“Is Cameron Carter-Vickers really going to want to play right-side of a back three? Is Jota a wing-back? Doubt it, so where does he fit in?
“It’s okay beating a 10-man Aberdeen team, bottom of the table Livingston, but it’s five defeats in seven. Let’s get it right. Celtic weren’t playing well under Brendan Rodgers. Same under Martin O’Neill. My old boss did superbly to get results, but let’s not pretend it was swimmingly good football.
“Nonetheless, Celtic have lost 15 goals in seven games under Nancy and the players look lost.
“So the club has to think about the way forward. Like I said, I’m all for the greater good and patience.
“But the facts are staring the hierarchy in the face. It’s not working. So give Nancy the tools to make it work.
“Or just put him out of misery.”
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! ORDER NOW AND GET £5 OFF! Celtic Confidential is the stunning new book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. All is revealed in a sensational new publication. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Happy Festive reading everyone!
