The faithful Celtic support jeered their team from the field at Tannadice yesterday following another disappointing performance and yet it would seem that the show of displeasure failed to permeate the layers of the protective bubble that the Parkhead players and staff inhabit. 
The same old failings were obvious to one and all - well, all except the principle characters it would seem - as Celtic capitulated to United late in the game after going ahead through a Robson penalty in the 71st minute. The unmarked Jon Daly headed United's equaliser from an 83rd minute corner and in the final seconds their captain Dods also found himself acres of space inside the box and headed home from another set piece.
On paper we have the strongest squad in the SPL, and man-for-man we probably have the best players in the SPL, but as another wise man once said we don't play the game on paper, we play on grass. The support are mystified as to why these players don't function as a team and they were further bewildered by the post-match soundbytes emanating from the away dressing room yesterday. Barry Robson, obviously oblivious to the scorn pouring down from the stands, says that the boys are happy whilst boss Tony Mowbray, taking a lesson from the previous manager's book, asked the fans to deny the evidence of their own eyes by insisting that there was a huge gulf in class between the two sides.
"Fans pay a lot of money to come and watch us but I think we have put in some decent performances although maybe not against Falkirk in the last game." said Robson. "But Dundee United was always going to be a hard place to go to. When I was at United we almost beat Barcelona, so that's how hard it is to go there. We deserved to get something from the game, maybe even the three points but it is still positive at the club."
"The boys are all happy and on another day, we could have won two or three nil." said the midfielder, from within the cocoon. "So it's not all doom and gloom. We are ready for the next game and we can't wait to go and win it. You don't win anything at this stage of the season. We came unstuck but we will keep going."
This column always tries to defend the comments made by players thrust before the assembled hacks, yes, even Heid, but Barry's statement that 'the boy's are all happy' beggars belief. I don't know, maybe they'd just been handed their pay statements after the game, maybe their delight stemmed from knowing that, just like British banking executives, they are still fabulously wealthy despite being so bad at their jobs?
Tony Mowbray is under enormous pressure now and it's fair to say that the honeymoon period is well and truly over. Tony has asked that he isn't judged until he's had a chance to build his own side but that is an impossible ask when you are the boss at Celtic Park. Mowbray still believes that Celtic should have taken all three points from Tannadice despite fielding a side that can't score goals and can't defend. "I felt there was a huge gulf in quality and class between the two teams and yet they scored from two set-plays." was the manager's summary. "But generally, for about 85 minutes, it was one-way traffic. We totally dominated the match. The first half wasn't a problem for us. I never felt they could get near our goal. I didn't think they could hurt us other than set-plays and ultimately they did which is sore. But they didn't create any other chances."
Mowbray decision to disparage Dundee United in his post match interviews rather than focus on the deficiencies of his own side showed a meanness of character not previously evident in the man and one can only hope that he carried his anger and resentment back into the dressing room and directed it towards some more worthy targets. The first step towards solving the problems with the current side will be to acknowledge that these problems exist and two wins in the last ten games is ample evidence that they do exist. Despite the public utterances to the contrary I'd hope that the coaching staff and players are fully aware of just how much they need to improve.