Honestly, is there anything Kris Boyd cannot turn into an opportunity to talk absolute nonsense? I sometimes wonder whether the man actually listens to himself before opening his mouth.

Apparently, according to Boyd, Celtic’s players need to accept more responsibility rather than leaving their manager, Martin O’Neill, to answer the difficult questions following Sunday’s embarrassing 2-0 defeat to Falkirk.

And here comes the absolute beauty of his argument. Boyd stated: “I do feel as if the players are quite happy now to allow Martin to take the flak.”

Excuse me, Kris? Have you been watching the same Celtic matches as the rest of us, or have you been analysing them through a pair of blue-tinted spectacles purchased specially for the occasion?

Because honestly, I find this statement almost as ridiculous as some of the performances we have witnessed from Celtic recently.

And that is saying something.

Let me make something perfectly clear. I have absolutely no problem with the idea that footballers should be accepting responsibility. Quite the opposite.

They are professional footballers playing for one of the biggest clubs in Scotland, representing a club with an extraordinary history, an enormous support and expectations which come with wearing the green and white shirt.

They should be accountable. Every single one of them.

However, there is a rather important difference between demanding accountability from players and conveniently suggesting that the manager is somehow being unfairly left to carry the can for everything happening at Celtic.

And that is precisely where Boyd’s argument falls apart.

We have witnessed tactical confusion, questionable team selections, players being deployed outside their natural positions, a lack of cohesion, defensive uncertainty and performances which have left supporters wondering what exactly the footballing plan is supposed to be.

Callum McGregor has already raised questions about the team’s tactical approach and the importance of playing footballers in their natural positions. Martin O’Neill has echoed some of those concerns himself.

So, Kris you prick, perhaps instead of producing another spectacular piece of footballing wisdom, you might want to examine the actual footballing problems.

Because Celtic’s difficulties are not simply a case of eleven footballers suddenly deciding they would rather hide behind their manager than take responsibility.

There are questions about coaching, tactics, preparation, recruitment, leadership and the overall direction of the football department. These are not imaginary problems invented by frustrated Celtic supporters who have nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon.

They are problems we have been watching unfold in front of our eyes.

And I am certainly not going to pretend otherwise just because Martin O’Neill happens to be a respected figure at Celtic. I have enormous respect for Martin.

I will never forget what he achieved when he returned to help us last season. He came back when Celtic needed him, steadied the ship and delivered silverware.

Nobody can take that away from him.

But respect does not mean immunity from criticism. That is something Boyd apparently struggles to understand. Martin O’Neill is the manager, not a decorative figure standing on the touchline.

If the players are not performing, he has responsibility. If the tactics are not working, he has responsibility. If footballers are repeatedly being asked to perform roles which do not suit their natural abilities, questions must be asked about the decisions being made.

That is what management involves, Kris.

Nobody is suggesting that O’Neill should personally apologise for every misplaced pass, missed opportunity or defensive mistake.

But neither should we pretend that the manager has no responsibility for the footballing structure, the selections or the performances of the team.

And quite frankly, I am becoming rather tired of this convenient argument that criticising Martin O’Neill somehow means disrespecting everything he has done for Celtic.

It doesn’t. I can appreciate his contribution, recognise his achievements and still question whether his current approach is good enough to take Celtic forward.

Those things are perfectly capable of existing together. It is called having a balanced opinion, something which seems to be in rather short supply in certain football studios.

And now we have Kris Boyd arriving like the self-appointed guardian of Martin O’Neill’s reputation, suggesting that Celtic’s players are quite happy to let their manager take the flak.

Perhaps Boyd should spend a little less time imagining conversations in the Celtic dressing room and a little more time examining what is actually happening on the pitch.

Unless, of course, he has developed some extraordinary investigative abilities which allow him to read the minds of Celtic footballers from a television studio.

If so, congratulations, prick. Perhaps you could use those powers to explain why Celtic cannot consistently produce a coherent performance.

And this is where I believe the entire discussion misses the point.

Celtic are in a situation where somebody needs to step forward, take responsibility and start addressing the problems properly. Not with diplomatic statements, not with excuses and certainly not with the usual Scottish football punditry circus.

We need accountability throughout the club. The players must take responsibility for their performances. The coaching staff must take responsibility for their preparation and tactical decisions. The manager must take responsibility for his selections and the team’s direction.

And the board must finally accept responsibility for the wider footballing mess which has contributed to the situation we find ourselves in.

Why is this so difficult to understand? It is not a competition to establish who can take the most criticism. It is about identifying what is wrong and doing something to put it right.

And if Boyd genuinely believes that the biggest issue at Celtic is that the players are allowing Martin O’Neill to answer difficult questions, then I would suggest he has spectacularly missed the point.

Kris, with all due respect, and I must admit that my supply of respect is running dangerously low overall and for you there was never a lot to begin with, Celtic supporters are not particularly interested in your latest attempt to manufacture a dressing-room drama.

We want to see better football. We want to see organisation, intensity, intelligent tactics, proper leadership and players who understand what it means to represent Celtic. We want to see a team capable of competing rather than one which occasionally produces a magnificent performance before apparently forgetting how to play football altogether.

And above all, we want to see a club where people are prepared to stand up, accept responsibility and make difficult decisions.

So, Kris, perhaps next time you decide to offer Celtic supporters another pearl of footballing wisdom, try examining the bigger picture first.

Because pointing the finger at players while conveniently avoiding the questions surrounding management, coaching and the club’s wider leadership is not particularly insightful.

It is just another easy headline. And Celtic supporters deserve considerably more than that.

Boyd is entitled to his opinion, of course. But I am equally entitled to point out that it is a load of absolute nonsense.

The players must take responsibility, absolutely.

But so must everyone else at Celtic. We cannot keep making the footballers scapegoats while the actual problems remain unresolved.

And, for goodness’ sake, can somebody please remind Kris Boyd that being loud in a television studio does not automatically make someone an expert in football analysis?

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