Martin O'Neill's return to Celtic has been a breath of fresh air, with the team picking up right where they left off under his stewardship. After a chaotic 33-day tenure by Wilfried Nancy, O'Neill's calming influence has brought a sense of stability and confidence back to the team. The Northern Irishman's second return saw a 4-0 dismantling of Dundee United, keeping his 100% record against them intact. This win was not just a return to form, but a return of confidence for the players, as O'Neill suggested to BBC Sport Scotland. The team looked organized and compact at the back, with a solid-looking back four and a midfield that provided control and the decisive second goal. The crowd was also magnificent, keeping with the team even in moments of poor play. This performance sets up Celtic for a run of four away games, and it couldn't be better. However, the team needs to dispense with their home comforts and focus on a challenging series of matches away from home, including a difficult assignment at high-flying Falkirk, a treacherous-looking trip to Bologna, and a meeting with league leaders Hearts. O'Neill's calming influence and the team's return to form make him a strong candidate to maintain Celtic's stranglehold on the Premiership title. But here's where it gets controversial... The decision to dispense with the services of O'Neill and his next generation of Celtic coaches in early December seems senseless, especially after the chaos of the Nancy days. The team's performance under O'Neill has been a stark contrast to the calamitous eight matches in charge under Nancy. It remains to be seen if O'Neill can maintain this form and lead Celtic to success, but for now, the evidence suggests he's up for the challenge and confident he can finish what he's started.
