Well, I did it. For the first time since the final I sat down and watched Celtic play Porto. To be honest it wasn't any easier on the eye and the sense of disappointment still remains. However that is not the point of this particular article.

In recent week one Alan Thompson has come in for a fair amount of stick from the support. Ok, this is on the back of some pretty poor performances and like all Celtic players, no matter who you are, you can expect to hear the odd negative mutterings from the crowd. I remember daring to criticise one Henrik Larsson after a lack lustre display against Aberdeen. Ok, he got a hat-trick but if he'd been really playing well he could have had six. But in Mr Thompsons case, not only has he been getting the stick but quite a few have been offering to call the taxi for him.

Perhaps the collective Celtic support need to step back for a second and think about that. Here is a player that was central to the success of the team under Martin O'Neill, a guy who played no small part in the run to the UEFA cup final, scoring goals against Liverpool, Stuttgart, setting up Larsson in the final itself and has been the Hammer of the Huns on a number of occasions. On his day, he is probably only out-matched by Neil Lennon is the going-overboard-for-the-cause stakes.

And now, this season, when he hasn't matched up to his own high standards some people would like to see him shipped. Some would argue he hasn't had a good game in over a year but if we're talking about last season then it could be said whole team looked jaded as it lumbered towards the finishing line so I wouldn't be so quick to point the finger at that particular phase of his career.

He has been at Celtic longer than he has been at any other club. He was at Bolton for nearly 5 years and he outstripped that in September of this year.

Now that his credentials as a Celtic player have been laid out, lets discuss what his required of us as a support when a committed Celtic player isn't having the best time.

Liam Miller, remember him? Jumped ship when it suited? After all Celtic had done for him, nursing him through injury, giving him his big chance? And how was the club and its support repaid? Left on a free, he didn't even have the grace to argue for a payment for the club unlike Steve Pearson on his transfer from Motherwell to Celtic. Remember the outrage? Remember the disgust we all felt? Well how must Alan Thompson feel?

Here is a team that was in the doldrums until MON came in and worked his magic. Part of that magic included Alan Thompson. As far as I am concerned he has served us well but now, when he seems to not quite fit into the current team, when his form is not good, we want to stick the boot in. If I was Mr Thompson I would feel rightly aggrieved.

But what we have here is a chicken and egg situation. Alan isn't playing well, so the support get on his back. The support are getting on his back because he's not playing well. And so it goes on. Perhaps we, as the Celtic support, need to give the encouragement Alan requires. Maybe we should repay the man for some of the success he has helped bring the club. And maybe, just maybe it will help Alan back to the top of his game.

It might not work but what can it hurt?

'I don't think I've ever seen a support like this one' said the commentator in the UEFA cup final.

Lets prove it.