SEBASTIAN TOUNEKTI LOOKS THE REAL DEAL, BUT SO WILL BALIKWISHA, IN TIME
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Sep 22
- 3 min read
It’s often difficult when multiple players join a team at the same time. Some players come in raring to go and get off to the proverbial flyer. Others, take a bit more time to find their feet.
Then, there’s players like Kelechi Iheanacho, who has shown both the right attitude and some really nice touches in his first two games, probably helped by the fact that fan expectation was near zero when he signed.
Our two new wingers however, seem to have gone down hugely divergent paths, even at this extremely early stage in their respective Celtic careers.
Another Man of the Match Performance from Sebastian Tounekti, Another No Show for Michel-Ange Balikwisha
There is no doubt that Sebastian Tounekti has enjoyed one of the most positive starts to a Celtic career in recent memory. His first goal for the club yesterday, set up by a magnificently flicked through-ball from the aforementioned Kelechi Iheanacho, was just the icing on the cake.
The Tunisian international has been a breath of fresh air for a team badly in need of a creative spark.
However, we also need to keep our feet on the ground here. Yes, it’s great to see a player who many have described as a “true Celtic winger”, unafraid to take on his man, sharp with his runs and pretty decent crossing and shooting abilities too.
So far though, he’s done this against Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle. With the greatest of respect to both those teams, Red Star Belgrade this coming midweek will pose a far tougher test of Tounekti’s obvious talent.
For Michel-Ange Balikiwisha, a player Celtic reportedly pursued for over a year, it hasn’t been great so far. Largely anonymous on his debut, which in fairness was probably the worst Glasgow Derby I’ve ever seen, he followed that up with largely ineffectual showings against Killie and Thistle.
Whereas Tounekti only has eyes for the goal when he gets on the ball, Balikwisha already seems to have fallen into the trap of taking the safe option. Stopping, passing the ball sideways or back, abdicating responsibility. It’s all the hallmarks of a player lacking confidence in his new surroundings.
Thankfully though, I believe that’s all it is. Remember it took us a good 5 or 6 months to get a tune out of Nicholas Kuhn, and we ended up selling him for 16 million.
I don’t think Balikwisha will need that long to settle, but he will need time, and maybe a bit of experimentation.
He seems uncomfortable in his current role, so perhaps the manager may consider moving him into a more central, creative position, or perhaps bench him for a while whilst he continues to build bonds with his new teammates in training.
In both cases, I think it’s crucial to remain calm. Yes, I am really excited by what I see in Tounekti, and I feel a deep frustration when I think how different both the Kairat and Rangers games could have been had we got him in a few weeks earlier.
However, I also think Balikwisha has the potential to be just as good. He showed it at Antwerp, where their fans were not happy to be losing someone they regarded as one of their very best players.
This week’s clash in Serbia is a great platform for both players. It will allow Tounekti to show he can turn it on against the big boys too, and it gives Balikwisha a chance to earn some much needed patience and goodwill from the Celtic support, with a solid performance.
In any case, exciting times ahead.
