Sebastian Tounekti was part of the infamous Celtic recruitment from the summer.
There was a spotlight on every player signed by Celtic, not the players’ fault, but because of the noise around what the powers that be were or weren’t doing during the summer transfer window.
It could be argued that Tounekti made a positive start in Glasgow, and unlike most, he was getting thumbs up from the Celtic supporters.
But fast forward to the present, and Celtic’s defeat to Hearts on Sunday, those positive thoughts have turned negative.
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Sebastian Tounekti’s change in form at Celtic
Tounekti returned to Celtic’s XI against Hearts, starting as a left-sided wing-back under new manager Wilfried Nancy, but Pat Bonner isn’t so sure what he is seeing from the winger.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Bonner doesn’t like the idea of Tounekti always cutting back and looking for a simple pass rather than taking his man on or putting the ball into the box.
Bonner also noticed how the Celtic Park crowd were getting ‘frustrated’ with Tounekti’s safe play, which saw him last just an hour against Hearts before he was replaced.
“Against Hearts, they had two wing-backs, who didn’t really (cause a threat),” said Bonner.
“Tounekti every time he got the ball. It was frustrating because he is low on confidence, which is a shame because he started off really well.
“He’s going into that position, and then he is coming back inside. Then the ball doesn’t come. He had a chance for a couple of shots. Took the wrong option. Passed the ball instead, and that frustrates the crowd.”
Celtic are missing Greg Taylor
Greg Taylor left Celtic in the summer on a free transfer, and he decided to join PAOK in Greece.
The left-back divided opinion with the fanbase, including Rodgers, who had to come out and publicly back his player after he was getting stick.
But Bonner thinks the last time Celtic were playing very well, Taylor was in the team, as he noted how the Hoops are missing their former players, alongside the injured Alistair Johnston.
“I think Celtic have been struggling all season,” added Bonner. “They are unbalanced. They don’t have the right side sorted out. The wing-backs against Hearts didn’t suit them.
“When were Celtic playing really, really well? When they had Greg Taylor playing as an inverted fullback. He was going into the midfield positions. Creating positions where he helped the midfield. That was from a right-back position.
“When they had Alistair Johnston playing also. That overlap and underlap. And they were really, really good.”
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