When Sebastian Tounekti arrived at Celtic in the summer, he brought with him an undeniable sense of raw potential.
However, several months into Tounekti’s Celtic career, the young winger is finding himself far more effective as an impact substitute rather than a guaranteed starter.
While the weight of a hefty price tag, playing under the Glasgow pressure cooker, and the leap from a lower-standard league can be difficult for any player to navigate, there is a glaring, frustrating habit creeping into the £5.5 million star’s game that is currently holding him back from truly flourishing.
Aiden McGeady knows what it’s like to wear the Celtic shirt on the flanks and entertain the masses, as he urged the new kid on the block to take more risks.
“He has a habit where he slows the game down, then he comes inside,” said McGeady. “But when he comes inside, it’s not a whipped pass through the lines into the striker’s feet. It’s always a wee two-yard pass back to the fullback or into the central midfielder.
“Effectively, if you aren’t doing anything when you come inside, you might as well run down the line and commit a defender.”
Do you prefer seeing Sebastian Tounekti starting or being used as an impact sub?
Aiden McGeady’s critical analysis of Sebastian Tounekti on Celtic’s flank
Far too often, when Tounekti receives the ball out wide, the pace of the Celtic attack suddenly grinds to a halt.
Instead of isolating his fullback, driving down the line, and committing a defender, he routinely opts to cut inside and take the safe, easy option.
Those backwards, two-yard passes to the overlapping full-back might keep possession ticking over, but they do absolutely nothing to hurt the opposition.
Former Hoops star McGeady wants the winger’s decision-making to change, and his blunt, tactical assessment is absolutely spot on, as he shared on Open Goal.
“I don’t want to absolutely batter him,” said McGeady. “Saying, ‘Listen, this is what you aren’t doing, and this is what he is poor at.’
“I think he is very young. He has come from a lower-standard league. It’s not his fault, the price tag, and you always label that on a player. £5.5 million. I do think he has to do more, though.
“But I think that might come with coaching. It might come with time, because he has only been here 6-8 months. I think there is more to come from him. He has shown in flashes. In the Kilmarnock game, he comes on and scores that goal. There are games where he has come on and looked like a bit of an impact player, and he has brought something to the team.
“I think he is more effective, at the moment, coming off the bench than starting games for some odd reason. He has a habit where he slows the game down, then he comes inside.
“But when he comes inside, it’s not a whipped pass through the lines into the striker’s feet. It’s always a wee two-yard pass back to the fullback or into the central midfielder.
“Effectively, if you aren’t doing anything when you come inside, you might as well run down the line and commit a defender. I would rather commit a defender every single time and lose eight times out of ten, and set up two goals. Or sets up two big chances rather than just taking an easy option.”
Tounekti’s numbers for Celtic
One thing is for sure: there is promise in Tounekti’s game, and he looks far better than any of the wingers Celtic have signed in recent times.
Added to that, if he has a bit of consistency off the pitch, in terms of coaching, then that might also help his game.
Not forgetting that the Hoops are a mess on and off the pitch, and it hasn’t helped the cause of the new players who have signed.
Either way, there is something in Tounekti’s game to be excited about, and hopefully, supporters will remain patient with the Tunisian star.
- Games: 36
- Starts: 26
- Goals: 5
- Assists: 2
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