Michel-Ange Balikwisha played a key role in Celtic’s dramatic 3-2 win over Motherwell, but while his late contribution earned praise from Brendan Rodgers, the manager admitted the winger is still adjusting to the demands of life at Celtic Park.
Balikwisha, who joined the club late in the summer window for around £5 million, delivered the pinpoint cross that Daizen Maeda nodded home in stoppage time to secure all three points. It was a moment that could kick-start the Belgian’s Celtic career after a muted start.
“Yes, he needed to feel something in the game. It’s not easy for these guys coming in to play for Celtic,” Rodgers said after the match to Celtic TV. “I’ve spoken to them, because Celtic’s great, you look on the outside and you see trophies and you see big games and you see European football and it all looks great.
“But actually, then you come in and you realise, wow, the expectation here and what I need to do and every single day of my life. And then I have to produce then on match day.
“So I think for him, it’s all been a wee bit of a blur. But I’m sure over time he’ll prove to be a really good player here. His little body work to let the ball run across and a great cross in for Daizen and to finish will be fantastic for him.”
Celtic had been tracking Balikwisha for over a year before finally making their move in the closing weeks of the summer window. Expectations were high, and his debut at Ibrox only added to the pressure but he failed to make an impact in that game and has since found minutes hard to come by.
Complicating matters for the former Standard Liège winger has been the form of Sebastian Tounekti. The Norwegian arrived on deadline day and has quickly impressed supporters with his direct running and unpredictable style, looking every bit the kind of winger who excites a Celtic crowd. Tounekti has even leapfrogged Balikwisha in the pecking order with the Belgian winger not even Brendan’s first pick from the bench in recent weeks.
Balikwisha has mostly watched on from the sidelines, struggling to impose himself in cameo appearances. Sunday’s assist, though, could mark a turning point. He showed quick feet, clever movement, and delivered the kind of cross that wins games.
It’s still early days in his Celtic career, but if Balikwisha is to make a proper claim for a regular role, he’ll need to build on moments like this.
We need to get our heads out of our backsides right now before it gets away from us! Our most underperforming “player” right now, and continuing on from last season into this, still has been all season long, is our manager!
Until he starts to get his focus back on the team again instead of his personal vendettas with whomever it is on the board he is gunning for, (and we can all guess who that may be), we won’t be the runaway leaders again.
Our form is poor, and he is the reason. Our style is stale and predictable because his head isn’t in the game, it’s on personal vengeance. He can deny it all day long, but when he was recently accused of trying to engineer the sack, I have honestly been saying this since last January! He has no plans to stay, no intention of staying, and only wants to be able to have the fans point fingers elsewhere this time around.
He doesn’t care the damages it is causing at the club! If he did, we would be his priority. His personal vendetta wouldn’t be!
Replying to Joe yes you may be right and I don’t think it’s lawell v Rodgers is asking for millions to sign players but he won’t address his own future we made quite a few signings at the start but things went stale spl a hard sell might be the it three plastic pitches clubs that don’t roll grass week before we play them park the bus tactics time waisting even sit the ball wide away from goals but coaches are praised for having team organised this season supporters have been quite even champions league qualifier nervous from the stands seemed to get to players Sundays game the last half hour was more like it not free flowing football but getting stuck in we have been bullied in games this season but one strong tackle by Engels set the tone and the crowd responded atmosphere was the best this season certain not all not nearly all but tv concentrate on banners sack the board and political banners these supporters aren’t helping players and costing us fines we have to stop the anarchy and get back to supporting the bhoys in hoops on the pitch we gave a great stadium up on till this season so far atmosphere was rated best and most intimidating by some of Europe and world top players yes money in the bank but last time sack the board we were averaging 28,000 a home games ready for liquidation had to be done not now and it’s certainly not all the supports like last time it’s seems to be green brigade with wannae bees and teenagers that will go against anything for attention just my thoughts
There is no doubt that Brendan was playing at politics earlier in the season and for sure, is doing so now.
He seems to totally disregard the effect he has had on the team’s performances. He must own the failures, particularly in the C L qualifier. The team isn’t at it because his head got too swollen. He’s too blessed big for his boots.
The way he has treated the two new Japanese lads has been utterly disgraceful, showing them total disrespect. Can we all remember that Brendan gave Oh short shrift? That guy is now worth upwards of 30 million and Brendan the genius sold him for peanuts. Apparently not good enough. OH for a 30 million centre forward now.
One hell of a lot of supporters, perhaps even the majority, have just had enough of him.
If the team needed strengthening and by God it did, Brendan has also to take some of the blame.
The Board has seriously misjudged the situation. They have not treated the supporters as grown ups. They have not explained what the problems are with getting players to Celtic. Their skill at communication is very low indeed. It was their job to get good players in and they didn’t, or at least not in time. What they have done and done superbly is make sure the club has money. That’s important, but they have been a little too careful to say the least.
It does look like the Board are trying to sort things with this new job advert, as far as communication with the supporters goes.
It doesn’t look like Brendan is doing too much differently at all. Let’s face it honestly. A last gasp winner against Motherwell is hardly record breaking. Motherwell are not and never will be world beaters. They are not C L quality. Had all things been equal, which of course, they are not and their keeper had not had a moment of madness, the result would have been a draw. Big deal, a draw or a last gasp winner against mighty Motherwell, is not good enough, is it!!!
It won’t happen because of the Board’s mistakes and Brendan’s shrewd and underhand politicking, making it very difficult for the Board to make a move but for me, Brendan has to go and frankly, he should have gone long ago.
There are plenty of managers, well good enough to take over, even at this stage in the season.
The supporters’ justifiable anger must not be allowed to turn into “MOB RULE”.
Chris.
Oh was poor. Seeing him last week, confirms this.
If someone pays €28m for him (not £30m as claimed) it doesn’t change that fact.
He wasn’t and would never be, a first team starter at Celtic.
MOB RULE.
Another taken in by the subtle PR attack placed in Lawwells lickspittle website i see.
Joe
You are an arsehole.
A green hun
Joe
As regards yourself.
Its better that we think you are a fanny than you to write shite
and confirm it.
Joe equals Peter Lawwell or he could just be his glove puppet from CQN