The Less Said The Better – Journalist Tears in Balikwisha

Celtic progressed past Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup, booking their place in the last 16 with a 2–0 win, but it was far from convincing.

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Despite dominating possession for large periods, the performance lacked the cutting edge you’d expect from a side of Celtic’s stature.

Ten changes were made by Martin O’Neill and his coaching staff, clearly with one eye on the busy run of fixtures ahead, including league and European commitments.

One of those changes saw Michel‑Ange Balikwisha start in a left‑attacking midfield role. It was a real chance for him to stake a claim for more regular involvement, but instead he delivered a performance that flattered to deceive. Balikwisha had a chance around the 25‑minute mark, only to blast well over the bar, and aside from that spurned opportunity, he produced little in terms of impact.

There were no moments that changed the game, no incisive passes, no meaningful tempo shifts and for a player who has struggled this season, it felt like another missed opportunity.

Writing in his exclusive column for CeltsAreHere Extra Time, Mark Hendry didn’t hold back on Balikwisha’s outing:

“And the less said about Michel‑Ange Balikwisha the better. O’Neill claimed he was not a winger and more of a No.10 last week when discussing what the DR Congo international offers. Turns out he’s neither.

That James Forrest was Celtic’s most potent threat against Talbot in the year of our Lord, 2026, is another damning indictment of where the club are at.

And that’s by no means meant as an insult to Forrest. He’s been an incredible player for Celtic over the years, but he’s 34 and should be winding down. He should not be being relied upon to unlock defences to bail out other hapless attackers.”

The point about James Forrest underlines the wider concern. Celtic’s veteran winger was one of the few players who looked capable of creating moments of danger, despite his age. That a player in his mid‑30s offered the clearest spark says as much about Forrest’s quality as it does about the limitations of several attacking options currently on the pitch.

Balikwisha’s performance yesterday did little to quell doubts around his role, position or confidence. If anything, it raises more questions about how and where he best fits into O’Neill’s plans.

Celtic move on to their next challenge, but Balikwisha still faces his first challenge, to show why Celtic had tracked him for the best part of 18 months and spent £5m on him.