Christie call up...

[Sneckboy]

Tonight's the night that may see Christie taking a further significant stride in his impressive early career. Scotland U21s are in Slovakia for a qualifying game. They then move-on and finish the campaign on Monday, away to Luxembourg.

It would be terrific if Ryan could get 'capped' in one (or both) of these fixtures, but whatever transpires, being away with the squad for these two matches will be invaluable experience for him.

[+bughtmaster]

Yes good luck to Ryan, a cap and a good performance will do both he and ICT proud.

 

It is a wonderful opportunity for him and thoroughly deserves his place in the squad. He is a very capabie lad, my fingers will be crossed for him.

[RossP]

On the bench tonight; keeping him fresh for next Saturday!

[Yngwie]

Unused sub in a 1-1 draw.  Last minute equaliser for Slovakia puts an end to any qualification hopes for Scotland, who must nowbeat Lux. to get 3rd place ahead of Georgia.

[Kingsmills]

No great surprise he was unused, a bit like the best left back in the land not getting into the senior squad, Central Belt bias.

[Sneckboy]

Congratulations to Ryan! He's just come on as a 72 minute sub for Scotland U21s in Luxembourg!

[Yngwie]

Fantastic news! We won 3-0 by the way.

[CaleyD]

Just hope it's not changed him....too late...!!!

 

[TheKarl]

Couple of good pictures on the SNS Group website. Grand to see him in the kit.

[Sneckboy]

There's an article lauding the talents of young Christie on today's Sunday Herald website, an presumably in the print version. Written before yesterday's loss but certainly since his Scotland U21 debut in midweek.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/highland-hero-christie-is-revelling-in-the-life-of-ryan-at-inverness-caledonian-thist.25314683

 

Ryan was in Primary 1 when we beat Celtic 3-1 that famous night! I'm officially feeling OLD!

In case the link doesn't work or can't be accessed, here's the article copied and pasted. (courtesy Sunday Herald!)

 

Highland hero Christie is revelling in the life of Ryan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Stewart Fisher

Sports Writer

Sunday 14 September 2014

 

RYAN Christie seems far too young and polite to go ballistic, but the opposite is actually the case.

 

 

Ryan Christie's emergence on to the main stage at Inverness Caledonian Thistle has showcased his blossoming talents at a club once managed by his father Charlie.

As his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side prepare to converge on Glasgow for another epic cup mission at Ibrox on Tuesday night, the newly-crowned SPFL Premiership young player of the month for August is sitting in Caledonian Stadium, recalling his attendance at the club's famous 3-1 cup win against Celtic at Parkhead in February 1999, when his dad Charlie helped spawn one of the most famous football headlines in history, the night Super Caley really did go ballistic because their opponents were so atrocious.

 

It's understandable if his memories of the occasion are somewhat hazy; he was only four at the time, travelling down to the match on a supporters bus in the company of his mother Sharon, and turning up somewhat bleary eyed when he made it to his primary one class the next morning. Not only that, but he genuinely went ballistic in another sense the previous Saturday, throwing a proper childhood tantrum when the first attempt to get the match played was cancelled some 45 minutes before kick-off due to a broken piece of Parkhead roof.

 

While some players speak unconvincingly of their undying affection for the club that they play for, Christie Jnr is steeped in the history of the Highland club, having been present at every major milestone the club has reached in the last 15 years, even the 18-month period when his father was manager. He is the kind of poster boy every Scottish club should dream of.

 

"I was only four at the time so I can't remember much about that game, just everyone around me being delighted," said Christie. "I quite liked watching Barry Wilson. Dennis Wyness up front, they were all good. Even when my dad was manager here, I watched all the games.

"I was in the youths at that time, but it was never really in my mind that I could go this far in the game until I was a bit older. That was when I decided to give it a right go."

That, if anything, is an understatement. Christie and Inverness are giving it a go all right. The Highland club currently sit atop the Premiership, albeit only on goal difference from Hamilton and Dundee United following yesterday's 3-1 defeat to Partick Thistle.

 

And a hat-trick of awards this week - John Hughes was named the league's top manager and Ross Draper the top player - are all testament to the excellent start they have made. On a personal level, Christie is approaching 20 first-team appearances already, including a substitute showing in last season's League Cup final.

He spent last week experiencing his maiden exposure to Billy Stark's Scotland Under-21 side, playing the last quarter of the match in the 3-0 victory against Luxembourg. "It was a great experience," he said. "It was great just training with guys like Ryan Gauld, just to see how really good they are."

 

Having a famous footballing father can be both a blessing and a curse. While Christie brushes off the inevitable comparisons, he also knows his father - with whom he still lives - can prove an invaluable sounding board. With Premiership sides such as Hull City credited with an interest, particularly pertinent will be his advice on when is the optimum time to move on to bigger and better things. Christie Snr moved from Inverness to Celtic in 1985, but never made the first team.

 

There is a valid comparison between Christie and Gauld, as both have the imagination and technique to play off the striker, and a mature head on their shoulders to take the inevitable fame in its stride. "Right now I am really enjoying playing in the first team. I don't feel it has been too much of a step up," he said. "I haven't felt a pressure [to live up to my dad]. I always knew my career would be nothing to do with what he did in his. I still live at home so he will be the first one to tell me if I have done something wrong. He told me to not even think about transfer speculation until something is put down in front of me."

 

Christie's current manager would love all the hype to die down, but deep down John Hughes knows he has a special talent to showcase, a player capable of getting supporters on the edge of their seats. Whether it is the likes of Scott Arfield at his Falkirk team, he has always gloried in the progression of young talent, and he sees no reason why Christie shouldn't hit double figures this season if he stays injury free. The development of his physique would only make him more formidable.

"The scouts coming here are from the top end of the English Premiership and it doesn't surprise me," said Hughes. "I am also getting lots of phone calls. He's still in his diapers, but he's playing a man's football and he doesn't seem overawed."

 

As for Tuesday, Rangers - regardless of off-field woes - deserve to be favourites. "They've got [Nicky] Law, [ian] Black, [Marius] Zaliukas, [Lee] McCulloch, [Darren] McGregor, [Lee] Wallace, [Kenny] Miller, [Kris] Boyd and [David] Templeton so that's an SPL team playing at Ibrox so they are huge favourites," said Hughes. "But bring it on."

 

Caley Thistle famously struggle for crowds, and there was a perceived disconnect with the local area as former manager Terry Butcher enlisted job lots of players from the English lower leagues, but Christie is a local boy made good. He still pinches himself when he is mobbed by kids during visits to schools or youth clubs. "They seem to enjoy it, and I get a buzz too," he said. "I remember being one of those kids."

Edited September 14, 2014 by Sneckboy

[Scotty]

A little reference to his debut in an article by his Dad on the Courier site: http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Scotland-showing-gives-cause-for-optimism-11092014.htm

 

It is always pleasing when one of the players at Inverness Caledonian Thistle are selected for their national squad and even more so when it is one that has come through the youth ranks at the club.

 

There are now new financial incentives from the Scottish Football Association relating to ‘home grown’ first-team players and those who are selected for Scotland at the various age levels, so there is now an added ‘bonus’ for clubs to try to produce quality from within. It has been great to see ICT show progress on this front in recent times.

 

What he didnt say at the end of the first paragraph but you know he felt it was the proud moment it must have been for his parents !!! So happy for the lad and just a wee bit chuffed for Charlie too even if it makes him feel a wee bit old. Hoping my young one can play a bit as he gets older and pulls on both TFC red and ICT stripes during his career leading to him having the choice of Scotland/Canada/Nigeria for his international future .... I think he would look good lining up at Hampden in the right shade of blue ! 

[Sneckboy]

Well done to Ryan - he helped the Scotland U21s to a 1-1 draw in Switzerland in midweek, collecting his second cap.

[CaleyThistle]

Good to see Ryan getting young player or the month for Feburary.

[Murphyscot]

Aye, only annoying thing is that the BBC seemingly think that he plays for the unwashed caravan dwellers

[Macduffer]

Big congratulations to Ryan and family for international honours and player of the month 

[Renegade]

Disappointed to have lost Ryan Christie to County.  He's played well for us since coming into the first team and I wish him all the best on his move to County and attempting to help keep them in the Premiership.

[12th Man]

Well done. The Blind Broadcasting Corperation don't always get it right but you won it all the same.

[CaleyD]

Did anyone see it mentioned in their newspapers today (Sunday)?

 

I'm just curious as the story was embargoed until today so that Sunday papers had the exclusive, but I didn't see it in my newspaper.

[old caley girl]

Did anyone see it mentioned in their newspapers today (Sunday)?

 

I'm just curious as the story was embargoed until today so that Sunday papers had the exclusive, but I didn't see it in my newspaper.

Nor mine

[IBM]

Might be an exclusive in the P & J tomorrow!

[12th Man]

By going on so much about it in a negative way it takes the shine off of the accomplishment, even if it is meant with the best of intentions.

Great achievement for our home grown talent. So Im well pleased for him.

[RossP]

Confirmation that Christie has been called up for the Scotland U21 game against Hungary in Budapest on Thurs 26th March. 

 

http://scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsCategoryID=6&newsID=14461

[rimet]

Totally agree 12th Man - the smart alec comments from Renegade etc. do little to give the young man or the club much deserved praise.

I've just listened to young Christie's interview on ICT twitter and he speaks very well, seems very down to earth and talks about the club in a very positive manner.

For our club to have a young player win the SPFL young player of the month and get an U21 call up in a couple of days is tremendous news and I am delighted for him and his family.

I only hope he will stay and perform for ICT for a good while yet and then maybe earn a move his talent deserves.

[Renegade]

Totally agree 12th Man - the smart alec comments from Renegade etc. do little to give the young man or the club much deserved praise.

 

 

[Kingsmills]

Totally agree 12th Man - the smart alec comments from Renegade etc. do little to give the young man or the club much deserved praise.

I've just listened to young Christie's interview on ICT twitter and he speaks very well, seems very down to earth and talks about the club in a very positive manner.

For our club to have a young player win the SPFL young player of the month and get an U21 call up in a couple of days is tremendous news and I am delighted for him and his family.

I only hope he will stay and perform for ICT for a good while yet and then maybe earn a move his talent deserves.

Not sure how Renegade taking a well deserved humorous swipe at the incompetence of the BBC detracts in any way from the equally well deserved praise being heaped on young Ryan.

Edited March 16, 2015 by Kingsmills