Ryan: Dons faithful have welcomed me to the herd
Ryan Christie has hailed the Aberdeen support for accepting him after a shaky start to their relationship.
When the midfielder joined the Dons on loan from Celtic last season, he was quickly reminded by the Red Army diehards about a rant he’d had on social media.
While at Inverness Caley Thistle, Christie (right) called them “sheep s******* c****” in a tweet that threatened to haunt him at Pittodrie.
But his performances have made him a favourite with the fans, who now chant “we’re only sheep s******* b*******” after every goal he scores.
Christie bagged another on Thursday against Apollon Limassol in the first leg of their Europa League tie and he’ll be key in this week’s return. He said: “The fans have given me great backing.
“I hear the chants after I score and I don’t think that will ever go away. But the acceptance I’ve received has been brilliant. They were amazing when I left last season and incredible since I’ve come back.
“Pittodrie is a special place when it’s full and it was a great feeling walking out there on Thursday. The dream now is to reach the group stage.
“I don’t want to think too far ahead – if we get through we’ll have a massive game in the play-offs. There will be no average teams left by that stage. It will be a huge task but we feel we’re capable of getting there.” Christie’s long-term aim is to become a fixture in Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side but the Dons are his focus this term. He said: “Maybe when I look at the bigger picture a few days after a game like Thursday I think, ‘I hope Celtic were watching.’ “But going into it and straight after it’s the last thing on my mind. Right now I’m an Aberdeen player and I want to do as well as I can for the club. “I want to succeed in Europe – for myself and for the club.”
But Aberdeen gaffer Derek McInnes believes his battle against Crohn’s Disease – and the threat of never playing again – is what ignites his new skipper’s passion.
Shinnie and his manager rarely speak about the condition that still affects the Dons midfielder, six years after a careerthreatening operation.
But after the 25-year-old’s heroic Europa League display against Apollon Limassol at Pitoddrie in midweek – when Shinnie scored a dream winner – McInnes has hailed his captain’s bravery.
In 2011, while at Inverness Caley Thistle, the player was hospitalised for a month with the chronic illness that causes inflammation of the digestive system.
He had to endure a seven-hour operation to remove part of his bowel.
At that point, Shinnie feared his career could be over and he was out of action for six months.
But he fought his way back, earned his move to Pittodrie in January 2015 and is now an integral part of McInnes’ side. So much so that the Dons boss has handed him the armband this season.
Aberdeen gaffer Del has revealed that Shinnie still has to keep on top of the Crohn’s Disease and regularly visits a doctor in the Highlands.
And he’s convinced that the notion of never kicking a ball again is what makes him the player he is today.
McInnes said: “Graeme always has his Crohn’s Disease there, it’s something he has to be very aware of.
“He’s constantly back and forward to Inverness to see the specialist and make sure everything is the way it should be. It’s probably part of why he is the way he is because it did threaten to stop him playing at one point.
“When you have that threat of not being able to play football, and that your career could be taken away, then it makes you appreciate what you’ve got.
“He couldn’t give any more to his career. He sacrifices everything and is getting his reward for that.
“As a manager, it’s not something I have to consider because he’s one of the players who actually wants to train MORE.
“If anything I have to put the reins on him a bit – so it’s not something I have to think about all that much.
“But he’s good at managing his condition and makes sure his diet is proper.
“He’s diligent in managing it because the disease is like a time bomb that is always there for him.
“Right now he’s only half-way through his career – the best part of it is still ahead of him.
“Crohn’s Disease won’t stop him, that’s for sure.
“He is a determined character and is someone who will only get better and better in the years ahead.”
Shinnie has developed his game so much since moving to Pittodrie that he has now nailed down a central midfield role in McInnes’ team.
He was a marauding