Christie reconnects with a positive force
RYAN CHRISTIE was so impressed with the stunning pass, telegraphed perfectly from Joe Lewis, to tee up his goal against Siroki Brijeg that he was moved and amused to congratulate the quality of fade used in the ball by Aberdeen’s keeper.
Perhaps during Scottish Open week this was an apt art to bring to the Europa League football stage by keen golf fan Lewis, prompting several Aberdeen players to rush to him instead of Christie to celebrate the goal that set up the Dons for a 1-1 first-leg draw.
Christie’s claim that he had no idea Lewis possessed such a deft touch suggests he’s not anticipating too many repeats. However, what he does expect to bank on is a supply line more familiar to him in the shape of ex-Celtic team-mate Gary Mackay-Steven.
The winger made his debut a day after signing permanently from Celtic and linking up with Christie, who is starting out on his second loan arrangement from Parkhead. The pair were more accustomed to meeting up on the bench or other fringe areas of the Celtic set-up under Ronny Deila then Brendan Rodgers.
Christie saw enough, however, to be aware that Mackay-Steven can help with the share of the burden in an Aberdeen attack needing refuelled from the major close-season losses of wide men Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn.
Christie grinned: ‘I’d heard rumours but then I came in from training on Wednesday to a missed call from Gary, so that gave it away! When I called him back he was halfway up the road. I was chuffed to hear that he’d managed to sort a deal out.
‘He’s a great player — one I’m definitely looking forward to playing with. He’s so positive with the ball at his feet, a player that takes defenders on in the final third and looks for that killer pass. Hopefully he can be on the end of a few of my killer passes as well!
‘He wants to play games. He said that on the phone to me. That’s the main thing. Hopefully, this season he can kick right on and get back to the kind of form he was in. It was difficult for him when you think of the form Scott Sinclair was in straight away.
‘But it’s not just Gary’s position, it’s the same across the park at Celtic. Guys who were starting were going into every game and producing. So it’s incredibly difficult to break into the team. For Gary, it’s good he’s come somewhere that, hopefully, he’ll get to play some football again.
‘He mentioned that the difference between me and him is that he’ll be able to play against Celtic. Obviously, I’m a bit frustrated to have to sit out this season again.’
Christie has been most effective in front of goal for Aberdeen before the GMS ammunition arrival.
His strike on Thursday was an eighth goal in 16 appearances,
taking in an impressive second half of last season. The 22-year-old is at least one summer recruit not requiring a settling-in spell.
Nicky Maynard and Greg Stewart enjoyed competitive debuts late in the tie against the Bosnians while another player well known to Christie, ex-Inverness colleague Greg Tansey, started in midfield alongside Graeme Shinnie.
‘We learned a lot from the first leg,’ said Christie. ‘Gaz signed the day before the game and came straight in but I think he gave a great account of himself. All the new boys did the same, Greg Tansey, Greg Stewart when he came on, Nicky as well. There are signs of positivity and they’re only going to get better.
‘Greg (Tansey) will go under the radar. ‘He showed his range of passing and, when you’ve got as many attacking bodies in the team, you need someone to just sit in behind and that’s something he can definitely do. ‘We’ll get better tactically. On Thursday we appeared a wee bit out of shape at times, especially second half, but that’s something we’ll work on. ‘It’s good we’ve had that learning curve together, seeing what they did tactically and, hopefully, we’ll do plenty to work against that in the second leg.’
Hopefully Gary can get back to the kind of form he was in. He looks for that killer pass