RYAN’S KEEN TO RIDE THE WAVE
AFTER a steady start on the south coast, Ryan Christie reckons he’s clicked into gear at Bournemouth and is ready to make a giant splash in their bid for promotion.
It took a little time for the attacking midfielder to find his feet after a deadline day transfer from Scottish giants Celtic at the end of August. The Scotland international went 19 games before bagging his first goal in a 3-0 win over Cardiff in late December, though he has weighed in with a handful of assists.
“After signing without a pre-season with these boys, I had to try and pick up the manager’s ideas as quick as I possibly could and see how the team wanted to play,” explained the 26-year-old.
“My game has had to change. At Celtic, most teams sat with a block of five and four in front of the box, and you spent 90 minutes trying to break that down.
Threat
“In the Championship it is a bit more back and forth. All the teams throughout the division carry a threat, so you need to be switched on tactically to every side of the game.
“But that is good. It’s taken time but I feel that suits me and my style of play. I’m an attacking player, but I like doing my work off the ball.
“Hopefully that plays into the hands of the team. The manager drills in how important that is, and how crucial our pressing is.”
Christie isn’t the first deadline day signing to need time to get up to speed but he has already become a key creative force for the Cherries.
He credits a lot of this to manager Scott Parker, who has also hit the ground running at the Vitality Stadium this term.
“I feel like I have learnt a massive amount from him already,” said Christie.
“I was impressed even before signing or speaking to him, but it is nice when you go down and can feel that he wants you to be part of it.
“I’d put him up with the best I’ve worked with in my career so far. As I’m in my mid-20s and hopefully hitting my prime, I want to be working with a manager of his quality.”
Christie’s first Bournemouth goal came with a deflected strike in that comfortable victory against Cardiff. Fittingly, his parents were in the crowd for the landmark occasion, down from Scotland on a New Year visit. He said: “I’d been saying to everyone who comes down to watch me, ‘if I score today you need to be back for the next game and watch me home and away’!
“But it was a pretty long trip for my folks, so they have a good excuse.
“It was a really lovely moment to have them there for that.
Lifestyle
“I didn’t quite imagine my first goal to be so scrappy, but it was just great to see one finally go in.”
Glasgow to Bournemouth is not only a long journey but a change in terms of lifestyle – moving from a bustling city to a quieter coastal resort.
But for Inverness-born Christie the move has been a positive one and this week he announced his engagement to partner Georgie Bell.
“I’m as settled here as I was in Glasgow,” added Christie. “That side couldn’t have gone any smoother.
“Me and my girlfriend are really settled in our new house now.
“We’re looking forward to the beach this summer that everyone keeps telling us about!”