THE next step up in one young man’s football career – and the recent and allegedly premature elevation of another – occupied Inverness manager John Hughes’ thoughts after his Inverness side scorned the chance to claim their first league victory of the season.
The Highlanders’ 1-1 draw at Dundee had been in danger of being overshadowed by speculation over the future of midfielder Ryan Christie, the subject of a £500,000 bid from SPFL champions Celtic. Hughes confirmed the offer from Ronny Deila’s side but his demeanour suggested that Inverness value Christie, possessed of abundant talent and unquestionably destined for a grander stage, higher than the sum currently on the table.
Paul Hartley, meanwhile, was understandably gratified that his team had been able to avoid defeat even when playing badly, after Kane Hemmings’ injury-time strike cancelled out David Raven’s 18-yard opener on the hour mark. Both managers, however, found fault with the performance of referee Andrew Dallas. The official, son of former grade-one official Hugh Dallas, was recently fast-tracked to allow him to take charge of games in the top tier of Scottish football while still in his mid-20s.
The younger Dallas was right to award Dundee an 83rd-minute penalty, struck hard and low by Greg Stewart but superbly parried by a diving Owain Fon Williams in the visitors’ goal. However, it was a mystery to all inside Dens Park why Danny Devine, whose baffling decision to punch a cross clear resulted in the spot-kick, did not then receive a card as red as his face.
The official did eventually flash a red card, rightly so when Andrea Mutombo lunged late and high on Dundee’s Nick Ross in the game’s dying seconds, but his decision-making was “poor throughout and not good enough for top-flight football” according to Hughes. A more philosophical Hartley suggested that referees are just as prone as players and indeed managers to having good days and bad days. “I am hoping that was a bad day,” the Dundee manager dead-panned.
If this was to be Christie’s last appearance in Inverness colours, although canny observers reckon it will not be even if he does sign for Celtic, he will leave with the best wishes of fans and team-mates alike.
After the game, goalkeeper Fon Williams admitted that he wasn’t so much surprised that Celtic are trying to land Christie as shocked that countless other clubs are not competing for his signature.
The Welsh goalkeeper knows a thing or two about precocious talents, having progressed through the national age groups for his country alongside a certain Gareth Bale. And he reckons he can see similarities between the Caley Thistle wonderkid and his superstar countryman.
Fon Williams said: “I’d be surprised if it was only Celtic who are interested. There should be a lot more clubs looking at the boy.
“Ryan actually reminds me a little bit of Gareth Bale when he was very young. That’s not a bad compliment when you consider that Gareth’s was the most expensive transfer ever when he went to Madrid for £82m. I have known Gareth for a long time through the Welsh national system, from the Under-21s to the full squad now, and I have seen how he has developed from a young lad at Southampton. He was well coached and got a great grounding, then he pushed on at Spurs. With the right work and right people around him, why can’t Ryan get to the very top?"
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