It’s not the policy of this website to dictate selection policy to any Celtic manager, but there is surely no argument against Ryan Christie and Patrick Roberts being involved in the pool for the weekend’s match against Inverness.
Both players played, scored twice in, and were exceptional in, the Development Squad game on Monday against Dunfermline at Lennoxtown.
A clip of their superb performance can be watched below.
In spite of our win at the weekend past, there was a lot of criticism on social media and rumblings in the stands about the absence of Roberts, Christie and Scott Allan in the pool for the game, with none of these exceptionally talented youngsters even making the Celtic bench.
This is the kind of thing that most frustrates Celtic fans, especially when the team is crying out for some players who can change a match and weave magic.
There is no doubt whatsoever that these three all tick that particular box.
Roberts is, by all accounts, a genuine prodigy, signed by City for a phenomenal £12 million.
Scott Allan’s transfer was one of the most talked about of the season, with the player widely tipped to go to Ibrox at a time when the newspapers were rating him the most talented young footballer in the whole country, a tune they changed when he turned out in the Hoops.
That accolade actually belongs to Ryan Christie, who has been stellar for Inverness for the last couple of seasons and is a player who is genuinely exciting to watch; dynamic, quick witted, with fast feet and an ability to beat a man.
I am hugely excited about our signing him and I simply cannot wait to see him in the first team.
Aberdeen’s dismal failure against Inverness has given us the breathing space to try new things and give a chance to these young players.
They will freshen up the side and with both Christie and Roberts natural wide players it will allow us to play people like Armstrong in the right position instead of trying to put square pegs in round holes all the time.
Our central midfield is top heavy; this is why the signing of yet another young player, Kristoffer Ajer, is so baffling, although he is supposed to be very talented.
It’s the area of the field where we need help the least though, and appears, to me, as more incoherent decision making by the management and scouting teams.
There is clearly a profound disconnect somewhere in our club, and I hate to think that some of these excellent young footballers are going to be wasted sitting on the bench.
Last weekend, Allan, Christ and Roberts didn’t even make that.
This coming Saturday, all of them ought to … and if one, two or all three actually start the match … well, the fans who made the trip will believe it was worthwhile.
Go on Ronny, give us something to get excited about this weekend.
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