Lets be objective. Looking at who is in the squad, how likely is Christie to get near the pitch?? I think its a bit of angst over nothing and he gets free air miles.
On the other hand if asked - as he's bound to be - RH will have to give a reason for selecting him. I have a (tequila-fuelled) theory. Christie's without a club, right? So he's been keeping himself fit alone, right? And practicing hard, right? On his own. So what's he been practising? Not passing, that's for sure. Not tactical interplay, ditto. But he's got to have been doing something - something RH knows about. Maybe something RH has told him to do. "Keep doing it, JC, and I'll see you in Mehico mate." So what's this secret thing RH and JC have cooked up between them? Doing Vinnies? Nobbling them by the cojones when they're not looking? Maybe JC has put on 10 kilos of muscle and become super-JC with a previously unseen cannonball shot. He just needs to get into position to use it. Ah, maybe he's become a dead-ball specialist! A super-sub free-kick/penalty dead-eye dick! Who knows? We don't. But RH does. So tell us Ricki. Pleae tell us.
Nov 05 #4064
According to reports of the training lineup it looks like Christie will play alongside McGlinchey as a sort of holding midfielder. Two players with no clubs and therefore not match fitness in key positions - Lochhead and Christie. Meanwhile match fit players of J league and A league standard are left out. I suppose the only consolation is that Tim Brown isn't being rushed out of retirement, then Ricki would feel comfortable. I thought it was just a nice jollie for favourite oldies, but apparently not.
Even at his best Christie wasn't up to this level. I shudder to think what he's like after a two year layoff.
I have a theory, and I may be wrong, but I think Herbert has resigned himself to losing against Mexico and plans to walk after the payoffs and so this is his way of lifting a middle finger to his critics. He's doing all he can to help old mates (read Christie and Lochhead) get professional contracts in the US by playing them in matches that'll get huge coverage in North America.