Worst player ever in Scotland squad’ fans tear into former Celtic hero as fury erupts over his shocking 17-minute performance against Greece

Scotland’s hopes of settling into a rhythm in their Group C clash against Greece were already under pressure after an early goal from Anastasios Bakasetas stunned Steve Clarke’s side inside seven minutes. But while the team struggled collectively, no player has attracted more anger from supporters online than former Celtic favourite whose brief but chaotic 17-minute cameo has sparked a wave of fury across social media.

By the 28-minute mark, with the match still 1–0 in Greece’s favour, supporters had already taken to social media in droves to vent their frustration. On X (Twitter), one fan simply wrote,

Christie, who enjoyed a six-year senior spell at Celtic between 2015 and 2021 amassing 95 league appearances and 27 goals has long been viewed as one of the more technically gifted players in Clarke’s squad. But tonight in Piraeus, things could not have gone much worse.

Introduced with the match only minutes underway, the Bournemouth midfielder was expected to provide attacking sharpness and calm progression through midfield. Instead, his early involvements were riddled with misplaced passes, poor decision-making, and a missed tracking assignment that left fans seething.

“Worst player ever. I’m done with him. Clarke needs to take action right now.” Another posted, “Christie has completely lost it. Looks like he’s never kicked a ball. Get him off before this gets embarrassing.”

For many Scotland supporters, the irritation stems not just from Christie’s performance tonight, but from a growing feeling that he has struggled to replicate his club form in recent international matches. Despite making 142 appearances for Bournemouth since joining the Premier League side in 2021, his national team contributions have fluctuated, sparking repeated debates over whether he still fits Clarke’s evolving system.

What made tonight’s reaction especially severe was the contrast between Christie’s historic reputation in Scottish football and the level of performance on display. As a former Celtic standout remembered for his high pressing, long-range goals, and influential role in domestic trebles Christie still holds a strong legacy among many supporters. But nostalgia offered no protection tonight, as even long-time admirers voiced their disappointment.

One fan wrote, “Loved him at Celtic, but this is torture. He looks totally lost.” Another added, “This isn’t the Christie we watched under Rodgers. This is someone playing with zero confidence.”

On the pitch, Scotland continued to struggle, with Greece controlling possession and dictating the tempo in front of a loud home crowd at the Karaiskakis Stadium. Christie’s inability to hold the ball or advance play only deepened the pressure on Scotland’s defence, who had already been exposed moments before the opening goal.

Manager Steve Clarke was visibly animated on the touchline, repeatedly gesturing for calm as his team attempted to regain shape. With fan anger reaching boiling point, many are calling for immediate changes some even demanding that Christie be removed from the squad entirely.

A trending hashtag, #DropChristie, began circulating just before the 25-minute mark, demonstrating the scale of frustration. Among the more extreme reactions, a few supporters even wrote that Christie should be “banned” from future matches, though such comments stem more from emotion than rational analysis.

Regardless, the general sentiment is unmistakable: fans are fed up, and patience for poor performances has worn thin.

It is worth noting that scapegoating is nothing new in the emotionally charged environment of international football. Coaches and players frequently emphasize that early game turbulence can distort public perception. A player having a bad run of minutes does not always reflect his broader value to the team. Yet tonight’s reaction is undeniably intense, fuelled not only by Christie’s errors but also by the wider anxiety surrounding Scotland’s form and their need to secure crucial points in Group C.

If Scotland are to recover in this match or in the tournament as a whole Clarke will need to decide whether doubling down on experience is the answer, or whether fresh changes are necessary to regain supporter confidence. Christie himself has bounced back from criticism before, both at club and international level. But this latest backlash marks one of the most severe he has faced since leaving Celtic for English football.

With more than 60 minutes still to play, the story of this match is far from over. But for now, the early headlines belong not to Bakasetas’ goal, nor to Greece’s dominance, but to the furious reaction surrounding Ryan Christie a former Celtic hero now facing one of the harsher nights of his international career.

Whether he can turn it around remains to be seen. Scotland fans, however, have already made their feelings abundantly clear