Matt Ritchie has quickly become one of the real fan favorites on Tyneside and that’s hardly surprising when you consider just how good a player he is – and his character and temperament are also first class.
And Matt is one of the players who was playing in the Premier League and gave that all up to join Newcastle.
Matt Ritchie in action for Newcastle
That’s the polar opposite of those players who left the club in the summer to return to playing in the Premier League for other clubs.
We will not forget that.
So Matt definitely wants to be at Newcastle and the Scottish International winger who turned 27 on Saturday has been interviewed today on talkSPORT by former Newcastle assistant coach Dean Saunders.
This is what he said:
“I wouldn’t say I had doubt about the move. I had to think about it.”
“I loved my time at Bournemouth and I had a fantastic time there. From the day I joined we had success and it was great to be a part of that.”
“I had a lot of close friends there too, so it was a tough decision but when someone like Rafa Benitez is wanting your services at a club like Newcastle.”
“As a kid to play in front of 50,000 fans is what you dream of – you can’t turn that down.” “It really is special up here.”
“Rafa is fantastic. He’s very calm – you don’t often see him get too animated.” “He gets his message across very clearly.”
“We do the simple things well, we get good shape and we’ve had four clean sheets now on the bounce and it just shows we get the defensive shape right.”
“And then with the attacking quality in the team, we’ll always score goals.”
“It was a shock just how big the club is.” “Match days – I obviously played here last season and it was a tough time at the club at the time, but even then the fans were unbelievable.”
“That gave me an insight of it, but since I’ve arrived, you don’t realise how big it is.”
“During the summer holidays you turn up for training and there can be between 20-30 kids outside the training ground waiting for autographs every day.”
“That doesn’t happen all the time at other clubs.”
“The away support is absolutely fantastic as well. We took nearly 3,000 all the way to London in midweek.”
Newcastle are now starting to do well on the pitch with five successive wins in the league and we now must keep winning every single game we can to get those points on the board.
Matt Ritchie is helping us do just that and he’s been a terrific signing for us.
He’s a smashing lad!
Comments welcome.
5 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Sep 15, 2016 at 10:21 AM
Comment #1He’s another that could get player of the season.
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 15, 2016 at 10:30 AM
Comment #2Martoon
Thanks for the mention, obviously I’m one of those know nowt fans mentioned by certain people on the blog!! 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 15, 2016 at 10:32 AM
Comment #3Missus has me lined up for a day of gardening, so probably won’t get to reconnect with the blog till this evening.
Everyone continue to play nicely!!!
Jib
Sep 15, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Comment #4Jail
I don’t want to get you too excited , but we have a Winter window to come yet with loadsamunny in the coffers.
If we tear the League up this Autumn who knows who may come in ?
The winner of the player of the season may not even be on NUFC’s books yet !
Jail for Ashley
Sep 15, 2016 at 10:34 AM
Comment #5I don’t think Gouffran will be top scorer but like I’ve maintained from being relegated he will be a useful player for us this season, more than useful by the looks of it.