Matt Ritchie (now playing for Portsmouth)

[Infinitely Content]

Huge signing for Stoke if true. There’s signing championship players like Villa, then there’s signing those who reside in the weird space of too good for the Championship but perhaps lacking one or two physical, mental or technical attributes to truly make the step up. Ritchie & Gayle for instance. That said Ritchie served us well last season when it mattered so fair play to him.

[mrmojorisin75]

Huge signing for Stoke if true. There’s signing championship players like Villa, then there’s signing those who reside in the weird space of too good for the Championship but perhaps lacking one or two physical, mental or technical attributes to truly make the step up. Ritchie & Gayle for instance. That said Ritchie served us well last season when it mattered so fair play to him.

I agree, Gayle would be another one. Could have equally said served us well as Rafa nailed it that season.

[HaydnNUFC]

I'm ok with it as Rafa's looking to kick on and seek upgrades on a few of our players, but despite Ritchie's limitations, he has epitomised the change in mood for many at the club; from the squad to the fans since Rafa's came in. I wish him absolutely nothing but the best if he goes. On the whole he's been brilliant for us.

[Guest]

Football is fucked when Championship clubs can pay more in wages for an average Premier League winger than what top clubs around the continent pay their best players.

[Pons Alias]

Stoke will have looked at Villa and said Promotion or Bust - literally..

[nufc4eva]

I'm ok with it as Rafa's looking to kick on and seek upgrades on a few of our players, but despite Ritchie's limitations, he has epitomised the change in mood for many at the club; from the squad to the fans since Rafa's came in. I wish him absolutely nothing but the best if he goes. On the whole he's been brilliant for us.

 

His attitude has been fantastic. I trust Rafa to replace with a player that can take us on though and also retain that character. Ruthless and sometimes needed as long as there is a plan which with Rafa there will be

[George Bailey]

Be sad to see this lad leave. Stoke going shit or bust, impressive.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Not sure why he wants to go.

[xLiaaamx]

Not sure why he wants to go.

 

 

 

Not in a negative way. Just they'll pay him more than he's ever been paid before.

[mrmojorisin75]

Not sure why he wants to go.

 

 

 

Not in a negative way. Just they'll pay him more than he's ever been paid before.

Extremely understandable from his pov. He'll get a last big payday and he'll know Rafa is looking to punt him anyways so why stay?

[AyeDubbleYoo]

True, never thought of dropping down a league to play for Stoke as a big payday.

[Yorkie]

Plus he's a dirty savan'ah (we just forgot to hate this one), so he'll probably prefer to be further south.

[Guest chopey]

Just makes the championship even more watchable now

[mighty__mag]

Such a grafter for a winger. Was easily one of the best signings we made for the championship. And equally in the premiership had good spells and bad ones like many but scored some vital goals Man Utd at home.

 

Good lad will miss him and his passion and effort.

[Dave]

Would rather we don't sell him tbh.

[HaydnNUFC]

Even if Townsend and/or Kenedy is/are brought in?

[Dave]

Even if Townsend and/or Kenedy is/are brought in?

 

We need Kenedy in just to not be worse off than the second half of last season. Not particularly arsed about Townsend either way tbh.

[Shearergol]

At least he might stop villa coming up. As long as stoke stay down too.

[Charlies]

I'll miss this mad bastard if he leaves us.

[HaydnNUFC]

Even if Townsend and/or Kenedy is/are brought in?

 

We need Kenedy in just to not be worse off than the second half of last season. Not particularly arsed about Townsend either way tbh.

Agreed on Kenedy. But if Rafa saw Ritchie as a replacement for Townsend after our drop down to the Championship, surely in his eyes Townsend is more of a PL winger? His form since making the daft decision of going to Palace which I'm sure he regrets now has dipped, whilst we probably got the best 2 or so months of football the guy has played in his career. If he can replicate the form we saw when he was here, then I see the replacing Ritchie with Townsend thing as an upgrade. Of course, we have to spend a bit of cash to bring in the 3 players which I certainly would like; Townsend if Ritchie is indeed off, Kenedy and Pléa for when Mitro completes his Fulham move. I don't trust the club to allow that sort of cash on individual players to be spent. Hope to God I'm wrong.

[Sho Time]

Townsend is more of a flair winger, however Ritchie is a massive driving force for the team and far more composed in the final third than Townsend. I think we're making a mistake letting him go with that as the replacement.

[greydos]

Townsend is more of a flair winger, however Ritchie is a massive driving force for the team and far more composed in the final third than Townsend. I think we're making a mistake letting him go with that as the replacement.

 

 

Love your use of “that” 

 

I agree wholeheartedly. Keep Ritchie. In an ideal world sell Atsu, get Kennedy and one more in

[HaydnNUFC]

Townsend is more of a flair winger, however Ritchie is a massive driving force for the team and far more composed in the final third than Townsend. I think we're making a mistake letting him go with that as the replacement.

In the 13 games he was here Townsend recorded 4 goals and 2 assists. Across a season that's just under 12 goals and 6 assists. Ritchie this year in the PL with 35 games recorded 3 goals and 5 assists. Admittedly, he probably would've had more of each with the bad luck of the few times he's hit the frame of the goal and our strikers being donkeys when the ball is presented on a plate. Still, I'd probably go with the view that under Rafa, Townsend is probably a bit of an upgrade.

[greydos]

Townsend is more of a flair winger, however Ritchie is a massive driving force for the team and far more composed in the final third than Townsend. I think we're making a mistake letting him go with that as the replacement.

In the 13 games he was here Townsend recorded 4 goals and 2 assists. Across a season that's just under 12 goals and 6 assists. Ritchie this year in the PL with 35 games recorded 3 goals and 5 assists. Admittedly, he probably would've had more of each with the bad luck of the few times he's hit the frame of the goal and our strikers being donkeys when the ball is presented on a plate. Still, I'd probably go with the view that under Rafa, Townsend is probably a bit of an upgrade.

 

Or, in Townsend’s purple patch for the season he managed 1 more goal than Ritchie and 3 fewer assists. Just saying Townsend may have an unproductive 2/3 of a year and his numbers might turn out similar.

[Sho Time]

Townsend is more of a flair winger, however Ritchie is a massive driving force for the team and far more composed in the final third than Townsend. I think we're making a mistake letting him go with that as the replacement.

In the 13 games he was here Townsend recorded 4 goals and 2 assists. Across a season that's just under 12 goals and 6 assists. Ritchie this year in the PL with 35 games recorded 3 goals and 5 assists. Admittedly, he probably would've had more of each with the bad luck of the few times he's hit the frame of the goal and our strikers being donkeys when the ball is presented on a plate. Still, I'd probably go with the view that under Rafa, Townsend is probably a bit of an upgrade.

 

I'm not denying he had a good spell here, but it was only for not even half a season, he fucked off as soon as he got the chance and then reverted back to his usual self when moving to Palace. I don't doubt Rafa couldn't get the best out of him, but I don't see him as an upgrade when you consider the wider impact to the team.