Matt Ritchie (now playing for Portsmouth)

[aussiemag]

If John Smith scores 38 goals in one match and plays the remaining 37 games without scoring and playing bad in general, the stats will say he needs to play because he is a prolific goal scorer who statistically scores every game he plays.

 

I suppose this highlights Winaljdums season here. He only scored at home against weaker sides and when he did score it was 2 or 3 per game. Over the season his goals to game ratio was elite for a midfielder, but we all know the statistic skews the reality.

[Jimburst]

If John Smith scores 38 goals in one match and plays the remaining 37 games without scoring and playing bad in general, the stats will say he needs to play because he is a prolific goal scorer who statistically scores every game he plays.

 

One stat, out of context would. The rest of his stats would likely be awful, if he doesn't score for 37 games...

 

[Altamullan]

If John Smith scores 38 goals in one match and plays the remaining 37 games without scoring and playing bad in general, the stats will say he needs to play because he is a prolific goal scorer who statistically scores every game he plays.

Nar. The measure of central tendency says his average for that season works out at that. But I say he's a fucking legend! Sign this John Smith on! "Ave it!!"

[ujpest doza]

In regards to people using stats over their own eyes.  The Mesut Ozil brigade going on about all the assists he had did a couple of seasons back my head in. 

 

He goes AWOL for about 4 out of 5 games, coasts around the pitch doing fuck all and is a massive luxury player.  I think Talksport of all places dug up a fair few of his assists that seasons and they were just a simple pass to someone else, who banged it in from distance.   

I think he's one of the most over rated footballers of all time, an absolute crock of shit.

 

[triggs]

I think he's class and gets held to a higher standard than other players because of his body language

[Chicane]

I love the guy's passion. Kind of a cringey thing to say, but little things like him jumping and heading after taking the corner when Lascelles scored 

 

We've had a lot of mercenaries and players who obviously couldn't wait to get away in recent years so it's a very refreshing change

[Mole_Toonfan]

I think he's class and gets held to a higher standard than other players because of his body language

 

Yep, there's been times when other players in his same position have been just as inconsistent but don't get half the same shit.

 

I know i have brought up before but Silva has been very guilty of going missing for games at a time in the past but he never gets criticised but Ozil gets criticised for everything he does it seems like.

 

Think Vlad's original post is a bit strange as well tbh, if there's one thing Ozil shouldn't be accused is anything regarding creating chances.

[joeyt]

Ozil does seem to go missing in a lot of the big games especially away from home for Arsenal recently

[Gosforth Lad]

I thought Ritchie was excellent vs Stoke.

[madras]

I thought Ritchie was excellent vs Stoke.

He was, except at the start when they put loads down his side and he pointed and shouted a lot when it was him out of position,( wouldn't want to put a young full back in behind him). With the current squad, the idea of playing him as a no.10 doee appeal but who knows ?

[joeyt]

One of his best attributes is his crossing there's no way I'd move him to the number 10 position right now

[Dave]

Quietly pap today.

[Guest]

Benitez will be livid with him over that free-kick mind. You could see Benitez instructing him to cross it, then he smacks a shot into the wall.

[Minhosa]

Quietly pap today.

 

It was interesting watching the dynamic between him and Yedlin in the flesh. Yedlin very often stays way too deep/defensively minded and leaves Ritchie out on a limb.

 

There was three or four times today where Ritchie, with the ball at his feet, was looking up and watching, waiting for Yedlin to advance and he didn't.

 

If that's an instruction from Rafa then it was a mistake as Brighton could've been got at down the flanks. Bruno is as old as time and Suttner isn't that good either.

 

A missed opportunity today but we'll beat these at home.

[Gallowgate Toon]

He's very hit-and-miss against deep sides unless he has something to ping the ball in towards or everyone is making space for him. It's where his lack of athleticism and ability to consistently beat a man gets the better of him. We've got two athletic young wingers in the squad, they have to have a part in games like today.

[Disco]

Quietly pap today.

[Scoot]

His set pieces today were totally pap.

[Guest chopey]

I can never understand why the majority of our corners are played short, we have a real threat in the box with set pieces and we still insist on a short corner to get a better angle to shoot and it hardly ever comes off.

[Dave]

Eh? The majority go straight in.

[Guest chopey]

not today

[ponsaelius]

Perhaps because we are playing against a man-marking side with some big players we felt there wasn't the same advantage to be gained from swinging it directly in?

[Tiotes Witch Doctor]

Perhaps because we are playing against a man-marking side with some big players we felt there wasn't the same advantage to be gained from swinging it directly in?

 

[The College Dropout]

Huffed and puffed but ultimately he were pap. At least Atsu put in some dangerous balls in the first half. Poor throughout from Ritchie lad. He'll go again. 

[afar]

That was the same Ritchie that turned up for a while last season, not good enough today. Mixed bag season, he was terrible versus Spuds too and should have been sent off, average against Huddersfield, but excellent in our three wins. Guess if he was excellent every week he wouldn't be playing for us, we need him to step up next week though, as without Shelvey he's our only creative outlet.

[Lush Vlad]

I really like him, but he was one of our worst players yesterday, I thought. 

 

Too often, he'll try and get a shot or cross in, when it is clearly going to be blocked and it has started to piss me off recently.  Never used to notice it until later into last season.

 

His set pieces, work rate and quality means he'll be in the side for the foreseeable.  But he is really hot and cold.  Seems to be all or nothing with him, as afar mentioned above.