Matt Ritchie may not be everyone’s favourite Newcastle player right now and it’s easy to see why.
Speaking to talkSPORT at Newcastle’s media day, Ritchie appeared to defend Mike Ashley for his lack of spending, or lack of ‘big’ spending to be precise.
Ritchie said:
To compete at the top of the Premier League now is mega, mega money – I think the owner’s been honest and said he can’t go and compete with them. He’s been upfront about that, and to do that he would have to sell the club.
It was a radio interview that didn’t go down particularly well with supporters and while you can admire Ritchie’s honesty, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth of those who love the club, just days before the Premier League season kicks off.
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At a time where supporters are still debating amongst themselves whether or not to even turn up to the first home game of the season, they now see one of their key players defending Ashley.
With the current regime at Newcastle, supporters don’t know where to turn and players should always be viewed as a beacon of hope, especially someone like Ritchie. On the pitch (and clearly off too!), he is very honest, the kind of player you know exactly what you’re going to get.
He may not be the skilful, bums-off-seats kind of player that many hope Allan Saint-Maximin will be, but Ritchie is still appreciated for his effort on the pitch all the same.
You have to believe that Ritchie’s comments were coming from a good place as he tries to bridge the gap between the supporters and the owners, but they seem to have had the reversed effect.
The whole charade just looks like a misjudged PR move from the club at a time when supporters should be excited about what is come this season, but that simply isn’t the case.
