Seems a lot for this lad... thoughts? http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/06/2...-ambitious-10m-bid-to-bring-matt-ritchie-to/? cording to The Sun, Newcastle United are planning to make a £10m bid to sign Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie ahead of West Ham United. The relegation Magpies need new signings this summer as they attempt to navigate their way out of the Championship and straight back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking. please log in to view this image Manager Rafael Benitez should have money to spend, and reports suggest that he's looking to spend a huge chunk of his budget on a Premier League winger. The Sun report that Benitez and his Newcastle staff have identified Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie as a player who could help the Magpies push for promotion - but possibly as a replacement for England international wide man Andros Townsend.
Had a terrific season and did a good job in the PL. Why would he want to play in the Championship? Seems like bullshit. It also mentions West Ham. Hmm West Ham or Newcastle? Tough choice...
Two good season's on the bounce. Can't see him dropping a level when he's worked so hard to move on up through the leagues. I trust Rafa and if He signs him, thats good enough for me.
I get to some Bournemouth games. Trust me he is really decent. And vocal on the pitch, takes responsibility for trying to bring the level of the team up when they are struggling something we have often missed. Don't for a moment think he will leave to drop back down a division though. If Bournemouth drop back down next year a prem club will probably pick him up anyway.
The problem we will have is that although we are a Championship club, selling teams will still want PL transfer fees from us. Personally I couldn't give a **** how much we spend as long as it gets us back up.............. it aint my cash!!!
Teams are obviously putting their prices up because they know we have money and need signings, £10m seems a lot for this guy especially if £10m ish is all we'll get for Townsend. Got 9 and 15 goals in last 2 seasons in the Champ, and a few in the Prem so clearly has goals in him. Would Bournemouth sell though? Unlikely, he seemed one of their key players last season.
Why are you guys being linked with so many meh overpriced English players? I'd put more money on Rafa getting in some randomers from Spain for 1/4 of the price to be honest.
I believe Rafa wants more English players, and it's cos in the past we've bought an abundance of foreign players who don't give a **** (Sissoko, Winjaldum, Janmaat, Cisse, Cabella, Debuchey, blah blah), I guess they see Brit players as gritty and they think foreigners won't be able to knuckle down in the Champ. You have a point though, with prices in the Prem going up massively, playing inflated prices for simply "okay" players is stupid. I think Richie would be a decent addition, but £10m for Dwight Gayle? No way.
I guess he could have changed but didn't seem to bother him at LFC. Although I guess he had carragher and Gerrard as a core English/scousers heart to the club to build around.
Sorry I meant British, which Scotland still is until they vote to disown us. Why unfair on Gini? He started incredibly well, then was completely anonymous for most of the second half of the season when it really mattered. He lapped up the glory for getting 4 goals against Norwich, but where was he when he against Stoke, Bournemouth, Watford, etc?
Just said on another thread its a question of patience with Gini. I never felt he wasn't trying, I just felt he struggled with the pace more than anything. He tired badly in the 2nd half of the season, to the point where he was falling over the ball. His confidence also took a massive knock, he'd only ever known success. It was probably a very good experience for him, and character building. As I said on the other thread, for 18 months Solano was ****e, powder puff and went missing. He was talented though and did adapt. It was his first season last year. If we had bought correctly and built the squad accordingly, it wouldn't have been an issue.
The one thing that struck me about Gini when he first arrived at the club was his smile, he was always beaming. Towards the end of the season he looked really depressed and worn out. As the previous poster said, defeat after defeat and the intensity of the PL seemed to overwhelm him, he was in unchartered territory. That smile faded and never really came back. I would have liked him to have spoken more positively about the club going forward, he seemed like he wanted out. Perhaps he sees the prospect of the Championship as more of the same, and doesn't fancy the demands of it. That said 11 goals is not bad for what was effectively half a season from him. I am really undecided whether l want him to stay or not really, l guess if it's his choice then great, but if he is told to stay, l am not sure we will see much from him.
Buzzing think its a great signing and dont get me wrong I'm keeping faith with RAF just wondering where the hell our new defence is!
