It was another horrible weekend for Newcastle, but at least Matt Ritchie’s performance was a positive for some people.
Some saw the Scotland international as one of few strong performers in black and white, with the Magpies losing 1-0 to Brighton.
Ritchie did his best to create chances for his teammates, providing crosses from both the left an the right, but to no avail.
The 29-year-old’s commitment to the club cannot be doubted. As always, Ritchie gave it his everything on Saturday, refusing to give up.
The former Bournemouth midfielder often sets the tempo for Newcastle, and he tried to do just that on Saturday.
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However, his creative efforts didn’t result in any goals, much to the anger of every Geordie around.
Ritchie’s performance seems to have divided opinion, with some thinking he was poor against the Seagulls. For all his crossing and effort, it didn’t result in many chances for Rafa Benitez’s side.
What did the fans make of Ritchie’s performance?
Some of the criticism of Ritchie seems harsh. While he isn’t the most talented player around, his energy is essential to how Newcastle set up.
Would we be doing better if we’d sold him this summer and brought in a replacement? I doubt it.
