Confimred - Matt Ritchie

[West F]

We can get Nora Batty as club mascot.

[Mr Angry]

Any hints as to whether a transfer was paid or not?

Seems like a good option to have as a wing/wing back to me; scored 5 goals for Pompey last season as well.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Any hints as to whether a transfer was paid or not?

Seems like a good option to have as a wing/wing back to me; scored 5 goals for Pompey last season as well.

Pretty sure their manager said they'd cancel his contract to allow him to move.

[Stranded]

Any hints as to whether a transfer was paid or not?

Seems like a good option to have as a wing/wing back to me; scored 5 goals for Pompey last season as well.

The club have stated he joins as a free agent having left Portsmouth by mutual consent.

Anyway, this is a very good deal - will be interesting to see how the second year pans out but imagine he will slot in as a regular starter but does allow us to regularly rotate the wide forward/winger positions or switch formation to a 3-5-2.

Most Pompey fans seem gutted to see him go, which has to be a positive.

[From Despair To Where?]

I completely get what people are saying about him blocking the pathway for some of the younger players but I do think he offers a lot of experience and versitility. I had similar reservations about Williams for similar reasons but in his few starts so far, he seems to have been a step up in quality. Likewise Ferguson but the younger CBs seem less ready than the players Ritchie would arguably be displacing. I think he's a decent signing but wouldn't have been fussed if the deal fell through.

He may expect to start but I see him more as an option off the bench, especially if it's combined with a coaching role.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Pleased with this. Versatile, experienced and will work his balls off.

[Whore Jackie]

Am really hoping Wing booked him a table at BoBs last night.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

I completely get what people are saying about him blocking the pathway for some of the younger players but I do think he offers a lot of experience and versitility. I had similar reservations about Williams for similar reasons but in his few starts so far, he seems to have been a step up in quality. Likewise Ferguson but the younger CBs seem less ready than the players Ritchie would arguably be displacing. I think he's a decent signing but wouldn't have been fussed if the deal fell through.

He may expect to start but I see him more as an option off the bench, especially if it's combined with a coaching role.

Yep agree - do we know if its a combined coaching role?

[traff]

Would assume this signing puts the whole Josh Bowler saga to bed. Guess he is happy to play reserve football and pick up decent money.

Think I am right that we have 1 more loan space available for matchdays.
What would the last one be used for, big lump of a number 9 or do we settle until Jan?
Break glass in case of emergency.

[Hound]

I don’t think he particularly blocks anyone’s path as Hunt has shown he will play the lads if good enough (Garcia and Ahmed esp). I’d not really class Camara as someone breaking through now coz he’s been around the team forever. Same for Kelvin

It’s more he makes some of the other signings a bit redundant. Or at least they’ll be getting less game time

[West F]

And on SSN

We’re getting a chunky squad now. After all the nonsense about having 5 players to start the season we’re now looking at the likes of Ryan, Stickland, Rushesha, JOP, Sackey, Osho, Spencer not getting a look in at all

Ritchie is a good player but I’m confused as to where he fits in.

He fits the ‘spectacular and exciting’ transfer window. You know, the one where all you can see is Jacobson’s and Couhig’s legs sticking out of other club’s skips while they rummage around.

“Look!! Found one!!”

[scumbag]

Fits the Ian Harte mould of a signing, hopefully has the same effect as he definitely has the quality.

[Hound]

And on SSN

We’re getting a chunky squad now. After all the nonsense about having 5 players to start the season we’re now looking at the likes of Ryan, Stickland, Rushesha, JOP, Sackey, Osho, Spencer not getting a look in at all

Ritchie is a good player but I’m confused as to where he fits in.

He fits the ‘spectacular and exciting’ transfer window. You know, the one where all you can see is Jacobson’s and Couhig’s legs sticking out of other club’s skips while they rummage around.

“Look!! Found one!!”

I don’t think that’s a narrative that sticks tbh. We’ve made some fairly ambitious signings, and got some highly rated loans in

Tbh I don’t agree with all the transfers or rate them all but it’s a squad we should be challenging with

[West F]

Fits the Ian Harte mould of a signing, hopefully has the same effect as he definitely has the quality.

For a team that thrived on crosses and set piece delivery, it made complete sense. To be fair to Harte, his left foot was a weapon that more than made up for his lack of pace. Harte was never reliant on pace and knew how to position himself on the pitch at the top level of the game. Losing pace as a perishable ability in his career, would not have the same impact on his performances.

[rabidbee]

Fits the Ian Harte mould of a signing, hopefully has the same effect as he definitely has the quality.

I was thinking Salako, although I see now he was younger than I remembered when he signed for us. Still, could do a similar role - I valued Salako for his nous and game management as much as for his skill.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Fits the Ian Harte mould of a signing, hopefully has the same effect as he definitely has the quality.

For a team that thrived on crosses and set piece delivery, it made complete sense. To be fair to Harte, his left foot was a weapon that more than made up for his lack of pace. Harte was never reliant on pace and knew how to position himself on the pitch at the top level of the game. Losing pace as a perishable ability in his career, would not have the same impact on his performances.

Though Nathan Dyer destroyed his lack of pace in the play off final.

[Hound]

Did see a comment on Twitter (yes I know) about Ritchie being like a manager on the pitch and organising the press

That encourages me a lot - esp after the shitshow at Bolton which was just about as poor an attempt to press as I’ve seen.

[West F]

Fits the Ian Harte mould of a signing, hopefully has the same effect as he definitely has the quality.

For a team that thrived on crosses and set piece delivery, it made complete sense. To be fair to Harte, his left foot was a weapon that more than made up for his lack of pace. Harte was never reliant on pace and knew how to position himself on the pitch at the top level of the game. Losing pace as a perishable ability in his career, would not have the same impact on his performances.

Though Nathan Dyer destroyed his lack of pace in the play off final.

I think Dyer and Sinclair would have destroyed most left backs for pace.

[South Coast Royal]

And on SSN

We’re getting a chunky squad now. After all the nonsense about having 5 players to start the season we’re now looking at the likes of Ryan, Stickland, Rushesha, JOP, Sackey, Osho, Spencer not getting a look in at all

Ritchie is a good player but I’m confused as to where he fits in.

He fits the ‘spectacular and exciting’ transfer window. You know, the one where all you can see is Jacobson’s and Couhig’s legs sticking out of other club’s skips while they rummage around.

“Look!! Found one!!”

I don’t think that’s a narrative that sticks tbh. We’ve made some fairly ambitious signings, and got some highly rated loans in

Tbh I don’t agree with all the transfers or rate them all but it’s a squad we should be challenging with

I know you have shown yourself in the past to be very optimistic when it comes to our club and players.
I'm afraid I am with West F in being underwhelmed by the signings we have made which seem so much more to be about "getting bodies in" to use the saying often used by our manager but there doesn't seem to have been a great structure and none of them appear to me to be "spectacular and exciting".

This squad now looks like one being created to stay in this division rather than what you say "should be challenging".
Our best 3 players IMHO are the 3 that were already here in Pereira, Wing and Elliott and so far (yes, very early days but we are near the bottom of the division)none of the newbies have made a great impression on me.

I am always a pessimist when it comes to RFC and I would really love to agree with you and your optimism but as of today I don't think this is a great bunch and despite big spenders like Brum and Wrexham no longer being in the division I will be pleasantly surprised if we reach the heights of last season.
Signing a player who will be 36 in a couple of weeks time doesn't strike me as ambitious and as for a" manager on the pitch" don't we already have our best player already doing that as captain and Pereira comes across as a leader as well?

[West F]

Did see a comment on Twitter (yes I know) about Ritchie being like a manager on the pitch and organising the press

That encourages me a lot - esp after the shitshow at Bolton which was just about as poor an attempt to press as I’ve seen.

That had more to do with the back four and Fraser, than the front three. We had a press at the top, with only Savage catching pigeons in the middle while Fraser and the back four were so far back that there was forty yards of space for the Bolton midfield to receive the ball, turn and drive. Without pace at the back, we sit too deep to effectively press.
You press teams to limit the space and time they have on the ball. To have your midfield opposition able to amble back and take easy passes from the back, turning and letting them get their heads up is what you should be preventing. You either press, or you don’t. There is no halfway house option.