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Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Monday July 6 2009
Time: 11:34AM
UK time is: 08:35:59
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Keep him and play him!
I know the guy is only 19-years-old but once again I say Matty Ritchie is a fantastic talent so I really do hope that we keep him at Fratton this season, and use him. I am not saying we have to play him in every game but lets keep him in and around the 1st team squad and give him a chance.
Of course there are benefits to loaning Ritchie out again, but for me he has served this apprenticeship last season with Dagenham.
My main concern, should he go out on loan again, then becomes one of us buying in players in the meantime and then he gets 'pushing down the order' and then forgotten... We then end up with some overpaid mercenary who does not give one, we end up losing a local lad who would kill to wear the shirt - he then goes onto big things and we lose out. The chances are this mercenary then decides to jump ship!
One again though I must say I have been very impressed the attitude shown by Ritchie in what he has told The News today, he again shows great respect and maturity saying that he would be happy to go out on loan again this season if he had to.
But I say why send him out on loan somewhere else for his talent to be utilised? Keep him and play him! I really do think that this kid could light up Fratton this season if given a chance and become a household name, not only in Pompey but throughout the country...
PLAY UP POMPEY!
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Your Comments
Like I mentioned in the previous article on Matt Ritchie this guy has a fantastic attitude and really wants first team football. There aren't many players that are happy to go out on loan without a view that they want a move away for first team football. The fact this guy says he's happy to do this to prove himself good enough for Pompey already makes him a great player in my mind. From his comments you know he'd give nothing less than 110% every time he played for Pompey so give the guy a chance, coz as Rug said he's already served his apprenticeship last season.For those thinking he may not be good enough for the premier league and his loan spell was at a lower level, watch this space!
moley2
here, here
ruffcider
Absolutely spot on, this young lad would be best kept in and around the Pompey 1st team where he can learn from the likes of Kanu and Crouch (hopefully) and develop into a better player. No disrespect to the likes of Dagenham but he'll learn more up against the likes of Terry and Vidic than he will elsewhere.
bluedr
Got to agree with all thats been said above. In my books if your good enough your old enough. The lad is certainly capable to giving a performance albeit in our reserves or at Dagenham, but until he is given a chance how we going to find out what his Prem credentials are going to be. Look what happened with Rooney being given his chance at an earlier age at Everton. Not saying Ritchie is another Rooney, but hey you never know.
blarmy
He's done all that has been asked of him and deserves to be in the first team squad. I would like to see him tried on the left in a 4-4-2 pre-season.
wellyit
A ready made replacement for Peter Crouch.... Never mind putting him on the left Wellyit .. stick him up front through the centre then I reckon we'd see a few fireworks.. Would need some good service though and that'll come from... erm... umm... (Mavis voice) Well I don't really know !...
Chix
I think maybe going to a championship club might help him - going to a lower devision would be pointless though. I would say he should go to a premiership club that will be fighting for survival, that is full of older players, and is looking for a bit of youth, energy and commitment. but that's us!
pompeycarpet
Carpet is right a Fourth Division (or whatever they are called this year) club will not give him the quality of oppostion he needs.
eastneydave
Certainly has the potential to make it. Another Paul Walsh??? We wish him well where he may play on loan & trust we don't give him away.
storagematt
Carpet, I did get a laugh out of your post. Was reading it and thinking.....then you gave your answer. Good one. Give the lad a go, what's the point of bringing through youth and then not giving them their chance. Exactly.....no point.
cornypomp
ritchie is going to be a star, the question is do we let him slip away - which i worry about, and if we loan him out again this season but bring in others this could happen... so the real question is do we allow him to star this season for us, or someone else - me hopes it is us!
pompeyrug
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