Newcastle United midfielder Matt Ritchie has surprisingly stated that the club’s sole aim for the new season right now is Premier League survival.
The Magpies registered a tenth place finish back in the top flight this season, but that achievement has not got the Scotland international feeling overambitious, instead insisting that simply staying in the division is the goal.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves but first and foremost for any club outside the top eight, it’s make sure we stay in the Premier League because it’s so tight now. The later on in the season that we get we can look at different goals,” Ritchie told Jim White on talkSPORT (Tuesday, 17/08, 10-13:00)
Ritchie also addressed recent fan protests against owner Mike Ashley: “The main thing is every[one] sticks together and pulls in the same direction. The owner, the players, the fans – we all need to be on the same page and moving in the same direction.”
OPINION
Calling for unity between Newcastle fans and owner Mike Ashley is a fools errand. There will be no peace at the club until the Sports Direct tycoon sells the club, that’s just a fact. While it would be nice for everyone on Tyneside to be on the same page, it’s simply not going to happen. The fans’ exasperation with Ashley was furthered this summer when he, in their eyes, failed to sufficiently back manager Rafael Benitez in the transfer market. No, Matt, it seems unity is still a long way off. Ritchie’s target of simply staying in the Premier League is, while prudent at this stage of the season, somewhat surprising. Yes it’s the sensible thing to say, but the Scottish star’s comments will have got precisely zero Newcastle fans excited about the new campaign. There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious, especially after you finished tenth in your first season back in the top flight. Alas, survival is good, I guess.
