COMMENTARY
Fans can accept when their set piece specialist misplaces a ball or two but it seems as though Newcastle United fans are getting fed up with what they are seeing from Matt Ritchie. His performance against Crystal Palace was by no means the worst they have seen from the Scot but he was very disappointing from dead ball situations, more often than not overhitting or underhitting the cross for his teammates. He is undoubtedly a hard worker but it seems his magic touch has deserted him of late and there has to be a significant improvement from the 29-year-old if he wants to continue to be handed the responsibility from the likes of free kicks and corners. Newcastle are the sort of side who should be capitalising every time they get a set piece, giving them the chance to attack the ball with their height and strength, but they cannot have any hope of netting if they cannot get the ball into the danger zone. It remains to be seen if he stays as Rafael Benitez’s number one choice to deliver set plays but you can be sure that the fans are losing the faith.
Nothing But Newcastle has picked out some of the fans’ angry tweets:
Ritchie's delivery this season has been terrible, what's happened to him? #nufc
— Foxy – ماكر (@Foxy_005) April 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/Lascellxs/status/1114540393696305155
Is Ritchie incapable of putting the ball in deep or to the back post? Been unacceptably bad at these for ages now. #NUFC
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) April 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/Danie1Pontiu5/status/1114538803295744001
Ritchie is doing my head in not playing it to Almiron constantly, actually won't be bothered if he leaves #NUFC
— Mitch (@Mitch_GB_17) April 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/benwild16/status/1114538468242350081
