Player to Watch

Player to Watch this season: Matt Ritchie

    We all know Rooney, Aguero, Hazard, and Ozil, but the Premier League is so much more than just the big name players on the top teams. In the interest of getting to know the sport better I have decided each month to follow one player from a lower level team. I will track their progress and report weekly on how the player has done! 

This month is Bournemouth Midfielder Matt Ritchie

    Ritchie is a a 25 year old Midfielder for the newly promoted Bournemouth and was instrumental in helping the team finish at the top of the table in the 2nd division of English Football last year. Ritchie won Player of the Year honors in the 2014/2015 campaign and finished the season with 15 goals and 17 assists. 

    Ritchie’s style of play is one that combines dangerous long shots and quick cuts inside, a tactic that has worked well for him over the last few seasons scoring 33 goals during his time at Swindon Town and Bournemouth. 

Week 1: Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa 

    Our guy Matt Ritchie had a pretty quiet game overall. In the 32'  Ritchie gets the ball on the right hand side about 5 yards outside the box and plays back into his teammate Andrew Surman who takes a shot from way outside and puts well wide of Guzan in goal. Bournemouth controlled most of the first half but a late goal from Rudy Gustede off a corner in the 72’ broke Bournemouth hearts and sent The Cherries home with no points.  

Stay tuned for updates on Matt Ritchie as the weeks progress.