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News
Many Newcastle fans have noticed something strange about Ritchie and Almiron
Newcastle United were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Arsenal on Monday night ().
The Magpies missed their chance to put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone, after Cardiff City were beaten by Chelsea at the weekend.
Rafa Benitez’s team never looked likely against the Gunners, who easily took the three points thanks to goals from Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette.
Unai Emery’s team have surged into third place in the Premier League table, and for Newcastle it’s back to the drawing board before Crystal Palace on Saturday.
It was a very disjointed performance from Newcastle at the Emirates, and most players were very sloppy in possession.
A number of Newcastle fans though noticed something rather strange amid their team’s carelessness.
They have alleged that wing-back Matt Ritchie never seems to pass to club-record signing Miguel Almiron, and that it has been going on for a number of games now.
If that is a conscious decision by Ritchie, then it is a big concern. Almiron has shown himself to be real livewire since signing for £20 million from Atlanta United ().
His pace and skill are two things that can really hurt the opposition, and really Newcastle need him on the ball as much as possible.
Newcastle fans react
Ritchie allegedly refusing to pass to him seems strange, but some Newcastle fans are convinced that’s the case:
Ritchie and Almiron then… what’s going on there?
— Joe (@JoeD_Nufc)
matt Ritchie has not once passed the ball anywhere near almiron in that first half, i am a Ritchie fan but that’s ridiculous really…
— Andrew stockdale (@Andrewstockdal5)
Has the Ritchie/Almiron question been answered yet ?
— Simon Nicols (@sinicols)
To be honest every home game Almiron is pointing where he wants Ritchie to pass him the ball but then turns and passes in to our back 4 , & stopping an attack , I’m pleased I’m not the only one who has noticed it (I’m a season ticket holder at every home game aswell
— A.K.Blk??♂️ (@BlackAliblack1)
I’m glad someone else has noticed this. He won’t play him a simple 5-10 yard pass. It’s blatantly obvious
— Kevin Nichol (@Kevin_Nichol)
I’d like to know what’s the beef between Ritchie & Almiron. Ritchie just refuses to pass him the ball
— Darren Parsons (@milkybarkid_85)
It’s been 3 months since Almiron signed for us and Ritchie still hasn’t passed the ball to him.
— Adam. (@AdamNUFC_)
I thought I was being daft but does Matt Ritchie not like almiron? Hahahahaha
— Ryan (@Sm0keyRobinson)
Why is Ritchie so reluctant to pass to Almiron?
— steve (@oldheatonian)
Tonight’s match confirmed:
1) Schar is key to our success on both sides of the ball;
2) We need two quality wingbacks if we continue with this system next season;
3) There’s an obvious tension from Ritchie towards Almiron. Rafa needs to sort this. It’s ridiculous now.
— The Right Toon (@RightToon)