http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=304387&cc=5901 Scotland international Paul Ritchie has agreed to join Major League Soccer side MetroStars in the USA. The 28-year-old will link up with former Celtic and Rangers striker Maurice Johnston, who is a coach at the New York club, after being released by Walsall this summer. Walsall finished the season third to last in the English 1st Division which I believe sends them down to the 2nd Division.
Metros get another furenner? Now, I don't know all the rules concerning TIs and SIs and CSIs, but if this were the NBA, I'd suspect David Stern had something to do with this. Is Ritchie any good? I'm assuming no, if he got released by a mid-table Scottish league club. But I haven't done any research, so enlighten me.
Walsall isn't Scottish League, it's English. Here's what I've found: Left-sided defender Paul Ritchie signed for the Saddlers on 22nd August 2003 and is seen as a replacement for Matt Carbon who shocked the club when he retired close to the season's start. 28 year-old Paul started his career at Hearts where he also received international recognition for Scotland. The last five months of his Hearts contract was spent at Bolton Wanderers and just when it looked like he would make a permanent move to English football, he was snapped up by Rangers, but only briefly. Paul's career then arguably took a backward step as he was transferred to Manchester City just two months later for £500,000 but injury kept him out of the City first-team and he also lost his position in the Scotland squad leaving him with 6 caps and none since April 2000. Making just 27 appearances for City in his three years at Maine Road, Paul was loaned out to Portsmouth and Derby last term. With Colin Lee's preference to play three centre-backs, it is expected that Paul's left-footedness will bring a good balance to the defence. ----------------------------------------------------------- This is from a fan site of Walsall FC
Curious how the Metros will fit this guy in since they've already got three SI's and he's certainly to old to be a TI.
And the BBC has already amended its story to read "Ritchie rejects Metrostars". The only way I saw this getting done was if we were able to deal Bonseu off to a team with no healthy defenders and an open SI slot...can't imagine where we'd find a team like that (looks in the direction of Foxboro.....)
'Tis true http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/walsall/3857045.stm These quotes from Paul crack me up though. From the article saying he's coming: "Ritchie told the Edinburgh Evening News: 'After discussing it with my family, I decided that it was too good an opportunity to turn down." And this from the aricle saying he's not coming: "But he told BBC Sport: "I have discussed it with my family and decided it is not the right move at this time."
So he's schizophrenic. We've got millions of those in New York. Best. Metrostar. For twenty seconds. Ever.
"So he's schizophrenic. We've got millions of those in New York. Best. Metrostar. For twenty seconds. Ever." What do you mean best metrostar ever for twenty seconds. I never heard of that guy before, he sure is no Mo Johnston. Ever heard of Tony Meola or Tab Ramos, they're both better than Paul Ritchie.
I'm a Walsall fan. I know it doesn't look like Ritchie will be going now, but i wouldn't be shocked if the MetroStars didn't up the anti and offer a bit more money. Ritchie was voted Walsall's MVP by the fans - by quite some way. We were over the moon when he signed at the start of the season, he had an excellent reputation having played at the top in the UK. At the time we signed him it was strongly rumoured that both the MetroStars and Leicester City (EPL) had tried to sign him - but i think the deal with us had already gone through. We knew he would always be leaving, but did say he would stay with us if we stopped up. But our Clown of an ex-manager put pay to that as we went down - BUT a major factor in going down concerns Mr Ritchie. His 30th game for the club activated a hike in wages and new a contract - which our club would not honour - so our clown of a manager listened and didn't play Ritchie in some crucial matches. He did manage to come back for the last 3 or 4 game and nearly scored the goal that kept us up - but the team in another game had 1 more goal than us. We got relegated by just 1 goal. Leicester, Sheffield United, MetroStars, Livingston (sco), Dundee (sco) Tenerife (spa) and Genk or Ghent (Bel) are the teams now after him. His nickname at Walsall was PSYCHO cus he has a right temper - is one of the toughest tacklers i have seen at our club. He is quite quick as well. Just thought i'd point out that Ronnie Ekulund is an ex Walsall player who plays for San Jose. John Kerr also played for Walsall. We also had American goalie Marcus Hammermann with us for a short while as well. I'm a big fan of the MLS and follow it closeley. I know this is a looooooooong post but i thought i'd tell yall bout Mr Ritchie !