Ritchie magic on the big stage

While AFCB fans have been enjoying the special talent of Matt Ritchie for several years at Dean Court and know that the player is quality, the rest of the world is just beginning to catch up on the fact. Special goals will always attract attention and Matt is the player that has that X factor to cause teams major problems in the Premier League. Saturday was just another top draw strike that we have almost become used to form Matt, and now that he has got his goalscoring going at this level we look forward to seeing some more from his goal-glistening boots.

The media have been banging the drum out over the summer in saying that Bournemouth are a good team but have no stars. Well opinion is beginning to change on that matter. While Callum Wilson has been slotting in goals and is continuing his good run, the sublime finishing qualities of Matt Ritchie are now coming to the fore. It is not just the precision and accuracy of Matt's shooting that is impressive it is the ability to shoot when under pressure and being closed down. He still finds time to set himself before releasing his shot, and his speed of thought as well as control in getting his shot away marks him out as a high quality striker. You just don't see Matt Ritchie snatch his strikes and the thrill he gets from scoring is just fabulous to watch. We want to see him with that characteristic roundhouse punch he gives the crowd when he puts the Cherries ahead. It's infectious -you just can't get enough of it.

He's Matt Ritchie and thankfully he's ours.

Of course Matt's rating is going higher and higher and whether the club have a strategy for keeping the player when the big guns come calling will be the next challenge facing the Cherries. We have seen Southampton raided season after season for their special players and finding ways to rebuild and Eddie Howe may have to do similar things come January or the summer when other teams have seen what Matt Ritchie can do on the big stage. He's one AFCB can't afford to let go though no matter what price this season and I believe we have not seen the best of Matt yet.

Finally, Happy 70th Birthday to chairman Jeff Mostyn! Also enjoy the game those who are able to get to the special Steve Moore charity match and auction in Wimborne today  - lots of past footballers will be in action including our very own Steve Fletcher.