“I [first] signed Matthew as a 17-year-old at Phoenix,” Merrick said. “He is a similar player to Riley McGree – he can defend, he can play as a number ten, he can play as a number eight, he has good engines, he has played 70 games in the A-League already and is only 22.”
Sound's like Matty is gonna play further forward for the Jets than we had him playing.
I'm cool with that, especially against us as he couldn't score in a brothel to save himself!
“I [first] signed Matthew as a 17-year-old at Phoenix,” Merrick said. “He is a similar player to Riley McGree – he can defend, he can play as a number ten, he can play as a number eight, he has good engines, he has played 70 games in the A-League already and is only 22.”
Sound's like Matty is gonna play further forward for the Jets than we had him playing.
I'm cool with that, especially against us as he couldn't score in a brothel to save himself!
Well he's clearly going to score against the Nix this season now you've said that.
Didn't get a run for the Jets in their first game in China last night.
@NewcastleJetsFC the starting 11 for the game v Changchun Yatai tonight 8 pm kick off Sydney time, Duncan GK, back 4 Hoffman,Koutroumbis,Jackson,Vujica midfield Kantarovski , Ugarkovic,Ridenton strikers Champness, Thurgate , Virgili and should be same stream as Friday night
— Lawrie McKinna (@LawrieMcKinna) July 8, 2018
Currently 1-1, Ridenton with the equaliser
Sweet
Currently 1-1, Ridenton with the equaliser
That is just so typical. We should have kept him imho.
We tried.
We tried.
yeah. remember this?
Matthew Ridenton has revealed the uncertain future for the Wellington Phoenix was a major factor in his decision to leave the football club.
We tried.
yeah. remember this?
Matthew Ridenton has revealed the uncertain future for the Wellington Phoenix was a major factor in his decision to leave the football club.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/10...
Sadly true. A lot of us fans were certainly keen on keeping him.
In 2013, a 17-year-old @MattRidenton was handed his first professional contract by then Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick. Five years later the pair are reunited at @NewcastleJetsFC and the Kiwi midfielder is ready to shine.https://t.co/8iEP1pQENO
— Joshua Thomas (@Joshua_Thomas97) September 12, 2018
Keeping fit in the off season.
Photo about half way through the article.
Keeping fit in the off season.
Photo about half way through the article.
Nice stalking
On trial at Reading apparently.
On trial at Reading apparently.
Jeez, who saw that coming?
Good on him though, always good to see more and more young Kiwi footballers get a chance in Europe.
On trial at Reading apparently.
On trial at Reading apparently.
Hope he doesn't get injured - he'll need remedial reading
Could be on the bench for Reading U23s right now, player only listed as 'triallist'. Hope he's not jet-lagged!
His 23 already, is it a 23 and under competition? Turns 24 in March
Could be on the bench for Reading U23s right now, player only listed as 'triallist'. Hope he's not jet-lagged!
https://twitter.com/jonathanl50/status/1216695457084297217
gotta get me this mans agent for my next pay rise meeting. Kid is stealing a living.
Wow a trial in the Championship! Good luck to him - can only be good for NZ if he gets signed
I think he is a better player than he has shown at Newcastle... not sure why he has not developed since his break out year with us.
New coach, new environment might be the making of him.... not expecting anything to come of it, so will be pleasantly surprised.
He doesn't offer anything that isn't a dime a dozen among the English leagues, so I'm a bit confused how he managed to get this break. But all power to him, hope he smashes it
wow - just wow - I wnder what his agent showed the Reading bosses - can't be many highlights from his time at Newcastle, might be a few from his Nix days.
That'll be why his dad was watching Reading v Forest at the Madejski last weekend...
Not sure why all the doubters, this guy is good he just needs the right environment to set him up. I put him in the same basket with Alex Rodriguez and look at that guy now he's playing League 1 for Oxford
Got to laugh at how some of you comment on some of this stuff. If a professsional club or coach deem him to be worth a look at not sure how some of you can question that. Then again happens time again I guess where the keyboard experts no best.
Not sure why all the doubters, this guy is good he just needs the right environment to set him up. I put him in the same basket with Alex Rodriguez and look at that guy now he's playing League 1 for Oxford
Got to laugh at how some of you comment on some of this stuff. If a professsional club or coach deem him to be worth a look at not sure how some of you can question that. Then again happens time again I guess where the keyboard experts no best.
If he is so good why are Newcastle not doing all they can to hold onto him? He has been total rubbish for them. He fully deserved his title of Scapegoat when he was at the Phoenix and Ernie was mug enough to buy him and then found out that he bought a lemon.
Wow that's some resentment for a kid who was barely 21 when he became a starter in a team (Ernie's) that failed to live to expectations and underwent several years of terrible performances and uncertainty.
Also, why would the Jest not fight to hold on to him? Cause if a Championship club comes knocking at your door you'd be an arse to stand in a player's way and you'd miss out on a decent signing fee.
Doesn't appear to have features in Reading U23 3-3 draw v Hammers according to the club website.
Unsurprisingly as would have only just arrive in the UK you'd think.
EDIT: Confirm he didn't feature as shown in the game's highlights which show the teams' formations at the start - no Ridenton.
There's many sides to this story
1) He had horrific run of injuries with us but showed lots of promise when he was a youngster during Ernie's early days at the Nix
2) Stats wise he had his best season with us during a rubbish period of uncertainty (Darije Kalezic + A-league license)
3) He got a visa opportunity with the Jets because of his good season with us
4) Matt is clearly good enough to get a trial, don't hear any of these keyboard warriors on here getting a trial or getting pro gigs
5) It reflects really well on the Jets to give Matt the opportunity to trial, it also reflect well on the Jets and the A-league if he is successful
4) Matt is clearly good enough to get a trial, don't hear any of these keyboard warriors on here getting a trial or getting pro gigs
Can people please stop making this point as if it means something? Cos the exact same argument can be used for any opinion you hold Sancho (not directing this at you sepcifically, just everyone who thinks this adds weight to their point).
4) Matt is clearly good enough to get a trial, don't hear any of these keyboard warriors on here getting a trial or getting pro gigs
Can people please stop making this point as if it means something? Cos the exact same argument can be used for any opinion you hold Sancho (not directing this at you sepcifically, just everyone who thinks this adds weight to their point).
Fair enough, I know somewhere in this forum that I too have been guilty of tall poppy syndrome towards our own. Upon reflection I suppose it happens too often towards all our athletes that are in the public spotlight, we just don't have many of them in football so its sad that we do this to our own but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
I would have thought we as football fans should be excited for a kiwi to be getting a chance overseas before we make judgements on his ability. I hope he does well.
Wasn't he topping the league in things like chances created and assists in his last season for us? The bad opinion for him comes more from him not being able to finish than his actual performance as a mid fielder.
4) Matt is clearly good enough to get a trial, don't hear any of these keyboard warriors on here getting a trial or getting pro gigs
Can people please stop making this point as if it means something? Cos the exact same argument can be used for any opinion you hold Sancho (not directing this at you sepcifically, just everyone who thinks this adds weight to their point).
Fair enough, I know somewhere in this forum that I too have been guilty of tall poppy syndrome towards our own. Upon reflection I suppose it happens too often towards all our athletes that are in the public spotlight, we just don't have many of them in football so its sad that we do this to our own but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Probably only triggers me cos Mrs Sigmund used the argument on me on facebook once!
