IMHO we were a bit flat tonight

I personally thought Trippier was a better right back too. Don't get me wrong in League 1 Craine is a class above. He's stronger and more technically gifted than most players he comes up against. But in the Championship I don't think we'd see him beating men and overlapping like he has been.

Being where we are though and like most have said, this season he should be walking this division. At rightback I'd say he definitely is.

 

I'm all for playing it around, but last night we far too often played it around so that it ended up with Ramage (Colchester were happy with that) who had no option but to use his limited skill to boot it upfront, at which time we invariably lost it.

The midfielders gave him little help as they did not come back to give him an option. Nor did they show enough creativity to do summat other than giving it back to Ramage in the first place. Beckenbauer he ain't.

Every team in the league will know how to play us unless Berry/Bailey or someone drops back to play it out - i.e. gets the ball with their back to our goal.

Once we get space to go forward we look dangerous.

 

I think there were two main issues that meant we struggled to play it out from the back last night.

Firstly, we were missing Ryan Williams. He's much more mobile and has much more energy than Hemmings and is always available to receive a pass from Bailey. Too many times last night Bailey looked up and there was nothing on because he had no movement ahead of him (with the exception of Winnall). Williams is great at linking up the play between the midfield and strikers and it was obvious that we missed that last night.

Secondly, Berry wasn't up to his usual standards. He misplaced too many passes and was lacking in confidence, dropping back too deep at times so he had more time and space. A square ball from Bailey to Berry and back to Nyatanga or Ramage happened too often.

Of course, people screaming at the team to get it forward at all costs doesn't help.

 

I agree with all that, now it's been pointed out to me!