Ramage's poor passing

Passing the ball isn't Ramage's primary skill. He'll probably be the first to admit that. I didn't really take much notice of his passing in the first half, but I know I wasn't frustrated by it, however in the second I deliberately watched him on the ball because at half time someone commented on how poor he was. I don't remember Ramage misplacing a pass in that second half. Not one. He probably did, I can't imaganie he had a perfect half, but it wasn't poor enough for me to remember it. In fact, as well as the usual short passes to his fellow defenders, I saw him make a number of very good forward passes in to the opponents' half straight to the feet of Barnsley players.

I saw Ramage deliberately booit it in to the stand on a few occasions. That's clearing the ball, it's not misplacing a pass. It's doing what he's been taught to do right since he first played football as a kid, sticking to a phrase that every one of us who have been to football training will have heard, "If in doubt, kick it out." I also saw him put his foot through the ball to welly it upfield when he'd won the ball from a Colchester striker and was under pressure. Again, that's not misplacing a pass, he wasn't attempting a pass, he was clearing it. When he attempted to pass the ball it went to a Barnsley player and he was much better at it than I'd previously given him credit for.

After a string of excellent games, Luke Berry had an off night and he did misplace a few passes. We all have days like that.

A Barnsley passing sequence that must have seen us complete 50 passes as we probed down one wing then the other and pulled the Colchester side all over the place resulted in Hourihane giving the ball away on the halfway line from which Colchester counter attacked and got a shot away. But that was a mistake, not a lack of skill and I've not seen him do that before.

Similarly, James Bailey, who is a superb passer of the Ball, tried a cross-field pass in his own half that was cut out and resulted in a Colchester attack, but that was quickly snuffed out.

So I did see mistakes in our passing game. I said in my match report that I didn't think we'd played as well last night as we have in recent games. But the misplaced passes came from our talented midfield players, not because they're not up to it, they just made genuine mistakes last night. I didn't see poor passes that put us under pressure from Ramage.

Having said all that, the move of the game ended with Winnall putting it over the bar when he really should have scored. We must have kept the ball for about 5 minutes to carve out that chance without Colchester getting anywhere near it. I think the ball went to every player on our team and the range of passing was breathtaking. Had a Premier League team done that the MOTD pundits would have soiled their trousers.

 

Too good to be playing at the level he is currently

 

Aye he is, but he'll be staying

 

The crowd need to get off the team's back when we're keeping the ball. We had to play that way last night, especially at 1 all, they had 9 men behind the ball, we had to try and draw them ouy, pull them out of shape. It's not gonna work every time we have possession but if we'd lumped it forward we'd not have won that game.

 

Ramage was great, he did misplace passes first half when attempting long cross fielders. I watched back the second half and our passing was much better. We looked tired though last 10. What I like about him though (as well as his love of our club, and his commitment to helping the youth) is how he knows, and plays to his strengths. He is no nonsense. I think it's exactly what we need and if he stays fit could do a job for us for a few seasons to come. Maybe the potential next Mr Barnsley FC.

 

bailey was dropping back first half and picking ball up from centre backs , ramage is in team to defend and organise defence , can forgive him for not being a good passer if he does rest of his job as good as he has been

 

Agree. Rammage says himself he doesn't give a s*** if we win scrappy or in style his job is to keep clean sheets and stop goals against.

 

I can't remember Ramage passing the ball once - each and every time he put in a well placed clearance, usually to touch.

 

Not his game but Ramage misplaced lots of passes. Was left to it by Colchester who know like us that passing isn't his forte and kept finding touch/keeper. No criticism of him from me on this.

 

I must be the only person who saw his 50 yard cross field ball from right to left diagonal that went like an arrow to its man in the first half. If Gerrard hit that pass folk would *****.

 

5punk?

 

5punk indeed! I naively thought 5punk might be outside the censorship of the swear filter.

 

Centre half in not 100% pass completion shocker

Anyway, not seen it mentioned how Ramage, this crap passing centre half we've ended up with - managed to organise the corner he scored from. He got Hourihane to delay the kick whilst he set Hemmings up to take their defenders away, moved to the back of their area where he could then time his run and leap to perfection to meet Hourihane 's ball in. Hourihane who is also not playing well currently. Apparently.

We're lucky to have them both.

I must be deluded or something because I'm seeing progress. We've played better than we did last night but if folk cannot see the understandings developing in our team, the passages of play which at times are well above Lg 1, the improvement in individual players and the confidence and resilience of the team as a whole then I'd suggest it's because they don't want to.

This squad is still learning, making errors individually and collectively - it seems that's not allowed though.

 

It's just how I see it mate, am I expecting us to go up this season? No! I'd be quite happy if we finish mid table and make a genuine challenge next season but what I am seeing is steady progress, if we do end up making then great but I'm quite happy consolidating this season and not been in a relegation battle

 

I'm just enjoying watching the games this season. Simple as that.

 

Provided we keep the squad together that's fair. Prob next year would be replacing Cole, Ramage, Williams etc. I thought mid table at the start of the season, still do, but tha niver noz

 

Re: Centre half in not 100% pass completion shocker

The Mick McCarthy appreciator in me loved the pasasage of play about the 80 minute mark. Ramage passed to Cole ball went out for a goal kick. Their keeper kicked it straight out landed on their team bench. We had the throw ball came back to Ramage he booted it to Cole missed again hit touch. Their keeper kicked it into touch again. It was like some bizzare ballet. Not a criticism i bizzarely love **** like that

 

Re: Centre half in not 100% pass completion shocker

^^^This^^^
And 'Like'

 

Re: Centre half in not 100% pass completion shocker

Wouldn't swap Ramage for any other CB in this league. A defender who defends and a leader who leads. I don't give a flying doodah if he ain't Glenn Hoddle.