A Word or Two on Charlie…

[maidenover]

I thought he defended brilliantly last night. Yes, sometimes his playing out from the back doesn’t meet the new standard. (But neither does Nick Pope, who’s a great keeper otherwise). But he’s a hell of a defender to play with in the trenches in a game like last night. I thought he marshaled the defence superbly.

[Caballo]

He was awesome if you only watched the last 10 minutes, for the other 80 he was a square peg in a round hole.

[fatboy47]

Charlie's great at that last 10 minutes siege defence stuff for sure.

He's not a centre half at the highest level...not in a million years.

Love the bloke though.

[Ightenhill_Claret]

It was clear VK wanted him in for his experience. He gave me kittens all night (especially with the attempted Cruyff turn on the edge of his box) but he put a real shift in.

I don’t see him being part of the long-term plan at CB because I think he’s limited from a distribution/coming out from the back POV but he helped us get over the line last night.

[taio]

Overall I thought he played really well last night. He had a couple of dodgy moments in the second half, but he was one of our better players in the first half and finished very strongly.

He's obviously been used quite sporadically, which can make it difficult for continuity and to get into a rhythm, but he doesn't let us down. I hope he's still here next season.

He had a 89% pass accuracy rate - the joint highest of any starting player on either side along with Al Dakhil. That's even more impressive when he played the most passes (72); the most accurate long balls of any outfield player (11); and had by far the most touches of the ball (94). Also, no other Burnley player had more clearances, interceptions or aerial duals won.

[AfloatinClaret]

If he hadn't had that sloppy slip-sliding about period in the second half he'd have been my man of the match; but his style skill-set is better suited to the attritional style that we played last season - any may be forced to play more often next season? - than this season's Vinnie-Ball.

[ashtonlongsider]

Never hear him complaining, an absolute credit to the club. Brilliant performance last night, all the better given his lack of game time. A consummate professional.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Defended well at time but played us into trouble on numerous occasions with his woeful distribution.

[Shaggy]

Not good enough for us this season never mind next. Move him on. Been a good servant though.

[RVclaret]

Not good enough on the ball for this team but never lets us down defensively. I felt last night showed his strengths and weaknesses quite well. The last ditch seige defending near the end was him all over and what we've seen down the years. In fact his athletic defending was good all game, he wins pretty much all of his duels. Unfortunately his one footedness and inability to exploit space quickly has been an issue when he's played that role all season and why he fell down the pecking order. When they pressed him you can see the difference between what Beyer would do and what he does. Happy for him to stay as back up at left back / 5th choice cb although would prefer us to sign Ryan Manning on a free.

[burnleymik]

Defensively he is and always has been excellent, but he is so slow and ponderous when he picks up the ball and it invites the press onto us and causes problems, as we saw last night.

[Dark Cloud]

As others have said he's excellent defending, although his primary strength is LB rather than CB, but last night we were obviously stuffed with having no Beyer and it was needs must. He actually did extremely well defensively, but it was one heart stopping moment after another when we tried to play the ball out through him and I was just desperate for him to bloody launch it!! He constantly gave Maatsen very difficult passes which then made Maatsen look the chump! He's been a great signing, but he definitely struggles to play the VK way.

[helmclaret]

The manager may set us up completely different next season. Taylor is one of the few proven premier league players in the squad. Don’t write him off just yet.

[IanMcL]

Agree with Helm. Next season, Taylor will be a key defender in the Prem.

[CnBtruntru]

I thought he played well and looks like the stats prove it, rovers were up for it from the start, we seemed to struggle all over the pitch first half, putting ourselves under pressure (stage fright) but in the end we won through with a goal worthy of winning the league, just a pity he didn't get the second at the end.

[Mixedkompany]

Charlie provides back up. That’s what he did last night and he did it very well. Certainly a few scary moments which had me shouting at the telly. He’s no more one footed than Maatsen. But Maatsen is the better player when we are on the front foot and is clearly the future at LB. Assuming we sign him. We were always going to be under siege at times last night. And Charlie stood up very well to that barrage.

[NottsClaret]

Clearly never been comfortable with the new style but has only been a total pro about this limiting his game time all season. Always ready when we’ve needed him.

As soon as we went 1-0 up in a tight game away from home he was back doing what he does best, that’s more his type of situation.

[AlargeClaret]

Very good LB and was usually excellent in the prem but he’s never a CB . Tough season having to play that role .

[BabylonClaret]

I thought he played very well and his distribution was decent enough. Unbelievable stats posted by trio that actually prove his distribution was pretty good and yet people continue to moan about how he can't pass it well enough for this team. Unbelievable

Rovers were at us from the kick off yesterday and gave us v little tine on the ball outside our 3rd - considering that he was excellent

[tarkys_ears]

A strange season. The CB role clearly isn't for him and he's performed poorly IMO.

...which is strange cos when we went down I presumed some PL club would have been straight in for him.

[warksclaret]

He was our best player in the first half, but shocking for the first 35 minutes of the second half at which point I thought THB should come on, but he had the mentality in the last 10 minutes to get back on it and was our saviour. He is definitely though not a PL centre half and will get targetted if he plays there

[DAVETHEVICAR]

He was outstanding all game imho

[Colburn_Claret]

Defensively he is and always has been excellent, but he is so slow and ponderous when he picks up the ball and it invites the press onto us and causes problems, as we saw last night.

The whole idea is to invite the press onto us, but I get your point. Tbf, Maatsen has suffered the same way most of the season, allowing himself to be caught. The difference being what Maats offers at the other end of the pitch.

[quoonbeatz]

Charlie was excellent last night and just what we needed in the latter stages of the game. His distribution was no worse than Al Dakhil's and certainly wasn't woeful but neither were helped by often having a dearth of options in front of them; partly down to Rovers setting up well to block the routes through a congested midfield and partly by the distinct lack of movement. That's what caused the couple of moments when Taylor was caught on the ball. Still looks like a left back playing centre half but he does it well.

[KRBFC]

I think he’s better at centre half than he is at left back. He’d be perfect as a left sided central defender in a back 3. Quite poor on the ball but defensively he’s pretty good, his pace for a central defender helps him a lot.

[burnley007]

He won't be with us next season, he's nowhere near the standard of the other CB's unfortunately.

[Tricky Trevor]

.
His distribution was no worse than Al Dakhil's

WHAT!! Al Dakhil was my MoM and only played one poor pass all night.

[whiffa]

For me in the first half, Charlie was easily the best player on the pitch. Was composed and looked a class above. He made a few sloppy failed turns just after half time, which showed his slight weakness for me - fantastic at defending, and even getting forward down the wing. But not brilliant when put under pressure. Was one of the stand out performers for me last night despite his couple of sloppy moments.

[quoonbeatz]

WHAT!! Al Dakhil was my MoM and only played one poor pass all night.

Al Dakhil was right up there for me last night as well and shaded it out of the two of them. No idea how many poor passes either of them played, I haven't looked at the stats but I thought they both had a good game and I doubt there was much difference in their distribution. If anything, Taylor played the ball more progressively, I thought.

[Leyland Claret]

Got to be honest he gives me kittens when he is on the ball. His distribution is poor and slows the game down too much and is ponderous on the ball. He has been a wonderful servant for us but I doubt he would get much game time next season and I can see him leaving to join a high level Championship team for next season.

[Lancasterclaret]

I think people are remembering the two dodgy moments just before we scored, and not taking into account the rest of the game where he was more than fine

Excellent pro and has been a great player for us

[Vino blanco]

His defending last night was great, though he did make a couple of mistakes when in possession. He has been a true professional throughout the season and I honestly believe he would walk into nearly all teams in the Championship at left back. I asked last week if we had the two best left backs in the division.

[Vegas Claret]

his experience was key last night, he was in between two inexperienced lads and I'm sure he was helping them out too

[Silkyskills1]

An out and out defender. The type of player you want with you when something needs protecting. Great reaction time and pace is an asset that has seen him play much of his football at the top level. If he leaves he can be extremely proud and satisfied with his contribution to our football club.

[Stacky_claret]

If we replaced maatsen with taylor at left back the bottom line is we probably wouldn't have conceded as many goals but we probably wouldn't have scored s many so ......

[123EasyasBFC]

Wonder if Charlie can get better at playing out from the back because if he can then he still has a big future with yes because he’s a top class old school defender

[KateR]

VK says he is a CB despite what so many here pontificate, I'll go with VK's statement rather than those opinion stating he's not!

I voted for him as MOM, Al Dakhil just barely behind him, however while I can see generally Al Dakhil is one for the future and better player with his pace, vision and youth. However, I think some need to also consider that Maatsen puts the left side defending under some serious pressure du to his attacking abilities, I don't think there's as much threat from the opposition down the right and therefore the left CH has more to deal with.

I've said it previously, I think Charlie will be in squad next season, he'll be a squad play for the positions on the left side, plus we are going to have a lot better opposition next season and some games will be more like this one, we'll be defending mostly. Just IMO of course!

Benson will win MOM for that stunning strike yet again and I've no issues with that, his all round play was good and he obviously made an impact, even beyond the goal, however Charlie still for my MOM.

Plus, I just want to say that I think Cork made a huge impact coming on last night and was essential to the win.

[Newcastleclaret93]

The manager may set us up completely different next season. Taylor is one of the few proven premier league players in the squad. Don’t write him off just yet.

I would be very surprised if there is any set up where Kompany wants Taylor to start.

He’s a great defender but his weakness has always been his ability on the ball.

[CoolClaret]

I think people are remembering the two dodgy moments just before we scored, and not taking into account the rest of the game where he was more than fine

Excellent pro and has been a great player for us

Them dodgy moments can have catastrophic consequences though - it's just the team we were playing last night weren't good enough to capitalise on them.

I think his limitations are obvious to see and it makes the entire team look a little bit more nervy - how he takes the ball and passes the ball etc

His last ditch defending to his credit there isn't many better...

Agreed with KRBFC in that he'd probably make a good LCB in a three or obviously as a more traditional fullback, not so sure where he fits in with our plans for next season but would make an excellent squad player

[summitclaret]

He'd be a great squad member next season, assuming he's happy with that. A fifth cb and lb cover is exactly what we need in a PL squad.

If he wants to play every week it's a level down with Weeds.