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Quoted from MuddyWaters

Can someone please explain why he doesn’t get more game time?

Shame really, because out of all our forward players, he's the only one that gets me on the edge of my seat when he's got the ball at his feet. Commits defenders, the others are all a bit functional and meh. We need forward thinking players that can commit defenders, and barring Embleton (and A Rose when he gets the chance), we haven't got anyone else other than Vernam in the whole squad that can do that..

Quoted from sonofmadeleymariner

He's not produced much end product as of late I'm guessing that has contributed to him at least not starting.

He's hardly played since Xmas, the lad needs a run of games..

Quoted from sonofmadeleymariner

He's not produced much end product as of late I'm guessing that has contributed to him at least not starting.

He's got 10 assists this season which is far more than anyone else!

Another cop out from Tondeur. No question about subs. Wes not playing for a contract on that performance. Why take off RHJ? etc. etc.

Drifts in and out too much for me but he’s barely featured for weeks. Better than a bit part player for sure

Charlie played really well versus Tranmere at home ....... just sayin.

Completely amazed we didn’t make any changes at half time?

Quoted from jamesgtfc

He's got 10 assists this season which is far more than anyone else!

...No, he hasn’t.

He onl;y plays for 10 mins per game even when he isn't the sub.

Quoted from Croxton

Another cop out from Tondeur. No question about subs. Wes not playing for a contract on that performance. Why take off RHJ? etc. etc.

I thought RHJ was shocking today.

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

I thought RHJ was shocking today.

Maybe not the easiest of conditions for him but apart from a brief flourish on Saturday when he came on I don't remember him doing a great deal. We have tremendous competition for places in most positions at the moment and it may require him to get a bit of luck to force his way into the manager's thinking. Looking at the volume of changes made recently no-one's place is guaranteed. I'd put money on him getting a decent crack before the seasons end.

Quoted from barralad

Maybe not the easiest of conditions for him but apart from a brief flourish on Saturday when he came on I don't remember him doing a great deal. We have tremendous competition for places in most positions at the moment and it may require him to get a bit of luck to force his way into the manager's thinking. Looking at the volume of changes made recently no-one's place is guaranteed. I'd put money on him getting a decent crack before the seasons end.

Sorry Ian can`t resist but the competiton can`t be that tremendous if we get stuffed 4-1 by Tranmere sadly :-/ .The wheels have come off and the players have downed tools to sit on the beach and the Manager needs to Manage and address that . I am a STH along with 3k others and they are duty bound to give us 100% how many of the 3k along with myself don`t expect to see this at any point during the remainder of the Season? The knock on effects of me being right we have seen numerous times over the years and it will result in poor or sluggish ST sales for next season this then effects the budget and on and on it goes.We deserve better

We are playing the completely wrong system and these in-out performances will continue unless we make changes not just to the personnel but to the tactics. We are not going to get anywhere with the present system so let us change it now with the future in mind. This season is over so let us try something different and see how it goes.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Sorry Ian can`t resist but the competiton can`t be that tremendous if we get stuffed 4-1 by Tranmere sadly :-/ .The wheels have come off and the players have downed tools to sit on the beach and the Manager needs to Manage and address that . I am a STH along with 3k others and they are duty bound to give us 100% how many of the 3k along with myself don`t expect to see this at any point during the remainder of the Season? The knock on effects of me being right we have seen numerous times over the years and it will result in poor or sluggish ST sales for next season this then effects the budget and on and on it goes.We deserve better

Yeah I get that but looking on here and social media there was little argument with the XI that started last night. Collins got tons of stick for Saturday...he was dropped. People said Wes and Dennis don't make for a good front two partnership..Dennis relegated to the bench. On Saturday Vernam had a chance to do the business and couldn't. He will get more chances and the need to perform should get more than just him up for the remainder of the games. I couldn't go last night but it sounds as though their goals were down to ridiculous mistakes and that on another day we could have got something from the game. Bit premature to accuse them of being on the beach..

The lad is neither fish nor fowl. Charlie is not a striker, he is not a winger, he is not a midfielder, he’s sort of a bit of all three and master of none. I like him and no doubt the lad has some ability, though he was unlucky with injury last year, but his contribution is not consistent and physical enough especially for L2. There’s a lot of sentiment for him, local lad and all that. We get the usual talk about it. But the proof of the pudding has been that he has not even put in enough good half hours to justify being on the pitch for 90 minutes every week. To be honest I could see him being released at the end of his contract if not before.

I think it's a combination of a few things.

1) He does appear a bit injury prone.  I think it was before Xmas he was in a really good run of form and looking likely to cement his place in the side and then he got injured.  This follows on from countless niggles.
2) I'm not convinced Jolley trusts him enough to play a midfield role, or a wide role.
3) He's not an out-and-out striker.

In my eyes his natural position should be where Embleton is now.  That said Embleton drops a lot deeper than the traditional No.10 and does a hell of a lot of tracking back and getting stuck in.  I'm not sure that's Vernam's game at all.

His best form for us came when he was part of that fluid 3 of him, Pringle and Embleton which played behind Thomas.  We're not playing that system now but I think we definitely need to give him a go up top as part of a two.  I would quite like to see a Cook/Vernam pairing if I'm honest.  Dennis hasn't really hit the form we hoped he would and we're probably a bit too focused on Thomas as our focal point.

Quoted from barralad

Yeah I get that but looking on here and social media there was little argument with the XI that started last night. Collins got tons of stick for Saturday...he was dropped. People said Wes and Dennis don't make for a good front two partnership..Dennis relegated to the bench. On Saturday Vernam had a chance to do the business and couldn't. He will get more chances and the need to perform should get more than just him up for the remainder of the games. I couldn't go last night but it sounds as though their goals were down to ridiculous mistakes and that on another day we could have got something from the game. Bit premature to accuse them of being on the beach..

I think the manager is picking a side to support a system which TBH always baffles me and this may mean that some players may miss out.

Charlie looked good in a front 3 but in a 3-5-2 where would he play and more interestingly who would he replace?

I really like him though as he’s got real pace and defenders find his direct running with the ball at his feet difficult to deal with.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I would quite like to see a Cook/Vernam pairing if I'm honest. Dennis hasn't really hit the form we hoped he would and we're probably a bit tfocused on Thomas as our focal point.

I thought Cook and Vernam looked to have a decent understanding at the start of the season but didn't produce much of a goal threat. Whether that would come with more game time together I'm not sure. I wouldn't want to go into next season with them as our main strikers unless they start firing in the next couple of months.

He got injured around the new year didn't he. After what had been a decent spell in the team playing, as DHM says above, as one of 3 supporting Thomas.

At the time it was feared it was a going to be a long-lay off but he was back within a couple of weeks. However I do remember MJ saying it's just something they'd have to manage with him in terms of his training and games. So maybe that's still an issue? I don't know. Even if it isn't, it is certainly what forced him out of the team after a good run.

That then coincided with us changing the formation to 3-5-2, where his place in that line of 3 attacking players no longer exists. Again, as DHM says above, I think his best position in this system would be as the creative attacking force between the midfield 2 and the strikers.

I think he's a good player, technically, but it remains to be seen whether he can find ways to effect games a bit more. And consistently. However, he's a young player with less than 50 games under his belt as a professional, and consistency is never really something that comes with younger players.

I know he's not the same style as player but if we're going to be playing 5-3-2 next season then he could go in the slot Embelton will vacate when he departs?

Quoted from Tommy

He got injured around the new year didn't he. After what had been a decent spell in the team playing, as DHM says above, as one of 3 supporting Thomas.

At the time it was feared it was a going to be a long-lay off but he was back within a couple of weeks. However I do remember MJ saying it's just something they'd have to manage with him in terms of his training and games. So maybe that's still an issue? I don't know. Even if it isn't, it is certainly what forced him out of the team after a good run.

That then coincided with us changing the formation to 3-5-2, where his place in that line of 3 attacking players no longer exists. Again, as DHM says above, I think his best position in this system would be as the creative attacking force between the midfield 2 and the strikers.

I think he's a good player, technically, but it remains to be seen whether he can find ways to effect games a bit more. And consistently. However, he's a young player with less than 50 games under his belt as a professional, and consistency is never really something that comes with younger players.

All of the above... and all being well 3 points on Saturday takes us to 50 then we’ll see a bit more of the likes of Charlie, Akheem and Harry Cardwell (who IMHO should be out on loan) getting the game time they need.

Quoted from barralad

Yeah I get that but looking on here and social media there was little argument with the XI that started last night. Collins got tons of stick for Saturday...he was dropped. People said Wes and Dennis don't make for a good front two partnership..Dennis relegated to the bench. On Saturday Vernam had a chance to do the business and couldn't. He will get more chances and the need to perform should get more than just him up for the remainder of the games. I couldn't go last night but it sounds as though their goals were down to ridiculous mistakes and that on another day we could have got something from the game. Bit premature to accuse them of being on the beach..

Not sure it`s premature given it`s a 3rd defeat on the bounce and those present say last night`s 4-1 defeat the best performance? I have only seen first hand the Cambridge defeat and in my opinion that was Town`s worst home performance in a long time . If I were a pay on the gate supporter or an exiled STH would I attend Saturday and what would I be expecting from Town?

I think some people might be forgetting that this lad is still only 22 with a couple of years of development possible before he can reach his full potential of which I think he has a lot. I can’t for the life of me see why anyone would suggest terminating his contract early!

As others have said injuries and the switch to 352 have had an impact on his selection and now finds himself pigeon holed into a central attacking role that I personally don’t see as his best position. I think he’s better picking the ball up in wide areas either on the half turn or facing goal and running at defenders. He’s pretty quick and tricky and has caused defences problems this season in these areas.

I just wonder that if MJ is so adamant that a wing back system is here to stay then a slight tweak to a 343 like how Wolves set up with 2 natural wingers as well as the 2 wing backs, that are good on the counter and can also help you get in behind in wider areas which is what I think we’ve lacked in the last few weeks. It’s interesting that Wolves actually switch between 343 and 352 depending on match circumstances and a 3 pronged attack would certainly bring Vernam back into the picture.

I like Vernam and would have in my starting line up he create chances.

If my memory is correct, he got injured towards the end of December just at the time that we were starting to play with a bit of verve with him and Embo playing wide in a 433. I know we've won games since but some of them (Cheltenham particularly) have been far more attritional than we were playing before Christmas.

By all reports, he was a class apart in the Reserves last week and I just wonder what he's done wrong?

I don't think Vernam has done anything wring in particular - it is just hard to see him fitting into this system
And that presents a problem for me - two of our best and most natural players - Cook and Vernam - can';t get into the side on a consistent basis (especially Vernam) because of the system

They are not wing backs
They are not centre mids
They are not out and out strikers

This set me thinking - always dangerous at my age - about next season

If MJ persists with 352 - and if he does hopefully we will make big strides in the summer through training and pre-season games - then I can;t see much playing time for likes of Cook, Vernam, Rose, Cardwell

That also set me thinking that perhaps MJ ought to blow most of his budget on two top notch strikers - or at least a Bogle (non league big scorer) and a Podge (gem from the reserves with a goal scoring pedigree)

Unless we get any silly offers Macc and the defence is sorted - we will forget last night; when it is settled and on the ball it's as good/tight as most in L2; hard to see how he can improve it and he has either signed them up or has options to

Midfield? Harry and Jake are getting better and better; Welsh is still useful back up; Woolford? I think MJ likes his experience; Whitehouse will be like a new signing; assume Embleton goes back?

That leaves attack - Wes? Should get offered a new deal but he might decide to go; Akheem and Cardwell - raw and inexperienced (still back up players for me); Cook - as stated; Vernam - as stated

95% of squad settle - blow the bloody lot on strikers!!

Quoted from barralad

Yeah I get that but looking on here and social media there was little argument with the XI that started last night. Collins got tons of stick for Saturday...he was dropped. People said Wes and Dennis don't make for a good front two partnership..Dennis relegated to the bench. On Saturday Vernam had a chance to do the business and couldn't. He will get more chances and the need to perform should get more than just him up for the remainder of the games. I couldn't go last night but it sounds as though their goals were down to ridiculous mistakes and that on another day we could have got something from the game. Bit premature to accuse them of being on the beach..

I thought he only came on in the 84th minute.

Quoted from barralad

Yeah I get that but looking on here and social media there was little argument with the XI that started last night. Collins got tons of stick for Saturday...he was dropped. People said Wes and Dennis don't make for a good front two partnership..Dennis relegated to the bench. On Saturday Vernam had a chance to do the business and couldn't. He will get more chances and the need to perform should get more than just him up for the remainder of the games. I couldn't go last night but it sounds as though their goals were down to ridiculous mistakes and that on another day we could have got something from the game. Bit premature to accuse them of being on the beach..

If I'd been out the team for as long as he has, I would hope for a bit more than 5 minutes after we'd played shite for the previous 80!