Charlton to finish 6th

Four Four Two magazine reckons Charlton will finish 6th in League One this season.  'Alfie May has gone, but Nathan Jones has his new strike duo in Matt Godden and  Gassan Ahadme.  With Luke Berry, Alan Mitchell and John Edwards also joining a tree of teenage talents in Daniel Kanu, Thierry Small and Karoy Anderson, Jones' Addicks are shaping up well.'

Natasha Everitt also forecasts a 6th place finish in her fan file.  She says that Jones' signings are promising and a fit again Miles Leaburn will feel like a new signing.  Karoy Anderson is our most underrated player, look up his goal against Derby.  

The player she would happily drive to another club is Scott Fraser, on a large wage and hasn't lived up to expectations.  The fans; opinion of the gaffer is that he is charismatic, well-liked and not afraid to make bold decisions.   She concludes that Charlton have pulled below their weight for too long, but are now ready to push on.

Jacko praises Jones

Johnnie Jackson admits that it was a bit strange facing up against Charlton in Saturday's friendly but thinks they have a really good manager in Nathan Jones: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/a-bit-strange-johnnie-jackson-makes-charlton-admission-after-afc-wimbledon-win-pre-season-clash/

With Charlton looking to offload players, there has been interest in Lucas Ness but Richard Cawley reports that he had had ankle surgery in the summer - minor issue that he'd been playing on with - and isn't fit yet.

Midfielders need to leave before new signings

Richard Cawley reports: 'Teddy Bishop no longer training with Charlton. Outgoings needed before some areas of the pitch can be looked at - midfield is well-stocked at the moment. 

Chance if a couple go from that area it opens the door for an incoming. Dan Potts still training with the squad but just not involved in the match. Do also wonder, as triallists, that there comes a point that you don't want to risk potential injury by continuing to feature in games.'

Nathan Jones is hedging his bets on Begovic: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-on-charlton-transfer-link-to-asmir-begovic-and-absence-of-triallists/

Can Bromley survive in the EFL?

Quite a few Charlton fans have Bromley as a second club.  Rod Liddle is one of those newspaper columnists whose job is to be controversial, but the reinvented northerner is a bit disobliging about promoted Bromley in the Sunday Times today.

Leafy but otherwise unlovely and once described by a former resident, Frankie Boyle, as being a “lobotomy made of bricks”, Bromley can now boast an English Football League club for the first time in the town’s thousand-or-so-year history.

It was once a Kentish market town, but swelled rapidly with the coming of the railways and even more so the “white flight” to the outer suburbs of London from the 1950s onwards. Ten miles southeast of central London and a non-stop 18 minutes on the train to Victoria, Bromley is exactly the sort of place where you might expect to see a flourishing of our absurdly popular national sport.

'Extremely affluent — residents enjoy one of the highest levels of gross disposable income in the country — Bromley is kind of where English football is heading. It is why we have Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Brentford in the Premier League, for example, and also why, when you scroll through the EFL’s four divisions, you won’t find any mention of Bury, Hartlepool, Halifax, Rochdale and so on. Demographic shift and football, as ever, following the money.

Bromley did it the hard way last season, finishing 17 points behind the wonderfully rejuvenated champions Chesterfield and scraping through the play-off finals via a penalty shoot-out against Solihull Moors, with the 37-year-old club captain and former Millwall defender, Byron Webster, keeping his head at Wembley to score from the decisive spot kick.

 As you might imagine, Webster is not alone in coming to Bromley from one of South London’s EFL clubs — the assistant manager, Alan Dunne, was a Millwall stalwart and there are a scattering of former Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace players in the Bromley ranks.

They draw a decent crowd  — an average of 3,561 last season, sixth best in the National League and the ‘sarf’ London businessman who owns them, Robin Stanton-Gleaves, is expecting a mid-table finish this season. That may be a little optimistic, given that the bookies have them as the second favourites to go straight back down.

There is not much money to splash around, seeing as the club have been forced to tear up their hideous, if lucrative, synthetic pitch and replace it with grass to comply with EFL strictures.'

Liddle doesn't mention this, but one of the challenges for London clubs is the sheer number of them, albeit with attendances boosted by soccer tourists.   Bromley are a bit of a second club for Charlton and Crystal Palace fans and attendances may depend on how well the Ravens do on the pitch.

Isted out, Asmir Begovic in?

Goalkeeper Harry Isted is joining Burton Albion in a permanent deal.   Thanks for all you tried to do.

It looks increasingly likely that Asmir Begovic will replace him on a free from QPR.  The 37-year old Bosnian doesn't lack experience. 

Career details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asmir_Begovi%C4%87

Velley needs more TLC says Methven

Charlie Methven talks in depth about one year of the new ownership at Charlton, although he says they really only got under way in January.   Nearly half a million pounds has been spent on upgrading The Valley and Sparrows Lane pitches, but the stadium needs more capital expenditure to bring it up to speed: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/gfp-mark-one-year-as-charlton-athletic-ownership-group-charlie-methven-on-implementing-changes-player-wage-budget-and-transfer-business/

Uptick in season ticket sales

Chief excutive Charlie Methven reports that Charltno have sold 7,500 season tickets compared with 6,700 this time last season and notes a mood of 'cautious optimism' among fans: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-chief-executive-charlie-methven-outlines-expected-season-ticket-sales-and-fans-cautious-optimism-for-next-league-one-campaign/

Addicks swoop for Jamaican international

Charlton are hoping to sign 19-year old Jamaican international Kaheim Dixon.    The winger currently plays in the Jamaican Premier League and there is considerable international interest in him: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/exclusive-charlton-athletic-set-to-land-exciting-jamaican-international-winger-prospect/

Mitchell on his Charlton move

Alex Mitchell thinks he might have got a bit of stick joining Charlton from the Spanners: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/i-thought-i-would-get-a-bit-of-a-stick-new-charlton-defender-alex-mitchell-opens-up-on-millwall-exit/?utm_campaign=i-thought-i-would-get-a-bit-of-a-stick-new-charlton-defender-alex-mitchell-opens-up-on-millwall-exit&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2qe4lK_BPhouFC4kxz1EqiMcIDx3RpZnZJh-cykg0U35bymSdFZxITV-0_aem_Gp0ZP_fQ_qHHu8XmwfXNTw

Jones interested in trialists

Nathan Jones is taking a close look at two trialists who took part in the 6-1 win at Dartford: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-labels-charlton-athletic-trialist-best-player-hes-ever-signed-during-his-career/

Jones assessed the signings so far after the win: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-assesses-charltons-summer-business-so-far-after-thumping-pre-season-win-at-dartford/

Fitness issues kept Chuks Aneke away from Princes Park, but he will join the squad going to Slovenia: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-boss-reveals-reason-for-chuks-anekes-absence-at-dartford/

Congratulations to Ezri Konsa on his performance against Switzerland.   The Athletic notes that his coachability has always been his driving trait and that dates back to his development in the Charlton Academy.

Steve Brown backs Godden

Steve Brown discusses the departure of Alfie May and gives a positive report on Matty Godden based on his knowledge of the player: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/steve-brown-exclusive-verdict-on-charlton-athletic-selling-alfie-may-and-supplies-insight-on-new-boy-matty-godden/

Greg Docherty is a good signing: https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/charlton-athletic-boss-hails-impressive-9392515

Second striker joins

Gassan Ahadme joins Charlton on a four-year deal from Ipswich Town.  Richard Cawley comments: ‘ Supposed to be a machine in terms of his fitness.’

Nathan Jones told Cawley: ‘The two strikers we’ve signed have real pedigree and I’d like to thank the board and the ownership for backing us on these signings. Our squad has significantly improved already this summer and we haven’t finished our recruitment.’

Whether we paid the £1m Ipswich were reported to be asking for him is not known, but it would be excessive.   However, the East Anglian Daily Times claims that the £1m has been paid together with add ons which could take it above £1m.

Career history of the Moroccan born in Spain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gassan_Ahadme

Speaking after the move was confirmed, Ahadme said: “Since the first time I spoke with Nathan, I was impressed with the things that he told me, and especially the energy that I felt from him and the things that he wants to do. It’s a really ambitious project and that’s why I’m excited to be here.”

Jones added: “I’m delighted we’ve signed Gassan, he was a real number one target for us. Like with the signing of Matty Godden, it has been a long process - we’ve been pursuing him all summer. We’re delighted to add him, he brings us quality, and a presence and profile of a number nine. 

Godden signs

Matt Godden from Coventry City has signed a two year contract at Charlton and another striker signing is expected: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-athletic-sign-coventry-city-striker-matt-godden-on-two-year-contract/

Sceptics may doubt whether they will score as many goals between them as Alfie May, but then a disgruntled May forced to stay would not have performed as well as last season.

May has bid an emotional farewell to Charlton, but says his wife couldn't settle in London: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/its-been-a-year-ill-never-forget-alfie-mays-emotional-farewell-message-to-charlton-fans/