Few expected Charlton to fly out of the traps with three victories from the first three games, including a win at West Ham, so is the weekend 4-0 loss at Stoke a blip or a portent of things to come? Louis Mendez (@LouisMend @CharltonLive) takes us through the Addicks’ start.

How was last season, your first back in the Championship for a while so presumably ‘job done’?

Last season was not straightforward but ultimately a success as Charlton are playing in the Championship again this term. They started well – fifth in early November. But a run of consecutive losses saw them collapse to 19th by early December. By the time we headed to The Den in late January we’d won just twice in 13 and a 4-0 hammering by Millwall felt like a real cliff-edge moment for the club and Nathan Jones. Happily, it served as a reset and Charlton went on to lost just twice in the next ten.

A 1-0 win at Middlesbrough nine games from time left us in a seemingly impregnable position. But the way the Addicks limped over the line wasn’t far short of pathetic – they didn’t win again until the penultimate game against Hull to secure safety. We stayed up. That was the main aim. But it wasn’t pretty. There were some great nights – the stunning 3-0 away win at Ipswich the standout - but there were plenty of tough ones too. We were amongst the lowest scorers in the division and the football wasn’t always pretty.

Charlton in the league so far…
Charlton 2-1 Derby Jones 61, Campbell 80 – Szmodics 23
West Ham 1-2 Charlton Piroe 74 – Jones 7, Campbell 56
Charlton 1-0 Preston Grant 56
West Brom 1-1 Charlton Styles 59 – Campbell 69
Stoke 4-0 Charlton Devenny pen 15, 40, Galbraith 22, Hirst 25

Charlie Kelman’s first year

Charlie Kelman had a stuttering first year. It took him until November to bag his first goal and he was injured in the same game. Not that he’d missed plenty of chances before then. He then came back into the side with a massive winner against Oxford just before Christmas and bagged a brace in a 2-2 draw at Blackburn soon after. But he never hit that real run of goalscoring form. Seven isn’t an awful return for his first proper campaign in the second tier and his wonder strike in that safety-clinching win against Hull was of the highest quality. He said himself that a disrupted pre-season last summer may have held him back – he needs a good one this time around. Which makes the fact he’s out for six weeks with a shoulder problem picked up in a friendly at Gillingham pretty frustrating.

How’s this season started?

Brilliantly. Kicking off with three wins – including the 2-1 triumph at West Ham – was not what anyone expected. We’ve edged games but the difference this year is that we’ve shown enough quality in moments to ensure that we do that in tight games. Derby and Preston both offered little when they came to The Valley and we probably caught West Ham at the right time but defended well and looked a real threat on the counter all game. A good point at West Brom followed. Stoke was hopefully a one-off.

What did occur at Stoke?

Believe it or not, we started really well in that game. But it all hinged on a penalty given away by new arrival Timothy Ouma. It was soft but I can see why it was given. We really capitulated after that and were four down at the break. Jones had rotated the side after West Brom the previous Wednesday but it backfired. Ouma had to be hauled off at the break as he looked out of his depth. Bobby Madley in the middle had an absolute stinker as well but that was a sideshow.

Where exactly are Charlton fans in their love-hate relationship with Nathan Jones?

The fans are fine with Nathan Jones, now. It was strained at times last term. He was at pains to remind fans where he had taken the club from after a bizarre and unconvincing home win over nine-man Sheffield United in January. He had to take his medicine after the Millwall defeat. But people mainly accepted that we did well to survive and respect the amount of blood, sweat and fury he puts into the role.

How was your transfer window in the end?

Always wary of assessing arrivals too soon but overall, it feels like we’ve strengthened. Jones has opted to switch to a 4-2-3-1 this term after deploying a 3-5-2 in the years he’s been here and has recruited to that end. The right-winger is the one area where we’re weak – a deal for Palace’s Jes Rak-Sakyi never got completed. Some quality has been added in attacking areas with the likes of Karlan Grant and injuries meant Tyler Bindon was brought into the defence late on. Oliver Skipp, on loan from Leicester, has played at a higher level but needs a reset after some tough years with the Foxes.

Karlan Grant coming back to SE7 was a nice story. Outside of Tyreece Campbell, we had no one who added a bit of pace and unpredictability to the side and Grant has been doing that at Championship level since he left The Valley midway through our 2019/20 promotion season under Lee Bowyer. Millenic Alli comes in from Luton to add a bit of that sort of thing too, although with a much more inconsistent track record in the division. Ivan Mesik and Billy Koumetio add defensive bulk, both signed from overseas. And Millwall supporting Millwall stalwart Danny McNamara joins from Millwall which I’m sure will not be a problem for anyone.

Ins >>> Milenic Alli, 26, LW, Luton, £1.5m >>> Karlan Grant, 28, CF, West Brom, Free >>> Danny McNamara, 27, RB, Millwall, Free >>> Nathaniel Chalobah, 31, DM, Sheff Wed, Free >>> >>> Ivan Mesik, 25, CB, Heracles Almelo (Netherlands), Undisclosed >>> Billy Koumetio, 23, CB, Dundee, Undisclosed >>> Junior Nkeng, 19, LW, Wimbledon, Undisclosed >>> Arthur Okonkwo, 24, GK, Wrexham, Loan >>> Oliver Skipp, 25, DM, Leicester, Loan >>> Tyler Bindon, 21, CB, Forest, Loan >>> Timothy Ouma, 22, DM, Slavia Prague, Loan

Outs >>> Alex Mitchell, 24, CB, Plymouth, £250k >>> Lyndon Dykes, 30, CF, Millwall, Free >>> Terry Taylor, 25, DM, Stevenage, Free >>> Macaulay Gillesphey, 30, CB, Bradford, Undisclosed >>> Karoy Anderson, 21, CM, Blackpool, Undisclosed >>> Kaheim Dixon, 21, RW, Novi Pazar (Serbia), Undisclosed >>> Gassan Ahadme, 25, CF, Cambridge, Loan >>> Tanto Olaofe, 26, CF, Lincoln, Loan >>> Zach Mitchell, 21, CB, St Johnstone, Loan >>> Keenan Gough, 20, DM, Bristol Rovers, Loan >>> Thomas Kaminski, 33, GK, Omonia Nicosia, Loan >>> Daniel Kanu, 21, CF, Notts County, Loan >>> Nathan Asiimwe, 21, RB , Salford, Loan >>>Greg Docherty, 29, CM, Released >>> Luke Berry, 33, CM, Released

Where is this team strong and weak?

Strong on the left of midfield. Tyreece Campbell has always threatened to threaten but he’s actually begun to threaten this season. Three goals already, new contract secured, he is brimming with confidence. Add to that, Karlan Grant and Millenic Alli can also play in that role.

There are worries at the moment about the base of the midfield. Nathaniel Chalobah had added some real poise in there but has suffered with fitness issues over the years and is already injured. Conor Coventry has performed well in the engine room and there’s a hope that Oliver Skipp will return to his Tottenham Hotspur form but he’s still getting up to speed. Slavia Prague loanee Timothy Ouma has looked out of his depth so far.

Revised expectations?

Still think that mid-table will be a great season for us. It’s been a great start but it’s a slog of a season and we’re already seeing injuries take hold.

Links >>> Charlton official website >>> South London Press — Local press >>> Charlton Live — Podcast >>> Into The Valley — Message Board >>> Forever Charlton — Blog

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