Swoop for Monga would be too high risk

Having now completed her move to Swansea, one of my granddaughters has pledged herself to egg chasing and is starting to learn Cymraeg.  However, it does mean I have someone prepared to alert me to Welsh media stories about Charlton.

Having missed out on Rak-Sakyi this summer, the Addicks have more often than not looked to Tyreece Campbell or Karlan Grant to fill the void on the right flank, and though neither have done a poor job, both are better off the left where they can cut in on their preferred right foot.

Alli can also play on the right, though aside from the Irishman, Charlton are not exactly blessed with a plethora of wide options, so Jones has been urged to remedy this with a January switch for out-of-favour Swansea City winger Jeremy Monga.

Monga, 17, came through the ranks of Leicester City, and following the Foxes' relegation to League One last season, joined Manchester City in a deal worth around £10m in the summer, before immediately heading out on loan to Swansea City.

However, his move to South Wales has not gone as planned, as now, according to local sources, talks between Swansea and Man City have taken place to end his loan spell early, as Charlton have been urged to be on red-hot alert regarding this situation.

Local sources in Abertawe state: ‘Head coach Vítor Matos wants to see more consistent hard work from him. We are told that expectation has been behind his exclusion from the match day squad on numerous occasions. His age provides some context, with the youngster still adapting to the demands of being a senior professional away from his parent club. Despite the efforts to arrange his return to Manchester City, that does not mean Monga will be excluded entirely from Swansea’s squad while he remains on loan.’

The Addicks have played a role in the development of the likes of Jeremy Sarmiento, Alfie Doughty, Largie Ramazani, Omari Hutchinson, and Ademola Lookman over the years, and with that sort of record, could use this evidence to entice Monga to The Valley this winter.

This looks too high risk to me.  It is best to stay away from players who might have attitude or temperament problems which Lookman certainly did not have.

Keeper's uncertain future

Arthur Okonkwo's loan to Charlton Athletic gave him a chance to keep progressing in the Championship after he lost his spot at Wrexham.. Now, with questions about his selection, the main concern is making sure this season doesn't turn into another fight for playing time.

Being left out is a concern, but it doesn't mean the loan has failed. What happens next will matter more: if Okonkwo wins back his spot, how well he plays, and if the move still helps his development.

Okonkwo joined Charlton on a season-long loan in August. He left Wrexham after a big change in their goalkeeping group, as Anthony Patterson's arrival changed the competition for a spot.

Okonkwo is an experienced goalkeeper who has delivered for Wrexham, not just an untested prospect. Still, what he's done before doesn't decide today's selection battle.

There's also a bigger picture. When the loan was made, Okonkwo was in the last year of his Wrexham contract. That means this season matters for more than just winning back a starting spot. It's a chance for him to show what he can bring to his next club, whether that's Charlton or not.

International football is another chance for him. On November 12, Nigerian newspaper Punch said Okonkwo was in the national squad's camp before the games against Tanzania. Being picked keeps him in the international picture, but it doesn't guarantee he'll play.

Right now, there's no real evidence to suggest Okonkwo will return to Wrexham early or move to Charlton permanently.The goal for now is simple. Okonkwo needs to turn competition into game time and then into a steady run of matches. What he did at Wrexham should be seen in a positive light, but the next few months will show how well he can build on questions into his selection.

 

A realistic way forward

I heard a Nigel on Radio 5 this morning discussing the departure of the Sagacious One.   He was bemoaning the fact that Eddie Howe wouldn't come to the Glaziers, but there is no evidence that he has taken leave of his senses.

Thomas Frank might well come.  He did well at Brentford and would be able to sort out Palace's defensive woes to enable them to achieve their customary low mid-table position.

Opponents of Nathan Jones have continued to call for him to go and in one sense they are right: one game doesn't tell us anything.

I am always reluctant to ask owners of football clubs to spend their own money, but I think there is a rational business case for doing that at Charlton.  Insufficient money was spent in the summer to ensure Championship survival.

If the club is relegated, it will be difficult to sell, or at any rate for the owners to recover anything near their investment.  If it stays in the Championship, it will become more attractive to investors.  There is still the big hurdle of the training ground and stadium being owned by Belgians, but they might be persuaded to ask for a more realistic price or even phased payment.

That still leaves the problem of getting value in a tricky window and one place I would look is Scotland. All except the big five clubs are desperate for cash and even the top clubs need to trim their squads.

From a player's perspective, unless you are in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen, you have two options.  Either you are stuck in some grim town in the Central Belt or the Clyde Valley.  Or you are living in an attractive town which is miles from anywhere and not much happens (think Perth, Dingwall or Dumfries).

As far as the player is concerned, a spell in London might be attractive and if it goes well they might be able to return to their native heath and join one of the top clubs with the chance of European football.

Next month I will be asking my Scottish correspondent, Angus from Portobello, to suggest names.  Time for chief scount Chapple to get his rest on the Caledonian sleeper.

Keep it simple urges former Addick

Former Addick Luke Young discusses Saturday's win on his Substack page:

'For the first time, there was even talk that defeat against Sheffield United could potentially see Nathan Jones relieved of his duties. Personally, I don’t believe that would have been the correct decision, but there were certainly more and more voices suggesting his time at the club should be up.

Adding to the pressure on Jones were three surprise absentees from the matchday squad through injury. Skipper Lloyd Jones (hip), Karlan Grant (back) and striker Miles Leaburn (concussion) were all unavailable.

In recent weeks, I’ve mentioned that I felt Nathan had overcomplicated his team selections and formations in an attempt to find an answer to the poor run of form, with the Bolton game being a prime example.

We’d also seen players coming in from the cold, out of the squad one week and then straight into the starting line-up the next. At times, it had started to look a little desperate.  With three potential starters missing, Jones didn’t have quite as many cards to play with as usual, but I was pleased to see him revert to a back four.

Bindon came in as the right-sided centre-back, Millenic Alli got the nod on the right of a front three, while youngster Mwamba, with his athleticism and energy, was handed a start alongside captain for the day Conor Coventry in midfield. Rankin-Costello was the fourth player brought into the starting XI.'

Praise for Coventry

Official BBC Charlton fan Paul Sullivan reviews Saturday's victory and says that Conor Coventry was revitalised by being given the captain's armband and played his best game in a Charlton shirt: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cmy0e05v1qnlo

No favours from referee

Former Mercury sports editor and lifelong Charlton fan Rick Everitt gives his verdict on Saturday's win against Sheffield United, noting that the referee once again managed to irritate the Addickted: https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/26709299.charlton-seal-first-win-12-sheffield-united/

Pierre Sage is about to be sacked at bottom of the table Crystal Palace.

Charlton pull clear of relegation zone

Charlton went to 19th in the Championship, one point behind Millwall, after a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at The Valley this afternoon.

Substitute Matty Godden scored against Sheffield United four minutes after coming on to end Charlton Athletic's 11-game winless run and earn them their first three points since 29 August. Godden struck his second goal of the season with just 11 minutes remaining to lift the Addicks seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Millenic Alli opened the scoring in the 12th minute for the hosts at the Valley before Jordan Ayew headed United's leveller.  The defeat ends United's four-match unbeaten run and dents their promotion hopes as they drop to tenth.

The Blades threatened first and Ayew had a shot saved by Charlton goalkeeper Will Mannion but it was Charlton who scored when Alli's left-footed shot sneaked into the bottom corner for his first Addicks goal since his £1.5m move from Luton.

Back came the visitors and they equalised when Ayew headed home on the rebound when Mannion could only half clear Kalvin Phillips' free-kick to register his first Blades goal since joining them as a free agent in September.   Alan Mwamba and Tyreece Campbell then missed opportunities for the hosts in between Mannion saving a Liam Kitching header.

Mannion saved from Harrison Burrows and Sydie Peck, the hat-trick hero of the midweek win over Preston, headed wide before Godden's decisive moment arrived for Charlton.

The Addicks striker volleyed home from six yards out from Alli's cross to send Nathan Jones and the Charlton fans wild.

The Addicks had to endure nine minutes of nervy stoppage time, mainly because of Seriki's injury, and Mannion made a key stop in the dying seconds when he saved Peck's shot.

AI avatar Desmond from Deal commented: 'Jones rides his luck again and gets a reprieve.  His P60 was ready and the taxi was booked.'

Nathan Jones said today was his second favourite Charlton match behind Wembley.