This season, Charlton Athletic are going to be aiming high, with their sights set clearly on promotion out of League One.
With the London club spending big on transfer fees and wages, some could view anything other than promotion this season as a failure. Many of the players that are being brought in have already got a high amount of pedigree in the third tier or even above.
For example, Alex Mitchell starred on loan in a Lincoln City side last season that only just missed out on the play-offs, and now, Charlton have reportedly spent a significant fee to bring the defender in. On top of that, signings such as Matty Godden, Greg Docherty and Luke Berry all arrived after playing higher in the pyramid last campaign. The latter even made 17 appearances in the Premier League.
Therefore, ambition is clearly present at The Valley, although, Nathan Jones has lost his prolific centre-forward Alfie May, who joined Birmingham City earlier this window.
Replacing the talisman, who scored 23 league goals last time out, was always going to be difficult. However, one of the club’s former defenders believes that they have already done that.
“Losing Alfie May and his goals can be a worry, but it now gives freedom for others to step up and Godden and Ahadme can do this,” Danny Mills exclusively told The Real EFL this week.
Having started his career at Norwich City, the full-back moved to The Valley in 1998 for a season before moving on to play for the likes of Leeds United and Manchester City before returning back to the London outfit on loan from the latter.
Now, he believes that Gassan Ahadme, who joined Nathan Jones’ side from Ipswich Town for a reported £1 Million this summer, could be the perfect replacement for the outgoing May.
The 23-year-old’s goalscoring record may not be anywhere close to his predecessors, but, with eleven goals in the league during his loan spell at Cambridge United last season, the club’s recruitment team clearly believe that there is potential that could be tapped into.
Danny Mills spoke to The Real EFL thanks to 888Poker.
Writer’s View
Ahadme could improve and in a more attacking side such as Charlton hit new heights with his goalscoring, however, being good enough in front of goal to replace May seems a stretch.
Charlton undoubtedly need a strong campaign, having spent big money this summer and with a potential wage cap looming, they may see a deadline being put on them to get out of the third-tier, something that they could and arguably should achieve this season.
