With all the fixture cancellations as a result of COVID, there is little football to talk about at the moment. All we can do is look to the January transfer window and hope things improve over the second half of the season. In the summer, Charlton secured 13 new faces, 9 on permanent deals and 4 on loan. How have they performed so far?
13. Charlie Kirk – Signed on a four-year deal from Crewe, there were hopes that the team could be built around him, but he has simply not performed. Unable to play at wing-back or up front, he has arguably suffered most from the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation change. Currently, it seems unlikely that he will fit in anywhere, a shame as he came at a significant cost for the level. Finding a role for him would be Jackson’s greatest achievement yet. 3/10
12. Papa Souaré – He has been forced to play second fiddle behind the player that has benefitted most from the change in manager, Ben Purrington. When he has played, performances have been mixed and there is little to suggest he’ll be anything other than backup. 4/10
11. Harry Arter – Another player signed with a big reputation and coming towards the end of his career, Arter has done little to suggest he can still perform. Dobson has taken his place in midfield and looks unlikely to lose it any time soon. 4/10
10. Stephen Henderson – Henderson was signed as cover following Maynard-Brewer’s departure on loan to Scotland. Since then, he has remained cover and is unlikely to feature in the league at all, not much to say either way. 5/10
9. Corey Blackett-Taylor – Probably the only player on this list that played his best football under Adkins and not Jackson. Signed on a short-term contract, he took his chance with both hands and really played for an extension with a man of the match performance against Gillingham and strong cameo appearances against Wycombe and Portsmouth. However, he has barely featured since signing a 2.5-year deal. A natural winger, he’s likely a casualty of the formation change, however he has been occasionally utilised at wing back by Jackson. 5.5/10
8. Sam Lavelle – As a result of his long-term injury, we haven’t really seen much of him yet. He does however appear to be a Pearce type no-nonsense centre back. 5.5/10
7. Jonathan Leko – Another returning loanee, Leko has spent some time on the sidelines. When on the pitch he has been deployed in a variety of positions, striker, winger, and more recently at right wing-back. However, since returning he has been largely kept out of the team by Jaiyesimi. 6/10
6. Sean Clare – Another player that quickly found himself out of the team as results faltered under Adkins, Clare only found his way back in following defensive injuries. Since returning to the team, Clare has been utilised as a wide centre back and has combined solid defensive displays with an ability to carry the ball out of defence. 6.5/10
5. Akin Famewo – Has had a more difficult start to this season than last, however he remains an excellent defender at this level and is still young at just 23. He is a useful player with the ball at his feet too, his 30.2 accurate passes per match on average is the 2nd highest in the squad this season (Dobson is top with 32.2). 7/10
4. Craig MacGillivray – solid and dependable so far but not an upgrade on Amos, his kicking in particular is not as good as Amos’. That said, we’ve been blessed with great keepers in recent years and he is excellent at this level. 7/10
3. Jayden Stockley – The number 9 has come in and scored goals with 14 in 25 appearances in all competitions so far. Beyond that, his ability in the air is always a threat and has helped to bring others into the game. 7/10
2. George Dobson – Signed from Sunderland, Dobson initially started in Adkins’ team before being cast aside. He returned to the fold only once Adkins was sacked and has played every minute since. Under Jackson, Dobson’s role has been simplified to that of a midfield destroyer, often dropping back into the defence when needed. In this role he has thrived, he is joint top in the league for most successful tackles per match (2.1), and has been a key part of Charlton’s resurgence. 7.5/10
1. Elliot Lee – The creative jewel of the team and, along with Gilbey and Dobson, the heart of Jackson’s 3-5-2/5-3-2. Has the rare ability to create something out of nothing, his permanent signing will likely be on Charlton’s priority list this January. 8/10
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