Charlton Athletic 2024-25 preview: Signings, key player, one to watch, predictions and opening fixtures
KEY PLAYER
MATTY GODDEN
Someone needs to help fill the scoring boots of Alfie May. The seasoned Coventry striker will be looking to contribute a healthy share.
ONE TO WATCH
TYREECE CAMPBELL
The youngster looks physically stronger and has revelled in a new striker role in pre-season. Electric pace.
TOP TWO PREDICTION
Birmingham, Rotherham
PLAY-OFFS PREDICTION
Charlton, Bolton, Huddersfield, Wrexham
RELEGATED PREDICTION
Northampton, Crawley, Shrewsbury, Cambridge
A FAN’S OPINION
Rick Everitt (Voice of The Valley editor): Charlton’s fifth straight season in the third tier kicks off with a level of cautious optimism among the fanbase, despite the club’s lowest league finish in 98 years being compounded by the loss of free-scoring Alfie May and hard-working skipper George Dobson.
The mood appears rooted in confidence in manager Nathan Jones, who succeeded in stabilising another shambles of a campaign in the spring and, on his longer record, looks a better bet than any of his four short-lived predecessors since 2022.
The summer signings seem encouraging, but that has been the case before without progress being made in results.
Years of massive under-performance against the playing budget leave plenty of room for improvement, but a return to the Championship could still be a stretch.
Contending for a play-off place would at least keep Valley fans entertained. Anything less would be damaging.
Prediction: 5th-8th
OPENING FIXTURES
August 10 – Wigan v Charlton A (Championship) 5.30pm
August 13 – Charlton v Birmingham H (EFL Cup) 7.45pm
August 17 – Charlton v Leyton Orient H (League One) 12.30pm
August 24 – Charlton v Bolton H (League One) 3pm
August 31 – Reading v Charlton A (League One) 3pm