‘I berate him more than I big him up’ – Charlton boss Jones on defensive asset

Nathan Jones has talked in more detail about the improvements that Charlton Athletic defender Macaulay Gillesphey has made to his game.

The former Plymouth Argyle centre-back, who signed for the Addicks in the 2024 winter transfer window, has been a mainstay of the Addicks side.

And Jones has talked this season about the way that Gillesphey has kicked on his performances.

“He’s really aggressive out of possession and wins his headers,” said the Charlton boss, when asked by the South London Press about the 29-year-old. “He steps in and he is bold. He doesn’t sit in just as a static defender, he steps in and gives us that aggression to go after teams.

“In possession he is as good as there is in the division. His range of passing is as good as I’ve ever worked with. He has chipped in with goals. Anything else you need there?

“He is in a really good place. He is so low-maintenance. I never have to tell him how well he is doing, I probably berate him more than I actually big him up – but I pick him every week, so he should know how I feel about him.

“That is just trust and belief that he can be what he wants to be. He is in excellent form.”

Charlton central defensive three – Gillesphey, Lloyd Jones and Kayne Ramsay – are formidable. Their displays have seen them become the consistent starters there with Alex Mitchell and Tom McIntyre both forced to settle for bench spots.

Then you have the industry of Conor Coventry, Greg Docherty or Karoy Anderson in front of that.

“It is the whole team as a unit,” said Jones. “We’re aggressive from the front, so it is not like the back three, back five and goalkeeper are having to do that on their own.

“We work in and out of possession. What we do have is a balance in that back three – a central one that can be aggressive and wide ones who can step in and defend, like to defend one v one. Macaulay adds a real quality.

“We have got really good balance in our squad now. That will only get better over time. There is good competition. We have got Tom and Alex coming on back there as well – Tennai (Watson) we were missing for long periods and didn’t have an option, now we do have an option.

“The competition is driving people on. There is competition in every place.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS