Nathan Jones assesses Charlton’s summer business so far after thumping pre-season win at Dartford
Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones says he’s delighted with the transfer business the club have done this summer – and there’s still more to come.
Greg Docherty’s arrival on Friday made it seven permanent recruits in SE7 as the South Londoners looked to transform a side that recorded their lowest finish in 98 years last term.
Speaking after a 6-1 victory in the pre-season curtain-raiser at Dartford, Jones said: “The recruitment process is constantly ongoing. We’re not finished yet. But to be in this position with seven permanent signings before pre-season – and the quality of the players we’ve brought in – to attract those to our football club shows we’re in a really wonderful position. Everyone has worked hard behind the scenes.
“I just want to thank the club because they’ve backed us on everything. We’ve had to show rationale in terms of why we want everyone but we’ve had a very good window so far.
“The standards improved towards the end of last season. What you want to do, realistically, is get your own players in and players you believe can take the club forward and take your messages forward. You’ve seen that. We said we wanted to come out of the window significantly stronger than we went into it and, without being disrespectful, everyone can see we’re in a better position. It’s not only that. We’ve got real balance in the side.
“You can look at the left-sided players, the right-sided players. There’s real competition in midfield. Frontmen we’ve now got and two to come back. The midfield options we had today with two real good ones not even involved. Two very good strikers not involved today. And we’re not entirely done yet but we’ve added more quality, more athleticism, more balance. It’s been a wonderful window.”
The Addicks boss named a different 11 in each half as his players were given their first pre-season minutes.
A brace from Tyreece Campbell, along with Nathan Asiimwe’s far-post strike and a Dan Kanu penalty gave the South Londoners a 4-1 lead at the break – Callum Jones heading one back for the Darts at 3-0.
Supporters were treated to a first glimpse of summer signings Will Mannion, Alex Mitchell, Josh Edwards, Luke Berry, Matty Godden and Gassan Ahadme after the interval.
Tennai Watson fired across the keeper for 5-1 midway through the second-period, with trialist Danny Hylton grabbing a sixth late on.
“First-half we scored some good goals, had some real firepower and pace, said Jones.
“Second-half, we were very controlled. It was a real controlled performance. Big thing is no injuries. You want to win the game and score goals and that’s what we did.
“It’s a working exercise. Everything we’ve done this week in training, we wanted to see come out today. We’re only five days into it. The fluency, the technique and the interplay, you’re not quite going to get there yet.
“But what I did see was real structure and quality. Second-half we had real control. Probably should have scored more second-half but it’s not just about how many you score, it’s the work that you do.”
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