While elements of Charlton Athletic’s start to the season have been encouraging, optimism has slowly begun to wane after a disappointing end to the transfer window.
There’s no doubt the new additions to the squad have helped Ben Garner’s side play a more attractive brand of football, but they are still lacking squad depth and robustness in certain areas.
For instance, the Addicks currently only have three fit senior centre-backs in Eoghan O’Connell, Ryan Inniss and Sam Lavelle with the side failing to add a younger ball-playing defender willing to learn from the more experienced heads around them.
The rest of the defensive areas have been adequately covered with goalkeeper Joe Wollacott one of the stand-out arrivals, impressing with his distribution of the ball, good execution and sound judgement.
Although the Ghanian international does have a tendency to leave it late when clearing, he is undoubtedly one of the best keepers in the division with Craig MacGillivray an experienced and reliable understudy.
The full-back position has also been strengthened – Fulham loanee Steven Sessegnon brought energy and a willingness to get forward before being sidelined with injury while fellow right-back Mandela Egbo, also currently sidelined, will provide competition for the 22-year-old.
These injuries have meant the ever versatile Sean Clare has once again slotted into the back four while Charlton have also been buoyed by the emergence of Charlie Clayden at left-back, excelling in the step-up from Academy football.
It is in midfield that Charlton perhaps still have too many bodies, particularly considering Garner prefers a midfield three composed of Scott Fraser, Albie Morgan and George Dobson.
That has seen game time for both Alex Gilbey and Jake Forster-Caskey limited with the former loaned to League Two side Stevenage while Forster-Caskey was linked with a move to AFC Wimbledon which failed to materialise.
Further up the field is another area which has brought frustration with Charlton failing to bring about the return of former player Macauley Bonne on loan from QPR on Deadline Day.
And with Conor Washington also not being replaced in the summer, Charlton only have two senior centre forwards in Jayden Stockley and Chuks Aneke alongside Academy graduate Miles Leaburn.
Stockley remains first-choice but has struggled in Garner’s 4-3-3 system so far this term while Aneke has been frustrated by persistent injuries and Leaburn is far too raw a talent at the moment to be heavily relied upon.
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While on-loan Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has been a real coup, conjuring up moments of individual brilliance out of nowhere, Charlton have still failed to provide Garner with enough attacking options to really pose a threat at this level.
The 3-1 defeat away to Bolton was symptomatic of the problem – Rak-Sakyi once again impressed in a side that didn’t have the tactical adaptability or depth to approach the game in a different way once they went behind.
Following the game, Garner lamented the situation, saying: “We haven’t got a big squad, the key is going to be keeping people fit.
“We need to get some of our injured players back as quickly as possible but ideally we still would have liked to have added one or two more.
“We feel like that would’ve given us a lot more depth in the squad, and a lot more competition.”
Since their impressive 5-1 demolition of Plymouth, the Addicks are now winless in their last three league games and sit 12th in the table as it already feels like a Play-Off place could be out of reach.
On whether a top six finish could be seen as an over-achievement, Garner added: “Yes, I think it will.
“We’ve had one window, we haven’t spent any money and we’ve made a profit in transfer fees – we’re not going to jump from 12th to winning the league.”
“We have to be realistic, we want to put foundations in place, we probably need another two windows to get the squad to a point that we’re happy with, in terms of strength and depth.”
Garner’s honest assessment may be hard to hear for some with only a month of the season gone but it’s both a refreshing and realistic portrayal of the current situation and squad.
It is nevertheless in direct contradiction to owner Thomas Sandgaard’s pre-season statement of intent to achieve promotion and it will be interesting to see whether the Dane’s expectations will now be lowered.
It’s no secret the club are trying to remain competitive while balancing the books but it is not something that is easily achievable at this level without getting promoted.
There’s no doubt the squad has improved and there is a long-term plan in place – the question is whether the hierarchy will hold their nerve and the fanbase buy into it, even if it means another season peters out into mediocrity.