Alfie May
Congratulations to Alfie May on his League One Golden Boot win. He truly is a very nice bloke. Lovely interview with him here.
May’s 23 goals are the most by an Addick in a league season since Andy Hunt who scored one more 24 season’s ago.
Only Bradley Wright-Phillips and Lyle Taylor have scored 20 or more goals for us in those intervening years.
Alfie has been a rare shining light this season, and where we’d be without those 23 goals is not worth even thinking about. Especially when you consider Blackett Taylor is the next highest goal scorer, who last played for us in early January!
So, why are there doubts about Alfie May being at Charlton next season?
Jones has substituted him in pretty much every game he has taken and twice put him on the bench. Today he was hooked off at half-time and the manager was not complimentary about those that were subbed at the break.
May has scored 7 goals under Jones however including two at home to Barnsley where I think he had his best ever game for us.
Jones has constantly talked well of May, and did today after the game, but I question if May naturally fits into Jones’ style of play where he has previously gone for power and pace.
I can see May playing at 10, where he can be very influential, and he has the work rate. Either sat behind a front two or behind a big man. Yet, with his goal record a promotion push without May seems futile.
I am casting doubt over his future here, just because I am trying to piece together some clues, but why there are doubts as to his Charlton future is total bonkers.
Alfie has scored 66 League One goals in the last three seasons, 75 (SEVENTY FIVE) goals in all competitions. I had to capitalize that vidi-printer style because I’m not sure where else you go for a strike record like that.
Additionally, selling him to probably a L1 promotion challenger makes even less sense.
There will be wholesale changes, there has to be, but all Addicks hope that Alfie is part of a Charlton renaissance next season.
Chicago Addick 
With his talent (and staying fit) 30 league goals in a season is possible . What frustrates me is the lack of ability of the midfield to play him into those goalscoring positions. You’d think that over a season we would have worked that out.
Sisyphus is right that a striker needs good service, which has been lacking this season. We lack a playmaker which is probably why Camara was signed but was unable to deliver because of injury problems. Coventry was signed in January but seems to be a linking player who rarely plays a killer pass. He also seems weak in the tackle so is unlikely to be able to take on the defensive midfield as per Dobson. Taylor has only had a couple of appearances for the U21s in recent months so may still be recuperating from injury. Academy players Kedwell and Gough are promising but will need more time. I think we will need to sign a defensive midfielder and a play maker.
I was hoping the Wickham signing would work out but he seems to be injury prone. Casey and Mbick are prolific goalscorers for the Academy sides but will also need more time.
Thanks rierti. Good insight as usual into the youngsters. Who is the next break through player?
I think that the player to make a breakthrough would be Assimwe who seems to have been ignored by NJ after impressing earlier in the season. As I said above the most promising U18s will need more time but may get some experience through loans. As our season draws to an end I will follow Bromley in the National League playoffs. You may have noticed that in yesterday’s win against Altrincham Myles Weston scored 2 goals. Myles was a Academy CAFC graduate many years ago. he is now a veteran of 36 years
Hi CA.
I completely agree with your comments regarding Alfie May. Over the years there have been a number of successful Big Man, Little Man partnerships up front. Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips at Sunderland, Peter Withe and Gary Shaw at Aston Villa to name two that immediately come to mind.
I really hope that NJ has the good sense to realise that Alfie’s goals quite probably saved us from relegation this season. His expert positioning and anticipation in and around the penalty area, which enabled him to score 23 goals this season, would undoubtedly have seen him reach an even higher number had we possessed a decent playmaker. Please NJ, do not discard the best natural goalscorer in League 1.
Hi
Recent Alfie May Article
I read with much interest and agreement your well worded article on Alfie May regarding being substituted and his desire to win the Golden Boot award. A down to earth nice bloke
I wrote a reply to you recently when I mentioned both my amazement and disbelief that Alfie in two recent matches was substituted on 60min in both matches. One of these was Barnsley at home when he scored to superb goals that Clive Mendonca, Derek Hales & Darren Bent would be proud of. (Alfie is for me the lower leagues Jimmy Greaves, his goal scoring over the past seasons testament to this). And to make matters worse in the Barnsley match we got a late penalty which was missed. If Alfie was still on the pitch it would have been his hatrick. Explain to me why Nathan Jones has substituted him as he has, knowing the lad is going for the Golden Boot. I mention in my previous comment that I would not pay £10 to watch the Wycombe match if Alfie was not in the starting line up, he was so I paid the £10. Then came an appalling first half, we are a bad team and our league position shows this. Some of the young good technical players such us Kanu & Anderson as appreciated do not have the experience and in this match not the upper body strength and lack physical ability at the moment. The to my total amazement Alfie was substituted at half time, all known g he is by far one of our best players and leading scorer plus going for the Golden Boot. For God sake keep the lad on the pitch – but no! To me this on the part of Nathan Jones is very poor man/player management. And indeed over the last several matches also. Soon as I saw he was substituted at half time I turned off my computer and glad I did for a dreadful match.
Perhaps, just perhaps, Nathan’s short tenure at both Stoke City & Southampton may relate.
Now today I learn he won the Player of The Year along with winning the Golden Boot.
Question: Where would we be this season with out Alfie’s goals? Not in league 1 for sure.
There is some hype around the place for next year and rumours that Alfie may not be in Nathan Jones plans or some Championship clubs where looking at him and he could be sold.
This hype being positive for next at the moment I do not support. Finally on closing, if Alfie goes so do I and I will follow him to which ever club he goes to. My message to Nathan Jones is do not cut your nose off to spite your face. You can build a team round Alfie!!
Nice to see my friend JL making comments on your site, we were neighbours in Plumstead many years ago, he now lives in Brum. Best wishes to Cathy and your good self.
Hi With dobo going and the way NJ plays May I can see us fighting reg again. May is still running after 100 mins, when the defenders are out of steam. He reminds me of Vardy