How does Nathan Jones play

I spent a little time these last few days looking at some videos and articles on how Nathan Jones set up his teams, mostly Luton of course.

I mean, at the moment for us it is substance over style. We haven’t kept a clean sheet since Nathan Jones first went to choir practice, and on Saturday go into our biggest game for many years.

So, I think for almost all Addicks we just want the Welshman to get us back to basics and bring a bit of pride back.

However Jones does have a particular style of play which he perfected at Luton and attempted to at Stoke and then Southampton but found that hard in a much more rarified environment.

Charlton’s management team have attempted to create a vision of play around a 3-5-2, and in fairness to them that was not going to be achievable in one transfer window.

It appears that the new manager is going to be allowed a lot more control than Holden and Appleton, and I am really wishing that Jones is able to get us away from this transfer window to transfer window mentality, it has become I think the fulcrum for all of the other ineptitudes that the squad currently represents.

We have given 20 debuts to players this season and 39 different players have played in the 30 league games. That clearly has to stop and we can only pray that Jones constructs a foundation that enables us to grow organically little by little, but with ambition and some bloody oomph.

All we want is something to believe in. And, that is not just the Bible!

At Luton, both times, Jones predominantly used a back three formation whether in a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 but his teams were both mobile and adaptable in and out of possession.

Our defence is a shambles, worse than that even. Curbs and the best manager’s get that sorted first. Jones has options now at the back thanks to the signings of Gillesphey, REG and Ramsey plus I think our best centre-back, his namesake Jones. There is also the experience of Thomas and then Ness, who played well in front of him yesterday.

Jones is a defence first coach. Luton were very sound at the back and would switch fleetingly into a backline of five. These Charlton players need to be fit (they are much fitter now than they were under Holden) and smart though as Luton immediately after recovering the ball would move into counter-attacking 3-4-1-2 and in the final phase of the action would come across 3-2-5 attempting to sustain attacks and to keep the ball in their opponents own third of the pitch.

Luton played a high pressing game, and this was before it was super trendy, and try to win the ball back as high as possible. Jones’ team were quick and intense in the press. The three-man midfield would encompass two in a line and one sat behind as a guard in front of the three centre-halves.

Luton relied on wing-backs to provide defensive coverage tucking inside but also width getting forward. All this without passing the football to death. Attacking was often direct, long passes towards a big striker with other offensive players scurrying around looking to collect second balls. Alfie should love that, not that we have that big target man. We almost did.

This allowed The Hatters to get the ball into the offensive third quickly and then attempt to sustain pressure well away from their own goal creating overloads to win the ball back in opponents halves.

It wasn’t as elaborate a style as that sounds. This was not being played in the Champions League, but it was effective, exciting to watch and successful.

I was also always envious at the connectivity that he had with the Luton Town fans.

I’m looking forward to having Nathan Jones as our manager, but first things first, bring back some solidity defensively, more support to Alfie up top and most of all a winning mentality. I want to feel good about being an Addick again.