Can Kelman kick on
Charlie Kelman finished his goal yesterday like the striker we had hoped we had signed in the summer.
There were some interesting interviews after the game from both Nathan Jones and Kelman, which basically said the same and I don’t expect they had time to collude beforehand. I think we all want to see Kelman wheel away cupping his ears after scoring more often. Question is, will we.
Jones talks often about the step up from League One to Championship and how some players adjust quickly, and some take time. Some of course just can’t. Then there is Lloyd Jones.
Kelman didn’t have the best start to his Addicks career. There was no pre-season after protracted transfer talks, and then he got injured just after he scored his first goal at home to Swansea.
His stats are pretty good though. It is hardly like he has missed a load of open goals, and we know clear cut chances are at a premium from this team. Each goal, and I’ll throw in the penalty have been really good and cool finishes. He has scored above his xG, and xGOT (expected goals on target). His league goal record this season is one every 2.71 games using the minutes he has actually been on the pitch. It was a goal every 1.8 games for Leyton Orient last season.
One of Kelman’s attractions in the summer was that he does score a variety of goals, but there is no doubt he has had to work really hard on changing his game to suit Jones’ style, and that also includes quadrupling his work load.
Kelman admitted that he had not been at the races in training, and without saying it, but I will, he hadn’t made any impact in recent substitute appearances. However maybe we’ve turned the corner, and when Jones says that some players take time to not only adjust but thrive in The Championship I always felt that Kelman was central to that message.
He talks well does Charlie, appears to be enjoying the journey and the football club and also understands that he has a lot to learn. He is only 24.
Kelman did not play alongside a target man last season. He was mostly at the fulcrum of a team where Richie Wellens partnered him with attacking midfielders and wide players.
It is a different skill-set required to play off a man like Lyndon Dykes or Miles, but possibly he is finally starting to crack it.
This team has struggled to score goals, and the thing it has missed most, with no Godden either, is someone that can be trusted to convert from inside the box.
I do think Jones will stick with Campbell on Wednesday as we will need an outball and someone able to get the ball up the pitch, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to see Kelman get a run in the team alongside Dykes. I can get used to that celebration.
CA.. I thought he looked sharper when he came back from injury. We did spend some money on him and I always thought he was finisher but would go missing in games. We have seen that from him this season; I agree with you in that he has had to learn a different style of play and that can be a challenge.
He is on 5 goals and you know with a strong finish to the season he may get to 10. That may even get him noticed by the USA manager… realistically though both are outside chances. Reading the flicks on by dykes can be coached by sometimes you need that instinctive movement to get that half of yard from your opponent. There have been glimpses he has that.. with Saturdays goal being a good indication.
SuperClive was a master of that, but he was older and had more league experienced than Kelman when he joined . Many other young strikers have come and gone with no sustainable development being shown, Lookman being the exception. So we have to be patient and hope he continues to improve. I think he has overcome that QPR legacy of not being able to score goals at this level. Next season will be his biggest of his career so far, double figures must be his target. When you look at bigger millions being paid for othe championship strikers, if Kelman develops, he could be a shrewd signing.
I’m hopeful that Charlie will get confidence from his performance and brilliant goal scored on Saturday.He is a poacher and given the right support will score more goals we need.I really hope he can avoid injury and show fans what we have been missing.
Call me old-fashioned as I’m sure some will. But I’ve always liked to see a striker partnership of one big ‘un and one little ‘un. Think Quinn and Phillips at Sunderland (in ten years or so almost 200 goals between them)
We could have that by utilising Dykes/Leaburn and Kelman/Godden (if Godden ever gets fit)
They’re not going to match the Quinn/Phillips partnership for sure. But could offer a year or two whilst we continue to settle into the Championship, assuming we survive this season.
CA, I think Kelman can be a really good player for us but I currently see two issues. If we play the way we have in the last two games with the team moving more forward on the front pressing in the opponents half with at least one tall front man up front with him Kelman will flourish, but if we go back to this just mostly defending in our own half and hoping we can snatch a goal, he will struggle.
Kelman is not a big striker and is not a Darren Bent type of striker, who can stay up front and thrived on long balls up to him and could outstrip defenders with his speed and we don’t have a big forward like that as both Leaburn & Dykes aren’t that fast on a quick break.
So we have to play to his strengths, if NJ wants him to get more goals and when we do need to play more defensive with everyone back, our usual previous stance, then play someone else as the main man up front for those games.
If you recall when we had May up front by himself, there were several instances of May when running back shouting to NJ he needed some help up front and NJ screming back at him to just get back up there! We don’t want that same tension again with Kelman, if he is to succeed at Charlton!
I and a few others have said, since he joined, he hasn’t been given a fair crack of the whip. Be that because of NJ’s stuborness of not dropping TC, or a couple of niggling injuries. Paired with Dykes he will score goals. He is the nearest thing to a young Godden that we have, and as stated above, he is only 24 and still learning his trade. Keep him in the starting line up NJ.
Kelman will not make it in my opinion. The few minutes of Godden recently showed just what a forward should be. Kelman is nowhere near that level even though Godden was not fully fit.
Waste of money and poor recruitment policy!!
He’s only 24 – give it a rest all you recruitment experts.
Anyway CA, did you see the German fans have decided to stop moaning and do something about VAR. Pull The Plug. Which someone literally did during a game. Need more of this rebellion against some of the crappy stuff happening to our game.
It would be very interesting to see what % of fans like VAR…ITS DEFINITELY ruiining our game in mop.
Trouble is I think it’s here to stay. But they have to do something about how long decision’s take and the stop start nature. Our beautiful game will be like an NFL game soon enough.
Regretfully I agree C A….but I hate it and from games I’ve watched fans also agree