Knibbs won't fixate on transfer delay, Kelman eyes fresh start in Championship and Brown lands permanent role
The latest review of the week - a round-up of Charlton Athletic news
It’s exactly what it says on the tin - another review of the week.
And now we have got competitive football to reflect on. What a way for Charlton Athletic to announce themselves back in the Championship - Harvey Knibbs scoring a stoppage-time winner to down Watford right at the death.
KNIBBS WANTS TO FORGET TRANSFER DELAY
Harvey Knibbs is refusing to dwell on the drawn out process before his transfer to Charlton Athletic.
The 26-year-old marked his debut for the Addicks by scoring the stoppage time winner in Saturday’s Championship opener against Watford.
The South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition post-match pod can be found here.
Knibbs signed for the south Londoners from Reading on August 1 for an undisclosed fee. He did not play a minute in pre-season for either club but took just 14 minutes to open his goal account for Charlton after coming on in the 80th minute to shoot down the Hornets.
“For a deal to happen a few parties are involved - the clubs, CEOs and agents etc,” said Knibbs (pictured below). “It stalled on a few different categories really. But the main thing is it got done in time for the start of the new season. I’m here now. I can’t change what happened. I’ve got to build up within the season and this is the perfect start.
Picture: Paul Edwards
“I was quite set on coming here. I had a lot of interest in the summer but an early conversation with him (Nathan Jones) made my mind up almost immediately - his passion for the game, team and winning sold the project so much.
“It too longer than I hoped, but I guess good things come to those who wait.”
Knibbs has scored 16 goals in each of the last two campaigns at Reading and clinically converted at the weekend once Lloyd Jones had nodded down a Conor Coventry corner.
“I use the sidefoot a lot - it’s my go-to finish,” said Knibbs. “I played with Lloyd at Cambridge and I know how good he is at first contacts. There were a few in the first half I thought ‘that would be perfect to latch on to’.
“I tried to anticipate where it was going to land. He dropped it so perfectly and I just had to keep my eye on it and push it into the net.
“We were really good and unfortunate to not already be leading. We were already dominating the game.
“I don’t think I dreamed of it (his debut) being any better than that. It was a bit of a pinch-me moment and I’m still coming down off the celebration.
“The first priority for me is to get my minutes up, because I’ve not had a pre-season. I want to get my fitness levels where I can impact and help the team.”
Picture: Paul Edwards
KELMAN: IT’S A CLEAN SLATE FOR ME TO IMPRESS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Charlie Kelman was on media duty before Saturday’s match against Watford and South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition managed to grab a few minutes with the summer signing from QPR at the club’s Sparrows Lane training ground.
The striker finished up with the League One Golden Boot last season, notching 21 goals in the competition, and that form, during his loan stay at Leyton Orient, prompted Nathan Jones to make the 23-year-old part of his squad.
Kelman featured 23 times for the R’s in the Championship without scoring but clocked up just 392 minutes in those appearances.
He was 18 when the west London club signed him from Southend United and his development came in the harsh spotlight of the first-team environment.
“It’s a clean slate for me this season,” said Kelman, who made his competitive debut for Charlton as a starter in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Watford. “Before (at QPR), was I ready? No. But I was playing on the wing or coming on in midfield - we had an injury problem at QPR at the time. I played a few games up front but for me a run of matches is five of them - that is your chance.
“Now I feel like I deserve to have my opportunity in the Champ off the back of the season I’ve just had. I know there are going to be a lot of people who question that and doubt that, but people have doubted me my whole career. It’s just down to me to prove them wrong.”
So where is last season’s Golden Boot trophy on display?
“It’s on the mantelpiece at the moment,” said Kelman, his face breaking into a smile. “It’s nice because sometimes when you’ve had a bad day - or when I was waiting for the move to come around (to Charlton) - you’re feeling a bit down. Seeing that makes you realise the hard work pays off.”
Picture: Kyle Andrews
Charlotte FC and Luton Town also held talks with Kelman. But the forward set his heart on life in SE7 after meeting Charlton boss Nathan Jones.
“We sat down after we got permission to do that from QPR and he got down all the things I am good at and what I need to improve on,” explained Kelman. “He said: ‘This is how we’re going to improve…this is what I’m going to do for you. If you buy-in then it will all click and you can achieve the things you want to achieve’.
“I’m doing all the things he wants - and more. Trying to score goals for the club.”
The 2024-25 season is easily Kelman’s most prolific in senior football. He netted 27 in all competitions.
So what made it click?
“Because I was getting in the right positions. Before a lot of managers said I did my work outside the box. As soon as I realised that, and watched my stuff back, I realised the positions I needed to get into.
“I watched the likes of Matty Godden, Ivan Toney and Alfie May, how did they get their goals? Just being off the back of people, being a nuisance and constantly on the move. It is no coincidence I got the goals I did.
"Richie Wellens was big for me. He took a chance on me for the first loan and in the second loan he believed in me. His thing was that I have excelled on the finishing but let’s work on the other stuff - let’s work on how you use your body to get those chances and how you move.
“Matty is top. Playing against teams you see it from a different angle. Even in the home game against us he had chances - just the movement to get there. I’m picking his brains and asking questions. Hopefully I’m not too annoying. I’ve only been here a week.”
Kelman has been capped at U20 and U18 level by the USA. They are one of the host nations for the World Cup next summer.
“It is every kid’s dream to play in a World Cup and represent their country. But I’ve been vocal that if I’m scoring goals and doing well for Charlton - everything else will come with it.
“So first and foremost I need to get my head down, get in the box, in the right positions and the rest will come.”
JORGE COSTA RIP
Former Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley has paid tribute to Jorge Costa.
The 53-year-old died on August 5 after suffering a cardiac arrest at Porto’s training ground.
Costa was a smash hit for the Addicks during a five-month loan spell in their 2001-02 Premier League season, making 26 appearances.
“His agent phoned me and said that Jorge needed to get out on loan," Curbishley told Charlton’s official website earlier this week, when discussing how the centre-back ended up making the move to south London. “There was a problem at Porto, he needed to be playing to go to the World Cup, would I be interested? There were other clubs sniffing around him as well.
Picture: Alamy
“This was Saturday and I said: ‘When can we talk to him?’ He said he’d bring him over the following night. He arrived at The Valley and Richard Murray and I were waiting for him. He turned up with paparazzi, pictures being flashed all over the place. He came and sat down with his agent and he didn’t really know us but he just needed to play. It wasn’t a gamble for us because I knew how good he was.
“I do have to laugh and smile when I think about Jorge. Obviously there was the song the fans would sing about him, which mentions Millwall and some of the things he did and said. I had to talk to him through an interpreter. I think we were playing away at Chelsea and I was trying to explain to him about playing against Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink through the interpreter and he just stopped me and said: ‘No problem, Jorge will sort!’ and he did. I think we won 1-0.
“He wasn’t the quickest, but he was aggressive and read the game exceptionally well. If he had his mindset then no one was going to beat him.”
BROWNY’S NEW TITLE
Steve Brown has been appointed as head of youth partnerships, a permanent role at Charlton Athletic.
The former Addicks centre-back has been a regular co-commentator on the club’s in-house media TV channel for a number of years.
A statement on Charlton’s website added that Brown will “provide strategic football advice to the club’s board”.
Picture: Paul Edwards
The 53-year-old will retain other positions he already held including being chairman on Charlton’s Ex-Players’ Association and serving on the Charlton Advisory Board in the ex-player seat.
Club chairman Gavin Carter said: “Steve knows what Charlton can be at its best, and he understands the standards and hard work required to get there.
“He brings strong football knowledge, a deep understanding of the club’s identity, and real insight into the wider game.
“Steve has been a trusted sounding board for me since I first got involved. I’m proud he’s chosen to commit to Charlton and continue his own career development here. He will be a great asset as we move the club forward.”
LYLE TAYLOR OPTS TO PLAY ON
Chelmsford City have signed Lyle Taylor, 35.
The former Charlton striker, whose goals helped fire the south Londoners to League One play-off success in 2019, left Colchester United at the end of last season.
Chelmsford play in National League South and finished 11th last season.
Taylor top-scored for Colchester in the previous campaign but was sidelined for the run-in due to a calf injury.
He told Clarets TV: “I absolutely loved it (at Colchester). For eight months I was trying to sign a new contract there. Goal posts were moved, that’s just how things go in football. We scrambled and what we came up with was a project that in my opinion is going to go places.
“A year ago I said to my agent I want to play football for one more year, I want to try and get promoted and just try to enjoy it. Four months after that I was trying to sign a new contract. I owe Colchester a lot. Dan and Nick (Cowley) helped find me a place where I was treated really, really well.”
Picture: Keith Gillard
TYKES TAKE A CHANCE ON WATSON
Tennai Watson has sorted his next move following his release by Charlton Athletic, landing a League One contract at Barnsley.
The 28-year-old right-back has signed a deal with the Tykes until the summer of 2026.
Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane said: “Tennai is a player who knows what it takes to be successful in this division.
“He’s athletic, disciplined and brings a competitive edge that will benefit the whole group. We’re looking forward to working with him and integrating him quickly into the squad as we prepare for the remainder of the season ahead.”
Watson was an unused sub in their 3-2 win over Burton Albion on Saturday.
He made 21 appearances in all competitions for the Addicks last season - including replacing Thierry Small in the second half of the League One play-off final victory against Leyton Orient.
Really enjoying this Substack content thanks Rich