Charlie Kelman is involved in the Stockport County decision that Charlton Athletic may be regretting.
By the time Stockport won League Two in 23/24, Tanto had become the club’s talisman at Edgeley Park and finished as their leading scorer with 20 goals. Because of his efforts that season, he became the first Hatters player to score 20 goals in a league season since Luke Beckett in 02/03. The striker helped Stockport qualify for the third division play-offs by contributing nine goals and three assists in 42 League One games, even in his final season with the Greater Manchester team.
Olaofe, who scored 37 goals in 121 games for Stockport prior to moving to the second division, was recruited by Charlton manager Nathan Jones this summer for an estimated £1.5 million. However, the agile forward has only played 17 minutes in Charlton’s first three league games this season, making the harsh realities of Championship football more and more evident. Even though Charlie Kelman arrived at The Valley after him, he has fallen below him in the hierarchy, which may make the situation even more worrisome.
With 21 goals for Leyton Orient last season, Kelman earned the League One Golden Boot, and the minimum £2.75 million paid indicates that he was always Jones’ top striking target. Tanto didn’t play in the opening day match against Watford because Kelman started, and Kelman again began ahead of the Millwall academy product and played 60 minutes in the goalless draw with Bristol City. Perhaps most tellingly, Tanto watched from the sidelines during the match against Leicester City while Kelman received 15 minutes off the bench.
Without question, Nathan Jones has a good number of forward options this season, which has undoubtedly led to intense competition for spots that could have surprised Tanto. In addition to Kelman, the Addicks management possesses Matty Godden, who is now sidelined due to injury, and Miles Leaburn, who recently inked a three-year contract extension. Recall that Tanto only scored nine league goals (not including play-offs) in the third division previous season, compared to Godden’s 18 goals. Godden’s highest ever transfer fee was £750k, when he signed to Coventry City from Peterborough United seven years ago.
Out of all the outfield players who have played the entire 90 minutes, Olaofe has had the fewest touches (23), and he hasn’t started well, even when given a more recent opportunity in the Carabao Cup against League Two opponents in Cambridge. Following their victory over Stevenage in the first round of the Carabao Cup, Jones publicly criticised the striker for “over-thinking” chances in the final third. “That is what he has got to learn, he won’t get time in the Championship,” Jones continued, highlighting the manager’s remarks during the cup match and the standards anticipated at the Championship level.
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