Nathan Jones Prioritizes Charlton Athletic’s Performance Over League One Table
Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones is adamant that his focus remains squarely on his team’s performance, rather than their position in the League One table. Despite Charlton sitting in second place after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Shrewsbury on Saturday, Jones is not letting the standings distract him from the goals he has set for his squad.
The South Londoners have played one more match than most teams in the league after opting not to postpone their last weekend’s fixture against Rotherham due to international call-ups. With four wins from six matches and just one defeat, Charlton is hot on the heels of table-toppers Wrexham, trailing only on goal difference ahead of the Welsh team’s upcoming match against Birmingham City.
Jones emphasized that he is solely focused on the targets he has set for his team, regardless of where they currently stand in the league. “All we can do is what we can do,” he explained. “It doesn’t matter where we are, who is above us or what people do around us. We have a set of goals, a set of targets that we need to achieve. We are on track at this point in time, and that is all we can do.”
The Charlton manager stressed the importance of looking beyond the current standings and focusing on the long-term goals of the team. “What matters is where you are in 39 games, going into that final game. Right now, we’re in a position where we want to be, but we are nowhere near the team we aim to become. It’s a good start, but we must not get carried away.”
Building a Strong Defensive Foundation
One of the key aspects of Charlton’s impressive start to the season has been their defensive solidity. Goalkeeper Will Mannion has kept four clean sheets in six matches, just one less than the team managed throughout the entirety of last season’s league campaign. This defensive resilience has provided a solid base for the team to build upon, as they aim to evolve into a more cohesive and fluent attacking unit.
Jones expressed his satisfaction with the defensive performances but acknowledged the need for improvement in other areas. “Unless you are Man City or Barcelona, you can’t just outscore teams all the time. You need that solid defensive foundation,” he said. “We are showing that we are very difficult to beat, which is crucial. However, I want us to become more fluent in our attacking play. We need to move the ball better and be more clinical in front of goal.”
The Charlton manager emphasized the importance of evolving into a well-rounded team that can both defend resolutely and attack with purpose. “We can’t just rely on clean sheets. I want us to evolve into a team that can control games and create scoring opportunities consistently. It’s a process that takes time, but we are making progress from where we were last season.”
Looking Ahead and Staying Grounded
As Charlton continues to climb up the League One table, Jones remains focused on the journey ahead rather than getting caught up in their current position. He emphasized the need for his team to stay grounded and continue working hard to improve with each passing game.
“It’s important to stay focused on our goals and not get distracted by external factors,” Jones said. “We have a long season ahead of us, and our success will be determined by how we perform in the remaining matches. We cannot afford to become complacent or lose sight of what we want to achieve.”
With a solid defensive foundation in place and a clear focus on improvement, Charlton Athletic under Nathan Jones’ leadership is poised to continue their upward trajectory in League One. By prioritizing performance over league standings and staying true to their goals, Charlton looks set to be a force to be reckoned with in the weeks and months to come.