Alfie May, a Charlton Athletic striker, has had a fantastic first season with the club.
May joined the Addicks from Cheltenham Town in the summer, and he has had a significant effect at The Valley, scoring 21 goals and giving two assists in 40 appearances across all competitions this season.
Charlton has had a dismal season, but May’s goals have helped the club avoid relegation.
However, May’s playing time has been slightly reduced since the arrival of Nathan Jones in early February, with him beginning on the bench in two of the Welshman’s five games in charge.
After May was used as a late substitute in the 3-3 draw at Bolton Wanderers last month, Jones explained his decision to bench the 30-year-old.
“We didn’t drop Alfie May today. What we did was try to find a way so that when the game opens up – he hasn’t scored in a certain amount of time – so same as we did with Freddie [Ladapo, who scored from off the bench against Lincoln in midweek], sometimes you have to really toil at the start and then chances come late on when the main strikers are tired.
“We thought bring him on at 60, the game will open up and he’ll get chances. But Dan [Kanu] was in such good form that we just brought on Chuks [Aneke] on. It not terms of dropping people, it’s a fact of using four strikers to win a game and that’s what we’ll do.”
The Addicks are currently 18th in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone, ahead of their crucial clash at Cheltenham on Tuesday night.
Charlton Athletic supporter comments on the Alfie May scenario.
FLW’s Charlton Athletic fan analyst Ben Fleming thinks he understands Jones’ decision to bench May and is unconcerned about any potential conflict between the two.
“I don’t think there’s anything to be concerned about,” he added.
“Nathan Jones mentioned a few weeks ago, when he first benched Alfie, that we now had four fit strikers, with Daniel Kanu returning from loan, Chuks Aneke returning from injury, and Freddie Ladapo joining.
“Miles Leaburn also might make a return before the end of the season.
“Alfie May has started a lot of our games this year and he went through a bit of a patch where he wasn’t scoring, so bringing him off the bench against more tired legs can allow him to have an impact on the game. “I still think he’s our best striker at the club, but it’s about giving him a rest on the bench for a few games and giving teams different things to look at, Kanu has been great since he’s come in. “I don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about, I can understand it. “You still want Alfie May starting a lot more games than not, but he’s had an impact off the bench, he had an impact against Derby scoring that penalty. “Kanu and Ladapo have impressed to the point
It’s generating competition for spots, which Alfie hasn’t had all season, so perhaps it’ll motivate him to go even better than he did in the first half.
“We’re going to need his goals and his impact in the final few games of the season to try and keep us up, so I understand where Jones is coming from and hopefully it pays dividends.”
Nathan Jones should be trusted with the Alfie May call.
It’s understandable that some Charlton fans were surprised to see May on the bench in recent weeks, but Jones should be trusted.
May’s only goal in his last ten appearances came from the penalty spot against Derby County, and after starting the majority of the Addicks’ games in the first half of the season, a break could help him regain form.
Daniel Kanu and Freddie Ladapo have impressed in recent weeks, and with Chuks Aneke returning from injury and Miles Leaburn due to return before the end of the season, the forward positions are hotly contested.
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