With Blackpool due in town at The Valley this weekend and the weather set to take a summery turn before Saturday's action, there's a lot to be positive about - not least because of the Addicks' hot start to the season.
After a close fought win at Shrewsbury last weekend, thanks to Gassan Ahadme’s first goal for the club, we are hoping for more of the same at home to unexpected strugglers Blackpool. The Addicks are joint top on 13 points with Wrexham and Birmingham although in in third place because of goal difference and will be hoping to keep up the momentum to prove that we're going to be much more than extras this season in League One's self-styled Hollywood narrative.
However Blackpool won't be coming to put their feet up on the deckchairs along the side of the Thames. Just like their northern neighbours Bolton Wanderers, they've found themselves in the unexpected territory of the bottom six in League One, after coming so close to the play-offs last time round. They had a very poor August in the League despite some great performances in the early rounds of the League Cup. Those weren’t enough to keep previous manager Neil Critchley in his job but saw Steve Bruce taking over the helm.
Bruce's tenure has started off with a 2-1 home victory over Exeter and a narrow League Cup defeat to his former club Sheffield Wednesday. Albie Morgan made his first appearance of the season in that game after recovering from a quad injury and is likely to feature on Saturday. Interestingly, another famous face from Sheffield Wednesday's past has had his say on Charlton's present this week, with Carlton Palmer praising the work that Nathan Jones has done so far, whilst highlighting the lack of goals scored compared to the sides around us.
Right now though, sitting pretty in the division, lack of goals might not give too much cause for concern. Gassan Ahadme has got off the mark and will be hoping for more of the same at home. If we had all of our strikers fit and available it might be a different story in terms of goals scored but the script so far is going to plan for Nathan Jones and his team. A few weeks back, he called for people to judge him and the likely shape of the season on the basis of ten games or so. Saturday brings Matchday No 7 and it seems a good chance to get a few more points on the board, to prove we've got staying power for the season ahead.
Let's hope we keep the heat on the Hollywood stars of the division with another red-hot performance this weekend, remembering that both Birmingham and Wrexham are due to put in matinee performances at The Valley in October.
Photograph courtesy of Rhea Spencer-Newell