The summer transfer window slammed shut two weeks ago, but that didn’t stop Lee Bowyer for snapping up attacking midfielder Erhun Oztumer and striker Tomer Hemed. However, there’s still more work to do.
Charlton are searching for a right-back, following the sale of Anfernee Dijksteel to Middlesbrough earlier this month, leaving Chris Solly as our only right back and with the 28-year-old out with a concussion, we are quite desperate for one!
Despite centre back Deji Oshilaja putting in a Man Of The Match display at full-back against Nottingham Forest, it’s not his natural position and Bowyer wants two players for each position.
Fortunately, the club currently has two right-backs training with the team. The players in question are Tyrone Mears and Adam Matthews.
I will be going over them both and will give my verdict on who we should sign to compete with Solly for that spot in the Starting 11.
Tyrone Mears
The 36-year-old has had quite an eventful career. Mears came through the ranks at Manchester City, but made only one first-team appearance for the Blues.
He then joined Preston North End in 2002, spending four years there. During that time he was constantly struggling with injuries, which left him out of the first team on countless occasions. He actually had offers from us back in 2006, but he rejected two bids and opted to join West Ham United, where he played alongside former Charlton midfielder and current Addicks boss, Lee Bowyer.
He joined Derby County on loan for the rest of the 2006/07 season in January, before signing for the Rams permanently for £1 million at the end of the season. He then left England and signed for French side Marseille on loan in very controversial fashion, as Derby manager Paul Jewell didn’t grant permission for the deal to happen.
After spending half a season in France, he played for Burnley and Bolton Wanderers, before moving to the MLS and had spells with Seattle Sounders, Atlanta United and Minnesota United. He then returned to England and joined Championship side West Bromwich Albion, where he made seven appearances in the 2018/19 season. He was released by the Baggies at the end of the season.
Adam Matthews
The Welsh international began his career at Cardiff City, winning the Championship Apprentice of the Year in 2009/10, but it was at Scottish giants Celtic where he had his most successful period.
The 27-year-old signed a four year deal with the Hoops in 2011. In that time, he won four consecutive Scottish Premierships between 2011/12 and 2014/15, as well as the Scottish Cup in 2012/13 and the Scottish League Cup in 2014/15. This largely impressive stint in Scotland caught the eye of the Premier League side Sunderland.
Matthews signed for the Black Cats in 2015 on a four-year deal for £2 million at the start of the 2015/16 season. He was loaned out to Bristol City in March 2016 due to a lack of first-team minutes and returned to the Robins for another loan spell a season later, the same season Sunderland were relegated from the Premiership.
He spent the last two seasons in Wearside, which included relegation to League One in 2017/18 and two defeats at Wembley last season; the Checkatrade trophy defeat to Portsmouth and more memorably, the League One play-off final defeat to the Addicks.
Matthews was released by Sunderland at the end of the season.
Tyler’s Take
This is quite interesting. We have two decent right-backs training with us and both of them are experienced in different ways. Mears has played for 11 clubs and has played across the English divisions, as well as having time in France and America. Matthews’ four years at Celtic included six pieces of silverware, as well as game time in the Europa League and Champions League.
Tyrone knew Bowyer through his time at West Ham and is pretty much at the end of his career, so it won’t surprise me if he leaves at the end of the season if he joins us. Adam is still only 27, so he has some years left in him and he’ll be wanting to put his disappointing time at Sunderland behind him and have another crack at the Championship.
It’s a difficult decision for Bowyer to make, but I would go for Adam Matthews, purely because he’s younger than Tyrone Mears, he has experience of playing at the top level and he’ll be reunited with his former Celtic teammate; summer signing Beram Kayal. Matthews would be decent for us, but Mears’ relationship with Bowyer may have a part to play.
I think it’s likely to be Tyrone Mears that signs, due to his ties with Bowyer, but I would choose Adam Matthews.