OWTS contributor Ben Thompson is back with his second column for Game’s Gone…
Ben is a Saints fan who is currently studying at the University of Edinburgh.
He’ll be popping up with Saints-related pieces in our newsletters and you may even hear him on the podcast in the near future.
This week’s topic: Che Adams.
Danny Ings’ contract situation is still up in the air, with Manchester City the latest club to be linked.
Ralph has tried a number of forward partnerships this season, with Tella, Walcott, Redmond and N’Lundulu among the names in that pairing. All have indeed shown some promise, but none of them can match Che’s recent burst (3 in 3).
As the most experienced of the group, Adams feels the burden most in the absence of Ings but so far, he’s stepped up to the plate.
Is he doing better without Danny? It seems so…
The 24-year-old scores almost twice as many goals without Ings in the team than he does with him (0.38 per 90 to 0.20 per 90). Whether this is down to mentality or tactical adjustments, he has shown potential to be the main goal threat, a quality many felt he lacked in the majority of his first season at Saints.
Without Danny, he’s able to play higher up the pitch and to be the focal point of attacks.
He’s central to the team, rather than supplemental.
His call-up to the Scotland squad should not go unnoticed either. Again, he will now be part of a team ready to put him at the figurehead of their attack.
After all, he won’t have to perform like Messi or Ronaldo to eclipse the likes of Oli McBurnie and Leigh Griffiths.
With opportunities to play against lesser opposition at international level and time to play alongside different strikers to support him, there is hope that Adams could well progress from the “ketchup bottle” into a more consistent striker.
It’s a promising development, and a timely one with vital games on the horizon.
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