Che Adams has dropped down the pecking order at St Mary's with a goal less start to his Saints career, but that does not mean to say he won't come good, he just needs time and the opportunity.

Che Adams will be frustrated by his start at Southampton, there were big hopes for the ex Birmingham player after a great season in the Championship and his move to St Mary's, but a lack of goals does not mean it has been all bad for Adams and although he hasn't hit the net yet, he showed some good touches and the ability to make a chance for himself and it should be noted he has featured in 3 out of the 4 Saints wins so far.

He has had some good chances and at times he has been desperately unlucky not to register on the score sheet with only some good goalkeeping denying him or at times bad luck, but he has not been afraid to keep doing the right things.

But he will of course be worried that he has made 11 Premier League appearances without scoring, but he can take heart from the fact that there are those that have gone before him who haven't had instant success after joining Saints, but have gone on to have good careers at the club.

Sadio Mane for instance scored only once in his first 11 appearances for the club and there were some in the early part of that season who claimed he was the worst signing since Ali Dia.

Jay Rodriguez in 2012/13 came with a similar pedigree as Adams, free scoring in the Championship, but he was not an initial hit at St Mary's, he took 8 Premier League games to register his first goal and it would be another 8 before he got another.

Even further back James Beattie was slow to get off the mark in 1998/99, although he scored in the League Cup he would not net in the Premier League until his 10th game and it would be another 9 before he hit his second, 5 Premier League goals in his first season did not have the fans purring and the following season he did not score at all, but he went on to have a good career at the club.

So sometimes patience is needed with strikers even the best of them go through barren spells and it doesn't help when that happens when you join a club.

Adams has also had the problem of getting into the team, Danny Ings is scoring for fun and other like Djenepo and Nathan Redmond are doing a job in the side, he will have to bide his time, but that could make him more hungry.

So those writing him off so quickly would do well to look back at history and give him the chance to prove his worth, there will be a tme this season when he will be needed and that will give hm the chance to step up to the plate and show he is worth a place in the team.

Saints have placed a lot of faith in Adams they need to keep it hopefully reap the rewards as they did with Mane, Rodriguez and Beattie.

Photo: Action Images

TripleNiemi added 13:15 - Dec 12 Provided Ings continues to stsy fit and bang in the goals then why place any pressure on Adams anyway. Its if Ings gets injured that tge pressure will mount on players like Adams and Obafemi. Are people already writing Adams off then?!?
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underweststand added 13:21 - Dec 12 Coming into the Prem. is a challenge for even the best players, and the difference between the top of the Championship and the bottom of the Prem, is much more than just 6 places. (look at Fulham, Cardiff and Huddersfield's short-lived time at the top level.) To be fair to Che, he wasn't the worst performer early season as we struggled to get consistancy into our play, and he got little support before being dropped after just 6 matches, whilst we select Redmond who has managed just one Prem. goal in 14 starts. Neither Redmond or Long has a proven record of consistant goal-scoring and we can thank Danny Ings for his tally , or we would be in an even worse situation. (if possible) I think we should give Adams a run of starts (and leave Redmond on the bench for the first hour) ...the outcome could hardly be worse. If for no other reason than he must gain confidence and get a few goals otherwise we will become known as the club who happily pay out £15 million+ for players ...and then loans them out before they can't perform. Bad buys ..or bad team selection ?

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Saint4Life247 added 15:01 - Dec 12 I'd probably be inclined to start him on the bench with Ings/long starting. RH like to pressurise the opposition when they have the ball so bring Che on when one of the other 2 starts to tire. He like Obafemi could easily run non stop for the last 25-30mins of a game and really upset the opposition defence. He will score, no doubt about that but we need to support and encourage him

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highfield49 added 15:22 - Dec 12 Just as, in golf, it's impossible to sink a putt that doesn't reach the hole it's also impossible to score goals if you're not on the pitch! As has been said, luck hasn't gone his way but like Mane, JayRod and many others it's just a question of game time and support from the crowd to get him on his way. I still think he could be an absolute bargain signing and will prove his doubters wrong.

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KriSaint added 01:52 - Dec 13 Thanks Nick, been waiting for an article about this. T. Henry didn´t score before he scored against us...., after 10+ games, I believe. Good comparison with Beattie. Young, talented, difficult start. I am sure Adams will come good. Look how unlucky Adams was with two fine finishes vs Sheff. U. Had those two gone it in, who knows how many goals Che could have scored by now. Let´s give the lad our unlimited support.

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