Despite signing both Alfie May and Jay Stansfield during an astounding summer transfer window, ex-Birmingham City frontman Che Adams has been namechecked as the one former player who would perfectly align with Chris Davies’ system.
The former Tottenham Hotspur assistant has incorporated a possession-based approach to his new side, who routinely dominate the ball but have been set up to be dangerous in transition by optimising the wide and central channels.
Davies’ high-octane style is spearheaded by mobile forwards capable of playing off the last man, stretching defences and getting in behind with dynamism and intent, which led him to acquire May and Stansfield.
May had finished as League One’s leading goalscorer in the previous season by scoring on 23 occasions for 16th-placed Charlton Athletic, and he has already hit the ground running.
The 31-year-old has found the back of the net in each of Blues’ opening four third-tier outings and it will be intriguing to see how Davies manages to keep him firing following the blockbuster deadline day arrival of Jay Stansfield, who returned to St Andrews @ Knighthead Park for a £15m outlay, according to reports.
Adrian Clarke has given his view on Alfie May’s change of position for Birmingham City against Walsall on Tuesday night.
Stansfield flourished on loan from Fulham last term despite Birmingham’s relegation from the Championship, scoring 12 league goals. All things considered, one could quite strongly argue that a League One team has never previously possessed such a seasoned and impressive striker stable.
However, the Blues faithful are still reminiscing over Che Adams some five years on from his exit, with the 33-cap Scotland international representing a parallel profile to the way in which Davies operates his frontline.
Che Adams, Birmingham City verdict offered
According to Football League World’s resident Bluenose fan pundit Mike Gibbs, Adams is the former player who would fit in best with the current side.
Adams enjoyed a 22-goal haul for Blues in the 2018/19 Championship campaign before completing a reported £15m switch to Premier League side Southampton in the summer, who he went on to represent for five years.
“I think the one player for me would be Che Adams,” Mike explained to Football League World.
“If we didn’t have Alfie May, someone like Adams would fit in perfectly playing on the shoulder of the last man, running the channels and he’s a really good goalscorer.
“He’d complement the system really well. Very similar player to May, probably not as good a finisher I’d say, but strong, really good off the ball and obviously did really well in the Championship for us.
“I think he would tear it apart in League One, so I’d probably go with Adams on that one.”
Che Adams’ career after leaving Birmingham City
Although an initial teething period was duly required, Adams has ultimately kicked on since leaving the West Midlands.
The fleet-footed frontman was fairly prolific in the top-flight for Southampton and perhaps never quite vindicated their outlay, but he still proved to be among the goals and offered a real threat with his ability to win duels, link play and bring others into the game.
Che Adams Southampton
His most prolific season came as Southampton secured an immediate return to the top-flight last term, registering 16 league strikes at an average of 0.63 per 90 minutes.
Upon the expiration of his deal with the Saints, Adams joined Serie A outfit Torino on a free transfer back in July. He is already emerging as a real coup for Paolo Vanoli’s side and directly contributed to both goals in a recent 2-1 win over reigning UEFA Europa League champions Atalanta.
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