Ralph Hasenhuttl experimented with the attacking partnership of Che Adams and Danny Ings once again on Saturday against Manchester United.
Adams, signed from Birmingham City for £15 million in the summer, has looked promising in his opening outings for Saints but has yet to find the back of the net.
Ings, meanwhile, has emerged as an important player for Hasenhuttl and has lined up in three of Southampton’s four Premier League games so far this season.
Between the duo, just one goal has been scored – Ings netted in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool – and it seems plenty of Saints fans are unsure that the strikers work effectively alongside each other…
Twitter: We have to play one up top, Ings and Adams dont work. Prowse is not a winger (@WillsfcMitchell)
Twitter: Bednarek and Vestergaard were both outstanding today, solid saves from Angus Gunn as well. Danso looks very good bu… https://t.co/8EwdxnsJGd (@JackKnutsen_)
Twitter: @L1minus10 Theres a few things I worry about really. Playing a CB out of position when we need a dominant CB is one… https://t.co/8UQ2jOuckB (@BradSaintsfc)
Twitter: Romeu MOTM today. Boufal looked lively. Good saves by Gunn. Adams and Ings look like the same player. Ward-Prowse p… https://t.co/J8PGb3mLvd (@fessdoc)
Twitter: @JackKnutsen_ Think a duo of Ings and Adams is NOT the answer. Maybe one of them + Redmond/Long? Someone with endle… https://t.co/Q1prAjzCsi (@bookMark280712)
Twitter: @L1minus10 I watched it and he was not good, and I see everyone is thinking the same. It is crystal clear that Ings… https://t.co/I3W5Cx8Ihz (@Mahmoud_SFC)
Read Southampton’s verdict
Adams and Ings have played well individually so far this season, in my opinion, but they don’t appear to have developed any form of partnership as of yet.
Both strikers are capable of performing in Hasenhuttl’s system, but at times, they appear to tread on each other’s toes, dropping deep at similar times and failing to anticipate crosses into the box.
It may be worth experimenting with a different attacking combination if Hasenhuttl does persist with a 4-2-2-2 shape, but he is presented with a frustrating paradox given that Adams and Ings are clearly his best strikers.
Either way, they both need to display more of a cutting edge in the final third, and perhaps rotating one or the other to heighten competition for places in the starting line-up would be an intelligent bit of management from Hasenhuttl.
