Tony Adams doesn't have the ability to be a Premier League manager. On paper, he has all the credentials; a giant and courageous figure as Arsenal and England skipper, he always led from the front. 
But so did Bryan Robson and he's proved a less than convincing boss.
Portsmouth, forced on to the backfoot by the lightning-quick exit of Harry Redknapp have appointed his assistant, who's only previous coaching experience lies in short-term junior roles in Holland and a spell at Wycombe Wanderers which ended in relegation. His news conference was a wishy-washy attempt at standup and demonstrates he's been caught on the hop. Adams had to take the job just as Portsmouth needed to act quickly.
"My time has come" and "Welcome to Hell, I'm coming to get you, Arsene told me". Its true, Wenger and his teenage all-stars will!
Boy, did he need Joe Jordan to keep things upright! Now Jordan's set to join Redknapp at Spurs. Bad news indeed for Adams.
Luckily, Adams has inherited a very good squad - but just how committed will they be? So many of them were tempted to unfashionable Fratton Park because Redknapp was such a credible boss and achieved so much there.
One of those must be Peter Crouch, who declared he was happy with Adams' appointment as it demonstrated continuity and he knew the man's methods and style as opposed to working for a new character.
It's just the sort of complacent attitude which can unravel a small club like Portsmouth in doublequick time. Of course some players need no motivation from their manager to play well. But most do.
By all accounts, Pompey needed the £5million compensation injection that Redknapp's departure brought. How else can we explain his cloak-and-dagger overnight beeline to Tottenham? Portsmouth obviously accepted it unconditionally.
I don't like to see Portsmouth fall over especially as they've done so well in the Premier League the last few years - but if they were in better shape, they would NOT be appointing Tony Adams.
Needs must. But Premier League standards are falling. The Credit Crunch is forcing the hand of England's second and third string Premier League clubs. Portsmouth are on their way down - and Adams is the man to manage the steady decline.
You're probably right, Jonny but give the man a chance!
ReplyDeleteIf Pompey were completely skint, they would have appointed Gazza! Shame about Ramos, I thought he was doing a tremendous job at Spurs.
ReplyDeleteI suspect Jonny is right here guys. Portsmouth will have a fairly good season but will struggle next year.
ReplyDeleteI know Mike Ashley likes a gamble, but it appears he’s not the only Premier League chairman who likes taking huge risks.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is, none of us knows how good a manager Tony Adams will be. I cannot for the life of me work out why any Premier League chairman would want to put someone in charge with so little experience in management.
His time at Wycombe suggests he might not be cut out for it.
This isn’t the first high-risk appointment. People like Gareth Southgate and Chris Coleman were given their first cracks at management at Premier League clubs, with no one really knowing how good or bad they’d be.
Good players don’t always make good managers (Bobby Charlton for example) and some very average players turn out to be excellent managers. Being a big shot as a player proves absolutely nothing about your ability to manage. Neither does being a good Number 2. Brian Clough’s long-time assistant Peter Taylor didn’t make a good manager, and I’m not convinced Carlos Queiroz will succeed in management either.
Whatever happened to young managers cutting their teeth in the lower leagues, and after proving themselves at that level getting a crack at a top flight club? Paul Ince aside, how often does that happen these days?
If I was a Portsmouth fan, I’d be far happier with someone like Swansea’s Roberto Martinez in charge. Yes, he wasn’t a world-class player, but his track record shows he’s got the basics right when it comes to management. The same cannot be said of Tony Adams.
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