Tony Adams has been given a fantastic opportunity to make his mark as a Premier League manager, although it’s been a poor start to the former Arsenal captain. A 1-1 draw with Fulham has been followed by defeats against Liverpool and Wigan, making it all the more important that the Pompey gaffer recruits the right sort of playing and backroom staff as quickly as possible.
He’s already been talking up the prospect of Patrick Vieira arriving at Fratton Park, while his little black book of Arsenal old boys continues to lie open as he sets about trying to encourage Martin Keown and Dennis Bergkamp to join the party. The Dutchman currently takes charge of the Ajax youth team but Setanta reports that a return to England could be on the cards.
“I want my staff sorted sooner rather than later, really by the weekend,” Adams told The News. “I’m meeting with a few people and having conversations with a couple of old friends.
“I’ve had a positive meeting with Martin. Then there’s Dennis, who is taking the youth team at Ajax and is a good, good man.
“I’ve not spoken to him, but there are a few people I still need to talk to.
“It’s an important part. I’ve got some good people still at the club, which is great, but I need my people in and the sooner I can do that the better.
“Mind you, you don’t have to be an old Arsenal player.”
Surely what Adams should have said is ‘you don’t have to be an old Arsenal player, but it helps!’. After all, it appears that the Portsmouth manager is well and truly coming back to what he knows, and that’s speaking with every Arsenal old boy under the sun. Whatever next, Ian Wright to come in as motivational coach?
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