Tony Adams: Is He Management Material?

There's an old saying that "those who can't play the game, manage the game," and it begs the opposite question: Can those who can play the game well, actually manage the game well?

Some of the managers that fans of the English Premier League would know who have had mediocre playing careers but have proven successful as managers include former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, Tottenham gaffer Harry Redknapp, and Everton manager David Moyes.  

Players with impressive playing careers and proven managerial records, however, have been far more difficult to find, with Manchester City's Mark Hughes and Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill proving to be some of the few exceptions.

Others, such as Roy Keane, Bryan Robson, and Paul Ince, have been given little time or simply haven't proven themselves to be capable managers at the highest level yet.

And now, in a similar situation to where recently-sacked Paul Ince was just a few weeks back, Portsmouth manager Tony Adams is beginning to feel the pressure.

Adams, who served as the Portsmouth Assistant Manager for more than two years under former boss Harry Redknapp, took charge of the club officially during the last week of October. The following is his record while in charge at Portsmouth:

1. Fulham (As Caretaker Manager): Draw
2. Liverpool: Loss
3. Wigan: Loss
4. Sunderland: Win
5. West Ham: Draw
6. Hull City: Draw
7. AC Milan: Draw
8. Blackburn Rovers: Win
9. Wolfsburg: Loss
10. West Brom: Draw
11. Newcastle: Loss
12. Heerenveen: Win
13. Bolton: Loss
14. West Ham: Loss

In 14 matches in charge, Adams has only managed three wins for a win percentage of less than 22 percent.

But the most shocking fact isn't explained simply by statistics; it's who these 14 matches in charge were against.

Only one match was against any member of the "big four" clubs, and seven matches against teams that were in the relegation zone or immediately outside at the time—games that a side supposedly "pushing for Europe" would be absolutely expecting to win.

Games a side that was fighting relegation would have absolutely needed to win.

At this time, I'd like to draw your attention to an article I wrote two weeks ago, in which I warned how important the holiday fixtures would be, and I predicted the exact situation that Portsmouth now find themselves in.

The question swirling around Portsmouth Football Club now is regarding Adams. Is Tony Adams cut out to be a Premier League manager right now?

But, more importantly, can Portsmouth afford to wait and find out?

Many criticized the Blackburn Rovers board for dispensing with Ince after such little time in charge, but I was not as critical of their decision as many others. Because the truth is, as great of managers as Ince and Adams might become one day, tens of millions of pounds are on the line, as well as the hopes of supporters.

Most of the time, it seems, it is far easier to dispense with the manager in order to "improve" a team than anything else. Giving a manager extra time to "right a sinking ship" is a risky proposition for all those involved.

If he succeeds, the board and boss can feel rightly pleased about a job well down. If he fails, the board and the club lose everything, and the manager has to live with his only achievement in management being relegating the FA Cup holders.

Returning to Adams' reign as Pompey boss, he has overseen bright spots like in the match against AC Milan.

But when the pressure has truly been on, Adams has failed to perform. When few were expecting us to even draw against Milan, we came close to winning. But we blew it when the pressure of expectation to suddenly win came crashing down upon us.

In quite possibly the only other good game with Adams in charge, we faced a Heerenveen side with absolutely nothing to play for.

And it has been the capitulation against sides like Newcastle, Hull, and now West Ham that are leading more and more to join the "Adams out" column.

It is even more ironic that one quite possibly the finest English defender in recent memory is overseeing a defense that is the very reason we are losing games.

Sunday's game against Arsenal is going to be absolutely crucial for Tony Adams Portsmouth future. Returning to the club where he is considered to be one of the most legendary players in their history, Portsmouth need to put in a good performance.

A win will go a long way to easing the fears of the Portsmouth faithful. A draw and a good performance will probably mean Adams holds on for at least a bit longer. A bad loss to his old side, and it may spell the end of Tony Adams' Portsmouth career.