Tony Adams set for Portsmouth job

After Portsmouth became the latest club to watch Harry Redknapp up sticks and walk away, assistant manager Tony Adams, the former Arsenal and England captain, is in talks with the club over the vacant managerial position, according to the BBC.

Redknapp quit on Saturday night to take over as manager of Tottenham Hotspur following the exit of Juande Ramos. Amazingly, he will still be given the freedom of Portsmouth this week despite being something of a greedy bastard turncoat. I despair for football when Bournemouth and Portsmouth fans find it impossible to hate this man. Still, there's a silver lining: there will be no Harry Redknapp bell in the city.

Adams and Joe Jordan took charge of Portsmouth's draw with Fulham at the weekend, and apparently the former has already had Redknapp put in a good word with the powers that be at Fratton Park. Jordan, Avram Grant and Sam Allardyce are reportedly Adams' biggest competition for the post. I'm sure we'll know more pretty soon - things seem to move quickly down in Hampshire.

So is Tony Adams the man for Portsmouth? I think Adams has many of the attributes needed to become a successful manager, despite a less than groundbreaking start to his managerial career at Wycombe Wanderers. Please be aware that I say this with no insight into Adams' methods or ability, merely judging him on what I've seen and heard of him while following his career.

I think he is probably largely responsible for Portsmouth's recent success. He's a clever, clever guy, and a real football man. Adams knows the game inside out, and has demonstrated tactical nous as both a player and an assistant manager (if he is to be credited with this at Pompey). As a frankly awful TV pundit, he managed to do something no other pundit seems to manage: he taught me something I didn't know.

I know it doesn't sound much, but he just seemed to have that little bit more going on upstairs than the likes of Dixon, Hansen, Brother Gavin and Shearer. I take that as a pretty good sign for Portsmouth.

My concern is that management is so much more than just tactical knowledge and coaching ability. It's about man management, motivation, mind games. It'll be interesting to see how Ol' Donkey fares if Portsmouth do the brave thing and appoint him.

What do you think? Is Adams the man for the job?

(Photo Credit: Eurosport.yahoo.com)