Debate: is Adams the right man for the job? | Wenger backs Adams to succeed

About six years ago, I phoned up Tony Adams. I’d read his book, met him a couple of times. He was friendly enough. “Any chance of an interview, Tony?” “Ooh, I’m a bit articled-out at the moment.” “Maybe in a few weeks?” “Well, I’ve got my exams coming up,” he said. He was doing a university course. I couldn’t help it: sometimes I say daft things, trying to get a laugh. “Should have passed your 11-plus the first time round,” I said. Silence. Uncomfortable, horrible silence.

“Hello? Hello?” I ventured. Was he still there? Had he missed my comment or ignored it? I still don’t know. But it was pretty obvious I wasn’t going to get my interview.

I tell the story because, to me, it shows how much Adams has changed. I’d heard stories from former teammates about what he was like during his playing days and I was expecting someone who’d be up for a bit of banter. But that conversation, and a brief chat at a dinner last year, showed me he isn’t like others in the game, or even like the person he was as a young player at Arsenal. He’s rebuilt himself. Now he’s serious, honest, a deep thinker, hard to predict. So what kind of a manager will he be?

He’ll have to lighten up. A manager has to take part in a bit of banter to help the squad bond. You need to know when to let the players have fun. Can Adams create a happy mood when he doesn’t come across as especially happy?

To get the most out of players, they need to like you. It can be difficult to give orders without coming across like a preacher. But being an off-the-wall or strange character won’t matter to the players as long as they can get along with him. And surely they can - his playing record commands respect, he has been at Portsmouth for a while already and Harry Redknapp presumably recommended him to the board.

There are parallels between Adams and Roy Keane. Both are reformed after wild younger days and both are intense and serious. If Keane can become one of the most promising managers around, I don’t see why Adams can’t do the same. Plenty of people in football will be hoping he does well after the honesty and determination he has shown in overcoming his demons.