Hurt Adams opens his heart

If one thing's certain after the stories of the past two days, it's that Tony Adams cares deeply about Pompey.

After his initial insistence he wouldn't give phone interviews, a beleaguered Adams - no doubt stung by recent criticism - returned The News' calls this week.

And from the conversations that ensued, two things were clear.

Firstly, that he thought Pompey's financial predicament - ie they have little spare cash - had been explained long ago.

It hadn't and Adams revealed he had been informed his budget had been cut a week before Christmas. There was more than a pang of envy when he said: 'The fact is I have not been given the financial support like Harry Redknapp.'

Secondly, the former Arsenal man is hurting, having endured a torrent of abuse from fans following the Fulham defeat. Adams tried his best to reason with Pompey supporters only to be shouted down and told in uncertain terms he was not welcome at Fratton Park.

He said: 'For me, it's unusual and that's why it hurt. It was only a couple of guys angry at me, but it didn't stop me feeling bad.'

There is no doubt the Pompey boss' tactical decisions have been dicey and his bemused press conferences only add to the impression of a man lost in the job.

But this gushing display of honesty - broke exclusively in The News - could prove a turning point, if not on the field then at least in how people view him as a human being.

Our messageboards have generally been more supportive of Adams since the story broke, with fans criticising their own for the vitriol thrown the manager's way.

Perhaps fans will now see him as someone to trust their club with rather than an undecipherable shield of optimism which he has presented so far.

He needs to be himself and let people know when he's upset or angry.

Say it how it is. Fans can relate to that and will give him time, which he so blatantly need.

Let's hope it's not too late for a man who's finally come out of his shell.

Sol refuses to rise to Spurs abuse

Sol Campbell is one of football’s genuinely interesting people.

He’s interesting because, to many, he’s a mystery.

An imposing, physical presence at centre-back, he is also more sensitive and thoughtful than the average footballer.

The youngest of 12 children, Campbell is an introvert - some have preferred self-absorbed - who has received bad press for his unwillingness to enjoy the celebrity culture.

His half-time walk-out at Arsenal pointed to inner demons or at the very least a crisis of confidence.

He doesn’t fit the stereotype. He doesn’t go out on the town with the latest Big Brother reject and he loves fashion (he helped design Pompey’s FA Cup suit).

That makes him an easy target - especially for Spurs, the club he turned his back on to join their biggest rivals Arsenal in 2001.

It was an incredible Bosman move which saw him become a figure of hate.

He could not have expected anything less, although it was a move he, in principle, had a right to make.

He was, and is, an ambitious individual. Look at the interviews he gave when Pompey were building the current side and he was crystal clear the club’s ambition had to match his own.

Emerging from Fratton Park after the Spurs victory on Sunday he refused to talk to our writers.
Unlike a lot of modern players, in Campbell’s case this was pretty unusual.

He is intensely private, but he’s also a considerate and thoughtful interviewee.

On the pre-FA Cup final press-day frenzy, he was the model pro.

Along with David James, he made his way down the queue of TV, radio and newspaper hacks with a smile, making sure everyone had what they needed ahead of the big match.

Glen Johnson and Sulley Muntari refused everybody. They could learn a lot from the Pompey skipper.

Being the character he is, Spurs’ racist and homophobic taunts will not have simply been shrugged off by Campbell.

Its ferocity will have reminded him of the abuse he got when he left White Hart Lane all those years ago.

The irony is, those dishing out this personal attack support a club with strong Jewish links, the most discriminated of all minorities. Go figure.

But Campbell stood tall amid the filthy verbals and led Pompey to a comfortable victory. He willl have relished that.

I suspect, though, the abuse does not simply bounce off Campbell. He will have thought about it deeply.

It’s not the first time he’s heard it, of course, but it will have hurt. He had made his point in the best way - on the field.

With the win secure, having to talk about why the opposition fans chanted he had HIV probably did not appeal.

I think he can be forgiven for that.

Put your feet up Niko

Niko Kranjcar does not strike me as a naturally fit athlete.
Whenever the talented Croatian is a yard off the pace, it shows.
When he first joined Pompey he was sluggish and at the start of this season he’s been sluggish.
However, for the season in between he’s been fantastic and without doubt he’s one of the club’s leading lights.
Last campaign proved he had adapted to the Premier League, but by the end he looked like he was feeling it.
Then instead of resting, he had the demands of a European Championship with Croatia to deal with.
The result, despite additional time off, was he came back to England and looked knackered.
His ruptured ankle ligaments, therefore, is a blessing in disguise.
No injury is good news, but providing he comes back focused and puts in some hard yards, he’ll have had the rest he needed in the summer.
Pompey will get a classy ball-player back on top form ready for the Christmas period.
They’ll resist the temptation to flog him to Arsenal or Monaco and and he’ll orchestrate a Pompey surge into the top six.
That’s the plan anyway!