Adams puts his stamp on Pompey

The Tony Adams era is taking shape - and it's clear he will be doing things his own way.

Whether his way succeeds, of course, only time will tell.

Bringing in Johnny Metgod to be, in effect, his number two is his biggest decision so far.

Metgod is a technically-gifted coach with experience of the English top flight. On the face of it, it looks a decent appointment.

Adams is obviously heavily influenced by his experiences in Holland but he should know - more than most - that the reality of the Premier League requires more than pretty football (unless you're Arsenal).

Nevertheless, prepare for the phrases 'total football and 'Dutch philosophy' to creep their way into Pompey reports from now on.

Be warned, though, that doesn't automatically mean success - there's not a batch of Johan Cruyffs at Fratton Park.

In any case, one look down the road at the struggling Saints' Dutch management team and it's clear that, although the future's orange, it's not bright!

Apart from Adams' coaching appointment, the other thing which has come to the fore is his personality.

I have mentioned before on this blog he is a very different man to the drink-fuelled centre-back who terrified strikers and inspired team-mates.

As we at The News are fast discovering, the new boss is a picture of sobriety and, to be honest, slightly eccentric.

Not sure how Sol Campbell and David James reacted to being called his 'babies'.

And how about this:

'I'm very positive and I'm very happy.
'Today I'm fearless. I'm okay today.
'Yesterday I was a little bit fearful but today I'm okay.'

It's a one-man counselling session on being the new Pompey manager - probably something the likes of Alain Perrin and Graham Rix can empathise with.

For us of the sports desk, it's a taste of things to come.

Let's hope there's still a successful football team involved as well.

Whatever happens, it's going to be a very different world to the one Harry Redknapp inhabited at Fratton Park.