When Arsenal legend Tony Adams was announced as the new Granada manager, it was eyebrow raising for both the Spanish and English media. It was surprising to see a coach with little relevant experience taking charge of a first division side, especially in La Liga. Something very similar to Gary Neville at Valencia.
Adams became one of Arsenal’s greatest ever captains, and left the club in 2002, having achieved great success with Arsene Wenger.
The former Arsenal defender’s first Granada game took place on Sunday, and the result couldn’t have been much worse. A 3-0 loss to Celta De Vigo has only made things harder for Granada to save themselves from relegation.
Spanish outlet AS has a story about Adam’s debut today, and they’ve not taken it easy on him. It’s claimed it ‘couldn’t have been more disastrous’ and he takes all the blame for the team he lined up on the pitch.
Adams was the first manager to pick eleven foreign players (none of them of his own nationality) in the history of La Liga. Then AS claims he used a ‘classic English system’, which was actually a 4-4-2 with four central defenders at the back.
He didn’t have much choice for right-back, but there were three other left-backs available, and he still picked Gastón Silva, who despite doing this job for the national team, has never played in this role for Granada.
He’s also criticised for leaving two of Granada’s best players out of the team, and showing ‘zero knowledge’ about the opponents.
Perhaps Tony Adams can telephone Arsene Wenger for some advice.
