I hope this blows over and Adams stays
OVF editor Rob Fielding reflects on Micky Adams’ threat to “quit” following a confrontation with the fans at Ashton Gate and concludes – he wants Adams to stay.
After busgate and then twittergate should we call this Ashton Gate-gate?
Rob Fielding writes…
What is it with Bristol away trips? Last season, the Vale’s promotion campaign nearly imploded at Bristol Rovers after Ryan Burge’s Twitter storm and manager Micky Adams fury at personal abuse from fans. Now, after a thrashing at City, the manager says he’s on the brink of quitting after more alleged abuse from a number of fans. After busgate and then twittergate should we call this Ashton Gate-gate?
Firstly, I would like to make it clear that I wasn’t at the City game. My location in Aylesbury and late working hours make it difficult for me to attend most mid-week games.
However, after reading the OVF forum, it appears that like most controversies, there are two sides to this affair. Yes, of course Micky Adams should not have been subjected to personal abuse but there’s also the counter-argument that he should have not have directly confronted fans after such a poor away performance.
I would warn those Adams critics to be careful what you wish for. For every Rudge, Horton or Adams we’ve also had the likes of Sinnott, Glover and Gannon…
Some will understand the manager if he quits after this level of abuse, while some see it as a convenient exit strategy for a manager who many claim is unhappy at the Vale.
My personal views may not appease some of the fans who appear ambivalent to Adams leaving but I would warn those Adams critics to be careful what you wish for. For every Rudge, Horton or Adams we’ve also had the likes of Sinnott, Glover and Gannon. While Micky Adams is not perfect, he’s better than a lot of managers out there and I would personally rate his achievement in gaining promotion last season as one of the very finest feats in the club’s long history.
I feel that a lot of what is being said on both sides right now is being said in the heat of the moment.
I also feel that some fans should look beyond their personal prejudice against Adams…
I hope the manager reflects that while “vile” abuse should never be tolerated, perhaps it wasn’t wise to a) confront fans who had travelled a long way at some expense and witnessed a shockingly poor performance and b) take questions from the press so soon after the event.
I also feel that some fans should look beyond their personal prejudice against Adams. While the manager has courted controversy with his directorship, the exit to Sheffield United, his somewhat abrasive attitude and occasional spats with fans, we should perhaps remember that a football manager’s job is not a popularity competition.
When it comes to the crunch, Adams has been a tough, professional, dedicated and talented manager. Yes, it doesn’t work all the time (as Ashton Gate clearly shows) but at the moment I would argue he is still much in credit for the way he has turned the club around.
I hope the manager’s words were said in the heat of the moment and he reflects and reconsiders his threat to “quit”…
He’s also human. Behind all that “tough Yorkshireman” façade is a human being and no-one should be expected to put up with personal abuse without it affecting them. So, I hope the manager’s words were said in the heat of the moment and he reflects and reconsiders his threat to “quit”.
I also hope that those fans who state they would be happy to see him gone also reflect on those words. For me, the crunch question for fans is – would Vale be better or worse if Micky Adams leaves? I believe the answer is “worse” and that’s why I would like him to stay.