Tony Adams

[Bigpapa42]

Alright, I need some help here. I'm trying to get a better grasp on the Gunners history, and I'm looking for info about Tony Adams.

I know Adams is an Arsenal legend. I have managed to look up how many games he played and that. But I'm trying to get an idea of just what kind of player was he, and no description I have found of his career really seemed to give more than a basic impression. Was he a truly great centre back, the heart of the team, or just a consistently very good one? What player would he be comparable to now? Was he big and strong, or quick and athletic?

Some Gooners on here have been supporters for a long long time, so I'm hoping there are some first-hand recollections of Adams. If you would so kind as to share a memory or two, to help the newer supporters among us.

[Its only Ray Parlour]

John Terry x 10.

[Catfish]

John Terry x 10.
WOW! I knew Tony was good, but THAT good.....amazing.

[Przybylinski]

Tony Adams was a great player - tough on D - 1 nil to Arsenal says it all.

[fox point fury]

You know how angry drunks like to push everyone around and if they don't get what they want you just know there'll be hell to pay?

[impalemeplz]

You know how angry drunks like to push everyone around and if they don't get what they want you just know there'll be hell to pay?

van basten didnt seem to mind c.1988 :D. i know i might b subjected to verbal thrashing but i had to say it.

[Rapids/Arsenal Fan]

Not only was he a great player on the field, but off the field as well. He was a great defensive player who gave his entire professional career to one club, and that is really hard to find in sports these days. And he always gave a top shelf effort, even when he was battling alcohol addiction. But he turned that all around and become sober not only for himself but to serve as a role model for others on the team.

Anders Limpar once told me that Tony was the best player he had ever played with.

[Neo¹]

You should ask Topcatcole about Tony Adams. :D

[Przybylinski]

You should ask Topcatcole about Tony Adams. :D

:D :D

We might have another Kangaroo Court if that happens.

[SLO-Gunner]

You should ask Topcatcole about Tony Adams. :D
classic :D, we can never let him forget that.

[topcatcole]

:eek: You guys are brutal!!! :eek:

Tony Adams is, simply put, the Bach (that's Johann Sebastian, not Barbara) of central defending. His brilliance kept other men of great skill and ability forever out of the national team. His rapier wit kept them laughing at the bar for hours. His dominance as a leader and captain was such that only the finest defensive midfielder in the world could dare take his place.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

He is a player who feels happy to slam the likes of Patrick Vieira.

http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=275522&lid=2&cpid=8&title=Vieira+hits+back+at+Adams&channel=Football_Home

[GriffinGunner]

The context of the original comment, IIRC, was more an indictment of Viera's slight frame and build rather than one of committment, but I agree that seemed over the top. Yet, part of Adam's nature included a confidence that sometime's reached cockiness.

On topic, though, Adam's is a contender for best CD of all time. I loved his dogged determination against the skilled strikers. What Adams may have lacked in speed was certainly made up for in guile. But perhaps what was most impressive was his ability to mold the defense after his own spirit. As said above, 1-nil to the Arsenal says a lot. I venture to say that opposing teams probably got off far fewer quality shots than they do these days, very similar to what Chelsea has been doing. Arsenal's defence under Adams was typically very stingy and never let a player have time to settle and/or move the ball forward. I may even be so bold as to say Arsenal's defensive play played a huge part in elevating Seaman's career.

[SLO-Gunner]

He is a player who feels happy to slam the likes of Patrick Vieira.

http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=275522&lid=2&cpid=8&title=Vieira+hits+back+at+Adams&channel=Football_Home

From the poster who feels happy to finish third for the second year running.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Considering everything that has happened recently, I am not that surprised.

[Lanesra]

He was 10 times the captain Vieira is, when the chips were down he woul be in the middle of the pitch spuring the team on, not walking around with his head down. Sure he had his off field problems, but drinking was part of the game in those days, some of the players just took it to far, tony was one of them, but despite his problems he never went missing.

After he fell or was pushed (alegedly)down the stairs at Ra Ra's night club a few days before we played Ipswich in the Fa cup, he took to the field wearing a large bandage on his head and his face bruised, promptly rose like a salmon to thunder in a header in our 4:1 win, he also scored the goal that avenged our semi final defeat against spurs, scoring in our 1:0 victory 2 years later, after years of being taunted and being called a donkey by the scum fans, i'll never forget the The Arsenal fans singing 'The donkey won the Derby'.

I could go on, the man was, still is, a legend, in my Eyes the greatest captain we've ever had.

[bergkamp10]

He was 10 times the captain Vieira is, when the chips were down he woul be in the middle of the pitch spuring the team on, not walking around with his head down. Sure he had his off field problems, but drinking was part of the game in those days, some of the players just took it to far, tony was one of them, but despite his problems he never went missing.

.

Lee Dixon briefly comments on leadership at Arsenal.


There is no dominant figure, no father figure. It's more of a group thing, without leaders. I don't see a Tony Adams standing up to say, "Look, this is going off here, we've got to get our heads down and fight". Groups of men - whether in football or, say, in the army - need to be led. I don't see that sense of leadership from Vieira, certainly not in the way Adams used to lead. For me, Tony led by example. You'd get a tingle down the back of your spine when he was trying to inspire you, especially when we were losing, when we needed to get a goal. That's gone from the dressing room now. I'm not saying it was better when I was there - it's just different. A different mentality and attitude.'

[Owen Gohl]

Those looking for more on Adams may want to check out his book "Addicted:"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0002187957/qid=1115678357/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/202-7713769-7861456

I believe that he was the youngest captain England has ever had.