Adams fighting a losing battle

Tony Adams as Granada Coach was always going to be a tough sell, more so given the British bosses who have preceded him recently in La Liga.

First David Moyes disappointed at Real Sociedad, before Gary Neville put an already-flagging Valencia side into freefall.

And now Adams becomes the latest in a line of head-scratching appointments. Perhaps we’re still not accustomed to seeing British managers abroad.

Or perhaps it’s because how little anyone has seen of him on a touchline in years. Managing in the Azeri League back in 2011 was his most recent role.

The scepticism of Adams and his managerial prowess was exacerbated by the satire made of his training exercise-turned-dance routine during his first few training sessions.

His recruitment of English also-rans Nigel Reo-Coker and Kieran Richardson did little to change the image of another bumbling British tactician unknowingly well out his depth.

Much like Neville, his managerial experience is limited. Well, he surely would have learnt plenty during his during his first outing, as his side were convincingly beaten by

While Celta Vigo are a good side, in truth it was the perfect opening match. No battering by the heavyweights to further decrease morale, nor the pressure of a six-pointer against a fellow relegation-threatened side.

Adams’ reputation as a no-nonsense defender precedes him, but Granada are past the point of scrappy goalless draws. With six matches to go and seven points from safety, they need wins.

And on the day, they faced a very-beatable side. Having played in the Europa League midweek against Genk with a trip to Belgium the following week, Eduardo Berizzo made 10 changes, resting every single outfield player.

Yet his side were thoroughly beaten in the end. And in truth, the failure to compete with a second-string XI at home to La Liga’s 10th-best side is more than indicative of Granada’s current plight.

They’re now second from the bottom, with the second-worst attack and the second leakiest defence.

Since Granada returned to the top flight in 2011, they have never finished above 15th, but remarkably always survive, last season buy a single point.

Despite the conjecture regarding his ignorance of Spanish football, he will know better than most how dire the situation at Granada is. He became involved with the Andalusians last year, first joining the Chinese company that owns them as Vice-President, then as an advisor of sorts.

Even he believes he is not the right man to lead this club, emphasising the temporariness of his tenure on the touchline and highlighting the need for a Spanish Coach next season.

Along with a Coach comes the desire for Spanish players. Sunday’s match say Adams field a side featuring 11 different nationalities, none of whom were Spanish.

The club only own a handful of the first team players and rely heavily on their 13 loanees.

Motivating a group of players who know they won’t be there next season is a herculean task. Granada will go down; they won’t.

At present there seems only one outcome. Granada will go down, and with them, the stock in British managers.

Because Adams cannot save the club in six matches. But in truth, very few could.

La Liga - Club News