Reuters Soccer Blog

Are clubs to blame for naming Adams and Ince in the first place?

For the second time in less than two months a young Englishman who had a great playing career has been sacked as the manager of a struggling Premier League club.

Tony Adams was dismissed from Portsmouth on Monday after being in charge at Fratton Park for just 16 league matches, one league match less than his old England team mate Paul Ince lasted at Blackburn Rovers.

Ince, the self-styled “Guv’nor” of his playing days became the ex-guv’nor of Blackburn Rovers in December.

The two played almost 120 matches for England between them and more than 1,200 club games during their respective playing careers at Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, West Ham United and Inter Milan among others — yet together lasted just 33 games as Premier League bosses.