Port Vale: Frustrated managers don't see the whole picture, says Adams

MICKY Adams brushed off negative comments from worried supporters by insisting Port Vale are still on track for promotion.

Vale's run of one win in four games, which has included back-to-back home defeats, has prompted an angry reaction from some fans questioning team selection and tactics.

But Adams says that's all part and parcel of football.

"Everyone is asking questions about team selection, but that's great, the game is all about opinions," he said.

"I'm experienced enough now to understand that a season is a long process.

"You're not going to get it your own way all the time.

"The thing about fans is they can all do my job.

"Everyone is a frustrated football manager, but the fans don't see the whole picture. 

"They don't work with the players on a day-to-day basis.

"I do the job to the best of my ability. Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong.

"If you get it wrong too many times, you're not in that privileged position anymore because you're sat at home.

"But if the fans are fair enough with me, they'll say I've done a decent job since I've been back at the club.

"And we're second in the table after all."Adams insisted there would be no "massive over-reaction" from him.

"Whether it's criticism, success or defeats, we'll remain level-headed and continue to do our job," he said.

"I'll leave it to other people to be hysterical.

"I don't listen to everything the fans are saying.

"I get people who tell me what's happening in the papers and fans forums. I don't read it.

"I'm not mad enough to sit there and believe everything they say.

"If I did that, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night."

Adams said one of the most difficult aspects of his job was managing the dressing room.

"The easiest thing to do sometimes is to keep making changes and not back players who we can see sometimes are not quite on the form that they were.

"But how do you get your form back? You don't get it by sitting in the stands or on the bench. 

"You get it back by going out there, having the manager backing you and having the belief and confidence in yourself to go and do it again.

"That's why I think players like playing for me. They know I'm loyal and I don't get too emotional about results.

"I'll back my players, but that only lasts so long.

"If I find the player in question's form is not there, and I've backed him, there is a time that I'll say 'have a rest, have a look at the game'. Maybe then he's hurt, and wants to get back in the team.

"There are lots of ways to skin a cat."

Adams reckons managers can get the rough end of the stick at times.

"When we win the game, no one mentions me," he added.

"They talk about players instead.

"When we lose games, they talk about me, my selections, my formations and they'd do this and that.

"But I do the job to the best of my ability, and I either get it right or wrong.

"I can speak to my coaching staff and they'll pick a different team to me.

"That's all right, because they don't have people knocking on their doors when they do it.

"I have to be mindful of personalities.

"Some are big personalities in dressing room who influence their mates.

"What people don't necessarily see is the impact of dropping one particular player on the rest of the dressing room.

"So it's about managing the squad and the situation you find yourself in."