'I bite and I'm nasty!': Portsmouth's new smiling assassin's relishing a scrap after Derby move
The combative midfielder made 89 appearances and scored seven times for the Rams
Smiling assassin Ebou Adams has promised to inject ‘bite, nastiness and ruthlessness’ into Pompey’s Championship survival scrap.
And Derby’s former captain is relishing a ‘fresh start’ at Fratton Park after becoming a huge fans’ favourite during two impressive years in the East Midlands.
The Blues’ long-running pursuit of the tough-tackling midfielder finally succeeded last week when a £500,000 deal was agreed with the Rams on Adams’ 30th birthday.
He subsequently travelled down to link up with his new club on Thursday night, before making his debut off the bench in Saturday’s crucial 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.
Indeed, the travelling Fratton faithful were given a tantalising glimpse of the ex-Forest Green Rovers man’s battling qualities during his 34-minute Hillsborough cameo - and he’s only just started.
‘I bring leadership, energy and want to control the game’
He told The News: ‘Pompey wanted it done prior to Arsenal. Things never go smoothly anyway, so I had to bide my time, but I found out on my birthday that it was confirmed. That night I travelled down to get here to be available for Sheffield Wednesday.
‘I enjoyed my time at Derby, then things happened, but it’s a fresh start for me. If I can come and create great memories for Pompey, I would love that.
‘I bring leadership, energy, and I want to control the game with the ball and without the ball. That’s important in this league, this league is relentless and ruthless - and I have that ruthlessness.
‘I have that bite, that bit of nastiness, that’s what you need to get things over the line and it’s important.
‘Hopefully I can have a contagious smile on my face, which I play with, and I hope people bounce off my energy, which I felt like they did on Saturday at Sheffield Wednesday.
‘I just want to put a smile on the face of fans and send them home happy. I have to focus on myself, but, if I am seeing a fan, a little boy or little girl watching the game happy, that makes me happy.
‘I see this as an opportunity to go to another club and create an opportunity to create a little family that I want to be part of, and to create lovely memories and play with a smile on my face again.’
Nine bookings in 26 games this season
By his own admission, Adams’ combative approach can earn him the wrath of referees, with nine bookings in 26 appearances for Derby this season.
That already equals the total amount of yellow cards collected in the 2024-25 season over 46 matches for the Rams.
In addition, he has been booked in one of his three international appearances for The Gambia this season, having represented the West African country in their unsuccessful World Cup qualification campaign.
And Adams accepts it’s a pivotal part of his game which he can never change - although he’s trying!
‘I may mistime a few, but it’s never really bad’
He added: ‘I am trying to rein myself in! I tend to get booked because of my general play.
‘I am front-footed, I want to win the ball, I want us to have the ball all the time. I may mistime a few, but it’s never really bad.
‘I will get booked, that’s just the nature of my game, I can’t get everything right, I’m not perfect. That’s the way life is and I just play football with a smile on my face.
‘With my nature and the size that I am, I give fouls and I’m going to get fouled anyway. It’s something I enjoy, I love a little battle and it’s going to happen again against Watford and Sunday (Southampton) as well. So I’m looking forward to it.’