Tony Adams will take Portsmouth down, fears old pal Paul Merson

Minister of silly talks Tony Adams shored up flagging Portsmouth with two signings yesterday - but Paul Merson fears his old pal is still doomed.

Adams is fighting to pull Pompey out of a nosedive that was illustrated by their 2-0 FA Cup surrender at home to Swansea at the weekend.

Boss Adams has landed £1million midfielder Hayden Mullins from West Ham and Portugal Under-21 star Pele on loan from Porto.

Tonight Portsmouth face Champions League wannabes Aston Villa at Fratton Park, hovering just three points above the Premier League drop zone.

But Merson - who helped Pompey to reach the top flight under Harry Redknapp six years ago - is concerned that his old Arsenal chum has taken over a sinking ship.

Merson scored 99 goals in a 15-year career for the Gunners.

And he warned: "He is in a rough place - Harry Redknapp got out of that place at the right time.

"In fact, they are in freefall.

"Tony was never going to turn down the chance of managing a Premier League side, but the way Pompey are going they might not be one next season.

"The fact of the matter is Pompey went as far as they could go under Harry - top eight finishes, an FA Cup win and European football is punching way above their weight.

"It doesn't matter if Tony has money to spend on new players.

"He ain't going to get a better striker than Jermain Defoe and he ain't going to get a better midfielder than Lassana Diarra. Tone has his work cut out.

"If Pompey attack teams, they lose 3-0. If they try to defend and nick one they never look like scoring.

"I saw the other day they have just offered midfielder Richard Hughes a new contract.

"No disrespect, but when I was there six years ago he couldn't get in our side - and we were only in the Championship."

Merson, speaking in Arsenal's official monthly magazine, added: "Pompey need better players. I love the club, I respect Tony and I wish him the very best of luck between now and the end of the season . . . but I fear the worst.

"It reminds me of Sammy Lee. He was never going to turn down managing Bolton, but he followed Sam Allardyce and couldn't maintain the standards."

Adams, who has won only four of his 19 games in charge since Redknapp's defection to Tottenham, moved to halt Pompey's slump by bringing in Mullins on a three-and-a-half year contract.

And Mullins will be expected to provide a protective screen for Pompey's defence, which has sprung 15 leaks in the last five home Premier League games.

Adams said: "I've looked at more than 150 players and Hayden was one that knows this division.

"I'm looking for him to do a midfield dog's job for us - to sit in there and break things up for us, work hard, win his fights and keep the ball simple.

"Pele is maybe one for the future. I've seen him play a couple of times for Portugal's Under-21s and he looks a good talent.

"I know Manchester United were half looking at him, and we're going to keep him for a while and see if he can pick up the pace.

"He's a strong boy with a good engine and technically very good."

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