Glenn Roeder says he is delighted that Gazza is back on form again
- but hopes he does not reproduce his Blackburn performance against
the Hammers on Saturday.
"I have known him since he was 16 years old and he is 33 or 34 now - it an awful long time," says Glenn.
"I know about his qualities and how he thinks, and it is nice to see him back on a football field playing football - that is where he is at his most happy.
"He played the full 90 minutes at Blackburn last week and at times he was pulling all the strings for Everton.
"We have got to be aware of that, but I won't mind him having a quiet game on Saturday, and he can then get back to his best thereafter.
"He is certainly a talent, as we have seen over the years."
Glenn says that the public image of Gazza does not reflect his true personality and adds:
"I've been out with him on many occasions and I have never had any problems whenever I'm out and about with him.
"He has always been good company and that is the bottom line with Paul - he is a good fellow underneath all the things that people say about him.
"He is a decent person who enjoys the company of other people and enjoys other people being around him.
"I have got upset in years gone by when things have gone wrong for him, although I have not been in touch with him for the last eight or nine months as it has been difficult to get hold of him.
"I am pleased to see he has come through his drinking problems because there is a long life after you stop playing football and we all want him to stay fit and healthy."
He admitted last week to being an alcoholic, and Glenn says:
"It takes great strength to come out and admit something like that, and the important thing now is that he keeps on the straight and narrow and enjoys his football.
"I think it is fair to say now that he is probably in the twilight years, the last two or three seasons."
Glenn knows only too well that players' drinking habits are under intense scrutiny in the modern game, and adds:
"I suppose we have just recently had an incident which was pretty unsavoury that involved players drinking, and it is a shame that some players go down that road, especially as nowadays, even more than ever, they are such public figures.
"It is a minority and most of the boys now are model professionals and live the right way, and it is important that players are role models for the younger players coming through."
Glenn did not alter the 'no alcohol' rule in the players' lounge - since demolished, as it was in the lower tier of the West stand - when he took over and says:
"Harry was very much for not having any alcohol around the club; there was no alcohol in the players' bar and certainly it is not allowed on the team bus."
Glenn says the win over Newcastle was a case of the team getting the just reward for their efforts at last and adds:
"I have been pleased with the players' mood and effort and attitude right from the first day, to be honest.
"Generally speaking, apart from the poor performance at Middlesbrough, I have been pleased with the performances as well.
"But there has been an extra five or ten per cent sparkle around the place because we got that first win of the season, which gave everyone associated with West Ham a lift."
And he knows that Everton, beaten in their last three games, feel they have not got what they deserve of late.
"I'm told by our people who have watched the games not to believe the results," he says, "because the performances have been a lot better than the results would lead you to believe.
"Had they come in at half time against Blackburn winning by three or four that would have been a fair reflection on the play.
"They are physically a strong side and we will have to resist that challenge and fight all the way, get the ball down, and play our own football - which we did against Newcastle.
"Walter Smith is one of the most experienced managers in the game and in Archie Knox he has an equally experienced assistant.
"They were extremely successful at Rangers, and when I first met Walter he was very good to me and let me go up there to watch them train whenever I wanted to.
"He made me feel very welcome up there; I know the way he works and he always prepares his teams so they are difficult to beat.
"But it is up to us to solve that problem and make sure we put on a good defensive display because we will need to with the aerial threat of Ferguson and the power and strength of Campbell.
"They are a very good partnership.
"Everton play a different system with wing backs, and they are keen to get the ball forward early.
"As soon as they are crossing the half way line in wide areas they are thinking about long balls into Ferguson, who is one of the best headers in the game."
In contrast, Glenn has side playing 4-4-2 this season and concludes:
"I think it is bedding in very well; we have defended well with the two banks of four, and when we have got the ball back at times we have passed the ball well."
"I have known him since he was 16 years old and he is 33 or 34 now - it an awful long time," says Glenn.
"I know about his qualities and how he thinks, and it is nice to see him back on a football field playing football - that is where he is at his most happy.
"He played the full 90 minutes at Blackburn last week and at times he was pulling all the strings for Everton.
"We have got to be aware of that, but I won't mind him having a quiet game on Saturday, and he can then get back to his best thereafter.
"He is certainly a talent, as we have seen over the years."
Glenn says that the public image of Gazza does not reflect his true personality and adds:
"I've been out with him on many occasions and I have never had any problems whenever I'm out and about with him.
"He has always been good company and that is the bottom line with Paul - he is a good fellow underneath all the things that people say about him.
"He is a decent person who enjoys the company of other people and enjoys other people being around him.
"I have got upset in years gone by when things have gone wrong for him, although I have not been in touch with him for the last eight or nine months as it has been difficult to get hold of him.
"I am pleased to see he has come through his drinking problems because there is a long life after you stop playing football and we all want him to stay fit and healthy."
He admitted last week to being an alcoholic, and Glenn says:
"It takes great strength to come out and admit something like that, and the important thing now is that he keeps on the straight and narrow and enjoys his football.
"I think it is fair to say now that he is probably in the twilight years, the last two or three seasons."
Glenn knows only too well that players' drinking habits are under intense scrutiny in the modern game, and adds:
"I suppose we have just recently had an incident which was pretty unsavoury that involved players drinking, and it is a shame that some players go down that road, especially as nowadays, even more than ever, they are such public figures.
"It is a minority and most of the boys now are model professionals and live the right way, and it is important that players are role models for the younger players coming through."
Glenn did not alter the 'no alcohol' rule in the players' lounge - since demolished, as it was in the lower tier of the West stand - when he took over and says:
"Harry was very much for not having any alcohol around the club; there was no alcohol in the players' bar and certainly it is not allowed on the team bus."
Glenn says the win over Newcastle was a case of the team getting the just reward for their efforts at last and adds:
"I have been pleased with the players' mood and effort and attitude right from the first day, to be honest.
"Generally speaking, apart from the poor performance at Middlesbrough, I have been pleased with the performances as well.
"But there has been an extra five or ten per cent sparkle around the place because we got that first win of the season, which gave everyone associated with West Ham a lift."
And he knows that Everton, beaten in their last three games, feel they have not got what they deserve of late.
"I'm told by our people who have watched the games not to believe the results," he says, "because the performances have been a lot better than the results would lead you to believe.
"Had they come in at half time against Blackburn winning by three or four that would have been a fair reflection on the play.
"They are physically a strong side and we will have to resist that challenge and fight all the way, get the ball down, and play our own football - which we did against Newcastle.
"Walter Smith is one of the most experienced managers in the game and in Archie Knox he has an equally experienced assistant.
"They were extremely successful at Rangers, and when I first met Walter he was very good to me and let me go up there to watch them train whenever I wanted to.
"He made me feel very welcome up there; I know the way he works and he always prepares his teams so they are difficult to beat.
"But it is up to us to solve that problem and make sure we put on a good defensive display because we will need to with the aerial threat of Ferguson and the power and strength of Campbell.
"They are a very good partnership.
"Everton play a different system with wing backs, and they are keen to get the ball forward early.
"As soon as they are crossing the half way line in wide areas they are thinking about long balls into Ferguson, who is one of the best headers in the game."
In contrast, Glenn has side playing 4-4-2 this season and concludes:
"I think it is bedding in very well; we have defended well with the two banks of four, and when we have got the ball back at times we have passed the ball well."