Glenn - Three-sy Does It

Glenn Roeder is working towards bringing in a trio of loan players when the transfer window opens in January.

"With the amount of wages that I know is available I know I could probably squeeze in three players," he says.

"I am working on one particular deal as I have been over the last couple of weeks - and the chairman has been very supportive to me."

Glenn is in defiant mood, despite defeat at Old Trafford at the weekend, and he adds:

"We are not being wounded in terms of morale or lack of courage or team spirit.

"There was an opportunity that we thought we had got to make it 2-1, and the players could have been so disappointed that it was disallowed that they could have caved in - but they didn't.

"They kept having a go to play their way out of it, which was always going to be difficult, and I couldn't criticise the team at all - it is character building.

"I do feel people find it hard to believe and they probably look at themselves and think 'if I was in that situation I couldn't handle it' - well, I am sorry, but I can."

Thoughts of walking away are far from his mind, and he says:

"I don't even think about that; I am already thinking about what we are doing in training in the week, that is my focus, and I won't let anyone take my eye off the ball."

He is hoping the personnel situation improves soon, and says:

"It is a very small squad and we are in a big hole; it is a concern, as it would be for anybody, but I do believe that we will get out of the bottom three eventually with the players we have got to come back - and hopefully Fredi returning for Bolton.

"There was always surgery going to be needed and although I don't really believe in luck, if there is any good fortune, all I would ask is that our squad, small as it is, stays fit and healthy.

"I have no complaints with the players, they are doing everything they can, but this old 'too good to go down' quote is not something that I think is right.

"This club went down once; but we can only play a certain way and there will be no strongarm tactics.

"The disappointment is that in the previous two games we should have had six points, not one, and we would have been out of the bottom three whatever happened.

"But we didn't, and it is a big concern having played so well; we have to stay strong in our beliefs, though, and the players are showing that they are."

The Manchester United manager was again complementary about West Ham and Glen concludes:

"I genuinely believe that when Sir Alex Ferguson talks people in football listen; what he has not done in football is not worth doing anyway, because he has been at the sharp end for so long.

"I don't think he hands out complements lightly, and I am sure he genuinely means what he has said; he is an inspiration for all young managers to keep going because football can turn quickly.

"He always comes in to have a chat and I make the effort to go and see him after a game."