Glenn: Time To Stand Up

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Glenn Roeder has called on his players to "stand up and be counted" in order to put their inconsistencies aside.

As he takes his side to try and secure a first win at Anfield since 1963 - before all of today's players were even born! - the Hammers boss admits: "We had too many players that were under par against Everton on Sunday, and some of those players were ones that had played incredibly well in the previous two games.

"They come back home and don't play anything like what they are capable of - or how they should play.

"We have got to sort that problem out as a group, but also as individuals who have to look at themselves and get their own act together.

"I can't have people happier playing away than at home and I am not saying that is the case; nothing beats playing in front of your own supporters, in my eyes.

"Last year we had a fantastic record at home and this year it is an awful record.

"But it is only the same group of players who can sort it out, and within that framework of a team those individuals who have not come close to performing like they should have got to get their own house in order, stand up and be counted - and not hide behind anybody.

"It is a complete mystery and we are not happy at all that we have got to October and still not won a game at Upton Park, but all we can ever do is wait for the next one there and try and win that.

"But before that we are at the league leaders, and we must continue our away form, however difficult that looks on paper.

"It is frustrating when you expect to get a performance and you don't - it is a big concern.

"We have all got to shoulder responsibility and I include everyone in that. Obviously I pick the team and the players have to go out and perform.

"Every time I am convinced we are going to come home to a victory we don't get it, for whatever reason.

"We never seem to be able to get that first goal apart from the Arsenal game - and just as worrying is the fact that in six home games, we haven't scored in four of them.

"At home, the top half of the pitch hasn't been right."

Looking back on an eight day spell which saw two away wins and another home defeat, he says: "The Sunderland game was a must-win because of their position in the table.

"There was another big bonus at Fulham and we actually played better there, performing very well throughout the game even though we didn't get the goal until the 90th minute.

"I think everyone knows now that we should not have had Jermain Defoe's goal struck off for offside.

"In the run up to the Everton game I felt the players were desperate to get out at Upton Park, full of confidence on the back of those two wins, and keen to show the fans what we have been missing this year.

"Very rarely have we done what we are capable of producing and I thought our time was coming.

"Had our home fans seen the game at Fulham they would have seen that we are still a very decent side.

"But I have to put my hands in the air and say we didn't perform on Sunday until we went a goal behind - and only then we played in the manner that you would want to start in the game."

Glenn says Anfield should hold no fears, though, and adds:

"As a player you should look forward to going there, as I did - and, don't forget, we performed well up there on the first day of last season.

The match at Anfield is Glenn's 50th Premiership game in charge of the club, including the final day of the 2000-01 season when he was caretaker boss for the game at Middlesbrough.