Glenn's Praise

Glenn Roeder is full of praise for the unselfishness of those players who have not played in their favoured positions of late.

He admits that he asked Steve Lomas, Trevor Sinclair, and Joe Cole to play, if not out of position, but not necessarily where they would prefer, and explains:

"I spoke to Steve before the Newcastle game and obviously he prefers to play central midfield - and he has played very well for us there.

"But such is the position of the team is that the team must come before the individual; there is no future in individuals coming before the team.

"If any team is to be successful every individual must be prepared to put the team before himself.

"Overall the squad of players I have got are prepared to do that and Steve said 'no problem, I want to play and if that means playing at right back so be it.'

"He showed fantastic attitude against Newcastle and because of that he had a very decent game; he has got the ability and the running capacity - and defending qualities - to play very well at right back, and I think him and Bowyer could link very well down that side this year.

"Trevor Sinclair probably had his best game for a while against Newcastle playing as a striker - and he normally plays wide midfield.

"He was very happy to do so because, like Steve Lomas, put the team before himself.

"Joe Cole, generally speaking, would like to play through the centre of midfield but I had asked Joe to play tucked in off the left and he did it brilliantly against Newcastle and scored a brilliant goal.

"We have to have players putting the team before themselves and overall we have that, but maybe one or two are not so keen.

"The team spirit is terrific, and on more than one occasion recently the boys have come back from a goal down - there is a real desire to achieve Premiership football.

"They are all inside that circle and they are all fighting for the same goal; there is no personal achievement, only team achievement.

Steve, of course, came in at right back against Arsenal in place of Sebastien Schemmel, and played there briefly before being sent off at Highbury.

On that, he says:

"There isn't a case for me to answer about Sebastien not playing - it was purely a team selection.

"There is not a lot to be said; a major part of my job is obviously team selection and a manager has to be allowed to select who he wants, when he wants - that has got to be accepted by all parties and certainly the players.

"Managers up and down the country do that every week and it is a very huge part of the job.

"Sebastien hasn't played simply because he wasn't selected to play; I selected Steve Lomas to play instead of him.

"I have to say I would rather talk about Steve's performance at right back against Newcastle because I felt throughout the 90 minutes he got more and more accustomed to the role, and I am sure he will play right back again, maybe quite a few times for us this season."

As for Seb, he says:

"I want to get back into the team but the first objective is to save West Ham and the most important thing is not me - but the team.

"I want to play for West Ham to help save them but one has to accept decisions and it is a difficult time - but with Lee Bowyer and Les Ferdinand maybe it is possible to stay up.

"I am a professional and I just want the best for the club, not problems with anyone, and I accept everything."

Ironically, the team he missed out on facing at Upton Park the weekend before last are confirmed admirers of the player, and Seb reveals:

"Newcastle wanted me last season - they tried to sign me last year, but I was very happy at West Ham.

"Obviously the ambition for this season has changed now and it has been a bad six months for everybody - but it is possible to get back to the level of last season.

"But as long as everyone is honest things will go the right way.

"I don't want to leave, that is for sure, and I wait."

Glenn says there are no communication problems at all, adding:

"I haven't got a lock on my door; I couldn't lock my door if I wanted and they know that.

"If they can't come and speak to me about football, in my opinion they can't talk to anybody.

"I am a very easy person to approach and talk to about football or anything, and I have players come and talk to me all week about football.

"As long as they knock once on the door once they are always welcome!"