Brian: I'd Love To Stay

Brian Deane reveals that he wants to play at least one more season beyond this one at Upton Park.

Brian, looking to score in his third consecutive game when he starts at Bradford on Saturday, says:

"At the end of the day I want to play as much as I can, so I have to look at myself from that point of view - and I am looking to carry on doing what I am doing.

"I would absolutely love to stay another season and that is probably one thing that at some stage I am going to have to look at because I am enjoying myself here, definitely so, and I think that has shown with my goals.

"And I hope the fans are enjoying me being here, so we will see how it goes from there."

As for the recent changes to playing personnel, Brian adds:

"I have played a lot of football now and people have come in and complemented the team.

"It is quite easy to adapt; at the end of the day I am a striker and people know what my strengths are - and that is helping me to get on the score sheet.

"As a forward you always look at what your contribution is and the ultimate contribution at the end of the game is to have got on the score sheet - but that is not just what my game is about."

Both of West Ham's goals against Rotherham were from set plays, and Brian adds:

"It is nice to score whether it is tap-ins or six man moves or whatever - but it has been nice to get a couple of goals from set pieces.

"They are like a free chance, really, and it is nice that we managed to get a couple."

The acquisitions this week of Bobby Zamora and Jobi McAnuff have added to the competition for a place at Bradford and, Brian, with his wealth of experience, has had the opportunity to judge them at first hand in training.

He likes what he sees and says:

"They are good signings for the club and it is up to them to adapt to our style as well now."

Will he dispense any words of wisdom to Bobby?

"I think it is more a case of we all help each other and we all look to improve - and competition improves that," he says.

"There are plenty of goals in the strikers."

As for the departed Jermain Defoe, Brian adds:

"I wish Jermain good luck; he is a fabulous player and a good lad as well.

"That is football; the club got good money for him and he is one of those players that is a special talent.

"I have not really paid much attention to the politics but from his own point of view maybe he felt he wanted to be in the Premiership."

As he says, though, there is plenty of talent up front with David Connolly getting the Evening Standard player of the month award being testament to that.

"David has been really good in the last month so I think that is fully deserved; he played really well against Sheffield United and scored a good goal against Wolves, and played really well last week, so well done to him," says Brian.

And Alan Pardew is equally delighted, adding:

"He fully deserves it; he has worked ever so hard whether playing up front or in a more withdrawn role and he is an excellent professional."

As for the weekend action at Bradford, Brian concludes:

"It is not going to be an easy game up there but on the back of the last couple of results I think we can at least look at the game and think we have a good chance of winning."