Peter: Duo Can Do It

Peter Grant is looking forward to seeing Sergei Rebrov making his debut for West Ham United against Anderlecht tomorrow - and insists he CAN play in the same team as Teddy Sheringham.

There was, of course, a debate at Tottenham that suggested the two couldn't play together, but Peter says: "All good players can play with good players. I can understand some people's arguments against certain things when players are of a similar ilk, but Sergei is obviously a wee bit more electric, with a little more pace about him, while Teddy glides into positions.

"I would say they are completely different types of players but all quality players can bounce off each other - and it will be a good double act.

"Top players know what each other are thinking, and we wouldn't have signed them if we didn't think they couldn't play together."

Nonetheless, Peter acknowledges that competition up front is fierce, and
adds: "We always say we want people to be fighting for positions. If somebody is not playing particularly well you can leave him out, or if things aren't going right for him in certain games, or you need a different aspect to it.

"So, if you have a combination of all the four strikers, which we have, with each of them giving you something different that they can offer the team, that is good news.

"The secret for us is to pick the right combination, and hopefully the boys will give us a major headache to pick the best two with the Leicester City game coming up.

"That is what we will be looking for this season, and, if everyone can be kept fit and playing to their capabilities, that is the problem Alan and myself will welcome with open arms.

"Everyone wants to play and is upset when they don't. It's  just a matter of dealing with that the right way.

"The new players will appreciate playing in front of 35,000 every week and lads like Sergei and Teddy are built for that stage because big arenas are where they have spent most of their careers.

"The thing for West Ham supporters is that they have always had these sort of talismen that can produce the unexpected, and these two can be a massive benefit to us."

There was competition for Sergei's signature and Peter says: "I think there is no doubt that other clubs wanted him and it surprised a lot of people that he came to us. It is a major plus for West Ham, there is no doubt about that.

"A couple of years ago he cost Spurs £11m and I don't care who you are, you don't lose that ability.

"Fitness sometimes goes - but class is permanent.

"I think it is fantastic we have got him; everyone I have spoken to has told me what a wonderful player he is, for different reasons.

"It did not work out for him at Tottenham, but that is in the past now. All that concerns us is what he can do for West Ham United.

"Hopefully he has got a point to prove to people - and himself, never mind anything else.

"Everyone spoke about that lovely time he had playing with Shevchenko and hopefully he can rekindle that here. If he can, he will be a major asset for us."

Alan Pardew is confident of bringing in at least one more player before the season starts and Peter says: "You are always looking and you are never happy. If you have the best player in the world you are always looking for the one that will take over his mantle.

"You always want to improve your team and we are looking for better quality all the time while hoping to hold on to the quality we have - that is the name of the game.

"You want as much quality to open doors as possible but you also want to manufacture a team out of that. All the players have a massive part to play for the Club with different techniques.

"Some are good at some things and some are good at others - it is just a matter of combining those elements."