West Ham, like other Championship clubs, are in the middle of a near two week break despite having played twice in three days over the Bank Holiday - and face a barrage of games later in September as well.
Tony says:
"That is the way the league is structured this year and it is certainly not ideal from a management point of view, in the footballing sense, and neither is it from a physical point of view because we have had a large number of games in a short period of time with back to back fixtures followed by two in three days - which isn't good for anybody involved in football.
"It is not good for the fans because they won't see the best of the players, and it is not ideal for the players themselves either.
"But that is the way the league is organised and we have to try and make the most of the situation.
"We are now in our tenth week of training and last week we have been re-addressing where we are and where we need to go.
"We have lost the international boys, but the ones that are here have been focusing on physical work and there have been a number of tests on strength, muscular endurance, and aerobics.
"There was a full battery of tests on Thursday so it was quite a tough day and then we had some upper body work with John Green to carry on that philosophy of core strength that we are trying to build up with the players.
"One of the best ways to put a disappointment such as Coventry behind you is a lot of hard work."
Tony says the two players who missed preseason training with West Ham, Luke Chadwick and Sergei Rebrov, are progressing nicely, and he adds:
"A couple of boys came in later than the rest and Luke and Serge have done very well - and Teddy Sheringham, the good professional that he is, is still setting the standards and raising the bar.
"That is fantastic at his age and he is certainly a good role model for the younger players."
As for Tony's thoughts on Clive Woodward switching codes from rugby to football, Tony says:
"I think what Clive Woodward will do is bring a management structure from another sport.
"It is unheard of in football because in the past only football people have gone into football management - but Clive Woodward has been successful in another sport and he knows players are human beings.
"He has dealt with the 'animal' and he knows how to motivate people and create a working environment.
"From a management point of view, he is an ideal man to have because he has had success at the top level.
"And if he gets the right people behind him, as I am sure he will because that's what he put in place with English rugby, he can do well.
"He built up a massive backroom staff with sports scientists and physiotherapists, an eye specialist for reaction work... it was a team supporting a team.
"It will be interesting to see if Clive is successful; I suppose it is a challenge for him and if he does well maybe that will open up the scope to look at the difference between the coach and the manager - at the top level in football there are coaches and managers and those that combine the role of both.
"But I think the football culture is something he will have to get used to - and if he overcomes that he will become very successful."