As Tony Gale looks forward to the first home game of the season, he
says that the returning Rio Ferdinand will be judged as "the
best defender in Europe" in the not too distant future.
"It will be great to see him back," he says, "but I hope he doesn't score the winner!"
Former centre half Tony, himself an example of the ball playing stopper rather than a purveyor of the up and under approach, adds:
"In my mind, in about a year or so, people will be hailing him as the best defender in Europe.
"Some of the criticisms he was getting when he was young were crazy.
"I think the boy has been nothing but class right from the start.
"He was going to make mistakes in the West Ham colours, the England colours, and the Leeds colours.
"Unfortunately we do like to knock our class players in this country - and Rio is pure class.
"I don't think the fans will give him a bad reception because he left the club in the correct manner, and he is a good young man."
Tony is fully aware that the need to bring in defensive reinforcements is paramount, and says:
"It has been difficult for managers to watch players because the season hasn't started.
"That means you are going on what you saw last season.
"As for Glenn, he didn't even know he was going to be in a job - so all of a sudden he is thrust into it, and has to start thinking about who he is going to buy.
"Then it is all about the availability of the players, and you don't want to be buying just anyone - squad players - to pad it out.
"We need about two or three players to come into that first team.
"It is at centre back that we need some reinforcements.
"Christian Dailly has played in a back five as a centre back, and I don't really think he is that comfortable playing there.
"He is a good all round player who can play at full back or midfield, but I think he has got to settle in to one position now.
"I think Rigobert Song has had a tough time when he came in, but they have to settle down because they are probably going to be the two playing against Leeds.
"They didn't do too badly on Saturday and, after being criticised, they have got back at the critics by performing well.
But even without a great deal of new faces, Tony believes that the club is heading in the right direction.
"I think, judging by everyone around the club, things have been a lot more professional, in and around the training ground especially," he explains.
"The appointment of Paul Goddard, a West Ham old boy, is a decent one and helps that more professional outlook.
"All Glenn needs now is a couple of results and a couple of signings - and things could take off from there."
He says the fans can make the difference in the first home game of the campaign, and adds:
"Let's hope the fans do get behind him - there's no reason not to.
"No-one else is coming in as boss in the foreseeable future, so it is important the crowd back him.
"Good support has always been part of West Ham, and we need that as much as ever."
And Tony's verdict on the Hammers being among the favourites for relegation?
"If you look at what we've got, and the injuries we have, and the fact we have an untried manager, I think that is why they have have made that assumption," he says.
"I think that is unfair on Glenn, though the bookies don't often get it wrong.
"I believe, however, that we can give them a little bit of a shock.
"Providing Glenn can get the right faces in over the next two or three weeks, we can kick on from there."
"It will be great to see him back," he says, "but I hope he doesn't score the winner!"
Former centre half Tony, himself an example of the ball playing stopper rather than a purveyor of the up and under approach, adds:
"In my mind, in about a year or so, people will be hailing him as the best defender in Europe.
"Some of the criticisms he was getting when he was young were crazy.
"I think the boy has been nothing but class right from the start.
"He was going to make mistakes in the West Ham colours, the England colours, and the Leeds colours.
"Unfortunately we do like to knock our class players in this country - and Rio is pure class.
"I don't think the fans will give him a bad reception because he left the club in the correct manner, and he is a good young man."
Tony is fully aware that the need to bring in defensive reinforcements is paramount, and says:
"It has been difficult for managers to watch players because the season hasn't started.
"That means you are going on what you saw last season.
"As for Glenn, he didn't even know he was going to be in a job - so all of a sudden he is thrust into it, and has to start thinking about who he is going to buy.
"Then it is all about the availability of the players, and you don't want to be buying just anyone - squad players - to pad it out.
"We need about two or three players to come into that first team.
"It is at centre back that we need some reinforcements.
"Christian Dailly has played in a back five as a centre back, and I don't really think he is that comfortable playing there.
"He is a good all round player who can play at full back or midfield, but I think he has got to settle in to one position now.
"I think Rigobert Song has had a tough time when he came in, but they have to settle down because they are probably going to be the two playing against Leeds.
"They didn't do too badly on Saturday and, after being criticised, they have got back at the critics by performing well.
But even without a great deal of new faces, Tony believes that the club is heading in the right direction.
"I think, judging by everyone around the club, things have been a lot more professional, in and around the training ground especially," he explains.
"The appointment of Paul Goddard, a West Ham old boy, is a decent one and helps that more professional outlook.
"All Glenn needs now is a couple of results and a couple of signings - and things could take off from there."
He says the fans can make the difference in the first home game of the campaign, and adds:
"Let's hope the fans do get behind him - there's no reason not to.
"No-one else is coming in as boss in the foreseeable future, so it is important the crowd back him.
"Good support has always been part of West Ham, and we need that as much as ever."
And Tony's verdict on the Hammers being among the favourites for relegation?
"If you look at what we've got, and the injuries we have, and the fact we have an untried manager, I think that is why they have have made that assumption," he says.
"I think that is unfair on Glenn, though the bookies don't often get it wrong.
"I believe, however, that we can give them a little bit of a shock.
"Providing Glenn can get the right faces in over the next two or three weeks, we can kick on from there."