Tony Gale says he cannot understand the hype surrounding the
Newcastle game on Sunday.
"Glenn needs time," he says, "and four games in some of the press are getting on his back.
"As soon as players cross the white line errors happen, and there's nothing he can do about it.
"The way the team play, it is a confidence thing, because they can't just bash it and grind out results.
"Confidence is undoubtedly affected - you might be able to gloss over it a bit and say 'don't look at the tables' because you played Liverpool and Leeds away and were bit unfortunate against Derby.
"But it was a a bad result on Saturday and we can't hide from that - the performance was poor and
we have to get it out of our systems.
"That is what football is all about - the mistakes were punished by an average Middlesbrough side.
"The longer you are at the bottom it psychologically affects the players and the staff.
"But one win can take you almost to mid table."
As a former centre half himself, he is intrigued to see who will be the central defensive pairing as new signing Tomas Repka makes his home debut.
"I think Songy has had a decent start to the season," he says, "though I was critical of him and Christian initially playing - but they have got better and better.
"We'll have to wait and see, but having just spent £5m on Repka, he is going to be the first on the centre half list."
He acknowledges the problems West Ham had last week when Glenn Roeder employed Don Hutchison and Trevor Sinclair up front in the absence of Fredi Kanoute and Paolo Di Canio, who both return this weekend.
"When you take Hutch and Sinclair out of the middle you are weakening the midfield.
"I regard Trevor as the best right sided midfielder in the country apart from David Beckham.
"You can switch him up front but you are weakening the right midfield - no disrespect to Sebastien Schemmel - and when Don moves up front, though John Moncur never lets you down, that holds things up as well.
"That is the type of decision Glenn has got to make, and he is making them for the side, not for individuals.
Tony welcomes the return of Paolo Di Canio but says:
"Paolo can't help being injured but I would like to see his name on the team sheet away from home a few more times."
"If times get tougher we need senior professionals buckling down.
"The only games we have not performed in are Reading and Middlesbrough - it was a poor first half up there and I was shocked because I expected the lads to get a result; we were made to pay."
As for the likely to be absent Joe Cole, he says:
"Joe is having to come to terms with a new position which he hasn't grown into - but it won't be for the want of trying."
He thinks West Ham should take a look at the striking positions and adds:
"I'd like to see another striker on the books but I don't know how much money there is to spend.
"It is a difficult one - it is not a secret that they need another striker.
"Fredi doesn't score enough goals and Paolo is flitting in and out - and not scoring enough."
Naturally, he sees the big threat this weekend as Alan Shearer and adds:
"I was fortunate to play with Alan for a year and he is one of the best of the era.
"Give him the ammunition with Solano on one side and Robert on the other and he is away.
"The time of him running and foraging for balls is gone but he is still good going forward.
"He plays within the rules; he gives it and he takes it, and that is the sign of a good pro.
"You put a chance on his plate - he is one of the best finishers I have ever seen.
"And he is not as boring as he appears on telly!"
"Glenn needs time," he says, "and four games in some of the press are getting on his back.
"As soon as players cross the white line errors happen, and there's nothing he can do about it.
"The way the team play, it is a confidence thing, because they can't just bash it and grind out results.
"Confidence is undoubtedly affected - you might be able to gloss over it a bit and say 'don't look at the tables' because you played Liverpool and Leeds away and were bit unfortunate against Derby.
"But it was a a bad result on Saturday and we can't hide from that - the performance was poor and
we have to get it out of our systems.
"That is what football is all about - the mistakes were punished by an average Middlesbrough side.
"The longer you are at the bottom it psychologically affects the players and the staff.
"But one win can take you almost to mid table."
As a former centre half himself, he is intrigued to see who will be the central defensive pairing as new signing Tomas Repka makes his home debut.
"I think Songy has had a decent start to the season," he says, "though I was critical of him and Christian initially playing - but they have got better and better.
"We'll have to wait and see, but having just spent £5m on Repka, he is going to be the first on the centre half list."
He acknowledges the problems West Ham had last week when Glenn Roeder employed Don Hutchison and Trevor Sinclair up front in the absence of Fredi Kanoute and Paolo Di Canio, who both return this weekend.
"When you take Hutch and Sinclair out of the middle you are weakening the midfield.
"I regard Trevor as the best right sided midfielder in the country apart from David Beckham.
"You can switch him up front but you are weakening the right midfield - no disrespect to Sebastien Schemmel - and when Don moves up front, though John Moncur never lets you down, that holds things up as well.
"That is the type of decision Glenn has got to make, and he is making them for the side, not for individuals.
Tony welcomes the return of Paolo Di Canio but says:
"Paolo can't help being injured but I would like to see his name on the team sheet away from home a few more times."
"If times get tougher we need senior professionals buckling down.
"The only games we have not performed in are Reading and Middlesbrough - it was a poor first half up there and I was shocked because I expected the lads to get a result; we were made to pay."
As for the likely to be absent Joe Cole, he says:
"Joe is having to come to terms with a new position which he hasn't grown into - but it won't be for the want of trying."
He thinks West Ham should take a look at the striking positions and adds:
"I'd like to see another striker on the books but I don't know how much money there is to spend.
"It is a difficult one - it is not a secret that they need another striker.
"Fredi doesn't score enough goals and Paolo is flitting in and out - and not scoring enough."
Naturally, he sees the big threat this weekend as Alan Shearer and adds:
"I was fortunate to play with Alan for a year and he is one of the best of the era.
"Give him the ammunition with Solano on one side and Robert on the other and he is away.
"The time of him running and foraging for balls is gone but he is still good going forward.
"He plays within the rules; he gives it and he takes it, and that is the sign of a good pro.
"You put a chance on his plate - he is one of the best finishers I have ever seen.
"And he is not as boring as he appears on telly!"