Glenn: No Last Minute Rush

Glenn Roeder admits his mind will be on the match against Charlton on Saturday come 5 o'clock - rather than trying to squeeze a signing in before the transfer deadline...

The closing of the transfer window - to which Glenn is so vehemently opposed - being 15 minutes after the Charlton game ends, is just one further bizarre aspect of the FIFA imposed rule which Glenn is not alone in disliking.

"To all intents and purposes we didn't have the funds to bring anyone else in," says Glenn, whose opposite number Alan Curbishley brought in free transfers Robbie Mustoe and Jesper Blomqvist the day before the window closed.

But despite not agreeing with the window, he jokes:

"We can get rid of Ted Pearce, our chief scout, now and he can come back in January!"

More seriously, though, he adds:

"We are not running around anymore trying to look for short term loan signings in case we have problems with injuries because we cannot do that.

"So now the scouting camp has to specifically dedicate themselves to identifying players for next year, and already we know that there are a couple of positions that we have to fill for next season so we can target those positions and look at any potential players to come in here next year in other positions.

"But it is certainly narrows it down with the scouting department."

Speaking before the Charlton game, and looking back on the draw with Arsenal, he reflects:

"It was a winning performance; very rarely do you play a Manchester United, Liverpool, or Arsenal and win on merit.

"Normally, if you do, it is because you have had some luck because those three teams have the best squads, there is no getting away from that; those three continuously finish first, second, and third and they are the yardstick.

"People who have got no favouritism to either Arsenal or have said that we had many players who did better than their opposite number.

"But the history books will show that we let it slip and only got a 2-2 draw, so now we have to go and take the positives.

"The players proved that when they are in the right frame of mind and the motivation is right we can go and mix it with the best.

"No one can argue that, as double winners, they are just that - the best.

"Arsenal showed their class midweek with the 5-2 win over West Brom but the only game that now counts is against Charlton.

"That word 'attitude' is, without doubt, a key word, for everyone - not just in football, but in life.

"If your attitude is good, often things around you are good, and if we get that attitude and desire - as long as we get the breaks that everyone needs - we will get the result that we want.

"We have only played two games in a difficult start but' like three or four others, we need that first win."

As for the opposition, Glenn says:

"As always, against an Alan Curbishley side, Charlton will be well organised and hard to beat.

"He has got some players that are underrated, but I will make sure our players don't underrate them.

"Their supporters look on this as a big game, whether because they used to groundshare with us or looking at the ovious fact of Alan and Mervyn Day being there, there is a West Ham connection.

"Our fans look upon perhaps the Tottenham game as our big derby - but this is going to be a very tough game.

"I've seen them twice and I think that Alan said that this is probably the strongest Charlton squad that he has ever had - and I would agree with him.

"The mood of the players this week has been so positive, and I am really looking forward to the match."

Steve Lomas returned ahead of schedule to the squad, and Glenn says:

"It is good news Steve Lomas is back; he trained flat out late in the week and although our intention was not to include him until the game against West Brom, the way that he has trained we included him in the squad for tomorrow.

"I don't see why he should have a reaction because we have worked him slowly in the last seven days before he had a full blooded training session."

Meanwhile, the game at Spurs is now on Sunday, 15th September at 4.05 PM rather than Monday, 16th September.