Glenn On Cup Tie

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Glenn Roeder says he cannot consider resting certain players for the trip to Macclesfield this weekend.

Nigel Winterburn admitted that it was a "tired" performance at Elland Road, but Glenn says he does not have the luxury of being able to switch things around following a tough holiday programme.

"It would be disrespectful to our supporters and to Macclesfield; we will put out our strongest team available on the day," says Glenn.

"We are looking forward to the game with Macclesfield to bounce back and get on with life.

"I have been really pleased with our team in the past month and losing at Leeds mustn't take away from what they achieved through December."

Glenn says the trip to Leeds illustrates why he can't afford to change personnel at Moss Rose, and he explains:

"The difference in the two worlds between us and Leeds United is that they have nine first team players injured and can still put out a team of that quality, whereas if we had that many players down we would be virtually into the reserve and youth teams.

"It is not a level playing field, but it is the same for a lot of clubs like ourselves - you have to do your very best, like we did against Liverpool.

"We came within two minutes of beating them and it was such a shame we didn't get the three points we deserved; you can get your players up on the day for the game."

Glenn admits he would have preferred to have changed things for the Leeds game to give certain players a break, but adds:

"I would have loved to have been in that position; it is a heavy programme over Christmas and I agree 100% with Tigana when he said, after his team was beaten 4-0 just recently against Tottenham, that he did not have a big enough squad to play four games in 10 days.

"I think people have got to understand there is a higher tempo and greater intensity of play now and some players now take at least two days to recover before they get it out of their system.

"It is not just us thinking that; talking to David O' Leary and his backroom staff which includes people like Brian Kidd and Roy Aitken, they feel the same.

"It affects all players, young and old, and that game was incredibly hard for Nigel Winterburn playing his tenth game in four days.

"It is not just what it takes out of them physically but mentally as well; people who haven't played the game at the highest level are only guessing what it is like, they don't actually know - they surmise, and quite often they get it wrong.

"It was a horrendous start to be two down at Elland Road after only six minutes and doesn't really give you a fighting chance.

"But the stats proved at half time that we actually had more possession over the 45 minutes but on the back of a bad start giving two goals away against a team that was flying and top of the Premiership."

Glenn wants to rid West Ham of the image of being a 'soft touch' against lower league sides and is reluctant to dwell on a record which, since 1989-90, shows defeats against Torquay in the FA Cup 3rd round [1-0], Crewe [League Cup 2nd round, 1992-93, 2-0], Luton [FA Cup quarter-final replay, 1993-94, 3-2], Bolton [League Cup 4th round, 1994-95, 3-1], Grimsby [FA Cup 4th round, 1995-96,3-0], Wrexham [FA Cup 3rd round, 1996-97, 1-0], Stockport [League Cup 4th round replay, 1996-97, 2-1], Swansea [FA Cup 3rd round replay, 1998-99, 1-0], Northampton [League Cup 2nd round, 1988-89, 2-1 on aggregate], Tranmere [FA Cup 3rd round, 1999-2000, 1-0], Sheffield Wednesday [League Cup 4th round, 2000-01, 2-1], and this season against Reading in the League Cup 2nd round on penalties.

That is 12 defeats in 13 seasons, but Glenn insists:

"Every game is different and this will be different to every other game; all I can say is that we have prepared in the correct and professional manner, and we are treating them like we would treat any Premiership team.

"We have had three terrific dossiers put together and it is about us making sure the players' heads are right on the day when the player run down the tunnel and onto the pitch.

"Their manager David Moss was a left winger at Luton and I played against him many times - and I'm sure he will want to play the game in the correct manner."

As for the injury news, Glenn concludes:

"Michael is still doubtful; as with Di Canio, he is such an important member of the first team and vital to the way the team plays, so if he is not 100% fit we will not risk him and by doing that we know he will be fit for the Leicester game."