Christian - Changes Ahead

Christian Dailly says there will be changes under Alan Pardew - and they will benefit the club.

Talking of Alan's first week in charge, he says:

"He is getting across his own ways and he is very positive and very thorough; I am very excited about it to be honest and I think it is great for the long term future of the club.

"He is very professional and we are going to be fit and we are going to be strong; there will be a great work ethic and that is the least we are going to get.

"And, with the ability we have got if we get that commitment and strength then come Christmas we can really kick on.

"There will be changes in training and personnel but it is all for the good of West Ham United and that is the main thing."

The first change in personnel was the arrival of Hayden Mullins, who made his debut on Wednesday hours after signing, and Christian says:

"He did great with no training; it is a good set of boys here and whoever comes in settles in pretty quickly into a small squad.

"He was probably surprised how quickly he has found it to settle in but that is because it is a friendly bunch with a good attitude.

"I am happy to take the responsibility of helping players settle in and that is not a problem."

It is now three awaydays on the trot, and Christian adds:

"It is going to be tough but we feel that it is doesn't matter if we play home or away - we can win.

"We have gone away and won many away games this season and there are games at home that we have drawn.

"I think the best teams in the league have to be looking to win away games as well."

Despite the draw against Forest, Christian saw signs of improvement in performance, and he explains:

"I feel optimistic, definitely; we are in a good position and I think Wednesday was as well as we have played this season over 90 minutes.

"There have been games where we have played well probably in patches but have been a bit stuffy in other parts of the game.

"We knocked the ball around for most of the game quite well, and I am hopeful because we are in quite a decent position in the table - even though we haven't quite kicked on yet.

"Once we do that I hope it can be good and I think we are a bit close showing that energy for 90 minutes.

"Other teams have looked a little bit stronger in the latter stages of the game but that wasn't the case against Forest - and I think you have to give the manager some credit for that."

But he does concede that three draws in three home games is not enough, and he adds:

"I am not happy with three draws to be honest; we would have liked to have had at least four more points from the games but in saying that we are still in there and we could have quite easily have won on Wednesday because we played some pretty decent football at times there where we showed pretty really good commitment and attitude.

"Okay, they broke away and had a couple of chances at the end but there won't be many people that play against Forest and totally outpass them like that.

"It is obviously a case of just plugging away; teams are sitting back against us and showing a lot of respect and on days like Wednesday the goal was an unbelievable strike and you have got to give him credit for that.

"We had a few chances after that and at least we are unbeaten anyway at home."

And so the grind goes on with Christian not even having the luxury of a break to come in international week as Scotland are involved in the playoffs next month.

As long as he says fit for selection, though, and if Don Hutchison does the same, while David James also retains his fitness - England have a friendly - then the Stoke game will be called off as the requisite three players would be unavailable.

In addition, new signing Robbie Stockdale could be restored to the Scotland squad for the games against the Dutch as well.

"It is nonstop so everyone has to look after themselves right and prepare for it," admits Christian.

Meanwhile, Hayden Mullins has now had the luxury of a training session ahead of the Cardiff game and he says:

"We had a warm-down Thursday, a session today, and it is just a case of trying to get on with it and learn as much as I can."