Carl: More To Come

Carl Fletcher says West Ham fans haven't seen the best of him yet - because he hasn't seen it himself!

Carl feels he can go on steadily improving as a player under the tutelage of Alan Pardew and explains:

"I am learning every day through training and games and I am just trying to adapt to the Championship level.

"All the lads have made me feel welcome so I can't complain; I just need to get my head down and work hard.

"There is more to come; I am trying to improve my game as I have been for years and years - hopefully being here will help me do that."

Carl's progress since joining West Ham from Bournemouth was interrupted by international fortnight, during which he picked up a bug while on duty with the Wales squad.

"There was a bit of a virus going around the Welsh camp which knocked me out for a couple of games, unfortunately, but thankfully the lads got a good result with a good performance on Tuesday," he says.

"If you have good competition in the squad it can only help the players on the pitch - everyone is fighting for places and everyone has to earn their place."

As for that tour of duty with Wales, he adds:

"Personally and team-wise it was disappointing and getting two defeats was not what we wanted.

"England are a good side and it was probably more disappointing to lose to Poland though they are a good side as well.

"It will all change now with a new manager coming in and so forth so we will just have to wait and see who they put in."

As far as domestic action is concerned, he says:

"The games keep coming but that is what we are paid for, and you need a big squad nowadays with injuries and suspensions.

"We have players to come in and do a job - it doesn't alter the team too much.

"We have to keep our consistency going and push right up to the top of the table - the next few weeks will be interesting with all the games coming up."

Looking at the Gillingham game he concludes:

"Both the fans and ourselves will need to be patient, especially if they do put a lot of men behind the ball.

Gillingham are going through a bit of a tough time at the minute so they will be very dogged.

"I have played Gillingham a few times for Bournemouth and they are always hard games - so I am sure this will be no different."