Alan Pardew has called for his players to come out
fighting and attack the game against Blackburn Rovers on
Sunday.
Following a run of eight successive league and cup defeats, the
Hammers boss acknowledges that the pressure is now firmly on but
insists he is in confident mood after been encouraged by the spirit
and belief in training this week.
"We have got to go out there and fight, but in the right
way," says Pards. "You can fight in the wrong way, get
over zealous and find yourselves down to 10 men or have players
with high stress levels, and we don't want that.
"At the same time we are not, despite our recent run, going
into this game on a negative note, because if we took that step, we
would be in big trouble against Blackburn. We want to go into this
game on the front foot and be attacking.
"I certainly think the application of all the players has been
very good and there are players putting themselves up for Sunday,
no one is hiding. For me, that is a sign of good things, everyone
wants to play their part."
The Hammers boss looks like having a healthy squad to pick from for
the clash with Mark Hughes's side. Tyrone Mears, James Collins
and Lee Bowyer all returned to full training this week and Yossi
Benayoun has fully recovered from the knock that kept him out of
Tuesday's Carling Cup defear at Chesterfield.
While Teddy Sheringham had to sit out Friday's session with a
sore knee, he is expected to be available for selection, and only
Carlos Tevez remains a doubt as he still carrying a knee injury.
"I genuinely feel it's important that the game is attacked
by our best possible team and that's the team I will pick, said
Pards. "Teddy has come off the bench in recent games and done
well, he also did well in the game at Portsmouth, so he's in
contention without a doubt, as are many of the players.
"We will need the type of character that Teddy possesses, and
we've got a quite a few in the team - those who are going to
not only put in the performance we need, that is to be assured and
confident on the ball, but also to cope with the pressures of the
match, in terms of dealing with the day itself to help us win the
game."
Hammers beat Blackburn in our very first match back in the
Premiership last season and did not look back from there, using the
result as a springboard for a successful campaign, and the manager
believes there is no reason why they can't draw on those same
elements for this Sunday's match against Rovers.
"No game is the same of course, but I don't think there is
anything wrong with looking back, reflecting and taking from what
has happened before," says Pards.
"Hopefully we can use it in the same way as we did last year,
the catalyst for our season to begin, if you like. It will be good
if we can beat Blackburn and say, well come on then, let's see
what we can do next, which is what we did after beating them in the
first game last year.
"You could say our confidence has been knocked a bit this
season and in my experience in football, one victory can restore
that confidence very, very quickly. For us, the way it has worked
out is that it's taking a bit of time. We want to get a win in
quickly and I know with that, our confidence will come flooding
back."
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And while criticism from all areas is part of the job, especially
when things are not going well, Pardew feels that some of it,
targeted at individual players, such as captain Nigel Reo-Coker,
has been unfair.
He also believes that the reputations earned by the players last
season will come to the fore when the team's confidence is back
on full throttle.
"I feel Nigel has come under some very harsh and unfair
criticism," he says. "I have asked him to play in a
different position for me recently, which he readily put himself up
for, not only because he is a good captain, but because that is the
type of person he is.
"With Yossi missing in the last game, I had to play him out on
the right, it's not Nigel's position but he went out there
and did what was asked of him to the best of his ability. We have
Yossi and Lee Bowyer coming back, so Nigel will be back in the
middle and I think we will see more of the strength that he most
certainly has."
Pards adds: "The players earned reputations on the back of how
well we did last season and of course, we have to justify
ourselves. But I think it's unfair to say that they are not
living up to that and there's no reason why they can't go
on and play like that this season again.
"We have a talented squad and if we can get the performances
going, put in a West Ham display that shows we haven't lost our
belief, then the confidence will come back to show how we have the
pace and power in the side to upset anyone."
Hammers know that it will be a tough physical battle against a
Rovers side who will scrap for every ball, but it is having the
belief going into the game that Pards insists will be a big key.
He says: "I feel that we are due for something to turn for us,
whether that is a key player putting in a key performance or a
little bit of luck falling our way. And to get the platform for
perhaps doing that something different, the gift of doing the
unexpected, which hasn't really happened for us yet this
season.
"What I tell the players is to never doubt. It's all about
believing in what you do, believing that your spirit is strong and
you have enough character to cope with the negatives that come your
way. The British way sometimes is to knock that, but you have to
learn, certainly as a footballer in the Premiership, to live with
that.
He adds: "I have positive staff, players who still believe in
themselves, we've got a close unit and will use what we have
from within to build the platform we need to get the win we want.
You also, of course, hope that fortune favours you and we can get
that victory that is much needed not only for the fans, myself and
the players, but for the chairman through to the tea lady here at
the Club.
"I know the fans are desperate for us to get that win, to see
some magical moments return to Upton Park and watch how this team
can flicker with life and spirit. We have learned a lot again in
recent weeks and will use that experience to get the positive
performance we need to try and win the game on Sunday."
By Laura Burkin