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David Moyes column: West Ham can change manager but players must take responsibility

'Laid bare': Moyes has called on his squad to take responsibility: West Ham United via Getty Images
'Laid bare': Moyes has called on his squad to take responsibility: West Ham United via Getty Images

When I was the opposing manager coming to West Ham, my impression was it was always a real tough club. I still remember the team coach trying to get down the streets near Upton Park.

Now I’m down here in London at West Ham and really relishing the challenge.

It’s been a whirlwind first week or so but that’s always the way when you start a job, getting to know everybody’s name, how things work but the one area in which I always feel most comfortable is when I walk out onto that grass.

The big thing is, if you see yourself as a football club manager, it’s so good to get out there again, back out on the pitch.

That’s the really good bit and, to be honest, the minute I got the job, my concentration was just to get out onto the training ground, to really get started with the players.

I’ve found the training ground at Rush Green good, I like it. The surface we’re training on at the moment is very good.

It was cold in London earlier in the week and that surprised me — that’s not how it’s supposed to be down here!

I’ve had a lot of conversations with the players, those who have been here during the international break — plus group conversations as well.

We’ve already laid it bare. I’ve said that yes, the club can change manager but somewhere along the line, I hope the players here at West Ham can stand up and say: “We need to do better.”

I’ve found the players responsive and I do think they are ready and willing to take responsibility. What I would say to the West Ham supporters is that, from what I’ve seen in my first week or so, the players do care and they are definitely trying to do much better — that’s been very evident in the training sessions so far.

I know there has been talk that they didn’t feel they were as fit as they could be and the intensity wasn’t always there but I’ve told them that it can sometimes be easy for the players to point fingers at the management, to say it’s their fault and, personally, I would never be critical of another manager.

So I’ve said to them: “If I train too hard and the intensity is high, don’t be coming to me and start moaning that the training is too hard and we’re struggling to do the work because… you can’t have it both ways.”

The bottom line is that, if the players want more work, then that’s all well and good but they are the ones who have to put that effort in.

In a way West Ham are very much like one of the clubs I managed — Everton. Both have passionate, honest supporters, the ones who work hard all week, have a couple of pints and go to the football. I think, with West Ham and Everton fans, if they saw energy and the players doing their best, they would within reason, accept that.

We didn’t win all the games at Everton but we slowly built up a level of performance and confidence which the supporters felt was good enough and by the end they could see the work-rate, energy and the players taking responsibility.

In fact, towards the end of my time there, I used to tell the players: “You can near enough run the team yourselves,” because they knew their jobs, they knew what was expected of them on the pitch.

It’s going to take time to get to that level here at West Ham but I want the players here to be able to say: “Yes, we know what we have to do.”

I hope I will get that opportunity to be given time to change it but I don’t know if that will happen so I am very much aware I have to try and find a way to get results quickly.

There are challenges. If you ask a group of West Ham supporters at the moment, I’m not sure any of them would come up with the same team. They’ve seen little cameos of good football — and other bits of really poor performances.

A level of consistency hasn’t been reached and I’m hoping that, over the coming months, we can find it.

I’m happy that we have our coaching staff in place. We’re still looking for a fitness coach and I hope we can appoint someone in the next few weeks.

As it is, we have three assistant coaches, Alan Irvine, Billy McKinlay and Stuart Pearce.

New team: David Moyes and his backroom staff (West Ham United)
New team: David Moyes and his backroom staff (West Ham United)

I’ve worked with Alan and Billy before and I know their qualities but I am really happy Stuart is also involved.

He brings me a lot of experience since he’s been a manager himself, he was a West Ham player, he’s worked with England, he’s good with the younger players but it’s his attitude, determination and motivation which I hope will inspire some of our players.

As for Alan, he’s a ‘professor’ of the game if you like, very diligent, making sure the Under-23 squad are around the place here, ensuring everything is prepared the night before.

Billy has a really good understanding of the players and maybe is a little more chirpy of a chirpy character than myself and Alan.

I’m looking forward to having all the players back fit and well from their international commitments. Winston Reid will be the last one back today and in a perfect world we maybe wouldn’t use him on Sunday. We’re a bit short in central defence so we’ll see how he is.

My first match in charge at Watford on Sunday will be my 500th Premier League game as a manager. I don’t think there are many who have more than that, just Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson. It’s amazing how quickly time goes and — apart from last season at Sunderland — I believe my record stands up to most in terms of wins.

I would love, one day, to reach 1,000 matches as a manager at all levels. At the moment I believe I’m at around 860 games.

In the meantime, though, I’m really looking forward to Sunday. When that whistle sounds I will really begin to find out what these players can and cannot do.

The fee for this week’s column is donated to BBC Children in Need (bbc.co.uk/pudsey)