Scott Parker: West Ham needs to stick together, tough out rough patch
West Ham United captain Scott Parker says it is no time to hide as the club continues to struggle through the early season.
Parker scored during the 1-1 draw with Stoke City. This gave West Ham the club's first point of the Premier League campaign. Parker says every player in the side has to shape up and form a united front.
Parker said: "We have to put up a front.
That's exactly what's needed now, it's going to be a tough season for us.
There's no hiding from the fact that it's going to be difficult. When you play in the Premier League there is no hiding place. But the one thing we have to do
is stick together, no matter what is written and who says what."
West Ham is going through a rough start to the football year. The club still sits bottom of the league and needs to win some games quickly to start climbing the table.
There are many areas that West Ham needs to tighten up if the club wants to secure three points in any game. There is also a chance that the pressure on Parker could mute the captain's performances.
Tightening up
West Ham's defensive play has to be better. The back four and the goalkeeper don't seem to have the best relationship and this has to change. Goalkeeper Robert Green is going through a bad patch of form
and this means the defence has to concentrate harder to take more of the pressure.
West Ham has to be deadlier in front of goal. The club has some very good attacking players. The likes of Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna would do well at most Premier League sides but they must convert
more chances.
Faith must be given to the manager Avram Grant. Grant has been the subject of criticism and abuse from various sections of the West Ham crowd but he has only just joined the club and needs time to develop
the team. Grant should have the team playing efficient football within the next few weeks.
The captain
Many pundits agree that the big performer for West Ham so far this season is Parker. There is a lot of pressure on Parker to carry the team at the moment and this is dangerous
because it could damage the way the captain plays.
A player can only carry a side for so long before cracks start to appear. There are numerous leaders all over the West Ham team and these players have to take pressure
off Parker to ensure that he maintains his good performances.
Parker added: "The way things were going there were a lot of people who wouldn't
have thought we would have got a result at Stoke. But we do need to start winning. We all know that in the Premier League you can have as much quality as you want,
but you need a real desire to go and win."
Betting advice
The odds on West Ham going down are longer than other sides for a reason. The club has enough Premier League quality and experience to stay in the top-flight of English
football. Back the Hammers to be safe. The side should get results against the weaker teams in the division.
Parker seems to be in some of the best form of his career. He is a great player in the West Ham side to back to score in any game. The strikers will start scoring eventually
so be more wary of backing Parker to be top scorer at the club this year.
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