West Ham manager David Moyes has spoken about the need for time with his new-look squad as they prepare to face Everton this weekend.
The Hammers head to Goodison Park on Sunday to face Frank Lampard's Toffees, who are yet to win in the Premier League this season, but currently sit ahead of Moyes' side on goal difference ahead of their meeting this weekend.
West Ham have been buoyed by recent wins against FC Steaua Bucuresti and Silkeborg in the UEFA Europa Conference League since their last Premier League fixture at Chelsea, and Moyes is hoping that his players will take confidence from those victories into the game at Goodison Park on Sunday.
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Below is every word Moyes said on his new-look squad, Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and more, including his side's opponents Everton and his opposite number Lampard.
David, can we start with some team news?
"Well, I'll need to check them all yet from last night, but we start again and as far as we are aware, everyone is ok."
How important is squad rotation going to be, with the games coming thick and fast, and particularly so for players like Declan Rice, who plays every game and is probably likely to for England at the World Cup as well?
"I think it is important to try and use the players as best as we can. The boys who were on international duty in the summer had a really late return, Declan especially, and it took them time to recover. We had something like 60 games last year, so they had a really busy time. But that builds up some resilience as well in terms of the regular games and from our point of view, we are always trying to improve with Declan and the other players, and we are trying to look after them as well."
Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen are both in the England squad. Jarrod may not have hit the same heights as last season yet, but is it a show of faith from Gareth Southgate to have him in the squad again?
"Well, I'm beginning to see Jarrod [Bowen] coming back to it, there are little bits coming back and signs of it. If you think about last season, I thought Declan Rice was fantastic at the start of the season last year, whereas some of the England players didn't find that same level as much, but that can happen. I think with international football and the rest time you get in the summer can play a part in that, but I am seeing good signs with Jarrod."
That Chelsea game must seem a long time ago. But there are signs that the performances have been better than the results?
"I think that. We played really well against Tottenham, a really good Tottenham team and we played well against Chelsea, but just couldn't quite get it over the line and things went against us completely that day. There's not much we can do about that, but we are beginning to see the confidence and getting the new players a bit more integrated. Overall, the points are what we are judged on and we need to get the points, but I think our performances are improving at this time."
How important do you think these victories in Europe have been for you, particularly when Everton, who you are playing next, haven't played?
"Well, I think when you qualify to play in Europe it should be seen as a great thing, but obviously the difficult thing is then playing Thursday, Sunday. It is not a great schedule, but it has been there for a long time. But I think the players are more resilient and you try to change the squad so that you can try and chop and change the players a bit more. I hope, with time and experience, we will get better with it."
Getting two wins and scoring goals should help with confidence though going back to the Premier League?
"I think so, last year I felt that winning games in the Europa League gave us confidence. We tried to get players minutes on the pitch and tried to give them a chance. Sometimes some players who aren't playing regularly get a chance to show they deserve more regular football as well, so that does help. Obviously it is lots of games, quick turnarounds, but I would rather it be that way than the other."
What have you made of Everton's start to the season?
"I think Everton are a bit like ourselves, there is a rebuild going on and I think Frank is starting to put things together. They have obviously not had as much money to spend as they have in maybe the past seasons. I think they have got in some really good players, Conor Coady, James Tarkowski - they are very good, experienced Premier League players. They have brought in [Amadou] Onana, who we liked as well, so I think they have brought in a lot of good players. Dwight McNeil, [Neal] Maupay, so I think they are trying to put together a strong side and sometimes it takes a bit of time for all those things to work. I know that myself, we have brought in some good players and it does take a little bit of time."
One of the players you have brought in is Maxwel Cornet, who was a bit in and out at Burnley last season. Has he got to get used to the levels that you are at? He is obviously starting to show what he can do with an assist by winning the penalty last night?
"He has actually got a couple of assists in the last few games and he has started to make a contribution already. I think it is probably his lateness back into pre-season and it is getting him back into condition really. I don't mean that he was badly out of condition, it was just more that he wasn't match ready in terms of minutes. But I think we are still finding out as well, looking at how we can best use him. But if his goal had counted against Chelsea, which it should have done, he hit the post as well, and he has shown he can get a goal. If you look at his record in a short time at Burnley I think it was very good, and prior to that as well helped me to think he would be a good player to bring to the club."
Is it about keeping that level then all the time at West Ham?
"We've had a great two and a half years here, and this is probably the biggest turnaround I have had at any club for different reasons with the changes, and this is the bedding in period really where you are trying to find your way, but Maxi is in that group as well and he is getting used to us as well."
How much now is there competition for places all over the pitch, including in goal with Alphonse Areola pushing Lukasz Fabianski and up front, where you have a decision to make now over Michail Antonio or Gianluca Scamacca?
"That's exactly what we have been after. We have not had that for the last couple of years, well certainly not as much. What we have always had is a great team spirit and a great group of lads who are committed and have done well. We do have stronger competition, but bringing in eight or nine players and trying to bed them in is not an easy thing to do. Now and again, one or two of them will hit the ground running, and others maybe not quite so, but I think the players we have brought in will make a difference. It just needs a bit of time to try and get them used to the Premier League and getting results. We are showing better signs in our performances against Tottenham and Chelsea, and hopefully the wins [in Europe] will help with confidence."
With the added competition though, do you also have the problem of more players not playing and knocking on your door asking why they are not playing?
"Yes. If you look back, I have always chosen to have a smaller squad because you then keep your players playing regularly and keep them happy. But probably the biggest part of it is it gives younger players the chance to get on the bench and get small chances at different times.
"If you have a bigger squad, you have to try and utilise that and play the players as much as you can. All we can do is utilise players in these games and give them chances. We need the competition and if we are to challenge these boys at the top again, we need these players playing at their best. And if you don't play well, you will find yourself not in the team."
Do you still enjoy going back to Goodison Park?
"I hugely enjoy it. It was a massive part of my career. I had 11 and a half years at Everton as manager and you don't see that now with too many managers, few managers will get to that stage at any one club. I always have huge thanks and good feelings for Everton Football Club and always enjoy going back there, but obviously I am manager of West Ham and I will be trying to win the game."
You will be coming up against Frank Lampard. Have you always enjoyed coming up against him?
"I am glad Frank is not a player any more. He had an incredible goalscoring record for Chelsea and that's where I remember him from, being a top player.
"We have not had as many meetings as managers yet, but Frank is building a team at Everton and going in a new direction and I wish him well - but not on Sunday."
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