Roeder: "I had a chat with the players and we accept it, but what we agree on is there are certain people who are trying to put wedges between us.
"They have got no chance, no chance whatsoever. We are a small squad this year, we know that, but we have talked about it and we are very, very tight as a group of people.
"That includes the staff as well, and no matter what is thrown at us, we will stick together and fight our corner. When we get criticism, it will only make us stronger.
"I'm proud of my achievements at Upton Park, but it was a life-changing experience. That was a thunderbolt, no-one knew it was coming. I suppose having the operation and the type of operation it was gives you a different perspective on life completely.
"The small things that sometimes used to bother me definitely do not now. I am much more able to deal with things that seem quite insignificant once you have had a health scare as I did.
"In my first season we finished seventh, which is the highest West Ham had ever finished in the Premiership. But in my second season, we were without our two main strikers - Freddy Kanoute and Paolo Di Canio - for six months, and without strikers, you cannot expect to win matches.
"I still take responsibility for what happened when the club was relegated, but looking back at my two years, I would say in football terms, I hit the post."