David Moyes column: I'll pick between Adrian and Joe Hart for the good of West Ham... not England

Manchester City last Sunday, Chelsea on Saturday and Arsenal next Wednesday... there’s no disputing this is a testing period for us just now.

The performance in the first of these matches, against City, was a significant improvement. In the end, despite all our efforts, we came away pointless, although there were a number of positives to be taken from the game and everyone played their part.

That game has gone, though. Yes, as a manager you always learn a great deal from every match your team plays, especially when you are still new to the job, but you have to move on quickly to the next challenge — and that comes on Saturday when Chelsea visit the London Stadium.

One of the main talking points from our point of view will inevitably be who will be our goalkeeper.

With Joe Hart ineligible for the City game, Adrian came in and did very well. So what happens now?

First of all, I would want to say that Adrian’s performance gives me a good problem because I’m looking for keen competition for places in this team. I don’t want anyone to feel they have a divine right to play.

We have two good goalkeepers and every manager is looking for that. I’m not going to reveal just at this moment which of them will be playing on Saturday. Talking generally, Adrian did well against City but Joe is an exceptional goalkeeper who has qualities which may go unnoticed, such as his communication, his influence in the dressing room and his invaluable experience.

I am also aware that he is England’s first-choice goalkeeper and there is a World Cup next summer but, as West Ham’s manager, I am only interested in winning matches and doing what is right for this club. I do believe, though, that you have to have some consideration for the players involved and any decision I make will take due account of their welfare.

The competition is tight. When I came in, I was told that Adrian was chomping at the bit for his opportunity and that was always going to come, both in cup games and against City at the very least.

He’s done himself no harm following his performance last weekend and it might be that it’s going to be tough for both of them, since whoever gets the nod might need to play very well to stay in.

As a manager down the years, I’ve been confronted by hundreds of selection decisions. Undoubtedly the toughest was at Manchester United every week. They had a squad of players who had been constantly rotated, but there were still so many quality players whom you were frequently unable to use. The bottom line is you can only pick 11 at any one time.

The contrast to that was when I first went to Everton where we didn’t have a big squad and so, when the injuries came, you had to pick your young players. The bigger clubs now have really good youngsters but they find it a struggle to get game time.

Saturday's match also throws up some other debates. Against City, we had three different systems ready to use: one at the start; another as things progressed; and a third towards the end of the game.

I chose Michail Antonio to play up front because, the way they play with their defence pushed right up, we needed someone who could run beyond them with pace and power. My thinking was that, if we needed someone to take the ball 30 yards to their goal, who would I pick? Michail was the answer for me and I quite liked what he did.

We played a particular way last Sunday and to a large extent it worked, but Saturday we are at home and we need to cause Chelsea some problems. The challenge Chelsea bring will be slightly different to that posed by City. For a start, Chelsea in the main have played three at the back, while City play four. For us, the bottom line will be to get things tactically right so we have the best opportunity to win the match, while at the same time staying in the game when they are exerting pressure on us, as they will.

It’s been good to have a six-day break between matches. That won’t come again for a while now with the hectic schedule approaching, but we’ve had some good sessions on the training pitch and rather than me getting to know the players better, it’s been more the other way around as far as what is expected.

One of the main messages has been — and will be — that if they are not going to put in the effort, then I won’t play them. I don’t care if a player is a supporters’ or a club favourite: if they don’t do the running expected of them, if they don’t put the work in, then I won’t select them. If I also see, during a match, that they are fading, then I will have no hesitation in taking them off.

In addition, I want only to pick players who are 100 per cent fit. When they come into the team, I want them to be able to make a difference. This is the way it has to be.

The fee for this column is donated to Richard House Children’s Hospice: richardhouse.org.uk

I can’t wait for London derby

I’ve experienced most things as a manager but Saturday will be my first London derby as we take on Chelsea.

Coming from Glasgow, I know all about the Old Firm derby and then, as a manager, I’ve sampled the intensity of Everton and Liverpool and also the City v United clash in Manchester. Because there are more of them in London, perhaps it’s not quite the same, but I am sure the Arsenal v Tottenham games have a special atmosphere.

I’m told that West Ham v Spurs games are also equally relished by our fans, but I am sure they also can’t wait for Saturday's east versus west London game.

If you are talking about original derby matches, then I’m told Chelsea v QPR would be one, while West Ham v Millwall was another. I am sure we will have a special atmosphere on Saturday, though.

The fans at our most recent home match, against Leicester, were tremendous in the second half and, believe me, it means a lot, both to the players and the management when they hear that kind of support.