Lee Camp on QPR (Also Dexter Blackstock re QPR)

More from Lee Camp

Nottingham Evening Post

Camp happy to undergo training ground bombardment to aid Forest's cause

Robert Earnshaw observed recently, Nottingham Forest do not score scrappy goals.

There are few five-yard tap-ins, where Billy Davies' side are concerned.

Instead, the likes of Lewis McGugan, Radi Majewski and Chris Cohen have made a habit of firing home from long-range, with McGugan in particular in incredible form from distance.

It is, as McGugan testified, the result of many hours of hard work on the training ground.

Such dedication is admirable.

But spare a thought for the men who have to face the barrage on their training pitch every day.

"I normally avoid the bombardment," jokes keeper Lee Camp. "I send Karl Darlow over to face it, when they want to do extra practice.

"He is a good keeper and a good character so he can go over there and face it.

"But, seriously, it is something they work on a lot.

"And it is reaping it's rewards.

"With this new Mitre ball, it is possible to do incredible things.

"The new ball is completely different to the ones we have had over the years.

"Normally they have been pretty similar. But this one is slightly different, it has changed quite a bit, somehow.

"It seems a different proposition. It moves differently, it wobbles more and goes up and down – all over the place.

"If you catch it right, as you have seen with Lewis McGugan – it takes off.

"The one that Radi scored against Coventry last week probably deceived Kieran Westwood in the week, because of the sheer pace he hit it with.

"You have to have good technique to get things right.

"Those two players have the technique to get it right. If they hit it hard and true, it can give you a real problem."

Camp believes the advanced position – on the left of the three men supporting Forest's lone striker – that McGugan has been playing in, has very much worked in the young midfielder's favour.

"It is a great weapon to have. Particularly with Lewis and the position he plays in," said Camp. "He probably gets a little bit more chance to do it, to cut inside and have a crack. Radi can do it as well and Paul McKenna too. You have seen the shots he has hit from time to time.

"They can all cause problems.

"For keepers, it is a nightmare. Your reaction time is next to nothing.

"If you catch it right, you are likely to score. Trust me, I know from experience."

Saturday's 0-0 draw against QPR was a big result in particular for Camp, who had two spells at Loftus Road.

And, while he may have left the club on bad terms, after finding himself frozen out of the first team picture, he says, in hindsight, that it was perhaps the defining moment of his career.

"My first full year at QPR was great – and then something just changed," he said. "I knew I had to get out. But it is what it is. These things are sent to try you and it didn't kill me, it made me much stronger.

"Their loss was Forest's gain, because it has made me stronger within and much more determined to prove people wrong. Forest have benefited from that. But, in terms of myself, I have always been confident in my own ability.

"It was never about ability at QPR. That is not why I was left out of the team down there.

"That has been proven now. No disrespect to Radek Cerny, but since I left they have brought in three or four different keepers. I never thought it was about my ability, that I was not in the side. I knew I had to get out of there.[/u]
"But it has been the best thing for me. It could not have worked out better for me. At least not unless I had signed for Real Madrid or Manchester United!"

Camp's goal is still to play at Old Trafford in the near future – in the colours of Forest.

And, while he admits that the Reds are lacking strength in depth – and that they could have made a stronger start to the season in terms of results – he remains decidedly upbeat.

"They are all big games in the Championship," said Camp. "The trip down to Cardiff this week will be equally testing. But I don't think there is a squad of Newcastle's size and quality in the division this season.

"There are good sides. If you look at the signings Cardiff made – Craig Bellamey would be a strong signing in the Premier League, never mind the Championship.

"Swansea have made a couple of decent signings, as have QPR. But you can see by the table that things are still very tight.

"A couple of wins would put us right in the mixer. I am not sure if it is as strong a division as last season, but it is certainly as competitive.

"Having said that, we are a decent side. One to 11 we can hold our own with anyone.

"It is just if we get a couple of injuries or people suffer a dip in form.

"At that point, the depth and size of the squad just isn't there. But we will go about our business and see where it takes us. We still believe in our ability."

In the meantime, while he may have to undergo the odd bombardment in training, it will at least keep his own skills finely honed.

And, when it matters, it is still the opposition keepers who are suffering the real punishment

www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/sport/Camp-happy-undergo-training-ground-bombardment-aid-Forest-s-cause/article-2893686-detail/article.html