Post by QPR Report on Oct 5, 2009 6:47:38 GMT
But NOT a piece re his time or any critiques of QPR
This is Nottingham
What a difference a year makes for Camp
Monday, October 05, 2009
TOWARDS the end of this month, Lee Camp will celebrate the first anniversary of making his Nottingham Forest debut.
But a lot has happened since then.
At that time, he was rushed in from QPR and 24 hours later, on October 21, thrown straight into the action in the 1-1 midweek draw with Ipswich.
The Reds were already in a relegation dogfight under Colin Calderwood and during his 15-game stint, Camp became an instant hit on the terraces.
A late penalty save at his old club Derby and the same against Bristol City earned crucial points while his impressing, commanding displays led to calls for him to be signed up permanently.
But shortly after Caldwerwood's Boxing Day sacking, Camp was making his final appearance in a win at Norwich to finally propel Forest out of the bottom three.
The terms of his deal meant he returned to west London at the start of 2009 as Billy Davies, his former boss at Pride Park, took over.
In February he made an emotional return, appearing for QPR against Forest and received a standing ovation at the City Ground from the home support.
But with safety secured under Davies, Camp got his wish and in the summer put pen to paper on a four-year deal with Forest.
He wants to be in the Premiership. And he wants to do it with the Reds.
And now, 11 games into the new Championship season, the 25-year-old is loving being a permanent fixture on the banks of the Trent.
What's more, he believes the difference at the club is almost night and day to what he experienced during that relegation battle when he arrived almost 12 months ago.
Camp said: "The football club is on a different level this year to what it was last year, when it was finding its feet.
"And with the manager, the investment and everything that has happened since the manager (Davies) came here, and the maturity of some of the players having that year's experience, it is coming along nicely.
"Bar the Watford performance, that was the worst and we still think we could have won, we have done a good job."
Camp echoes what others have already pointed to – that many performances this season have not merited the points they deserved.
The 1-0 defeat at home to West Brom and Blackpool are two in question where missed chances cost the Reds.
But after securing a first away win at Plymouth eight days ago after four draws on the road and a win at home in midweek, he believes it is shaping up.
Saturday's 2-1 victory at Peterborough simple made that even clearer as Forest made it nine points from nine going into the international break, moving to within a point of the play-off places.
Those first two wins were built on clean sheets which gave goalkeeper Camp extra pleasure and as a team, they showed guts to come from a goal behind and win at London Road at the weekend.
Davies has continued to alternate players in most positions but Camp believes the competition for places and quality in the squad will lead to many more shutouts in the near future.
He said: "It is pleasing as a back unit to keep clean sheets and that is our aim.
"Kelvin (Wilson) came in after his injury problems and did really well and the case of him playing back-to-back games was the reason he did not feature (against Sc**thorpe) but Chambo came back in and did really well and Wes is solid as ever.
"Keeping clean sheets breeds confidence and competition for places is excellent as well. I think throughout the whole side if you come off your game for a second there is somebody to take your spot.
"Chambo came in, did really well, scored a really good goal and he is stamping his claim as is Kelv and Wes seems to be a permanent fixture there. But I am sure he knows if he is not performing the same goes for him."
After securing a second home win and still being unbeaten on the road, Camp says there is a need for varying game plans depending on the venue of games.
"When you play at home and play away, it is two different types of game," he said. "At home we are offensive and we go at teams and they have to sit back and defend for periods and it is the same on the other hand when we go away.
"Teams start well and sometimes you cannot make it like a basketball match, you cannot make it too open.
"You have got to be solid, weather the storm and keep battling and eventually, with the quality we have got in the side, we can break anybody down and create chances.
"It is just a case of being patient and continuing the things we are doing."
The storm, struggle and uncertainty of a year ago when he first arrived are long gone.
All he can see now is a positive future on the banks of the River Trent.
www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/difference-year-makes-Camp/article-1390371-detail/article.html
This is Nottingham
What a difference a year makes for Camp
Monday, October 05, 2009
TOWARDS the end of this month, Lee Camp will celebrate the first anniversary of making his Nottingham Forest debut.
But a lot has happened since then.
At that time, he was rushed in from QPR and 24 hours later, on October 21, thrown straight into the action in the 1-1 midweek draw with Ipswich.
The Reds were already in a relegation dogfight under Colin Calderwood and during his 15-game stint, Camp became an instant hit on the terraces.
A late penalty save at his old club Derby and the same against Bristol City earned crucial points while his impressing, commanding displays led to calls for him to be signed up permanently.
But shortly after Caldwerwood's Boxing Day sacking, Camp was making his final appearance in a win at Norwich to finally propel Forest out of the bottom three.
The terms of his deal meant he returned to west London at the start of 2009 as Billy Davies, his former boss at Pride Park, took over.
In February he made an emotional return, appearing for QPR against Forest and received a standing ovation at the City Ground from the home support.
But with safety secured under Davies, Camp got his wish and in the summer put pen to paper on a four-year deal with Forest.
He wants to be in the Premiership. And he wants to do it with the Reds.
And now, 11 games into the new Championship season, the 25-year-old is loving being a permanent fixture on the banks of the Trent.
What's more, he believes the difference at the club is almost night and day to what he experienced during that relegation battle when he arrived almost 12 months ago.
Camp said: "The football club is on a different level this year to what it was last year, when it was finding its feet.
"And with the manager, the investment and everything that has happened since the manager (Davies) came here, and the maturity of some of the players having that year's experience, it is coming along nicely.
"Bar the Watford performance, that was the worst and we still think we could have won, we have done a good job."
Camp echoes what others have already pointed to – that many performances this season have not merited the points they deserved.
The 1-0 defeat at home to West Brom and Blackpool are two in question where missed chances cost the Reds.
But after securing a first away win at Plymouth eight days ago after four draws on the road and a win at home in midweek, he believes it is shaping up.
Saturday's 2-1 victory at Peterborough simple made that even clearer as Forest made it nine points from nine going into the international break, moving to within a point of the play-off places.
Those first two wins were built on clean sheets which gave goalkeeper Camp extra pleasure and as a team, they showed guts to come from a goal behind and win at London Road at the weekend.
Davies has continued to alternate players in most positions but Camp believes the competition for places and quality in the squad will lead to many more shutouts in the near future.
He said: "It is pleasing as a back unit to keep clean sheets and that is our aim.
"Kelvin (Wilson) came in after his injury problems and did really well and the case of him playing back-to-back games was the reason he did not feature (against Sc**thorpe) but Chambo came back in and did really well and Wes is solid as ever.
"Keeping clean sheets breeds confidence and competition for places is excellent as well. I think throughout the whole side if you come off your game for a second there is somebody to take your spot.
"Chambo came in, did really well, scored a really good goal and he is stamping his claim as is Kelv and Wes seems to be a permanent fixture there. But I am sure he knows if he is not performing the same goes for him."
After securing a second home win and still being unbeaten on the road, Camp says there is a need for varying game plans depending on the venue of games.
"When you play at home and play away, it is two different types of game," he said. "At home we are offensive and we go at teams and they have to sit back and defend for periods and it is the same on the other hand when we go away.
"Teams start well and sometimes you cannot make it like a basketball match, you cannot make it too open.
"You have got to be solid, weather the storm and keep battling and eventually, with the quality we have got in the side, we can break anybody down and create chances.
"It is just a case of being patient and continuing the things we are doing."
The storm, struggle and uncertainty of a year ago when he first arrived are long gone.
All he can see now is a positive future on the banks of the River Trent.
www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/difference-year-makes-Camp/article-1390371-detail/article.html