Forest to set up Camp for survival
Few loan signings earn the tag ‘Fan Favourite’ after playing a mere 15 times for a club. Goalkeeper Lee Camp however is an exception with Nottingham Forest fans.
Camp played 15 times for The Reds whilst on loan from last Saturday’s opponents Queens Park Rangers and during that time saved two injury times penalties, including one at Pride Park against his former club and fierce rivals Derby County.
The young shot stopper who hails from along the A52 in Derby dropped his biggest hint yet that he is set for a return to The City Ground after the weekend’s 2-2 draw, in which Camp started for the visitors.
Camp told BBC Radio Nottingham after the game that Paulo Sousa (QPR’s Manager) had told him that he does not figure in his first team plans unless regular No1 Radek Cerny is injured. With the Czech stopper nearing full fitness Camp’s opportunities look slim at the very least.
The former England U21 goalkeeper comes with all the attributes a good championship goalkeeper requires and shown these during his 3 months with the club. His kicking is immaculate and more often than not found a red shirt, his commandment of his area was second to none and the back four looked more than confident playing in front of him. All these attributes are sadly what Forest’s current first choice goalkeeper, Paul Smith, seems to lack.
One stumbling block for a deal which would see Lee Camp back on Trentside could be the fact that Radek Cerny is actually injured and Camp has featured in the clubs last 3 games, so The R’s may be slightly unwilling to do business on a £300,000 deal just yet. Another matter thrown into question is Camp’s relationship with current Reds boss Billy Davies. It was rumoured that whilst together at Derby County the pair had a bust up which eventually resulted with Camp being flogged to QPR. After Saturdays game however this was something which Camp rubbished.
He said “Me and Billy never had a crossed word, a disagreement or anything at Derby. He was always very honest with me, looked me in the eye and told me how it was.”
Whether it is a matter of days or weeks remains to be seen, but the fact of the matter is this is too good a deal to miss out on and with Camp himself admitting he would love a return to Nottingham, his return could be just the signing which is required to ensure Championship survival for this season.
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Other areas need strenghtening before we look at a new keeper.
We don’t need him.
His wages are too high, his opinion of himself is too high – he was effective whilst here on loan solely because it was easier than getting a new defence in.
Smith is a better keeper.
Let’s look at Saturday’s evidence:
- Before the game, Camp was lapping up the applause from the Reds fans, despite the fact that he was there as a QPR player
- After the game, despite the fact that he is still under contract to QPR, he basically issued a “come and get me” plea (and was accused of being similarly mardy when he left D*rby)
- Most importantly, during the game, Smith was the keeper who made good saves and yelled at his back line, although he did horribly slice one of his goalkicks. Camp, on the other hand, flapped at a cross almost allowing Thornhill to head in, did it again for Cohen’s goal, and was accused by QPR fans of not trying hard enough
Camp is a good keeper, but is he the kind of character that I want at the club? I am not so sure. Smith’s biggest problem used to be his command of the area – now it is the boo-boys.
Lee Camp is a far better all round keeper than Paul Smith.
I do not know when Alan Fisher has seen Smith play?
Smith’s distribution is very poor. He constantly gives the ball to the opposition; also poor is his command of his box when collecting crosses or coming off his line when defenders are facing him. He is an excellent shot stopper of that there is no doubt, but other than the shot stopping he was awful on Saturday against QPR. Lee Camp is by far a safer & better performing keeper. He gives the back four confidence & the majority of Forest fans would agree with as I am sure would Wes Moragn et al.
We need a keeper as well as all the other areas strengthening. To the board – It is time to invest or pay the price!
Im not sure when Alan Fisher has seen him play either and totally agree wit ya Gary… iv not missed many games this season home or away and when Smith has played it is more like the back four are more bothered about Smith’s dodgyness than doing there job.. Camp was impeccable for us and commanding of his area was 10/10… yeah he wasnt brilliant Saturday but then again he isn’t happy at QPR… As for the high opinion of himself, i dont care if hes the cockiest guy nottingham has ever seen the fact is he is without doubt a very very good goalkeeper.