Perch: We're Nottingham Forest United!
JAMES Perch believes the unity in Nottingham Forest's young squad is helping compensate for a lack of depth.
Manager Billy Davies has made it clear he needs to strengthen, and that he is currently working with a depleted squad.
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James Perch
Julian Bennett, Guy Moussi and Paul Anderson are out long-term, while Chris Cohen, Joel Lynch and Wes Morgan missed Tuesday's 2-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday.
Nathan Tyson, Ian Breckin and Robert Earnshaw suffered injuries in that game.
That means more young players are being forced into the team, such as left back Joe Heath.
But skipper Perch believes squad's closeness is helping them through, seeing them to four successive Championship wins to move them to 17th, four points clear of the bottom three.
The 23-year-old captain said: "We might not have the depth that some squads have but we are all top friends, and it just shows that unity that can go a long way.
"We are all young and we all go round to each other's houses. There is only Brecks that travels, and that is only from Rotherham.
"All the others live in Nottingham. We are all Nottingham lads, we all love the club and we all want to do well.
"We are all close and after training nobody just shoots off to do this, that or the other.
"We all see each other round West Bridgford or in town. We all have each other's numbers and are always ringing each other up."
Perch believes that has helped Forest's young players stick together despite being in the bottom three for so long this season.
But with the squad thin, Perch said he would welcome new additions to add competition for places.
"There might be players coming in and that makes it healthier," he said.
"It helps grow confidence and hopefully we can kick on. If we have that depth we can rest players, cope with injuries and not worry so much about having people on bookings."
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by not in, anywere
Friday, January 30 2009, 11:25PM
“sack the idiot burns and please get rid of that duffer birtles their coloums are so so boring the pair of them live in days gone by we did this we did that not interested today and onwards get back to your bar stool burns and birtles get back to what you think you do best fitting carpets and not that good either”
by Peter, Nottingham
Friday, January 30 2009, 11:22PM
“It's very depressing to see our rival clubs signing up players in droves, including a few that would have been ideal for us, while we appear to do nothing. Some things never change.”
by not in, amywere
Friday, January 30 2009, 11:19PM
“james perch said the same for calderwood watch your back davies while that little back stabber is about”
by Simon, forest
Friday, January 30 2009, 11:10PM
“competely agree Gary - that it is why I stopped buying the rag years ago”
by Pablo, HMP Lincoln
Friday, January 30 2009, 11:07PM
“Whether it be audatious or absurd, why not get Robbie Keane on loan? A month and he can still be back for Euros, or end of season and... who knows he might get the Garibaldi promoted, and stay with us.”
by Robin, staying cool
Friday, January 30 2009, 9:16PM
“Steve,chill man,its only a game of football,staying up is all that matters,F.T.I.D.”
by Al, nottm
Friday, January 30 2009, 9:00PM
“sack all sports editors on N.E.P my grammar,could do better,bless her cotton socks.”
by Joe Baker, Zigger Zagger
Friday, January 30 2009, 7:38PM
“Gary, Westborough, hear hear well said, i notice as well that alot of the sroies you read on the NEP are infact transcipts of interviews given by players to Radio Nottingham , and played on a Saturday, before each match”
by steve, kettering
Friday, January 30 2009, 7:25PM
“Cant beleive we have not signed anyone, i fear for us tomorrow”
by Gary, Westborough
Friday, January 30 2009, 6:59PM
“The news & reports we get from the NEP about Forest are generally poor quality, ill judged and recycled old stories. The NEP never really reports or breaks news about Forest anymore, it just reports what others have already published on the web or what the football club release as that days PR fodder. The general standard of football knowledge shown by the regular NEP journalist is also poor and the articles show very little originality. Many websites do a much better job. That's why I only ever read the NEP for the fans comments & making the odd posted comment. The two exceptions for the NEP on Forest are Kenny Burns & Garry Birtles. Their articles & columns are knowledgeable, fresh, opinionated & entertaining.”