Rayleigh boy
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HUNGRY TO PLAY ...AND WIN!
09:00 - 06 November 2007
Forest's promotion push will be fuelled by the squad's fierce appetite for success.
That was the message today from skipper Ian Breckin, who admitted that in the past there were a few Reds players who were happy just to collect their pay cheques.
Now the big defender says the whole team is united in achieving the goal of promotion - and in their desire to make sure they are in the starting XI every week.
He believes the more streamlined City Ground squad helps to keep people motivated.
"There are lads here who all want to play in the first team every week, they are hungry," said Breckin, who will be part of the squad that faces Southend at the City Ground tonight.
"You have to have that at a football club. In the past we perhaps had a few lads who were not bothered, they were content to sit and pick up their money.
"Now everybody here wants to play, they are desperate for that shirt.
"In the past, we had a squad of 24 or more players and people were miles away from the first team. Sometimes they lost a bit of interest because of that.
"Now there is not a single player who is not desperate to be in that first 11."
Breckin says manager Colin Calderwood's summer streamlining, reducing the squad to 18 senior players and four or five promising teenagers, has made a big difference.
"Everyone is involved, if you are in the fringes of things, it can only take one injury to get you straight back in there," he said. "That was what happened in my case. I knew I was never far from the team.
"But now I know that Wes is breathing down my neck, he is back fit and in contention. It keeps people motivated."
And while Calderwood has reduced the numbers, Breckin has been impressed by the additions of players such as Chris Cohen, Arron Davies, Matt Lockwood, Kelvin Wilson and Neil Lennon.
"The squad is stronger," said Breckin. "Numbers wise, we are a little thin on the ground.
"If we pick up one or two injuries we can quickly find ourselves down to the bare bones.
"But while we are thin in terms of numbers, quality wise we are much better off than last season."
Forest have not had contact with Premiership Sunderland over midfielder James Perch. Reds legend Roy Keane, now in charge of the Black Cats, is reportedly interested in him.
But there has been no offer, and Forest are not keen to sell a player they regard as being an integral part of the club's future.
09:00 - 06 November 2007
Forest's promotion push will be fuelled by the squad's fierce appetite for success.
That was the message today from skipper Ian Breckin, who admitted that in the past there were a few Reds players who were happy just to collect their pay cheques.
Now the big defender says the whole team is united in achieving the goal of promotion - and in their desire to make sure they are in the starting XI every week.
He believes the more streamlined City Ground squad helps to keep people motivated.
"There are lads here who all want to play in the first team every week, they are hungry," said Breckin, who will be part of the squad that faces Southend at the City Ground tonight.
"You have to have that at a football club. In the past we perhaps had a few lads who were not bothered, they were content to sit and pick up their money.
"Now everybody here wants to play, they are desperate for that shirt.
"In the past, we had a squad of 24 or more players and people were miles away from the first team. Sometimes they lost a bit of interest because of that.
"Now there is not a single player who is not desperate to be in that first 11."
Breckin says manager Colin Calderwood's summer streamlining, reducing the squad to 18 senior players and four or five promising teenagers, has made a big difference.
"Everyone is involved, if you are in the fringes of things, it can only take one injury to get you straight back in there," he said. "That was what happened in my case. I knew I was never far from the team.
"But now I know that Wes is breathing down my neck, he is back fit and in contention. It keeps people motivated."
And while Calderwood has reduced the numbers, Breckin has been impressed by the additions of players such as Chris Cohen, Arron Davies, Matt Lockwood, Kelvin Wilson and Neil Lennon.
"The squad is stronger," said Breckin. "Numbers wise, we are a little thin on the ground.
"If we pick up one or two injuries we can quickly find ourselves down to the bare bones.
"But while we are thin in terms of numbers, quality wise we are much better off than last season."
Forest have not had contact with Premiership Sunderland over midfielder James Perch. Reds legend Roy Keane, now in charge of the Black Cats, is reportedly interested in him.
But there has been no offer, and Forest are not keen to sell a player they regard as being an integral part of the club's future.