Andy Reid say the lines of communication between the Nottingham Forest’s first team and under-23 squad have never been stronger.
Former Reds winger Reid, who coaches the youngsters, has forged a strong relationship with head coach Steve Cooper and believes the “synergy” between the two camps will help the club continue its fine reputation of producing exciting young players.
“What we are able to do at the moment is link it all in with the way the first team like to do things,” said Reid, reported The Athletic. “The first-team staff have been brilliant at giving us lots of information about their approach. If you look at our performances, there is a lot of stuff that the first team do, in terms of the positions we take up and how we build from the back.
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“I went to the manager to talk to him. It was me going to him and saying, ‘I love what you are doing and how you are doing it, can we take some of it on board with our lads?’ It helps because they are in a better place when they step up to play in the first team, it is familiar. The synergy is as good as it has ever been in the way that we try to play and the way the first team do things.
“When he can come to watch us, he does. He supports the lads and stays behind afterwards to have a chat and go through things. He has been brilliant for my development as a coach, always available. Steven Reid and [Alan] Tatey are the same. The more things filter down the better.”
Reid also keeps a close on the club’s under-10s, which his son Oscar plays for.
“I go and watch them all the time. I have a good relationship with all the younger age group teams,” he added. “It is good for them to see us around the place.
“Are the under-10s or under-11s any less important than the under-23s? I don’t think they are. Brennan Johnson was an under-nine and an under-10 player here. So was Ryan Yates — and look how well he has been doing lately.
“All the lads want to get into the (Premier League 2) play-offs but for me the biggest thing is their development. If they continue to perform like that, they will get (first-team) opportunities. That is what matters.”
