Josh Rees is looking forward to the new challenges that the new Gillingham signings will bring to Priestfield over the coming weeks.
Talking to the assembled press this week, the Gills midfielder said, “The new boys have brought in a bit of quality and competition already. They’ve all got different qualities and it’s nice to have that within the team and gives us a different dimension and I’m looking forward to see what they can do…”
“Competition is good whatever the situation is really – it’s always good to know that you’ve got to fight for your shirt which then lifts performances naturally anyway, not that anyone takes their shirt for granted, we’re not that sort of a team!”
“Looking at the quality we can improve in training as well and when you look at the sides that have that, we’re getting close to that now, I hope!”
The subject of disappointing home results was brought up, but Rees had a firm answer. “We’ve got to make this place a fortress and that’s really important now until the end of the season, as regardless of the results, we must put on performances for the fans as they then keep coming.”
“We’ve only got to look at the atmosphere against Cardiff as it’s one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever seen for a long time and that drove us through the game really to beat a Premiership side and so we’ve got to take that into the League now and look forward to Saturday when hopefully, the new faces can add something different for the fans and that will in turn lift the players as well who are here already as well,” he said.
Looking ahead to the battle at the weekend, Rees told us, “Barnsley are one of the best teams in the League and it was good to make my debut at Oakwell. I think I’ve come a long way since then and improved massively, I hope.”
“Now it’s time for me to me to step up and keep progressing within the competition in and around the group – it’s about pushing yourself to get that shirt every week and not only get the shirt but contribute and perform for the team every week!”
“We’re at the wrong end of the table and first and foremost we need everyone pulling in the same direction and then hopefully now with the group that we’ve got with the quality and we should be OK.”
“We’ve shown more than once this season that when we are on our game, we’re more than a match for anyone in the division – we know that we’re at home and need to put on a performance giving us the perfect place and time to start the upturn in our home form that we all want!”
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club