Greg Halford: Back four can be key to Nottingham Forest success
GREG Halford believes Nottingham Forest do have the quality to play with a three-man central defence – but not the time needed on the training ground to utilise it this season.
The Reds have flourished under Billy Davies, who has employed a traditional back four since his return as manager.
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And Halford, who will watch from the stands as Forest face Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough tomorrow because of suspension, believes the simple approach has helped Forest's players produce their best form.
Forest twice suffered defeat when playing with a back three under Sean O'Driscoll, at home to Hull and at Watford, and also then lost under Alex McLeish against Oldham in the FA Cup.
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But Halford believes it is an approach Forest can utilise in the future – if they have the time to work on it in training.
"Sean had it in his mind that he wanted to play as a back three," said Halford. "And I believe we could, because we have the players.
"We are all comfortable on the ball and we all have good distribution.
"But we need to work on it. Wigan and Watford are the prime example.
"They both play that way – but they will have worked at it for a year or more. They work on it day in, day out, in training as well, I imagine, to work out the kinks. We have never managed to do that."
And Halford believes playing with a formation they are comfortable with under Davies has been one of their strengths.
"We cannot go into games playing against teams, with a back three, when we have not worked on it, against teams that have worked on it," said Halford.
"That is what I am talking about when I have referred to needing our own identity."
6 Comments
by HueyTheNoose
Friday, March 01 2013, 1:47PM
“RedHope Fair point, but what are his excuses for the other NINE yellows? He was going to get one sooner or later, so maybe the relatively easy (on paper) games coming up are an ideal time for his suspension. Do agree though, we will miss him. I think he has been our best and most consistent defender all season.”
by RedHope
Friday, March 01 2013, 11:21AM
“Either way, Halford will be sorely missed this week and the only reason he had to commit the foul that brought him his yellow card at Charlton was because Greening lost the ball cheaply in the last minute of the game.”
by Dandy_Don
Friday, March 01 2013, 11:03AM
“Wigan and Watford are prime examples of what ? How not to do it. Wigan fourth bottom of the Premier league having conceded 51 goals and Watford with the worst defensive record of the Championship top six. If the prime examples had included Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Man Utd who all play back fours you might have had a point. I think McLeish tried to justify playing a back three by giving Peterborough as another "prime example" Help !”
by corbymac
Friday, March 01 2013, 10:20AM
“so Greg, you aren't comfortable playing three at the back, because it will take over a year of training to get it right? but, Billy has you playing in a back four formation, that you are all comfortable with and is a big strength to the success of the last few games! That is called if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Play to your strengths not your weaknesses and if it takes over a year to get it right, then you really aren't good enough at it. What did BC say "football is a simple game played by simple people"”
by Nick1865
Friday, March 01 2013, 10:18AM
“RedHope, If you read it properly it says 'at Watford'. which was the game before Christmas when Ayala got sent off when SO'D was in charge.”
by RedHope
Friday, March 01 2013, 9:31AM
“Get your facts right Evening Post. When we played Watford at home, Alex McLeish was the manager.”