BILLY Davies keeps his Nottingham Forest team on their toes – by refusing to reveal who is playing until the last minute on a matchday.
As the Reds prepare to take on table-topping Cardiff City today, Greg Halford reveals the entire squad will be mentally prepared and ready for action – just in case they are called upon.
The versatile defender says that the canny Scotsman even tries not to give away too many clues as to what his starting XI will be during training sessions towards the end of the week.
And he will only inform the squad which players are involved on the day of the game – which Halford believes is a clever way of ensuring everyone is prepared.
"He doesn't name his team until a Saturday, so everyone prepares the same way as if they were starting the game," said Halford. "If you don't prepare with that mentality, you can find yourself in trouble. You have to be ready to start every game.
"I have come across some managers who tell you what the team is going to be on a Friday.
"Others don't like to do it that way. I personally like the way things are done here, with the team being named on a Saturday, because then everyone is prepared. He does even mix things up in training, so you don't always get an idea. You are always trying to guess what the team will be.
"But there is no point in guessing, because it is what it is. You just have to prepare for being in the team."
When he picks his team, Davies largely likes to retain some consistency – but is not shy about rotating one or two players in key positions.
Even skipper Danny Collins has found himself out of the side in recent games – while Davies also tinkers with his front-two regularly, with Simon Cox, Billy Sharp, Dexter Blackstock and Darius Henderson all involved.
And Halford says that ensures nobody can ever be certain of their place – and that complacency cannot creep in.
"He likes rotation, he likes changing things around and keeping people on their toes," said Halford.
"I have been in teams where players who start on the bench know they are going to come on at some stage.
"You can't do that here. Every sub that has come on under Billy has had some kind of impact on the game. It is a squad game and everyone is needed."
