GREG HALFORD AKIN TO...

Cardiff City's Greg Halford is not everybody's cup of tea but he can become Neil Warnock's Swiss Army Knife next season
By Scott Johnson



Tuesday 8th May 2017


The utility man hasn't won the hearts of supporters since signing in January but his versatility will be key, argues Bluebirds' fan columnist Scott Johnson


Greg Halford is an acquired taste. He’s never going to be a fan favourite, but has enough admirers within the game to ensure that he is never short of offers when he becomes available.

At Cardiff, Halford has been used as a specialist to date. A jack of all trades, he is proving to be Neil Warnock’s Swiss Army knife. Need someone to sit on an opponent’s creative linchpin? Greg is his go-to guy. Need someone to plug a gap anywhere across the defence? Halford is a safe pair of hands.

It is not uncommon to see Halford summoned from the bench in the closing stages of a game when Cardiff are protecting a lead. His arrival is a signal for you to start your car. The party is over.

Cardiff have won all three of the games where Halford been ushered on to protect a lead. It’s never the going to be a change that inspires enthusiasm and the groans are sometimes palpable, but it’s undoubtedly effective and Halford was one of Cardiff’s best players against Newcastle last week.

Halford is 32 now and the swashbuckling right back that once starred for Colchester United feels like a very distant memory. The 2017 version is a bit more lumbering and one-paced, but there are certain mitigating circumstances.

It should not be forgotten that he was injured when he signed for Cardiff and it is likely that Warnock vouching for him was what got the deal over the line.


Having struggled with an Achilles problem he picked up playing for Rotherham in November, he admitted on arriving that : "I was out for a month and I probably came back a bit too early. It could have been career ending. I'm still getting over it now but every day I feel stronger I feel fitter and hopefully I can just keep on going."

Greg Halford reveals he's been playing for Cardiff City with a ruptured ankle ligament and looks towards a return to the Premier League

"To be honest I don't want the season to end because I just feel like getting to that fitness where I need to be,” he added.

"I'm sort of playing still with a ruptured ligament in my ankle so it's hindering so I'm probably playing at 70, 75% at the minute. It's getting better and everyday it gets stronger and I get stronger."

It was no surprise to see Halford follow Warnock to Cardiff. One of his trusted lieutenants at Rotherham, Halford used to get teased for being a Warnock favourite by his team mates, after a period when he was out of favour under previous Millers' boss Neil Redfearn.

“Since he’s come back in we have a little joke that he’s the gaffer’s love child because he always gets special treatment in training,” explained Lee Frecklington during this period.

“Greg’s a good player. You don’t have the career he’s had without being able to do the things he’s done."

Halford’s adaptability has served him well at (deep breath); Colchester, Reading, Sunderland, Charlton, Sheffield United, Wolves, Portsmouth, Forest, Brighton, Rotherham, Birmingham and now Cardiff.

Warnock is clearly a manager that values versatility, a quality which has not been traditionally valued on these shores and is sometimes even frowned upon, when ‘types’ are preferred.

Sol Bamba has also been moved in to midfield on occasion if a man-marking job is required, and Warnock has praised that Halford can feature in “five or six positions.” He even enjoyed a spell up front under Billy Davies at Forest.

Halford may prove to be the prototype Warnock signing, should the boss favour familiarity in the transfer market over the unknown.

And with a year remaining on his contract, he will be around to plug any holes next season.

After a summer of rest and recuperation, here’s hoping that Cardiff see the benefit from Halford's return to full fitness.

Yeah, a really rusty one that has been left in the drawer too long. Still think O'Keefe is a much better midfielder.....which is where Halford has been played.

Good post Halford will play a key role next season.

His performances away at Leeds and Derby whereby he started both games he was excellent sat in front of the back four he broke everything up.

For a free transfer another goood bit of business by the Manager.

One point When at Colchester Halford was a Left Back not Right Back.

Yeah, a really rusty one that has been left in the drawer too long. Still think O'Keefe is a much better midfielder.....which is where Halford has been played.

Agreed - I would liken him to a snail.

If Warnock wants him then that's good enough for me

Well said, Nukes!

I'm sure I recall Neil Warnock praising his versatility, saying he was a great addition to the depleted squad!

He's rubbish. If we are going to keep players like this we will struggle next season.

I don't think technically he is the best but I do however feel like he does offer a lot in games hes played but I don't think people really recognise the qualities he brings

He's never going to play 90 minutes per game for 46 games but I think he has a role to play next season, coming on late to help protect a lead or a point.

He was excellent at Leeds this season just breaking things up as Monk's face get redder and redder!

i dont know why people are having a moan about halford he come in injured and still helped steady the ship and make us hard to beat, the fact we havent conceded in any of the games that warnock has brought him on in says it all cos we had a week centre and was conceding late on before warnock come in. its funny how the ones people moan at are always the glue of the team, just like at the start of the season ppl was moaning about gunnar and he ended up player of the season

Never going to be a fan favourite but does a job, the games ive seen we have tended to lose our shape after he has gone off.

I don't think he's a bad player but I honestly don't think he's a CDM. every time he has the ball in midfield he struggles to make a 5 yard pass and acts like a defender playing in midfield by just punting the ball away when we need possession. I personally think he's a Centre half and possibly a back up for a full back but I would rather see O'keefe do that job in midfield and come on with 10 mins to go or even Bamba. But maybe with a full pre season under his belt he may prove me wrong but I'm not that hopeful.