Williams is Favourite [New Head Coach speculation thread]

[kill_the_drum]

It?s a no for me but would fully support him if he was to return.
The consensus is he played faster and more attacking football than Maynard. IMO the reality is he just had much faster and better attacking players.
Maynard got pelters for having no plan B, but he was far more willing to change things than LW.
My main reason for agreeing it was right to sack Maynard was his position had become untenable.
LW is currently much more liked than SM, but there?d still be a big proportion of fans not willing to accept him back.
It would just feel much more positive to have a manager with a blank canvas.

[the_anticlough]

This "on the slide" thing is massively overplayed.

Yes.

And it was when we lost Palmer, and soon after Bostock, that everything broke down. I was at Harrogate away watching JOB play every pass to him first time back to the goalkeeper. Brindley played 50 passes to Stone in the first half alone because he had no option to pass to. The squad just couldn't cope with losing the players the whole thing went through.

Williams has a great legacy from his time at Notts, that's why he jumped two divisions higher. But it's still the 'never go back' mantra for me.

You win promotion to a difficult new league, which is a significant step up, and then you suddenly abandon the project and let those fans see us plummet down the league and watch absolute dross. The momentum of the club was completely lost and we hurtled backwards, because the leader we gave the opportunity to, suddenly wanted out. And Montague was left with appointing a real long shot mid-season, but someone who might be capable of carrying on his work.
I saw LW, Harley, Lawtey walking around Harrogate town centre before that match, something seemed off to me.
Some fans seem to want that crew back, but I don't.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Ironically Maynard got the decent defenders and keeper that Luke was begging for
I wonder what he'd have done with the side which started last season?
I wouldn't be against Luke returning but it's unlikely to happen
It will probably be a left field appointment
Maybe a senior coach in the EFL being given his first job as manager

[Observerpie]

It's a no from me.

[OchPie]

The consensus is he played faster and more attacking football than Maynard. IMO the reality is he just had much faster and better attacking players.

While I think there's truth in this, I also think it was very evident in the way the team was coached. Part of me feels that getting a NL team to do this required a focus on Plan A to the extent there couldn't be a Plan B. But I also feel he didn't have time to adjust the system to the loss of Palmer and the way the defence was being exposed.

Even so losing 5-4 DID feel better than losing 1-0.

I think it was very clear that the coaching, after the brothers left, just wasn't there. I'm wondering whether Maynard reassured the owners he didn't need help.

I'd love Williams back as a number 2. I think I'd be wary as our head coach.

[PompeyPie]

The betting means absolutely nothing at this stage, it's just the usual list of familiar names at ridiculously skinny odds. Many on the list will also be quoted for other vacancies. If someone suddenly goes to 1/10 it's quite likely, if they go to 1/25 it's usually a done deal. It's a market I wouldn't touch with a bargepole especially with our owners.

Agree. Picking the next manager is like shooting fish in a barrel so money will stay in my pocket. Perhaps if Jacob Friis hadn?t taken the Finland job he may have been worth a punt but with the bros you just never know. As you say the odds mean nothing at this stage Elite, remember the guy from the Faroes

[crazyfists]

Yes from me with reservations. Certainly played some of, if not the best, football I've seen at Notts. I used to watch some of the passing and movement and it was amazing for League 2 level. He knows the players and club, they players like him, he's got a much better defence and keeper, he's available and does play good football. He had an absolutely crap defence and a keeper who you were suprised when they made a good save, this can't be understated.

On the other hand he ****ed off but then again this is football. If we got a new manager in and they did well, they'd be poached as well. I certainly would back LW to get us up next season with the right signings.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

I would have Williams back in a heart beat. He brought a brand of football that brought us success and with the right players coming in could do so again at league two level.

The club were noble and gave those undeniable heroes an opportunity to prove themselves at the next level.

I don’t begrudge that he left for a job that may have been closer to home and gave him an opportunity to step up two levels. Especially if you have a young family. The club were compensated as well.

It wouldn’t be a going back for me it would be a case of him picking up where he left off and having unfinished business if he did come back.
He has a promotion on his CV experience at championship level and league two and people are saying they want the club to get someone with experience and a promotion.

LW left us sixth in the table and would pick us up sixth but this time we would have a much stronger and better defence than last time.

The job is an attractive one whoever the brothers decide to run with. The biggest club in league two with a very good chance of getting a promotion on your CV and being a league one manager in a years time. So they will no doubt have some good candidates to choose from.

[Med Pie]

No from me. That was a magical season which bar Wrexham we stormed but with the likes of Ruben and Macca. ok the defence was not the best but any decent manager should have got that side up, and even then we only just did it with drama at the end of both play-offs. Then he chose to leave, wife has a job/business in Swansea, daughter there too at school? He could have stuck it out with us and benefited from a better defence. There's hardly a rush to employ him, despite his 'non-league' success here.

I think the Bros will think they can do better. They nearly got it right with Maynard. Maybe a lot hangs on Roberto Gagliardi (Staff directory doesn't list him, thought he started 1st May).

And Mansfailed.

[Notts78]

I would have Williams back in a heart beat. He brought a brand of football that brought us success and with the right players coming in could do so again at league two level.

The club were noble and gave those undeniable heroes an opportunity to prove themselves at the next level.

I don’t begrudge that he left for a job that may have been closer to home and gave him an opportunity to step up two levels. Especially if you have a young family. The club were compensated as well.

It wouldn’t be a going back for me it would be a case of him picking up where he left off and having unfinished business if he did come back.
He has a promotion on his CV experience at championship level and league two and people are saying they want the club to get someone with experience and a promotion.

LW left us sixth in the table and would pick us up sixth but this time we would have a much stronger and better defence than last time.

The job is an attractive one whoever the brothers decide to run with. The biggest club in league two with a very good chance of getting a promotion on your CV and being a league one manager in a years time. So they will no doubt have some good candidates to choose from.

I agree with all of this. I?d have LW back for all the reasons stated.
All the nay sayers are assuming we will get some super duper manager? all 3 of the managers/head coaches recruited by the bros have all been inexperienced, left field appointments. Is that likely again?

[Med Pie]

I agree with all of this. I?d have LW back for all the reasons stated.
All the nay sayers are assuming we will get some super duper manager? all 3 of the managers/head coaches recruited by the bros have all been inexperienced, left field appointments. Is that likely again?

It would be a big, gamble if they did. As I've said a few times, League one is not just a ladder to League one, it's also a trapdoor, back to the National league and we have to get out of it ASAP. A massive chance was missed this season and some games which we were expected to win at home, against un-fancied teams, cost us dear, winning just a couple of those would have seen us automatically promoted.

IMHO, had the brothers fired Maynard in January, we'd have gone up.

[forwardmagpie]

Yes from me - great football for most of the matches. We conceded too many goals but look at the the back 5 we had.

[Notts78]

It would be a big, gamble if they did. As I've said a few times, League one is not just a ladder to League one, it's also a trapdoor, back to the National league and we have to get out of it ASAP. A massive chance was missed this season and some games which we were expected to win at home, against un-fancied teams, cost us dear, winning just a couple of those would have seen us automatically promoted.

IMHO, had the brothers fired Maynard in January, we'd have gone up.

Your last sentence is based on nothing. It?s all ifs, buts and maybes. You are assuming that had SM gone in January we?d have got someone better? that also might not have happened. January from memory was a month where we were bang in form and possibly the most fruitful month of SM?s Notts stay. I don?t think many saw the last 10 games being so catastrophic.

[LincsPie]

And Mansfailed.

? They were already in L2 in that 'magical season' referred to.

[mozza27]

We just got rid of Maynard who massively divided the fanbase. Based on this thread, Williams would do the same. Based on that, I don't believe the brothers will choose that path right now.

It also likely that the swift sacking of Maynard will lead to a longer search, so don't expect an outcome soon.