Williams is Favourite [New Head Coach speculation thread]

[Woodypie]

With the bookies to come back to Notts...
Thoughts?

A cautious yes to Williams, but it's always interesting to see the results of Bros' machinations. It's never the obvious choice for players or coaches. Although I did expect Maynard.

[BigFatPie]

I don't think going "back" is always wrong.

Scott Lindsay is back at Crawley.
Paul Cook returned to Chesterfield.
Eddie Howe returned to Bournemouth.
Martin Allen managed Barnet on a number of occasions.
Jimmy Sirrel had multiple spells at Notts.

I'm sure there are more examples. The question is whether he's the right man for the job or not. I think he'd help unite the club once again. The players and fans would get behind him. My only issue is the style of play. I know it was successful in the NL, but I was starting to wonder about it int he months leading up to his departure. Harrogate away was one of the worst performances I've seen from any Notts side. Totally devoid of ideas, with both sets of fans doing ironic cheers each time we passed it back to the keeper. I feel like we need to move away from that style rather than further towards it.

That said, it's Luke Williams, and I still love him. I'd be cautiously optimistic and hopeful that he's learned along the way.

100% this. This *never go back* stuff is nonsense. Id love him to come back, I think he would be far less likely to be off next time around and he probably wouldn?t get the offers anyway. If he fancies it, it?s a no brainer for me. What a welcome he?d get first day of the season.

[itsagrandoldteam]

I dont get the love in really for Williams. It was a great time admitted and he talked the talk. Loved his interviews. But he left us in a decline, fair enough, he seemed to know the defence was the problem, but did little to change it, and we would have definitely got worse as the season progressed even if he'd stayed. The main reasons though are that he didn't exactly look loyal to Swansea for long, WBA rumours had fans peeved off quickly. Bear in mind he left us to be nearer family but then seemed to be prepared to move to the midlands again fairly quick. His style of football got to the fans down there too. Too much passing around. If he came and we did well, how long before he left again? Also he didn't seem willing to change things up towards the end of his spell. Yes, we have better defenders now but he also had a rule of no shots from outside the area. Two players have mentioned that. So unless he came with new ideas and ways, we are back to the tippy happy, struggling to break teams down who just sit and wait. Thanks for what you did Luke, but no way would I want you back. Too much distrust, a fresh start is needed for me.

[ancientpie]

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.

Just about my feelings word for word but whoever we get it wont please everyone, very few of us had any kind of axe to grind with Maynard or had even heard of him but that didn't stop some getting their knives out for the "useless BT engineer" from day one, it's a strange world. COYP

[tommopie8]

Some of these posts read like jilted lovers.

I'd have him back in a heartbeat.

[marky]

Williams would have to achieve far more than he did last time to be linked with other jobs, I reckon he'd have to get us into League One then probably the top half of that league before Championship clubs look at him again.

[yoop_eyes]

So according to BetVictor (strangely the only bookie group that seems to be offering anything on the market), Joao Alves is now 1/2 massive favourite, with Des Buckingham second at 3/1 and our Luke at 6/1. Sweden u21 manager Daniel Backstrom is 8/1. Jon Brady (who I rate ... and if I didn't have a stake restricted account with BetVictor, would have a sneaky tenner on) is out to 20/1.

If Alves gets the job, imagine the meltdown

[marky]

Alves is the favourite presumably because he's already "in the building". I wouldn't read too much into it.

[yoop_eyes]

Alves is the favourite presumably because he's already "in the building". I wouldn't read too much into it.

No absoultely, thought same thing myself. But he was in the building yesterday too and he was nowhere near on the list. I can't imagine there's much money being put on it so even small bets will cause it to fluctuate. History suggests that the bookies have been miles out when it comes to the brothers' manager choices too. The Burchnall appointment especially.

[Mapperleypie]

I would be delighted to have Williams back.

[northpie1862]

I would be delighted to have Williams back.

So do most Notts fans, the majority of the 'jilted lovers' are on this thread, a small sample size.

Football is an entertainment business - LW brings that.

SM sucked the life out of everyone.

[HeroPie1862]

I'd find it difficult to accept Williams back, he'd want to leave again at the wiff of the next opportunity, he's got a track record of that now.

[The_Pie_Man]

Joao Alves would be an enormous mis-step.

That appointment would scream a lack of ambition and no real thought process - neither of which can realistically be attributed to our owners at this stage.

[cjpieman]

I'd find it difficult to accept Williams back, he'd want to leave again at the wiff of the next opportunity, he's got a track record of that now.

His stock isn?t so high any longer and once bitten twice shy.

I cannot believe people wouldn?t want the man back that :

Turned Langstaff from a non league footballer to a championship footballer

Same with Rodrigues

Amongst many more things.

[HeroPie1862]

His stock isn?t so high any longer and once bitten twice shy.

I cannot believe people wouldn?t want the man back that :

Turned Langstaff from a non league footballer to a championship footballer

Same with Rodrigues

Amongst many more things.

Williams is a perfect fit for the owners and the club, but we played so badly towards him leaving because the players obviously knew his heart wasn't in it anymore and sure while part of that is on them, I do not want that for the club again.

There are plenty of other managers who could do similar things, I just don't believe that someone who has consistently been open about wanting to leave multiple clubs within a year is a secure fit for the future.