Luke Williams appointed: my take

After a difficult start to the season, a new voice is needed to try and get a tune out of a decently talented squad.

That new voice has come in the shape of former Notts County and Swansea manager Luke Williams.

Photo Credit: Joe Dent/Peterborough United

What do I think of him as a manager?

I like Williams a lot. He has charisma, and plays an exciting brand of football.

One of the greatest criticisms I have had of our football in recent years is that we have lost our identity as an attacking team who prioritise scoring goals over all else. Williams will hopefully bring that fire back.

At Notts County especially, Williams employed a very attacking style of play. Players that Ferguson would have seen as high wingers, were played at wingback indicating his front-footed approach.

Players like Harley Mills will thrive with the attacking license given to him by Williams. I am excited to see this style of football.

He is also a great character, known for having a good sense of humour during interviews, and having fantastic rapport with his players.

Williams seems to me like a manager who really understands his responsibility towards the fans too. 

After Swansea’s win over Cardiff, he went out drinking and singing with the fans on the Saturday night, as well as getting a lifelong Swansea supporter to do the pre-match team talk.

The togetherness that Williams will attempt to foster could be crucial to stopping the rot, and keeping this team in League One.

As a manager, I rate Williams and feel that he will be a good stylistic and personality fit with Posh.

Is he the right appointment for now?

This is the part of the news that I am less pleased by. I am not 100% sure that Williams is the right man for right now.

His style of football will take a while to implement, and some teething issues are an inevitability.

Posh need results quickly if we want to hold onto our League One status. Williams is a ‘project manager’, and not a results specialist.

I would have liked Posh to bring in a results specialist, someone who is experienced at keeping teams up and making them compact. 

Someone like Steve Evans would have been the correct profile for me.

I wonder if a more pragmatic appointment until the end of the season, with Williams taking the squad at that point, would have been more sensible.

That said, Darragh MacAnthony has openly been a massive fan of Williams, and will be ecstatic to be able to work with him. 

Leaving that until the end of the season may have been too late, as I am sure Williams would have received other offers.

I just hope he is cautious with the way that he installs his footballing identity, and is conscious of the urgent need for results now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArUfW4nw_sw

John and Lodz give their thoughts on Luke Williams as a potential manager on Saturday’s live event

Overall verdict

Williams is a good manager, and plays an exciting brand of football which Posh fans will enjoy.

My concern comes over his ability to grind out results, however he seems to be able to install his philosophy relatively quickly.

I think the players will like Williams, and I am excited by the fact that this is a manager who would have been right at the top of Darragh’s list.

Overall, I am cautiously optimistic about this appointment. 

I would encourage all Posh fans to listen to some of his interviews and podcast appearances to get a feel for his character for themselves.