Macca To Face His Old Boss

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

As Notts prepare to Face Harrogate at the Lane this coming Saturday, there may be another fixture which will be of interest to Magpie Fans. The 26th sees Millwall take on Swansea at the Den. Which of course means Macaulay Langstaff facing his Old Notts Boss Luke Williams.

There are of course certain criteria to be met, before such a Contest can come about. Macca will have to be Picked for the Millwall Starting XI. Will the Lions Head Coach give Macca the nod to be his main Striker against the Swans? Or will he be on the Bench? You know Macca will be Itching for a Crack at William's Swansea side, after scoring a Majority of his 70 Notts Goals while playing under Williams while a member of his Notts side. With just a Single goal to his Credit since his move from Meadow Lane Macca will be anxious to get back on the Score Sheet who better than against the Man who did such a lot for his Career? After all William's Man Management Skills certainly had such a Positive effect on Macca, something he stated many times in Interviews, it makes you wonder how Much the Guy misses the Influence Encouragement and Help of Williams on his Footballing Life, and how much this may have had an effect on his Millwall Career.

So will Macca come Good on Saturday, and Score against His Old Boss's New Team or will Luke Williams set his Defense up in such a way to Cancel Out Macca's Threat in front of Goal?

As a Foot Note. A Final Question If Macca had gone to Swansea instead of Millwall Do You Think He'd Have More Goals To His Name By Now?

[Robbie]

Up to now, the grass hasn't proved greener on the other side for these two Notts Icons 

Swansea are languishing mid table in 14th place, & Macca has just one goal from 11 matches to his name since his move to 13th placed Millwall.

In Millwall's last match Macca came on as a substitute & only played the last 13 minutes of the game.

I'm sure that Luke & Macca will meet & have a quick word, but I can't help feeling that, if they had stayed at Notts, particularly Macca, they would have seen further success rather than looking for success as they both are now.

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

@Robbie

You speak many a True Word. Luke Williams was taken on at Swansea in the hope of him Improving the Side, it will be interesting how Long His Service will be Required if the Swans League Position, Doesn't Improve. When he went to Swansea last season they were 14th and they ended the season in the same 14th position. The last time I looked the Swans were 13th in the Championship, but now it seems they've slipped back to 14th So No Real Improvement, it will be interesting how Long the Swansea American (I believe) Owners will put up with this Stagnation, I Don't Think they'll be as Understanding as the Reedtz Brothers are  and if there isn't a Dramatic  Upturn in  Results, Luke could find himself, looking for a New Coaching Position Elsewhere.

Unlike Williams who's choice it was to move to Pastures New, I think Macca would have been more than Happy to Remain at Meadow Lane, and see out the New Contract he had signed for the Magpies. The thing is was he Forced Out? Maybe that's to Stronger a word but it seemed Everything was ready for Macca to Remain at Notts, a New Contract, being Given the Captaincy of the Club, when Suddenly Millwall come in with a Derogatory Offer, of £700,000 compared to the £1.5-£2.7 Million fee which had been Banded about in January and it's Accepted. Personally I think there was a Hell of a lot More to Macca's move, than We the Fans have been told. His New Gaffer at Millwall was Stated to have said that Macca was his Number One Transfer Target, if that was the Case, Then Why Hasn't Macca been a Regular first team Member? And Why hasn't Millwall's Game Plan been Adopted more to Play to the Guy's Footballing Strengths? I said at the Time that I Didn't think Macca would be at the Den for that long, and I still believe That. I Reckon He  will be Gone in the Off Season or maybe Even let Go in the January Transfer Window.

[DangerousSausage]

No, Macca wasn't forced out. The club clearly did everything it could to persuade him to stay, but he got an offer he couldn't refuse. He was evidently happy with us, but he's only got one career.

I don't think either of them regrets moving, they both got the chance to make their mark in the Championship a matter of months after being in the National League, and that's a huge step up. Having said that, I think Langstaff would have started more games under Williams at Swansea. Time will tell how the move works out for him, but even if it doesn't there'll be plenty of clubs willing to snap him up in League One.

[menzinho]

Yeah, I think he’d have scored more (but then he’s only got to score 2 to achieve that!) I was surprised Macca never went to Swansea in the end, the style would’ve suited him more and he’d have likely got more of a chance under Luke Williams. Was there some sort of gentlemen’s agreement that meant he wouldn’t come in for our players?

Swansea are about where they should be to be honest, in their last 3 seasons they finished, 15th, 10th and 14th their squad isn't good enough to be challenging for promotion in my opinion. Funny how currently this season Swansea have played 11 games and only conceded 7 goals! Maybe LW could've sorted our defensive problems out after all...

[Robbie]

I always hear that the "Squad isn't good enough" on social media or on the Ms media.

One of the Head Coach's job is to get the best out of the players he has, then help to recruit players that will improve the side.

When Stuart came to  Notts, the squad wasn't good enough, but Stuart managed to halt the slide down the table with the players he had, & they finished mid table when it could have been much worse.

Then Stuart had a hand in improving the squad in the summer & he's certainly done that. And we can see it after 13 matches.

Swansea have made several signings in the summer window but have not improved. Obviously that must be down to the Head Coach & recruiters.

[menzinho]

I think it’s a mixture of both, but good players can make an average coach look good. Take that Munto season when we signed a lot of really good players, we still had Ian McParland in charge and we started that season pretty well but you could see the difference when Steve Coterill came in.

You are right though, as equally a good coach can make average players look good! I still think Luke Williams is a very good coach though and I’d argue getting Swansea in the top 10 in the Championship is more of a challenge than getting Notts in the top 10 in League 2.

[Robbie]

I agree that good players can make an average coach look good, & the ability of a club that can buy the best players can make an average Coach look good too.

I that's my point when it comes to the top sides in the PL.They can recruit the best players that can make Coaches like Guardiola look good.

I'm not saying that a coaches like Guardiola are bad, I'm making a point that Guardiola & his ilk would do no better with the players that are at Swansea right now than anyone else.

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

It Still Rankles with Me and other Magpie Fans I know, with Richard Montague Beating His Chest Declaring It will take a Massive Offer for Macca to Leave the Lane. Yeah Blah Blah Blah. I still think there's more to Macca's leaving than We Fans are being told. The whole Truth of the situation May Never Come Out. I think I heard there was an Agreement that Luke Williams wouldn't Poach any players from Notts when he went to Swansea. But I Couldn't see how such an Agreement would Stand Up in a Court of Law. Interestingly Enough Macca was full of Praise for his Head Coach at Gateshead and before William's appointment wasn't there a rumor that the Gateshead  Coach at the time was on Notts Radar? Before they settled on Luke Williams. So both the Gateshead Coach and Luke Williams got the Best out of Macca, by playing to his Strengths, while it appears the Head Coach at Millwall doesn't seem Bothered about trying to Get the Best Out Of Macca.

I also remember after Macca's Departure there was a Rumor that Leeds had flown Macca back to the UK from Millwall's Spanish training Camp to sign for them, only for him to be Loaned Straight back to the Lions for this Season. Rumors Rumors they abound some have some form of truth to them. Such has the Strong Rumor that I stated on the PON Site that Jodi could be out for up to Six weeks, which was Confirmed by the Club Days Later. We'll get the Truth of Macca's Leeds Rumor at the End of this season or maybe even January.  Because Leeds play more in the way that Macca has become used to  so is Millwall just a Stop Gap and this is  Why Macca doesn't seem to be getting a Regular Starting Spot? We'll have to wait and See.

[Robbie]

I was upset when Macca left, but I think the Notts team have moved on now. Of course Macca's goal scoring exploits are going to be missed, however, the Notts defence is much more water tight than it was when Macca was scoring all those goals last season.

I still believe that we need another specialist striker in the January window to take the pressure off Jatta and Didzy. Hopefully Scott may return too, as soon as he feels well enough.

I think it is also incumbent on Macca to try to adapt to the way Millwall play. I am sure that he is good enough to give it a good go. 

We also have to bear in mind that Notts play a little differently to how they played when Macca was here. Notts have more emphasis on defence now, & we even see Crowley tracking back in defence, so it might not have been so easy for Macca at Notts this season.