Fans of the football league were flabbergasted yesterday, as Scott Lindsey left League One side Crawley Town to join League Two side MK Dons.

Welcome to #MKDons, Scott Lindsey. 🤝#COYD pic.twitter.com/S3sJ0r722P

— Milton Keynes Dons (@MKDonsFC) September 25, 2024

Questions might still be asked over why Lindsey chose to join MK Dons, but it’s clear he’ll fit like a glove at Stadium MK.

In an exclusive interview with Football Park; the Football Content Award finalist, EFL & Non-League specialist, and popular X influencer; Tom Williams gave us his take on how Lindsey’s tactics will be implemented at MK Dons.

As MK Dons adjust following an average start under Mike Williamson, Tom Williams thinks the style of football the two managers use will be an easy adjustment for the players.

“Stylistically, they’re quite similar. That’s quite an easy thing to say because they both play a possession based style and it’s probably quite simplistic of me to say they’re quite similar, because there are also differences along with the similarities.

“In terms of style and tactics; yes it will be similar, yes it will be a lot of possession, yes it will be very controlled. That’s what MK Dons, that’s their Blueprint, their style and their DNA if you like.”

“I think the biggest difference is in character, I think Mike Williamson is quite a measured and reserved character, very in-check with his emotion. He’s very controlled on the touch-line and in his post-matches.

“I think that with Scott Lindsey you’ll see a bit more, I don’t want to say passion to down-play Mike Williamson, but more visible passion. He’s a bit more of an outgoing character.”

As Williamson’s time at MK Dons drew to an end, his relationship with the fans deteriorated, but Tom doesn’t think that’ll be an issue for Lindsey.

“He’ll maybe develop a closer bond with the fans, and maybe that’s what’s cost Mike Williamson in the end at MK Dons.

“It felt like his time was running out, especially with the fans who were starting to turn on him.

“I do think Scott Lindsey’s a better fit for what the fanbase want. He comprises the elements of the previous two managers. Graham Alexander, who was brought in at the start of last season, who has that character. Also with the style and the tactics of Mike Williamson who delivered such good results on the pitch for MK Dons last season.”

Tom Williams thinks Lindsey’s outgoing and passionate approach will translate into the way he gets his new side playing.

“They’ll push a few more men forward, for example Laurence Maguire who worked with Lindsey at Crawly and is now at MK Dons is a perfect example. At left centre-back, he’ll push forward to left wing-back and they can play that diagonal to him.”

MK Dons fans became frustrated with Williamson’s stubbornness, and refusal to change his game plan, which shouldn’t be an issue for Scott Lindsey.

“In terms of having more than one plan, I think that Scott Lindsey very much has the style he wants to play, and he’ll want the best out that style. With Crawley they stepped up into a higher division, and still played the same way.

“He’s a bit more adaptable, if you look at the games in the play-offs against MK Dons, he knew that MK Dons would dominate possession at home. He formulated a plan to hurt them using their own style to hurt them.

“He’s able to use opposition shapes and systems and use them against them.”

Finally, Tom gave us a summary of why he thinks it will be an easy changeover for the players.

“It’ll be possession based, and all about control. A similar shape too, the formation is very similar, which is very positive. It’ll be a seamless transition I think, because these players haven’t got to learn a new system, a new shape or a new style.

“There will be a crossover which will allow them to be successful straight away.

“I do think in those bigger games, for example Notts County who play a possession based style, maybe they’ll be more adaptable and will be willing to have less of the ball knowing they can hurt the opposition in moments.”