"To change at the right time is amazing, but to change at the wrong time, it's terrible" were the words from Luke Williams when asked about a potential change of formation for his Notts County side.
The Magpies have started the season with five points from their opening three games, with their typical 3-5-2/5-2-2-1 formation still present under the newly appointed manager four years after when it was first introduced.
And during the opening three National League fixtures, a number of tactical changes have been crucial in getting points on the board. Most notably, a tactical switch at Boreham Wood lead to substitute Kairo Mitchell putting Notts in front after Williams dropped Macaulay Langstaff deeper and into the number ten position.
READ MORE: Aaron Nemane explains suspension frustration and Luke Williams impact following solid Notts start
A number of Notts fans have questioned whether Williams may change his defensive tactics with the Magpies having played with a back three since the 2018/19 season, seen under former managers Neal Ardley and Ian Burchnall.
The defensive personnel within the ranks at Meadow Lane are comfortable within the current system, but the opportunity to play with a flat back four would allow more control in midfield, something that has been exploited in their last two games.
The likes of Adam Chicksen, Joel Taylor, Aaron Nemane and Toby Adebayo-Rowling, all offer something different when playing at wing back, and whilst Williams has flirted with the idea of playing with a back four, he insists more work and attention to detail is needed before trying it out in a matchday scenario.
"I'm not set on playing a back five, but it is more that we started that way and we want everyone to feel comfortable with something and trying to get the detail," said Williams.
"For sure, it's definitely something I want to do at some point and play a back four, and hopefully we can play guys at the very top of the pitch with real attacking instinct, and then have the cover behind them from full-backs.
"I would love to be able to do that but we have to make sure that we do that at the right time because it requires work and we have to get the detail right.
"To change at the right time is amazing, but to change at the wrong time, it's terrible."
During their 1-1 draw with Gateshead on Tuesday night, Williams brought Mitchell on for Ed Francis, again dropping Langstaff into midfield which worked so effectively at Meadow Park.
But with the Magpies still looking for an equaliser, Cedwyn Scott was introduced and for the first time Notts played with a front two under Williams. This allowed Ruben Rodrigues to play centrally in midfield, with Jim O'Brien and Matty Palmer - the latter given license to help out during attacks.
At times it did look uncomfortable as it was a different way of playing, with Gateshead able to play between the lines and create an overload in midfield. This was more evident when O'Brien was replaced with Frank Vincent, the only defensive minded midfielder.
Williams explained: "At the moment, we will try to play with one striker behind the other like we did at the end of the Boreham Wood game, and so we start the game with a midfield player behind Macca (Langstaff), and the midfield player can go deep to try to create an overload with the ball in midfield.
"But, with Macca, he stays high up the pitch and behind Kairo (Mitchell) when we make that change. Then we played with two strikers at the top of the pitch against Gateshead with one pivot late on. I am trying to see if we can change and see how the guys can do and see if they are comfortable with these things.
"Having Matty (Palmer), such a special player when he is available, we can do more things. When Cedwyn (Scott) is fit, we can do more things. We have to make sure everything is done at the right moment and not to make it more stressful or confusing for the players."
