7 hours ago
Ryan Manning's back-to-the-future role for Ireland shows Heimir Hallgrimsson's intelligent judgement
One notable aspect of Heimir Hallgrimsson's tactical approach with the Republic of Ireland of late has been how Ryan Manning has been used by the manager.
Predominantly a left-back at club level, the Galway native has been shifted further up the field for the games against Buglaria in March and last Friday's 1-1 draw against Senegal.
However, the fact that Hallgrimsson has seen traits in the Southampton man that allow him to feature in a more advanced position should not be a surprise considering the roles the 28-year-old fulfilled earlier in his career.
Indeed, former Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Richie Towell played a part in Manning being moved to left-back when they were both on loan together at Rotherham United in the 2018-19 season.
"I signed I think four of five games into the season, again on deadline day, and with me playing midfield I kind of went in there and he was pushed back to left-back," Towell told this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
"Ryan is a really clever footballer and as Heimir has said, he's cheeky as well. He knows the dark arts in football and like that, he knows how to play midfield, he knows how to play left-back, he can play that inverted winger.
"I think what really impressed me (against Senegal) was his runs into the channel and as Stephen (Kelly) said there, it's definitely something that they've been working on on the training pitch.
"Because twice Ryan made the run, once Jack Taylor made the run as well; they didn't get the ball but you could see the Ireland manager was applauding it. That's what (the Ireland management) wanted, just keep doing it and it pushed Senegal back a little bit and created more space for the likes of Adam Idah in them pockets.
"You can see the triggers the Ireland manager is trying to create, when to press, what runs to make into the channel and it doesn't matter what the name on the back of the jersey is. Once they're doing what he wants them to do, then with a manager like Heimir, he's going to pick them."
Manning's shift from left-back to a role further forward at international level is almost a back-to-the-future trajectory for a player who even featured at left centre-back for a time at Swansea.
For former Ireland and Tottenham Hotspur full-back Kelly, Hallgrimsson's recognition that Manning can thrive in a different role is a credit to the manager's understanding of his players' attributes.
"Heimir's come in and he's thought, 'Right, I want to look at what I have first and then put my style of play around what I feel best suits this group of players', and I think that's what he's done," said Kelly.
"So it's really intelligent, it shows a great idea and understanding of football and how to get into the psyche of players and to be able to give them that confidence to do something slightly out of their comfort zone.
"He's given (Manning) the belief that he can do that, that, 'I don't want you up and down on the left wing, I feel like you can come inside and be that player'. It's great from the manager."
On Manning's interpretation of his new role, Kelly liked how he did not crowd central areas that striker Idah wanted to occupy.
"It was intelligent play from him. His positioning was really good, little one-twos around. A couple of times going into that final third, he was disappointed not to get that last ball, once or twice when he was in behind and you just feel like just if he can whip that in, it was on for Adam Idah and (Kasey) McAteer coming in at the far post," he said.
"But so much of his game was neat and tidy, it was clever. He occupied the space really well and the way he drew (Senegal's) defenders out to create that space for Adam to run in behind was really good. So it's nice to have options."
