QuoteThat was where he played with the 21s along with Cullen and Rice. Looked both good and bad in that role. Probably a reason he’s found his home at LB/LWB/LCB - although I think he lacks pace at LWB to really be an outstanding option there
I always wondered if Manning could play left of a midfield 3 - similar to the Brady role at Euro16?
That was where he played with the 21s along with Cullen and Rice. Looked both good and bad in that role. Probably a reason he’s found his home at LB/LWB/LCB - although I think he lacks pace at LWB to really be an outstanding option there
Manning was very much an attacking winger in the LOI before going over to England.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Manning and Ebosele were both very poor defensively this past weekend
Its really not that complicated!!!
Wasn't Brady just a straight LB at Euro 2016?Originally Posted by MylesNotMiley
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Only in the opener against Sweden. Ward played the next 3 games at LB.
Actually I didn’t think Ebosele was that bad defensively, has certainly improved his tracking back and tackling since Italian move. I’d have no qualms playing him.
To me, Manning is like a poor man’s Ian Harte. Nice going forward, delivers some good balls, and contributes with some goals. Awful defender. He was bad at the weekend against
Plymouth, God only knows how he will do at international level. I don’t get the clamor for his inclusion internationally, he’s not for me anyways.
Agree on Manning 100%
Its really not that complicated!!!
Playing with WBs there's some leeway when it comes to the defensive side. They've got extra protection around them. He's also got something which we lack and that's someone with a decent delivery of the ball whether from open play or set pieces.
Himself and O'Dowda are poor defensively but his positives definitely outweighs O'Dowda's positives given our best chances of scoring is getting good deliveries into the box.
The clamour, such as it is, around Manning is down to our dwindling options elsewhere.
Coleman is injured and probably starting into his last season as a Premier League player (given Everton's trajectory, if nothing else). McClean is injured and while I wouldn't rule out Kenny sticking with him until the end of the campaign, we've never capped someone in the fourth tier, and for good reason. Brady is injured I think; hasn't made the bench for Preston yet this season. Stevens is back starting in the Championship after an injury-hit spell but he's 33 and I think past his best.
Doherty has played all of 16 minutes since mid Jan but may be the only one of the old guard we have available for Sept. Browne and O'Dowda seem to be the succession plan to that lot, but I don't really buy it. They're being shoe-horned into the position.
So it entirely makes sense to consider a player on the Championship Team of the Season. We're desperate for options here. Others - Ebosele (also poor at the weekend it seems), McNamara, Lyons (but he's dropped a division) - who else?
Realistic options for RB/RWB:
Matt Doherty
Seamus Coleman
Danny McNamara
Jon Gallagher
Festy Ebosele
Less realistic options:
Cyrus Christie
Andy Lyons
Peter Kioso
Lee O’Connor
James Abankwah
Sam Curtis
Realistic options for LB/LWB:
James McClean
Ryan Manning
Callum O’Dowda
Less realistic options:
Robbie Brady
Ends Stevens
Liam Scales
Joel Bagan
Derrick Williams
Alex Murphy
It is LB/LWV where you can't help but be most nervous. Really do think a call-up for Murphy would be a good move. He probably has the highest ceiling among that crop, has come a long way in a short time and it would be good for Kenny to get a close look at him. I'm not saying he starts but you cant put your faith in McClean, O'Dowda or Manning as long term answers to that problem. Dara O'Shea has played there before, not ideal and not his natural side but might be a stop-gap option too.
Yep. Good list from elated - Alan Browne is missing from it, but I think he's being shoehorned into position too to be honest. Not his fault of course but I feel he's being played out of position there. Probably a bit harsh to label Brady a "less realistic option" too, though as he seems to be injured again I don't think he's in the frame from September, and he's certainly not getting any younger or any more injury-free.
I'd have Manning over Murphy in fairness. The higher ceiling isn't really relevant if that ceiling is a few years off.
James Furlong has to be on the list for LWB. Played very well in his first season at Motherwell and in Brightons plans after they rejected bids for him from Poland.
I dont really disagree to be honest. But if you lose McClean (and I think now is the time) and O'Dowda is as bad as his performance against Greece was then you really only have Manning who just has not been sufficiently involved and tested at this level. I'm not advocating starting Murphy just a bit of a fast track to the squad to see how he competes. I think its fairly low risk.
I wouldn't mind both in the squad in fairness. But we've seen plenty of times that initial excitement over a young player fades a bit as they actually play, so while I wouldn't mind him being called up to give him experience, he may benefit more from a 21s debut, which I think he has earned.
O'Dowda is another I'd like to find a place for in the squad, but not at wingback. Like Browne, I don't think it's his fault he didn't play well when (I think) out of position
It'll be an interesting squad selection cos we've plenty injuries in positions we're stuck for anyway (wingback and up front). There's room for a curve-ball option and for someone to stake a claim to a starting spot. Connolly arguably being the obvious example (to get back on topic!)
I think O'Dowdas performance against Greece is a bit overstated. Yes he got caught for 2nd goal but if Lenihan wasn't way out of position the gap behind O'Dowda wouldn't have been as bad. The handball was just unlucky. Manning is not the step up from him that some people think
Its really not that complicated!!!
Suggesting O'Dowda's Greece performance wasn' t that bad or just an aberration doesn't seem quite right when we look, for example, at how badly he was caught out at club level just the week before last against QPR, costing his side a goal.
I think it's quite telling that when Cardiff played Leicester away on Saturday - obviously one of the best teams in the league - they pushed O'Dowda further forward, stationing Jamilu Collins behind him at left back.
He just isn't a very good defender; his virtues lie elsewhere.
Now, whilst he may not play for Real Madrid, Manning was by common consensus the best left back in the Championship last season, earning a move to one of the best teams in that league, as well as credible Premier League interest from Luton and Sheffield Utd.
McClean's clear decline and, presumably, international career-ending drop to the fourth tier, means that, if he wasn't already, and like it or no, Manning is clearly the best option available to us for the left wingback role given the system and style of play the manager wants us to play. The fact he cannot even make Kenny's squads is certainly puzzling.
You can't help but suspect that some of the comments you see from certain Ireland supporters seeking to play down or dismiss this obvious point - and Manning as a footballer - is down to a deep-rooted loyalty to Kenny, and viewing other fans' advocacy of Manning as implicit criticism of their man.
I don't think the last paragraph is needed, but other than that I fully agree.
I think O'Dowda started out for us as a creative attacking mid or something? Always found it strange that he's ended up as wingback.
I think he's just a victim of the current trend of teams -- at club and international level -- preferring to play with wingbacks. The fact he's left footed and there's always very few of those in any given squad means managers will just slot him in there by default.
My view is that his best position would probably be as an old school wide player in a 4-4-2, but not many teams use that formation these days.
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