Interview with Ryan Manning

ASK RYAN MANNING WHAT HIS SPECIALIST POSITION IS THESE DAYS, AND HE’LL SHRUG HIS SHOULDERS. HERE, HE DISCUSSES ADAPTING TO NEW ROLES, GOING VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH OVER 11 MILLION HITS, AND THE SQUAD’S VERSION OF MICHAEL MCINTYRE’S THE WHEEL.

Plenty to cover here, but let’s start with the change of position. I’m sure some people back home in Ireland will be surprised you are now an established centre-back!

They would, to be fair. When I started playing in Ireland I was a striker and also played as a winger and number 10, so I’ve moved down the team. I’ll be a goalkeeper before long at this rate!

How did you evolve from a striker to a defender?

When I broke into the QPR team I was playing in midfield, so I just kept in that position until Bidders came to Swansea and the left-back that they’d brought in – Lee Wallace – got injured in pre-season. So I was the only left footer that could slot in, and there was no back up. I did well in preseason and played 40 odd games at left-back despite never having played in that position before.

You must have done a lot of learning on the job, given the changes in mentality as a defender?

I did, to be honest. My first thought as a midfielder was to attack – that was probably due to me being a striker earlier in my career. It was hard to learn how to defend a one v one, defensive positioning and being aware of the offside trap. But the more games I got, the more understanding I had.

We’ve also seen you play as left wing-back under Russell Martin. Your versatility gives him plenty of options.

Yeah it’s always handy for the gaffer when players can feature in different roles. I’m someone who can play centre midfield, left wing-back, left-back and now centre-back, so I can cover a few positions. I’ve had to evolve a little bit in each role, but I enjoy that.

Did all that help your transition to the left centreback position that we’ve seen you in this season?

It definitely did. I’m like a narrow fullback now, rather than a traditional centre-back. But having played left-back helped me adapt. I may have got caught out a bit in terms of positioning this season, but I’m learning on the job. With the way the gaffer wants us to play here, it doesn’t matter what position you would have played in your career, it wouldn’t be played the same way here. But it’s a great position for me. If you asked me what position I think I am these days, I honestly couldn’t tell you, haha.

Let’s be fair, you don’t mind a tasty challenge either do you? So facing a big, bustling forward is not something that you try to avoid.

Haha, you’re spot on there – I love it! I think it’s from my days playing Gaelic Football. It was really tough, and somethings that we’d get a yellow card for in football here, well, no one would bat an eyelid in Gaelic Football.

And playing football in Ireland at a young age must have toughened you up too?

It really did. I was 16 and playing against tough men that were 10 years older than me. Doing that, you can’t help but get stronger physically and mentally, along with being able to deal with the tough knocks.

Behind the scenes, you are known as the Swansea City punchbag – you’re one of the most fouled players in the league! Does that surprise you?

I was aware of that, to be fair. I don’t mind taking the knocks – whether it’s getting clattered because it’s a high ball, or if I’ve got ahead of my opponent and got to the ball first.

That leads us to a certain incident at Luton earlier in the season. You were at the centre of a foul that has gained over 11 million views on social media.

Haha, I thought you’d bring that up. The good thing from it was that somehow I wasn’t injured from it. Henri Lansbury absolutely clattered me, but luckily I was still in one piece. But, like I said, I don’t mind all that. I’ve watched it back a few times since then, so I probably lend a few hits to the social media views!

Talking about hits, you bagged your first Swansea City goal recently – a cultured right-footed finish in the top corner. Not bad for a left-footed player!

I’m not too sure about cultured finish – it was more swing the boot and hope! Haha. It was great to finally get my first goal for the club, even though it came in a game we went on to lose. No matter what position you play, you just want to get that first goal and mine came at the 39th time of asking. I didn’t think it would come via my right foot though. I obviously work on that in training, and in game it will either go in the top corner or the top corner of the stand – fortunately on this occasion it found the right place. Aside from the goal, you’ve really contributed in setting them up. You’re among our leading lights in terms of assists. Despite playing as a defender on most occasions, you’re still playing a part in the other end of the pitch.

Yeah, and that’s come through the gaffer’s style. Defenders don’t just defend, and attackers just attack. We’re all looking to contribute at all ends of the pitch when possible. I’ve managed to chip in with a few assists recently, and I want to keep improving on that. I know if I can get the ball into a certain position then we have players who will finish it.

You’re not the only Manning to have chipped in with goals and assists recently, are you?

My younger brother Ronan is back playing for Galway United - the club I used to play for – last season. He got injured late on so that disrupted his season, which is unfortunate as the boys got to the play-off final. He got something like 10 goals and nine assists the previous season (for Athlone Town) - if he’s got more goals or assists he’ll let me know. Nine times out of 10 he’ll beat me, but he plays as a 10 so he should be getting more!

Back to life in Swansea, you’ve been here almost a year. How’s it going?

It’s very different to what it was like in London, but it’s very similar to where I grew up in Ireland. Once I got here I realised what a lovely place it is. I enjoy the city and the beaches. There are loads of places to walk my dog. My partner (Charli) and I take our Cavapoo down Caswell a lot. I

love it there. I go down Three Cliffs a lot too, and when it’s a little wet I go down Mumbles and the seafront. We’re lucky to have so many nice places to go here.

You’ve settled into life in the city very well, and safe to say you’re a popular member of the squad. You’re a bit of a joker in the camp too.

The boys would probably say I’m more of an idiot that says silly stuff a lot and does childish stuff. Haha. There are a few boys in the squad that are similar to me. We enjoy The Wheel too.

I take it you’re not talking about Michael McIntyre’s TV show on Saturday nights?

Haha, not quite. We have a wheel in the changing rooms at Fairwood that settles fines. It’s only for little things like leaving your training top outside, or leaving something in the gym. Then you spin the wheel. There’s x5, +50, the whole changing room pays a fine. It’s really good fun if you’re not on the receiving end. I’m usually the guy laughing in someone’s face when they’re spinning the wheel, and more often or not they get to nominate a teammate to pay their fine. Guess who they pick? Sometimes you can double nominate, which means they can pick someone to pay their fine – which is doubled. I’m always picked, by Pato most often. A few players are terrible for paying fines though.

Do tell…. I won’t go in hard on anyone, but Ben Hamer is tighter than cramp!

Bet he’s not the only one! In all seriousness, it all helps with building relationships and creating a genuinely good feel within the squad.

It really does. We have a really good group of lads here, and we really enjoy being around each other. It filters through the whole building in Fairwood. If you can come into work with a smile on your face, then that’s a good sign. The people in the kitchen and offices here are Swansea City supporters, and want the club to do well, and that close bond helps because we all want the same thing here.

Now Christmas Day has passed by, what are you hoping for in the second half of the season?

I think it’s important that we keep working on the instructions the gaffer gives us, and the way he wants us to play. Comparing now to the opening game at Blackburn, I think we’ve progressed a heck of a lot since then. It’s a different way of playing, and I absolutely love it. To be in control of possession and dictate the flow of a game is something I love to be a part of. Of course, we’d love to be up there come the end of the season, but there’s no point thinking about that because there’s a heck of a lot of work to do and games to play before then. The signs have been promising so far, though, and I know the supporters are really enjoying watching us play.

In the latest chapter of our series of features recalling Swansea City’s historic 198081 season, we look at how some ruthless selection calls from John Toshack got the Swans back on track.

The player-manager had never been shy of showcasing his ruthless side when required and, sensing change was needed, he decided to shuffle his pack.

Leighton Phillips, a stalwart of the rise through the divisions, was replaced by teenager Dudley Lewis in the defence.

Wyndham Evans, having had to bide his time for much of the season, was brought back into the side, as was Tommy Craig as Toshack brought the former Aston Villa man back into his midfield.

Ante Rajkovic had followed compatriot Dzemal Hadziabdic to the Vetch by this point, but a thigh injury would ensure the Yugoslav’s involvement was quickly curtailed.

“The thing with Dudley was nothing fazed him,” says Curtis of the then 18-year-old Lewis.

“I am sure he did get nervous, but he never seemed to show it. He was so quick, and he could deal with any ball in behind. There were no frills, he would deal with the situation.

“We had Speedy and Wyndham with him and they complemented each other. They were fantastic.

“But that was Tosh, he was not scared of tough decisions. Leighton Phillips had been such an important player. When you think of the Preston game he left John Mahoney – his cousin – out of the side and David Giles was on the bench.”

Evans, meanwhile, was nearing 10 years of service with the Swans, and his battle for a place had done nothing to dim his passion for the club.

“All I wanted was that opportunity and I worked hard for it, I never once thought of leaving the Swans,” he says.

“I just decided I would work as hard as I could, there was only one sub so you didn’t even get to be on the bench. “I had been disappointed because I knew we were near to something special, but if there was a race in training I would make sure I won it or was in the first few.

“I just worked really hard until I got back in the team.

“I thought he might change the team back when we started winning again, but he stuck with us.”

The impact was not immediate; handsome wins over Bolton and Wrexham – with Leighton James netting a treble in the former and David Giles on the scoresheet against his old club in the latter – were followed by a goalless draw with Bristol City and a loss to Grimsby Town.

But the tide was turning, and that away loss to the Mariners would be the only reverse in Swansea’s final dozen games.

Jeremy Charles netted the only goal at Derby, with Leighton James and Nigel Stevenson scoring in a vital

win over rivals Blackburn – then under the guidance of future Everton boss Howard Kendall - who advised Toshack to wrap James in cotton wool over the final weeks after tearing Rovers to pieces at the Vetch.

“I scored a few goals that season but I don’t remember those games at all, the only goal I do remember was against Blackburn because I have a photo of it,” says Stevenson.

“They were also promotion rivals and we played them down at the Vetch. We had a corner on the right-hand side, Tommy Craig knocked the ball in, and it took a deflection. It bounced into space and nobody reacted except myself and I did a scissor-kick. The photograph is spectacular.

“Talking to Len Pitson who took the photograph, he said if I was playing for the likes of Arsenal or an English club, that would probably have been photograph of the season, but because we were out here on a limb in Swansea, it was brushed aside. It was just a reaction attempt really.

“To score at any level is fantastic and being a centre-half you don’t get many opportunities other than going up for free-kicks and corners, and it’s mainly headers then.

“Any goal is priceless and luckily I scored that one against Blackburn that was really, really important at the time. I still get reminded of it from time to time.”

Draws with Orient and Cardiff followed to leave the Swans sixth in the table with just four games remaining.

But Toshack’s men were far from done, Robbie James and Curtis inspired victory over Bristol Rovers before struggling Chelsea were dispatched 3-0 at the Vetch.

The dramatic denouement lay ahead.

WE COULD PLAY A DIFFERENT WAY TO GET RESULTS, BUT THAT WILL NOT CREATE FIRST-TEAM PLAYERS

Having become immersed in the importance of results during his playing career, Kristian O’Leary now has a very different focus as a coach.

O'Leary has been a superb servant of Swansea City, making 334 appearances over a 15-year stint that took in everything from the battle for Football League survival, to promotions, play-off finals and FAW Premier Cup success.

Returning to the club as a coach in 2012, he would be part of Garry Monk's staff as the Swans secured a best Premier League finish - and second highest league history in Swansea history - of eighth during the 2014-15 season.

Guiding Swansea City Under23s this season, having rejoined the club early in 2021, O’Leary has progress rather than points at the forefront of his mind. “Football is a results business at the senior end, and everyone likes winning. But, ultimately, you have to take a step back from that at this level and understand what our role is within the club – that’s to develop players,” says O’Leary.

“That’s what the club has done for many years. We’ve always had a core of players within the first-team squad that have come through the system. It’s our job to continue that.”

O’Leary’s remit is, as he points out, not to add silverware to the academy’s trophy cabinet, but to nurture players and prepare them for a potential promotion into Russell Martin’s first-team squad.

While results have been hard to come by this season – there have been three wins and two draws from 12 Professional Development League South fixtures - O’Leary is pleased with the progress his squad is making. It is a squad that had a major overhaul in the summer with a string of new faces – many as young as 16 – given a chance of developing with the under-23s.

It has not been straightforward, which O’Leary expects given the particularly young, raw talent he has at his disposal. But that is a challenge that whets his appetite.

For he was a player that enjoyed a long career at “his club”, as he calls it, having quickly progressed from a talent on schoolboy forms to a member of the first team.

So, he is more familiar to what his current players are going through than most.

While he believes results have not quite rewarded his players’ performances so far this season, the signs are encouraging.

“At the start of the season we had pretty much a brand new team. It took time for them to settle in, but I can’t question their attitude and application. Even when things haven’t gone our way, those principles were always strong and that will stand these players in good stead for the future,” O’Leary points out.

“We’ve predominantly been 4-3-3 here – with variations of that system – but when Russell came in, he invited me into a first-team meeting and he showed us how he did things at MK Dons and that’s how we’d do things here. I went in as a coach and came out excited as a fan!

“The under-23s can’t play a different way to the firstteam, because the transition would be difficult.

“So there were challenges there and I think the players have adapted very well. In general, the performances - barring one or two games - have been very good. We’ve been punished by individual errors and collective mistakes. We’ve got to do our utmost to ensure a mistake isn’t followed by a mistake, but unfortunately these things happen at this level.

“Generally, we are happy with the way things are going. Speaking to people from other clubs and associations who watch us play, they are excited by what they see.

“We have a clear philosophy here, and the age groups must follow the first team. It simply wouldn’t work otherwise. “We can win a game by sitting back, soaking up the pressure and hitting teams on the counter and the results would look better. But that’s not going to help our players get into our first team. There’s no point playing that way.

“We have to expose them to the challenges and demands that will help them progress into the first team. I am in constant dialogue with Russell. We are on the same page.

“The players will learn a heck of a lot from being exposed to these things. It’s not comfortable at times, but it will serve them well.

“We are enjoying 70 per cent of possession in games, more shots on target, but have lost games. Individual errors have cost us, while we need to be better in both boxes. Our job is to improve that.

“You don’t tend to see those kind of numbers at this level, though, so it’s helping our players in terms of the way the first-team play.

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“We’ve got a young group playing at under-23 level. We have lads who are 16, 17, 18 and 19 playing, while our oldest is 20. So there is a lot of potential and learning on offer here.”

Learning is very much a big part of the under-23s’ agenda – both on and off the pitch.

O’Leary is a coach that likes to think outside of the box, and counts on his experience both as a player and now as a coach to help his squad improve.

“We do a lot of work individually and collectively with the players,” O’Leary adds. “We put the onus back on the players to give us some feedback.

“We’ll show them game and training situations from the first team and ask them to show us five good and bad actions. We’ll discuss that and it’s great from a coaching perspective because you get their thought process. For them, it gives them something different other than the technical ability they have got.

“I strongly believe that we have a group of players who can be successful, but it takes time. I said last year when I came back to the club that we have to build it back up. From 2012, when the under-21s originally started at the club, it took a few years to get those lads through – players like Connor Roberts, Josh Sheehan, Liam Shephard went on to have good careers.

“But time is key at this level. Nothing is solved overnight, there is a lot of hard work ahead.”

Part of that hard work has been aligning the under-23s with the philosophy put in place by Martin following his appointment as first-team head coach last summer.

And, he feels, there are clear signs that his young players are making the right steps.

“We are not here to win leagues. If we won the league then it would be fantastic and it would mean we would have an exceptional team – but how many teams win a league and get all 11 players into the first team? It’s unrealistic,” O’Leary continues.

“Our goal is to get as many players as possible in and around the first team. We’ve seen that already. Some of our lads are called up to train with the first team.

“Russell has been absolutely fantastic for us. He reminds me of a number of managers we’ve had at this club who have been very successful.

“He’s at every game he can attend, and he asks me for clips of players all the time. He takes time out of his day to watch our games back, and he’s very supportive of the ideas we have.

“That gives him an idea of how a particular player could fit into the first team.

“There is a pathway at this club for our players, and that is absolutely massive.”