Ryan Manning will be out of contract next month and can decide his own destiny with the season now concluded. Surprisingly he has stalled on announcing a new club, and late indications are he would be interested in one more pow wow with the Swans now that new investors are pretty much in place.
Ryan, who is twenty seven next month has become one of those players you can generally rely on to not only increase your chances of winning a game, he irritates the opposition, and can score goals as well. From the flanks or further in to midfield he is a real menace. He isn’t marmite either, most Swans fans love his dynamic and forthright style of play. His flexibility is something Russell Martin admires and has utilised on numerous occasions throughout the season. This campaign Ryan has played a role for the club wherever he has been asked to fit in. So much so his abilities haven’t gone unnoticed by the EFL stats people. It’s pretty stunning what he has achieved.
So, let’s have a look at what he brings to Swansea City.
Assists is an area we all understand, and Ryan has complemented all the other areas we will review today with eleven assists throughout the season. Remember without the assisted pass there wouldn’t be a goal.
Because Ryan is direct and works well on the left with the likes of Jamie Paterson of late, Olivier Ntcham and indeed is picked out regularly by Matt Grimes he is often brought down. This earns Swansea numerous free kicks.
Then we have to look at those key passes he has made when in a Swans shirt. It’s incredible to think that a player who can and has played on the flanks, as a wing back and as a centre half, oh, and not forgetting midfield has achieved such a high rate of key passing stats.
Then there is his Xa. This is a measure of the likelihood that a completed pass will become a goal assist. It considers several factors, including the type of pass and length of pass. Like it or not these are the stats that every club looks for. And in Mannings’s case it just adds value to his contract be that at Swansea City or elsewhere.
He has had a goal return this season of five and a couple of wonder strikes too. Manning is a player who hasn’t displayed any form of poor behaviour throughout the season. Even with his contract running down he has played to the best of his ability. We hear of no issues from behind the scenes ( because there are none ) We just see a player who can affect any game he plays in. He actually finished the season off with the same amount of goals as fellow countryman Michael Obafemi. Maybe this is where Manning’s issue are at Swansea City. Surprisingly he has been left out of recent Republic Of Ireland squads which when you see him play is extraordinary. Current manager Stephen Kenny seems oblivious to the contribution Ryan brings to football matches. This could be one of the key reasons he feels he would be better off elsewhere. He has only made one of the last nine Republic squads.
His chances to play for his country whilst at Swansea have been extremely limited.
Manning scores the winner against Huddersfield Town this season
This season Ryan has made nearly two and a half thousand passes in forty three league games with an eighty two percent cent success rate. That’s pretty impressive. Only Matt Grimes whose stats for passing are absolutely ridiculous is better. In Grimes case he has made well over four thousand passes this season with a ninety one percent success rate, just think about that for a minute.
Incredible.
The thing in Ryan’s favour is his family is in Swansea and he loves playing for the club, it’s just that he wants serious security financially for his next contract. It’s the type of security that Swansea are unlikely to be able to offer him if the figures mentioned are to be believed. However, there is some hope despite the fact the player and the club are far apart. It may be a a glimmer, but glimmers offer possibility. And when you look at the stats for this player in his prime where else would a similar type of player be found ?
Let alone how much he would cost.
Especially when he is actually on your doorstep, and already playing for you.
Thanks to @EFLStats for the reproduction of diagrams