After turning down bids from Premier League clubs in the summer, Galway native Ryan Manning’s decision to join Southampton is so far proving to be an astute one. The 27-year-old left-sided player has featured in the majority of the Saints’ matches this season, and with his club currently competing for a place in the playoffs, it might not be long before the former Galway United player takes the step up to playing in the English Premier League.
Saints in the running for promotion
Southampton are currently 30/1 to win the English Championship and 3/1 to be promoted. They are far from the favourites to win the division. Leicester currently holds that position at odds of 4/9. While a football bet on the Foxes gaining promotion is now just 1/12. In sports betting terms, the bookmakers are saying that Leicester look out of sight. And their lead at the top of the Championship suggests they will be hard to catch.
Behind the Foxes, Ipswich has started the season well and looks well-placed to secure the second automatic place. But the Tractor Boys are newly promoted from League One, and they may yet fall back to the chasing pack as the season goes on. In the chasing pack, Ryan Manning and his Southampton side are well placed. And with a long way still to go this season, Saints boss Russell Martin knows there is still a great chance his team can grab the second automatic place. Or at the very least, be in the end-of-season playoffs.
Man in demand
Russell Martin managed Ryan Manning during his spell at Swansea City in the early 2020s. The fact that Martin and Manning have previously worked together will have played a part in securing the Galway man’s signature. Russell Martin knows what he will get from Manning, and Manning knows that he already has the trust of Martin.
When Ryan Manning signed for the Saints, Russell Martin was quoted as saying they had beaten off competition from two Premier League clubs for the left-sided player’s signature. Considering Ryan Manning is yet to play in the elite division of English football, that is quite a coup for the South Coast club.
https://t.co/loCcnv7orW pic.twitter.com/DiTrKgXv4S
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 11, 2023
Even given the increased possibility of gaining promotion with the Saints, Manning must have been tempted to sign for a top-flight club. He has never tasted life on the pitch in the Premier League. But he has come close, as he was at QPR earlier in his career when the London club were in the English top flight, but he didn’t make an appearance during that season.
Faith in the Southampton process and manager Russell Martin
Ryan Manning would almost certainly have played in the Premier League had he signed for one of the interested clubs. At this stage of his career, he isn’t one for the future. He would have been a signing for the here and now.
Ryan Manning (27) in the Championship last season:
10 assists
5 goals
114 Chances Created – 1st
89.1 Crossing Grade – 1st
187 Challenges Won[via @PFF_FC] #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/35pT6zLyLs
— Just Saints (@JustSaints_) July 11, 2023
Manning was the fans’ Player of the Year in the previous season at Swansea, and he left on a free, knowing he had multiple career choices. The fact that he turned down the glamour of the Premier League shows he is more interested in playing regular football, than he is sitting on a Premier League bench, making the odd substitute appearance and earning a huge wage package.
It also says that Manning has a great deal of faith in both Southampton and Russell Martin. He believes he can go to the Premier League with the Saints. And as things stand, it is so far, so good for him.
