Ronan Manning

league of ireland + mls enthusiast | macalester ‘25 | analyst @SoccerFedMI

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

wrote about valentin barco for the wonderful folks at scouted :)

[SCOUTED @scoutedftbl]

Clubs across Europe have fallen head over heels for Boca Juniors’ left-back, Valentín Barco.

It’s not hard to see why, writes @ronanmann: he’s a modern star in the making and the player Argentina have spent decades waiting for.

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

footy 👍👍👍

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

I wrote something about Uzbekistan, how they've shaped up tactically under new manager Fabio Cannavaro, and why I think they might cause a few surprises in their debut World Cup campaign, which kicks off tomorrow against Colombia:
https://t.co/bZ2V2EVcp1

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

@Ankaman616 2 goals off the record with potentially 3 tournaments (-1 game) to play...

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

Biggest swings in RO32 qualification odds after June 15 matches, per Elo-based simulation:

• 🇨🇻 14.2% ↗️ 43.5%
• 🇸🇦 14.3% ↗️ 36.4%
• 🇪🇬 64.5% ↗️ 74.4%

• 🇮🇷 82.6% ↘️ 61.6%
• 🇺🇾 95.3% ↘️ 85.9%
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 88.4% ↘️ 83.0% (average 3P qual cutoff increased w/ draws yday)

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

@Ankaman616 getting a drink in the 23rd and 68th minute of every match

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

@TheRealRobbyT Yeah don't think it's a bad decision especially at 3 up but not sure I recall teams subbing this aggressively at past tournaments

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

Interesting to see teams going aggressive across the board w/ rotation (pulisic, son, schick?, dzeko?) despite added GD incentive w/ 3rd place teams

presumably due to the heat/extra knockout game but still seems a little unusual

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

@Jon_Mackenzie he's done the impossible (predict where on the pitch weston mckennie will play)

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

@JuneVanBloem @Gideoomatic the confederations cup???

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

a very off-the-top-of-my-head list of a few group stage games I think could be really interesting at this tournament:

https://t.co/58CF7vQgJ7

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

@Jon_Mackenzie (despite a better way to do it having been used in fifa tournaments before!)
https://t.co/XxTRiKNmMJ

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

interesting format in the u17 world cup KO stage - teams are ranked based on group performance and seeded accordingly, instead of the permutation system at 24 team tournaments (+ the 2026 wc).

seems more fair + incentivizes teams not to throw in the towel in dead rubber games

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

Third corner, 9th minute - Ødegaard checks short again, Newcastle stick tighter to him after prior corners, Madueke goes direct to one of the late runners in the box, who has time to turn and options with the ball at his feet in the box

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

Thought Arsenal’s corner goal on Saturday v Newcastle was interesting, especially in the context of the corners that preceded it (1/4):

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

Second corner, 8th minute - very similar routine, setting up an overload near the corner while targets occupy their markers at the back post to create space in Eze's zone

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

A couple of interesting trends in Bodø/Glimt's UCL run so far (data per Fotmob):

- Their xG numbers barely differ between home and away games, but home games see opposition xG drop from both open play and set pieces

- Really wide range of possession % numbers

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

@F_Edits arguably hurts both teams lol

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

???

[Aston Villa @AVFCOfficial]

🎶 Woah, Tammy, Tammy… 🎶

Aston Villa is delighted to announce the signing of Tammy Abraham on a permanent transfer! 💜

[Ronan Manning @ronanmann]

@JuneVanBloem steinfest 😭