New-man Manning hopes to pick up first points against Charlton Athletic

After Russell Martin’s departure to Swansea City on the eve of the footballing calendars beginning, all eyes turned to Liam Sweeting, MK Dons’ Sporting Director, to oversee the recruitment of the managerial replacement.

After only one match having passed under the stewardship of captain and stalwart Dean Lewington, all eyes turned to rumours arising in Belgium linking the Dons with the then Lommel SK manager, Liam Manning.

Having learnt his trade within the City Football Group family, Manning had previously been Academy Director for New York City FC before moving into first-team management in the Belgian Second Division. Having seen Lommel SK rise under Manning from seventh to third, the 35-year-old had developed a reputation within his fledgling career for playing attacking, positive football.

Hear from Sporting Director Liam Sweeting on why Liam Manning was the right man to take charge of #MKDons ?

Watch the full interview on iFollow MK Dons ? https://t.co/ohG3b55sEy

— Milton Keynes Dons (@MKDonsFC) August 13, 2021

His appointment fits the mould of those that he has followed through the door in Milton Keynes. Looking back through the last 15 seasons in Buckinghamshire, owner Pete Winkelman has had no qualms in appointing unknown quantities and young, hungry managers in the hope of building a successful future.

Whether it be Roberto Di Matteo, who left the Dons after finishing third in the third tier, narrowly missing out on promotion, or Karl Robinson, whose six-year tenure saw a possession-based brand of football that achieved promotion to the Championship whilst discovering a young Dele Alli in the process.

For all the similarities of yesteryear within the appointment, this does however spark the dawn of a new age after Manning is not appointed as manager but as head coach.

What this means for Dons supporters is that they know all future transfer acquisitions and contract negotiations will be chiefly overseen by Liam Sweeting, who has adhered himself warmly and quickly amongst the terraces, having successfully recruited a number of young footballers whilst managing to clear out many of the perceived dead wood within the squad.

Not only has Sweeting received praise for his knowledge within scouring the talent pool to attract and bring in the desired player, but he has also spoken very well in every interview he has partaken in since the departure of Russell Martin, and very quickly got the home support on board, trusting his ability to succession-plan.

With Manning arriving and immediately taking on the mantle for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland, he will now have had a couple of days to implement his stamp on the side and will look to pick up his first points for his new employers as they welcome Charlton Athletic.

With his Dons side immediately changing from taking goal kicks within their own penalty area, the 35-year-old prefers his goalkeeper to take his restarts further up-field, designed to guarantee control of the second ball higher up the pitch than inside their own six-yard box.

Whilst the new head coach may not be responsible for transfer dealings, he may well be asking for further support in bringing in additions to further strengthen his wing-back position as Manning, just like his predecessor Russell Martin, has a strong preference for high intensity play down the flanks.

With the role of the modern-day wing-back becoming arguably the most physically demanding position to play, and over the course of a long season that will consist of over 50 matches, his Dons squad has four players who can operate in the wide positions: Daniel Harvie, Tennai Watson, loanee Josh Martin and youth academy product Brooklyn Ilunga.

Whilst this may allow himself room for rotation, he will be heavily reliant upon Ilunga to break through, who has just 23 minutes’ worth of professional football experience to his name, and for loanee Martin to transition position successfully, having only been used previously as an out-and-out attacking winger without any pressure to defend,

For Manning to arrive at Stadium MK so early into the season there will be a lack of a honeymoon period, due to the desire for early points in a season where games come thick and fast.

Should the Dons find themselves struggling to get going this campaign, the fans’ vision may not stay rose-tinted when looking back to the summer transfer window, but that really is a bridge nobody in Milton Keynes wants to consider having to cross.

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