Ryan Manning believes that the introduction of new guidelines to ensure teams are less likely to profit from time-wasting will be to Southampton's benefit.
Referees have been instructed to calculate added time more accurately, taking into account goal celebrations, substitutions and VAR checks.
Manning, who moved to St Mary's from Swansea on a free transfer this summer, made his Southampton debut on Friday night as they beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 in the Championship.
He was not to only one to make the move from Wales to the English south coast. Russell Martin, who managed Manning for two years at Swansea, was appointed Southampton manager last month. The former Scotland international has installed his possession-based football style at Southampton.
New guidelines 'suit' Southampton
“The manager spoke about that before the game," Manning told the Southern Daily Echo about the new guidelines.
"It probably suits us now that the time-wasting stuff is going.
"Teams can’t slow down too much and we can wear them down by keeping them and the ball moving.
"I think that’s probably why they touched the ball three of four times in the final nine minutes of added time.
"That is part of the game plan, it’s about going right until the last minute. It doesn’t matter if you win it in the first minute or the last minute, as long as you get three points."
Ryan Manning vs Sheffield Wednesday:
🏹 2 Shots
🔑 2 Chances created
🛡️ 2 Clearances
⚔️ 6 Duels Won
💪🏼 2 Tackles won
♻️ 6 Recoveries
👉🏼 173 Touches ⭐️
🎯 137 Passes (2nd)⭐️ 8.20 Match rating
🧩 Brilliant debut performance@ryanmanning4 | #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/mfqeTdBdZS
— Between the Lines (@Between_TL) August 4, 2023
Manning added that given his experience of working with Martin, he is trying to help his new teammates - including fellow Ireland internationals Gavin Bazunu and Will Smallbone - adapt to the new style of play.
“It’s a completely unique style of football," said Manning.
"His philosophy is very different to most managers, but having lived it for two years and done it week in and week out it’s definitely given me an advantage knowing it before I came in.
“I’m trying to help as much as I can. It’s an ever-evolving philosophy that you have to keep working and keep trying different things every week and keep building on it.
“I suppose all I’m trying to do is help out some of the boys with bits of information that I have picked up in the past or moments in games that I’ve seen before."
📈Highest possession share in the #EFL (Matchweek 1; 23/24):
8⃣0⃣%: 😇Southampton😇
7⃣2⃣%: Leeds
7⃣1⃣%: Stoke, Watford
7⃣0⃣%: Oxford, Bolton#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/5GXLKkhNJM— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) August 7, 2023
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