#951 | Ed and Dharnish discus United's defeat to Villa - impressive pressing, out of possession challenges, Lisandro Martinez's cameo at number 6, and what a future without an injured Bruno Fernandes might look like. The conversation also touches on United's challenges over the festive season, with so many players now out, how will Ruben Amorim adjust United's tactical approach? 00:00 Introduction and Holiday Chat
02:09 Villa Match Analysis and Pressing Tactics
06:02 Defensive Concerns
11:21 Bruno Fernandes Injury and Midfield Options
15:51 Martinez at Number Six
22:22 Upcoming Fixtures
29:35 Closing Remarks

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#950 | Ed and Wayne dissect Manchester United’s defeat away at Aston Villa, a match that briefly suggested progress before unraveling in depressingly familiar fashion. A strong first half gave way to defensive errors, mounting absences, and an untimely injury to Bruno Fernandes, leaving Ruben Amorim staring at another damaging afternoon.

They assess what United did well, where the team failed, and how much responsibility sits with execution versus selection. The discussion turns to injuries and squad depth, the ongoing reliance on youth, and whether Amorim’s decision-making shows conviction or caution.

With a difficult run of fixtures ahead, the key question hangs over the episode: does Amorim respond by doubling down on control and safety, or does he finally take the risks this squad appears to demand?

00:00 Introduction and welcome

01:19 Positives and negatives from Villa

02:06 Breaking down the performance

03:58 Injuries and their wider impact

09:06 Youth players and selection calls

15:40 Managerial scrutiny and short-term outlook

29:38 Historical parallels and risk appetite

33:32 Amorim’s growing list of challenges

35:24 Tactical tweaks and in-game responses

38:40 The fixtures ahead and what they demand

53:03 Nepo babies in football

59:40 Final thoughts

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#949 | Ed and Tom take stock of where Manchester United really are, amid fitness problems that refuse to clear and tactical compromises that keep piling up. They break down recent performances against Everton and Bournemouth, questioning selection calls, structure, and how much latitude the manager still has to solve problems internally.

The conversation widens to youth development and club culture, pushing back on lazy media narratives around players like Kobbie Mainoo and the credibility of the latest transfer chatter, including links to Antoine Semenyo. There’s also a deep dive into Bruno Fernandes’ recent interview, what it reveals, and what it doesn’t.

The episode rounds out with a look at the women’s team progressing in the Champions League, before a sobering preview of Aston Villa away, a test that exposes United’s current fragility and lack of margin for error.

00:00 Introduction and catching up

01:00 Everton, Bournemouth, and the Mainoo debate

02:50 Youth players and what club culture actually means

04:23 Media narratives, punditry, and manufactured noise

12:02 Bruno Fernandes interview analysis

23:53 Women’s team and Champions League progress

45:05 Transfers, rumours, and squad depth realities

01:05:36 Aston Villa preview and pressure points

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#948 | Ed and Dan react to a breathless, chaotic 4–4 draw that managed to be both exhilarating and deeply exposing. They break down United’s aggressive pressing, fluid attacking movement, and how the side functioned without a recognised striker, while also confronting the defensive fragility that turned control into volatility.

The discussion moves through tactical trade-offs, shape-shifting between a back three and a back four, and the consequences of those choices under pressure. Individual performances are assessed in detail, including Amad’s influence, Bruno Fernandes’ authority, and Casemiro’s role. There’s also scrutiny of managerial decisions, the impact of Afcon, and what this match says about the limits of flexibility versus structure.

The episode closes by looking ahead to Aston Villa, weighing likely selections, priorities, and how much adjustment this squad can realistically absorb.

00:00 First impressions from a chaotic 4–4


04:03 Defensive vulnerabilities and systemic flaws

07:49 Back three vs back four – what worked, what didn’t


12:33 Goals and individual performances


25:29 Bruno Fernandes – quality, responsibility, future


34:45 Amorim on youth and squad trust


39:29 Looking ahead to Aston Villa – selection dilemmas


45:04 Final reflections

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#947 | Ed and Dharnish reflect on United’s recent run, using the games against West Ham and Wolves as a lens to assess where Ruben Amorim’s side is making progress and where problems persist. They dig into tactical patterns, selection decisions, and how absences for AFCON are exposing the limits of the squad. The conversation broadens into the issues shaping United’s season – financial constraints, January options that look more theoretical than realistic, and the ongoing tension between short-term fixes and long-term planning. There’s also a discussion on the club’s relationship with its academy, why pathway matters culturally as well as competitively, and what it says about United when young players are trusted – or overlooked. The episode also covers the women’s team’s recent struggles, a positive note from the Youth Cup win over Peterborough, and the emergence of JJ Gabriel as a player to watch. The show closes with a look ahead to Bournemouth and growing concerns about depth as the calendar tightens.
00:00 Introduction
02:03 Looking back on West Ham and Wolves
07:21 Assessing Amorim's Progress
12:22 United's Financial Situation
17:36 January Transfer Window
27:51 Women's Team Update
30:57 Youth Cup and JJ Gabriel
36:16 Bournemouth Preview
46:18 World Cup Ticket Prices
53:30 Wrap Up

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#946 | In this episode of the United Inc, NQAT's Finance Pod, Ed and Jamie discuss Manchester United's financial performance in Q1, covering July through September. They highlight the club's revenue, operating losses, and debt situation, noting that while total revenue was slightly down year-over-year, the club has made some progress in cost reductions, including wage cuts and staffing changes. However, the club's debt has increased to approximately £750 million. The episode also explores the impact of United's financial condition on potential player transfers and the football team’s overall strategy, emphasising the need for rational decisions and long-term financial stability.

00:00 Introduction

00:42 On-Pitch Performance vs Financial Reality

22:15 Europa League Impact on Revenue

30:46 Credit Facility and Financial Constraints

31:10 Staff Cuts and Restructuring

32:46 Player Bonuses and Contract Structure

33:24 Wage Bill Analysis

34:00 The Rebuild Strategy and Taking Pain

36:02 Transfer Spending Strategy

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#945 | Ed and Dan break down United's 4-1 win at Molineux – a result shaped as much by Wolves' collapse as United's competence. They look at the tactical choices that set the tone, the patterns that still need work, and the individuals who shifted the game. There's detailed discussion of Bruno Fernandes' influence, Matheus Cunha's threat, and the ongoing debate about structures, roles, and whether this squad is being built on solid foundations or short-term patchwork.

The conversation also moves into wider themes: confidence, fragility, the value of giving academy players clear pathways, and what this performance means for United's European ambitions. The show closes with thoughts on squad planning and the next steps for Kobbie Mainoo as he navigates an already heavy spotlight.

00:00 Introduction
00:30 Wolves 1–4 Manchester United
02:48 Goals, breakdowns, and defensive errors
08:32 Second-half control and structural tweaks
14:19 Formations, selection choices, and the 'platforming' debate
21:32 Confidence, mentality, and how the team responds to setbacks
30:03 Youth development and academy integration
37:26 European competition prospects
44:39 Kobbie Mainoo

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#944 | Ed and Dharnish dissect Manchester United's 1-1 draw against West Ham at Old Trafford. They discuss the game's key moments, defensive lapses, and tactical decisions, including the four defensive substitutions that stifled attacking momentum. The conversation touches on the struggles in maintaining consistent performance levels and the overall progression under Ruben Amorim. The episode also previews Monday night's fixture against Wolves. No trouble there, then?

00:00 Introduction and Initial Reactions

03:12 Team Selection and Defensive Changes

09:49 System Concerns

16:00 Goals and Missed Opportunities

24:25 Managerial Pressure

28:09 Looking Ahead to Wolves

33:24 Squad Depth and Tactical Challenges

38:04 Closing Thoughts

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#943 | Ed, Daniel and Dharnish break down the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace with a focus on what actually drove the result. The first half offered little control or invention. The second half looked sharper but still exposed the same structural problems that keep holding United back.

They examine the setup, the halftime tweaks, and why the team continue to lean so heavily on set pieces for threat. There’s a detailed look at Bruno’s role, Lisandro Martinez’s influence on the back line, and why the wingback positions remain such a drag on the system. Injuries, profiles, and mismatched roles all come into play.

The episode wraps with a frank look at recruitment. What profiles are missing, what could fix the open play issues, and which moves in the next windows would actually move the squad toward something coherent.

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Match overview

02:02 First half

03:23 Lineup and approach

05:18 Player profiles and performances

08:14 Second half changes

11:05 Defence and Martinez

16:30 Wingback issues

19:07 Open play chance creation

21:58 Squad needs and transfer ideas

24:46 Set pieces

29:15 Closing thoughts

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#942 | Ed and Adam break down United’s 2-1 win away at Crystal Palace, a match that split neatly into two stories. The first half looked laboured. The second half looked like a team that finally woke up. They dig into what changed, who stepped up, and why the performance still raises as many questions as it answers.

The conversation moves into the bigger picture too. Kyle Macaulay’s impending arrival sparks a discussion about how United’s recruitment department might finally take shape, what that means for squad building, and how data should guide the next phase. They also look ahead to West Ham, weighing possible lineups and the tradeoffs created by injuries, form, and fixture congestion.

00:00 Introduction
01:17 Agenda: Palace, recruitment strategy, West Ham
02:31 TV scheduling and matchday experience
04:25 Palace vs United analysis
06:48 Second half turnaround
10:02 Casemiro, Bruno, Mount
16:11 System limitations and squad balance
19:44 Academy and youth pathways
24:04 Zirkzee and Mount goals
27:11 Mateta and the penalty shout
35:31 Kyle Macaulay and recruitment
45:08 West Ham preview and lineup ideas
55:19 Rotation and January window
56:56 Close

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#941 | Jamie and Ed break down the Premier League’s newly approved financial regulations - rules that will reshape how every club spends, invests, and strategises. They outline the new financial framework, focusing on the Squad Cost Ratio and how it caps total spending on wages, amortisation, and agents' fees relative to club revenue.

We analyse how these changes mirror UEFA’s own rules and why the league is pivoting toward a more standardised, long-term model of financial control. The pair explore what this means specifically for Manchester United - from wage-bill management and transfer flexibility to projected revenues, the need for player trading, and the club’s ability to refresh the squad under new constraints.

There’s discussion of potential loopholes, how clubs may attempt to game the system, and what enforcement could look like as the Premier League attempts to restore credibility. The episode wraps with a look at United’s structural changes, including the arrival of a new head of senior scouting.
00:00 Introduction 02:20 Premier League’s New Financial Rules Explained 06:48 How Clubs Will Adapt Their Spending 10:26 United’s Financial Health & Future Projections 12:37 Player Trading, Wages & Squad Management 25:50 Penalties, Loopholes & Rule Enforcement 38:24 Closing Thoughts

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