#947 | 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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#946 | 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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#945 | 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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#944 | 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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#943 | 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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#942 | 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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#941 | 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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#940 | 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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#939 | Ed and Dharnish pick through United’s grim defeat to Everton - a game so flat it barely needs a post-mortem, yet somehow delivered enough misery to fill one.

They break down Rúben Amorim’s setup, from the malfunctioning wing-backs to a midfield that never got a grip, and a front line that looked like it had forgotten what chance creation even is. The pair analyse United’s inability to punish Everton after the red card, a recurring theme under Amorim: lots of possession, fewer ideas.

There’s a look at the goal conceded, the structural issues behind it, and why United are still so bad at breaking down a low block. The episode also gets into individual performances, tactical stubbornness, squad limitations, and what this defeat means heading into Palace - plus how January might be the club’s only lifeline.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:27 First Impressions - Not Great 02:50 Lineup Choices & Structural Problems 06:35 Attacking Without Ideas 14:36 The Red Card and What United Failed to Do 22:23 Everton’s Goal - Avoidable, of Course 28:07 Amorim’s Stubbornness & System Questions 33:40 Crystal Palace Preview 37:13 January Window & What Actually Needs Fixing

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#938 | Ed and Isabel sift through the international break - an actual competitive one, for a change, instead of the usual collection of meaningless jog-arounds. There’s chat about who impressed - such as Scott McTominay’s Scotland heroics, Bruno stat-padding for fun, and a few others looked vaguely competent for their countries. The mood dips with a look at United Women, who’ve hit a bump in recent games, raising familiar questions about depth, investment, and the club’s mixedpriorities.

Ed and Isabel dig into Steven Torpey's academy comments, the gap between pipeline and first team, and why the idea of giving young players a chance at United feels more theoretical right now. There’s also a look at Rúben Amorim’s tweaks - signs of progress, signs of stubbornness, and the sense that the January window might be held together by crossed fingers.

The pod closes with an Everton preview: a winnable match that has to go United's way given that European qualification isn’t optional; it’s the minimum.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:18 International Break – Real Stakes for Once 02:20 McTominay: Neapolitan Goal Machine 06:12 Qualifiers, Steve McClaren, Accidental Nostalgia 08:54 United Women’s Recent Dip 11:02 Steven Torpey, the Academy, Pipeline Problems 17:45 Amorim’s Progress and Tactical Shifts 29:51 Squad Depth, January Speculation 34:39 Everton Preview

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#937 | Ed and Wayne try to stay warm, awake, and vaguely optimistic. There’s chat about winter routines, sleepless nights, and how United fans could probably use a nap themselves after the latest couple of matches.

Wayne talks about his new book Manchester United: After Munich - an emotional deep dive into the club’s recovery years, the players who carried the torch, and the scars that never quite healed. From there, it’s onto a far brighter story: Manchester United Women beating PSG in the Champions League, a result that feels like a genuine milestone.

Then it’s time to talk about the men’s team - and some familiar issues. The lads discuss January transfer gossip, squad issues, and the board’s plans.

The mailbag brings discussion about Casemiro’s value, the striker shortage, seat-license panic, and the notion of “Project 2028.”

00:00 Introduction 01:46 Book Launch – Manchester United: After Munich 04:54 United Women Beat PSG 14:23 Atmosphere & Progress in the Women’s Game 20:01 Mailbag: Midfield Depth & Casemiro’s Role 33:58 Striker Situation & January Window 44:27 Defence and the Never-Ending Wingback Debate 50:40 Have United Actually Turned a Corner? 01:03:09 Project 2028 – Dream or Delusion 01:15:09 Transfer Predictions & Mainoo’s Next Step

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NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.

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