#988 | Ed, Dharnish and Daniel review United’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa, praising a patient approach after a quiet first half against Villa’s high line and mid-block. The episode covers the role of United's flexible front three, how Casemiro and Mainoo controlled midfield, Bruno's flexible positioning, and United's dominance at the back. Then we look ahead to the game against Bournemouth on Friday night 00:00 Intro and Match Reaction 04:35 Cunha's Role and the Left Side 09:38 Bruno's Freedom 10:39 Dalot, Shaw and the Full-backs 15:06 Villa's Setup 21:07 Casemiro and Mainoo 23:19 Best Starting XI 29:11 Bournemouth Preview

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#987 | Ed and Tom discuss Manchester United’s 3–1 win over Aston Villa, a strangely low-intensity match that still moved United closer to securing Champions League football. It might have started slowly, but United’s second-half, shaped by Bruno Fernandes’ brilliance, Casemiro’s head, and Benjamin Sesko’s ability off the bench, were enough to secure the points. It’s a bit odd how slowly United start in these games under Carrick. Is the team undercooked or is it something more fundamental?

With European football on the horizon, the conversation turns to summer needs - midfielders, fullbacks, a left-sided forward, and possibly a centre back. But will it be Carrick at the wheel?

00:00 Match Review: United 3-1 Aston Villa

04:02 Casimiro's Set Piece Quality

05:57 Bruno Fernandes:  Best in the League

11:15 Sesko, Mbeumo and Wide Areas

15:46 Summer Transfers

25:54 Carrick: Right Man for United?

39:36 Squad Building

47:22 United's Financial Position

55:00 Wrap

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#986 | It’s a quiet news week at United but Ed and Dominic preview Sunday’s crucial Old Trafford match vs Aston Villa in a very tight Champions League race. United need both points and a convincing performance after uneven recent displays. There are concerns about squad fitness, slow starts, and breaking down low blocks. There’s some chat about poor first-leg Champions League results for English clubs and the potential impact on the Premier League’s coefficient and fifth-place qualification. Plenty of mirth over Spurs’ collapse under Igor Tudor and relegation fears/hopes, Liverpool’s ongoing issues, and Chelsea’s flakiness.

00:00 Introduction

02:40 Champions League: Premier League Struggles

06:41 Arsenal Analysis

09:45 Tottenham's Crisis

14:16 Transfer Market

18:36 Liverpool: Slot Under Pressure

18:54 Victor Osimhen and Galatasaray

27:48 Chelsea's Inconsistency

30:58 United vs Villa Preview

37:05 United News and Injury Concerns

44:18 Left Side Problem

49:02 Wrap

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#985 | Ed, Daniel, and Dharnish react to United’s 2–1 loss at Newcastle, focusing on a flat, low-energy second half and a missed chance to beat 10 men while the Champions League race remains tight. Carrick’s honeymoon has faded as recent performances show recurring issues: opponents pressing man-to-man to block central progression, limited ball progression without Lisandro Martínez, and little attacking width due to problems at fullback. Newcastle’s 3v3 midfield control and second-half 4-3-2 shape forced United into low-probability strategies and long balls. What could Carrick have done better - in shape, tactics, and substitutions? Then, there’s Villa up next and Unai Emery’s very specific brand of football.

00:00 Intro and Initial Reactions

03:30 Newcastle's Tactical Dominance

09:17 United's Attacking Problems

11:05 Squad Balance & Player Roles

17:34 Carrick's Future

18:54 Preview: Aston Villa

26:49 Wrap-Up

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#984 | Ed and Dominic react to United’s 2–1 defeat at Newcastle - the first loss of the Michael Carrick era. It was a particularly flat, listless performance despite Newcastle going down to 10 men. Bruno Fernandes created eight chances but for the most part the rest of the team let their captain and manager down. Why were United so flat and why couldn't the team control the game despite having a man extra? There were moments of refereeing controversy, but in the end United's lack of physicality and squad depth showed against the Magpies once again.

00:00 Introduction

01:37 Why United Looked Flat

05:50 Red Card And Major Calls

08:30 Full Back and Midfield Struggles

13:28 Summer Midfield Rebuild

20:46 Transfer Strategy Concerns

23:04 What Happened To Ugarte

27:08 Control vs Chaos

35:17 Squad Balance Blueprint

40:00 Standards and Context

44:42 Sign Off

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#983 | Ed and Dharnish review United’s win over Crystal Palace, focusing on a poor, flat first-half marked by weak progression from the back, Palace’s press clogging central areas around Casemiro/Mainoo/Bruno. There’s a discussion about United’s left-sided imbalance amid injuries to Shaw, Martínez, and Dorgu.

There was improved intensity after halftime and some decisive Bruno Fernandes passing that led to a penalty and red card, shifting control and eventually a winner. 

United leaned on crossing and set-piece threat, including the winning goal from Benjamin Šeško, whose finishing and overall output since Carrick’s arrival are the story of the past seven games. There’s a chat about midfield transition risks, Palace’s pattern of dropping strikers into midfield, and a brief touch on what rivals for the Champions League places are doing. The episode wraps with a tactical preview of Newcastle on Wednesday.

00:00 Introduction

02:07 First Half Analysis

09:00 Cunha's Role and Width Issues

11:01 Second Half Turnaround

14:00 Sesko and United's Attack

21:07 Champions League Race

23:02 Newcastle Preview

28:00 Wrap

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#982 | Ed and Daniel review United’s 2–1 win over Crystal Palace. Victory marked by slow buildup and low urgency, helped by a penalty and a red card, but ultimately Michael Carrick’s adjustments brought improved control and sustained pressure. There are still issues in buildup, at fullback and Palace were able to get behind United’s midfield. And yet United were good enough to see it out and move third in the Premier League table. It’s another goal and assist for Bruno - and one more for in-form Benjamin Šeško’s as well.  Then we move on to Newcastle away on Wednesday night.

00:00 Introduction

01:48 First Half Performance Issues

06:17 Tactical Changes and Second Half

14:11 Penalty and Red Card 

16:40 Goals

27:17 Player Performances

36:49 Newcastle Preview

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#981 | Ed and Wayne record a Friday-night pod focused on Manchester United’s finances and Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace. The financial results held few surprises aside from the scale and persistence of United’s debt. The long-term “millstone” that just won’t go away. Football fans want to watch football not become finance experts, but here we are anyway. Two years after Ratcliffe’s takeover is his strategy working … and at what cost? 

Then we shift gear to focus on Sunday’s game against a fatigued, depleted Palace. Will Michael Carrick tweak things with a midweek game to follow. The big taking point - will in-form Benjamin Šeško start?

00:00 Introduction

01:19 Financial Results Discussion

14:52 Ratcliffe Ownership Strategy

21:05 Crystal Palace Preview

27:10 Glasner's Situation at Palace

32:41 Carrick's Tactical Approach

39:11 Match Preview

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#980 | Ed and Jamie review Manchester United’s fiscal 2026 second-quarter results, arguing the numbers look bullish despite no European competition: revenues held up, EBITDA is strong, and the club posted an operating profit of just over £30m. They credit Ineos’ restructuring - about £50m a year removed from the cost base, including redundancies and efforts to rationalise player wages - with improving the club’s financial foundations, while noting debt remains high, cash is low (~£44m), and historic transfer payables are absorbing cashflow. They discuss how Champions League qualification could add ~£80–100m revenue and how Premier League squad-cost rules may help. They flag major debt maturities in 2027 and 2029 and expect refinancing to increase interest costs, plus brief updates on stadium plans, shareholding movement, and optimism driven by improved results and recruitment.

00:00 Introduction

04:12 Cost Restructuring & Wage Bill

13:48 Revenue Breakdown

17:53 Champions League Impact & Future Outlook

20:17 Debt Refinancing Discussion

26:36 Stadium Development & Wrap-up

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#979 | Ed and Dan look back on  United’s 1–0 win at Everton. It was functional rather than convincing but a vital three points as United close in on a return to the Champions League. There’s plenty of praise for another excellent Senne Lammens performance in goal under heavy pressure from Everton’s agricultural set-piece routines. When, if ever, are referees going to protect goalkeepers who are now routinely fouled? It’s all Mikel Arteta’s fault.

Despite the victory, was this another case of United struggling to break down a low-block until Benjamin Sesko’s entrance on the hour? The striker now has six goals in his past seven appearances but should he have been on from the start?

United will face another team willing to sit deep at the weekend, with struggling Palace at Old Trafford. Surely time to change it up in attack.

00:00 Introduction

01:46 Senne Lammens’ performance

06:23 Sesko's Goal, Squad Rotation

10:01 Set Pieces

18:06 Kobbie Mainoo and Midfield Control

23:51 Squad Depth and Youth Players

33:43 Spurs Relegation Battle

38:24 Women's Team

40:31 Crystal Palace

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#978 | Ed and Adam suffer through the long wait for United men to play again. In the meantime they enjoy United Women’s 5–0 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid to reach the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals. It’s been a strong performance from the team so far this season despite the often critical reception to manager Marc Skinner.

There’s a deep-dive on United’s strategy behind revamping midfield in the summer - Anderson, Wharton, Baleba, Tonali … somebody else? That group will include Kobbie Mainoo, with reports this week that negotiations over a new contract are underway now that he is back in the first team under Michael Carrick.

The under-18s beat Oxford in the Youth Cup and there’s even more hype around 15-year-old JJ Gabriel.

Finally a preview of Everton away at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Everton have enjoyed a solid season under David Moyes. How will Carrick approach this one after West Ham’s solid defensive performance last time out? Is it time for Benjamin Šeško to start?

00:00 Introduction

00:27 United Women's Success

05:48 Arsenal vs City Title Race

13:23 Mainoo Contract & Midfield Targets

21:49 Evaluating Midfield Options

30:13 Transfer Strategy

35:41 Youth Academy & JJ Gabriel

39:29 Everton Preview

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