No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

Latest Episodes:

Surprise! United Revive Baleba Deal Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

#1031 | Ed and Adam talk about United's move for Carlos Baleba, a deal likely to land in excess of £65 million. It’s the right profile for United, even if Baleba’s poor season last year presents a risk. He's a front-foot, ground-covering midfielder that should combine well with United’s other midfielders and solve some specific problems.

The deal takes United's spend on midfielders this summer to around £150 million across Tielemans, Santos and Baleba. It’s a strong midfield rebuild even if United are still a bit short elsewhere. Left-back remains the outstanding piece of business before the window closes.

The pod closes with a preview of Hull away this weekend as United look for a strong start to the new season.

0:00 Introduction

1:42 Baleba: role and player profile

6:19 Midfield pairings

11:10 Pressing, transitions and defensive cover

12:55 Left-back hunt

15:04 Deal timing and transfer strategy

21:54 Rating the midfield rebuild

31:46 Zirkzee and Rashford: squad business

36:07 Hull preview and Championship finances

45:30 Predicted line-up and sign-off

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The Great Big Season Preview Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

#1030 | Ed and Wayne are back for the season preview after a mixed pre-season: two wins from six and a 4-2 defeat to Milan in the last match. Neither is panicking about that result specifically, but it exposed problems that were already there. The defence is the biggest concern. Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire remain first choice and neither has the legs for a higher, more front-foot approach, while Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt can't be relied on for fitness. Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro have the potential to solve those problems but it’s a big ask for two young players.

There’s a different problem in midfield: plenty of technical quality in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, not enough physicality to handle the games that get scrappy.

United need two more signings before deadline day, a genuine upgrade at left-back and a proper ball-winner in midfield, to have a real shot at matching last season's third-place finish. Without them, expect some regression with a much busier schedule.

They finish with a run through the rest of the league: Arsenal have strengthened again, Liverpool are an interesting watch under Iraola with the Bezos ownership question in the background, Spurs have spent big, and nobody fancies predicting what Chelsea will do.

0:00 Six games, one freak-out 1:50 A disjointed pre-season 9:44 Shaw and Maguire: the defensive issue 15:09 Carrick's tactical direction 17:33 Midfield's missing ball-winner 27:28 Lacey: keep or loan? 34:33 Dorgu, Sesko and Zirkzee 40:31 What United need before deadline day 51:17 Rivals: Arsenal 54:07 Rivals: City after Guardiola 1:00:06 Rivals: Liverpool and Iraola's scalability 1:04:04 Bezos, Liverpool and the TV deal 1:11:37 Rivals: Spurs 1:14:23 Rivals: Newcastle 1:15:53 Rivals: Chelsea 1:18:00 Wrap-up

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Good Things By Accident Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

#1029 | A manager out, a manager in, and a word the club would very much like everyone to start using? Ed talks to Andy Slater of the Barmy Article fanzine about Marc Skinner's exit and Eva Olid's arrival at United Women.

What's Skinner's legacy after 5 years? A first major trophy in the 2024 FA Cup, four cup finals and a Champions League quarter-final, all on roughly the fourth biggest budget in the league. Also plan A football with no plan B, and a personality that split the fanbase down the middle.

Olid arrives with just four weeks until kick-off, fresh from a first-ever SWPL title at Hearts. Catalan coaching philosophy, five years in Scotland, and a record of developing young players on a small budget. A strong profile, or a job description written by United's finance department?

Then to the summer market. Melvine Malard to Chelsea for a club-record fee, Galton, Turner, Blundell, Naalsund and George all gone, Medina and Leitzig in. The club's briefing is sustainability.

Finally the academy, where Layla Drury, Jessica Anderson and Scarlett Hill have all signed professional terms. United start the season away at London City Lionesses on 4 September, with Mary Earps in goal.

00:00 Introduction

01:49 Revisiting the Skinner Era

04:56 Recruitment and Budget

08:41 Eva Olid: United's New Manager

11:44 Departures and Transfer Window

17:08 Sustainable Strategy

22:15 Academy and Youth Players

26:44 Season Expectations

30:46 Opening WSL Game vs London City

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Fresh Start Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

#1028 | A new head coach, a new fan zone, and a transfer market on hold? Ed and Wayne talk about United's new Women's team coach, Eva Olid, who has joined after Marc Skinner's exit. What is Skinner's legacy after 5 years at the club? He achieved Champions League qualification and won the FA Cup, despite restrictions on the club's budget. And yet, there won't be too many tears shed for a manager who rubbed a lot of players and fans up the wrong way with his personality.

Olid arrives on a deal to June 2028, fresh from a first-ever SWPL title at Hearts last season. Her record with young players inside a small budget is a strong coaching profile but it also sounds like a job description written by United's finance department.

Then on to the club's relationship with fans. The new Paddock fan zone will welcome 1,300 fans just behind the Stretford End, opening in the autumn subject to planning approval. Is this cynical profiteering by the club or an attempt to boost the match day atmosphere? At a time when the club feels like it's at war with fans, there's been a mixed reaction.

Finally, the transfer market, in which United appear to be moving very slowly. Youri Tielemans was announced three weeks ago now. Are there any more to come?

0:00 Intro

2:03 Women's Team: Eva Oli Replaces Mark Skinner

20:52 Fan Zone & Matchday Atmosphere

28:15 Transfer Market: Preseason & Mason Mount

37:46 Midfield Reinforcements & the Real Madrid Domino

47:03 Wrap-Up & Outro

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Money Talks Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

#1027 | Ed and Dom pull three stories into one. FIFA wants to privatise itself, United want fewer season ticket holders and £100m no longer seems like a lot of money in the transfer market. Gianni Infantino's plan was to privatise FIFA's commercial entity and sell a stake to private equity. If he gets his way we'll see World Cups and Club World Cups every summer. Old Trafford's crackdown on season ticket holders is part of the same movement. United are cancelling season tickets over what the club calls touting. Fans say it's nonsense. Fewer season ticket holders, and dynamic pricing on the way? Meanwhile, Chelsea have spent £117m on Morgan Rogers while operating under a UEFA settlement. Spurs have blown £185 million on two midfielders. City are lining up another £100 million midfielder they may loan out. United have done very little. Kids on the way out? Harry Amass and Radek Vitek are reportedly available for sale. Four friendlies remain: Atlético Madrid, PSG, Leeds and Milan. World Cup players are filtering back slowly. Is a third midfielder, left-back, or forward on the way in? A short chat about United's kits closes out the the pod. 00:00 Introduction and Preseason Recap 10:11 Transfer Priorities and Squad Needs 14:46 Youth Academy Player Sales 24:03 Rivals' Transfer Spending 34:34 Season Outlook 37:19 Season Ticket Controversy 44:15 Football's Financial Landscape 49:09 Kit Chat and Wrap-up

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The Tactics Show: Game Model Evolution Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

#1026 | Ed and Dharnish talk about the evolution of United’s tactics this season. What evidence have wee seen after two pre-season games, albeit with continuing player absences after the World Cup?

What impact has Andrey Santos on the side, what does Youri Tielemans capture mean, what changes are likely to United’s in-possession game as a result?

Then the gaps: why do United need another midfielder, can the club strengthen at fullback, and if Marcus Rashford returns, what impact might it have?

00:00 The Tactics Show

00:26 Intro and Preseason

04:49 Playing Style

16:41 Fullback Situation and Squad Depth

21:44 Marcus Rashford's Future

31:19 Youth Prospects and Defenders

32:08 Athletico Madrid Preview

34:40 Wrap Up and Transfer Market Outlook

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Back in Action Jul 19, 2026

Show notes

#1025 | Adam and Ed pick over United’s pre-season defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki. Can we learn anything from 45 minutes of action? At least there was a first look at new signing Andrey Santos. Then an XI made up of reserves played out an entertaining second half without finding the net.
Then there’s a crazy match for third place in the World Cup, with England beating France 6-4. Kobbie Mainoo was injured and didn’t feature. The only outfield English player not to get any minutes at the tournament.
Finally, with Morgan Rogers moving to Chelsea for an eye-watering £117 million, can United find any value for money as they search for a third midfield signing and other players to fill out the squad.

00:00 Open

00:51 Catching Up with Adam

04:07 England, Helsinki and United's Preseason Opener

08:25 Takeaways

12:08 Transfer Market Outlook

15:23 Coaching Staff Questions

22:20 World Cup Third-Place Playoff and England Review

49:55 Transfer Fees and Chelsea's Spending

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Tuchel Blows It Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

#1024 | Ed and Daniel pick over the wreckage of England's World Cup, and neither is in a forgiving mood.

The charge is that Thomas Tuchel did not just lose the semi-final, he threw it away. From the squad he built for one way of playing, the ball-players left at home, and a midfield of athletes with nobody to control a game, which is why the calls for Kobbie Mainoo only grew louder all tournament.

On the match itself, England managed the first 55 minutes well and shut Messi out before Tuchel took off his goalscorer, went to a back five and codified a retreat so complete that England managed two accurate passes in 18 minutes. It’s a sacking offense, but the FA, who backed Tuchel on LinkedIn within the hour and tied him to Euro 2028, will do nothing.

Then there’s Kane's future and the lack of a successor, England's missing identity and the intensity gap with everyone else, and to close, a turn to United, Carrick's project, summer signings, and a pre-season that kicks off against Wrexham in Helsinki.

0:00 Intro

5:29 Tuchel's Tactics and Balance Issues

15:03 Argentina Collapse

26:16 Should Tuchel Be Sacked?

28:33 Euro 2028 and Harry Kane's Future

38:35 England's National Identity

43:55 Manchester United Preview

52:37 Outro

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Tielemans Bomba Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

#1023 | Ed and Dharnish react to Manchester United signing Youri Tielemans for around £35m, praising the club’s stealthy, leak-free approach. Tielemans offers outstanding value given his versatility, progressive passing and decent defensive work.

How will Tielemans and Andre Santos fit a more controlled, central build-up style? And do United still need a third “ground-eater” midfielder?

The conversation then shifts to the World Cup: ticket price chaos, England’s exhausting win over Norway, and a preview of England vs Argentina and France vs Spain in the semis.

00:00 Tielemans Signs for United

02:28 Playing Style & Fit

15:37 Transfer Market and Midfield Plans

22:49 Who's Next: Midfield Ground Eater

24:36 World Cup Preview

43:05 Predictions

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United Inc: Stadium Financing Options Jul 12, 2026

Show notes

#1022 | Ed and Jamie discuss United’s Old Trafford redevelopment plans, with the development corporation report into the wider area regeneration project published this week.

We go through the likely financing mix: debt, naming rights, personal seat licences, private equity, event partnerships. How will this massive project impact United’s finances, revenues and ability to compete?

Then we switch to transfer talk, focusing on conflicting reports around the deal for Ederson and United’s capture of Andrey Santos from Chelsea.

00:00 Introduction: New Trafford Stadium Financing

02:07 Financing Overview

19:04 Naming Rights

21:48 Equity Partners and Ownership

25:28 Transfer Market: Ederson Saga, Andrey Santos

30:18 Chelsea's Financial Model

35:27 Private Equity in Football

37:09 Wrap-up

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