No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

Latest Episodes:

Youth Cup Farce May 07, 2026

Show notes

#1003 | Ed and Dominic discuss United’s new Betway training kit sponsorship worth £18m per year and the wider ethics and prevalence of betting money in football as front-of-shirt bans loom. They then cover controversy around the FA Youth Cup final being staged at City’s 6,000-capacity Joie Stadium, limiting United’s allocation compared to the 67,000 at Old Trafford in 2022.

The conversation turns to Michael Carrick’s interim reign: a pragmatic approach, improved results and momentum, Mainoo’s introduction, and the risks of replacing him amid a thin managerial market and a Frankenstein squad.

Then they preview Sunderland away, prioritising momentum above the introduction of too many youth team stars.

00:00 Introduction

01:36 Betway Training Kit Sponsorship

09:58 FA Youth Cup Final Controversy

14:06 Academy Players and the Reality of Elite Youth Football

22:12 Michael Carrick: The Case For and Against

31:37 The Manager Market and Alternatives to Carrick

38:18 Transfer Plans and Squad Needs for Next Season

40:28 Sunderland Match Preview

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Tactics Show: Victory over Liverpool; and What's Next for Carrick? May 05, 2026

Show notes

#1002 | Ed, Dharnish and Daniel react to United’s 3–2 win over Liverpool and debate whether “underlying metrics” matter without context? United are succeeding on fine margins with elite attackers and reduced chances conceded under Michael Carrick. They break down Carrick’s approach: bypassing the opposition press, sitting compact in a mid-block, and attacking quickly in transition.

With Champions League secured and Carrick seen as favourite for the job, we discuss how his football might evolve toward more control while keeping his tactical flexibility. The focus turns to summer recruitment, especially finding the right midfield partner for Kobbie Mainoo, with quick-fire takes on targets like Wharton, Anderson, Baleba, Tchouaméni and Mateo Fernandez.

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Are the Underlying Metrics Bad?

04:38 Third Next Season - Acceptable?

08:31 Liverpool Match Analysis

10:20 Carrick's Game Model

13:52 How Does Carrick Evolve the Team?

22:53 Transfer Targets and Midfield Profiles

26:00 Rapid Fire Transfer Round

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Double Trouble May 04, 2026

Show notes

#1001 | Ed and Daniel enjoy United’s 3–2 win over Liverpool. United’s strong first half that could have produced four; Liverpool almost snatched an improbable draw, only for a fine finish from Kobbie Mainoo to win the game. It’s the first time for a decade United secured a Premier League double over Liverpool - and the win officially secured Champions League football next season. In truth United were always likely to find enough against a ponderous Liverpool team but a couple of individual errors allowed them back into the game.

With just three games to go, the conversation inevitably turns to the managerial situation and summer transfer market. 10 wins in 14 puts Carrick in pole position, but does Mainoo’s impressive performances change the calculation in the market?

00:00 Intro and Match Reaction

08:40 The First Half

15:01 Sesko and the Attack

15:38 Midfield Performances and Summer Needs

23:11 The Second Half

37:46 Is Carrick Getting The Job?

45:55 Liverpool Tactics

48:39 Sunderland Preview, Fergie Illness

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Tactics Show: Victory over Brentford, Liverpool Next Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

#999 | Ed, Daniel and Dharnish return to discuss United’s 2-1 win over Brentford. They break down United’s fast start to the game before Brentford found space in wide areas and behind the midfield, then credit Michael Carrick for a decisive halftime shift to a back five that helped United control the game. Casemiro and Mainoo’s heavy involvement and defensive output are highlighted, alongside concerns about the difficulty of replacing Casemiro’s all-round contribution next season. The show then previews United v Liverpool this weekend. Are Liverpool’s problems in build-up, defence and with injury good for United?

00:00 The Tactics Show: Brentford, Liverpool

00:27 Introduction

01:06 PSG vs Bayern

04:39 United vs Brentford: First Half

08:26 United vs Brentford: Second Half Changes

13:59 Casemiro and the Midfield Transition

18:06 Liverpool Preview

19:15 Liverpool's Problems This Season

25:18 United's Team Selection

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One Win Away Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

#998 | Ed and Daniel discuss Manchester United’s win over Brentford at Old Trafford, leaving United on the brink of Champions League qualification. That’s Michael Carrick’s 10th win in 13 games as interim manager. It was another strong set of performances from Lammens, Maguire, and Heaven at the back and plenty of quality from Mainoo and Casemiro in midfield as well.

With Champions League almost secure, the conversation turns to summer needs - especially the need for two elite midfielders plus fullback/wing depth. And is the squad ready for a 55–60 game season? Then we turn to the game against Liverpool at Old Trafford next weekend.

00:00 One Win Away

00:27 Match Reaction: United vs Brentford

01:53 Carrick's 10 Wins in 13

06:45 Goalkeeper: Lammens vs. His Predecessors

18:49 Casemiro's Farewell

29:26 How Good Is This United Side?

34:10 Amorim's Year Off and Kobbie's Contract

47:47 Liverpool Preview

56:46 Farewell

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thinking About Brentford Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

#997 | There’s a positive vibe about United, with Champions League qualification close, players returning from injury, and Michael Carrick making a strong case to become the permanent manager. Victory over Brentford on Monday will make a return to the top flight of European football almost certain. Ed and Wayne preview the game, think back on that tight win over Chelsea last week, and bemoan the inconsistent refereeing performances that have impacted United recently.

00:00 Introduction

05:31 Matchday Experiences and Stadium Seats

09:38 Chelsea's Business Model Disaster

16:49 Chelsea vs United recap

39:10 Michael Carrick's Future

47:34 Refereeing & Suspensions

51:51 Brentford Preview

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get the Theme Tune Ready! Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

#996 | Ten points clear of Chelsea with five games left. A gritty, utterly necessary win at Stamford Bridge. United's return to the Champions League is no longer a question of whether, but when.

Dan and Dharnish unpack all you need to know. With Martínez and Maguire suspended, Carrick turned to an Ayden Heaven and Noussair Mazraoui as the centre-back pairing. In front of them, Kobbie Mainoo delivered the standout performance of the afternoon alongside Casemiro, whose is giving us quite the farewell tour

Carrick has imposed a more compact press and restored a mentality that had gone missing. Control in games remains the next hurdle, but the case for giving him the job permanently, barring a genuinely elite alternative, is getting harder to argue against.

There's also plenty to think about in the summer - United's imperfect front three, Amad's end-product problem, and the summer recruitment required across defence, midfield and on the wing. Brentford is up next.

00:00 Introduction - Almost Back in the Champions League

02:03 Team Selection vs Chelsea

02:09 Maguire and Martinez Suspensions

06:43 Kobbie Mainoo's Performance

10:23 Casemiro's Legacy

24:52 Carrick's Record - Should He Get the Job?

41:55 Looking Ahead: Brentford and Season Run-in

46:21 Final Thoughts

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our ⁠Patreon page⁠ or subscribe on ⁠Apple⁠ Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

24 Days Later Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

#995 | Daniel and Dharnish react to United’s first game after a 24-day break - an undercooked, low-intensity first half in which Leeds could have led by more than the two they scored. United fought back, briefly, only to lose to Leeds at OT for the first time in 45 years.

There's questions over Michael Carrick's team selection and delayed substitutions. There's a debate over Lisandro Martinez’s red card for pulling an opponent’s hair - and plenty of concerns about midfield issues without Mainoo. The conversation turns to top-four pressure, the upcoming fixture against Chelsea. 00:00 Intro and First Half Reaction 01:36 Carrick's Post-Match Comments 05:14 Martinez Red Card 06:51 Carrick's Substitutions, Leeds' Game Management 08:35 Yoro and Defensive Problems 14:03 Casimiro and Midfield Issues 23:39 Summer Transfer Plans 32:11 Who Should Be Next Manager?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

United Inc: The State of English Football Finances Apr 11, 2026

Show notes

#994 | Ed and Jamie discuss how English football’s huge revenues still produce widespread losses, driven by an arms race in wages and transfer fees. They compare crises elsewhere (French TV rights falling about 80% amid PSG’s dominance and conflicts of interest) and note the growth of multi-club ownership and private equity, including Sixth Street’s move into Sunderland Women and the broader rise of MCOs. Reviewing 2024/25 accounts, they highlight Chelsea’s staggering losses (about £262m pre-tax and cited as closer to £350m for UEFA), reliance on self-deals, and the difficulty of reaching UEFA break-even targets. Arsenal are financially solid but with limited headroom; Liverpool’s big summer spend raises future squad-cost risks; City is discussed cautiously pending the 115 charges. They cover Premier League–EFL revenue-sharing tensions and the limits of new squad-cost rules and an independent regulator and touch on Newcastle’s stadium sale, Spurs’ rising costs, Villa’s UEFA constraints, and FIFA World Cup ticket pricing controversies in the US.

00:00 Intro

00:30 Liverpool/PSG

02:50 French Football Crisis

05:51 MCOs, Private Equity and Women's Football

08:11 Premier League Club Finances Overview

15:08 Arsenal and Liverpool

21:31 PSR & Squad Cost Rules

25:38 EFL Revenue Sharing & Sustainability

35:51 Man City and 115 Charges

39:31 Tottenham and Aston Villa

46:42 World Cup 2026: Tickets, Costs & FIFA

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions League Run-In Starts Here Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

#993 | United Return After 24-Day Break: Ed and Wayne can’t wait to get into the football. Does the extended layoff leave United undercooked despite positive reports from a training trip to Dublin and an improving injury situation? With Harry Maguire suspended, Lisandro Martinez’ potential return can’t come at a better time. Meanwhile low-scoring Leeds arrive at Old Trafford in high spirits after an FA Cup win, but in poor form overall.

Victory for United will strengthen the team’s hunt for a Champions League place and leave Leeds deep in a relegation battle. Seven games to go, five places in Europe up for grabs. Surely United are nearly there.

00:00 Introduction: The 24-Day Wait

03:41 Champions League Race

04:55 Liverpool, Chelsea and Rivals Failing

12:19 Leeds Preview

24:38 Bielsa's Legacy and Daniel Farke

28:22 Michael Carrick's Record

37:03 Carrick vs. Previous Managers

44:58 Harry Maguire's New Contract

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices