No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

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Bonus: Maguire and Mainoo Contracts Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

From NQAT Extra. Rebroadcasting for everyone given that Harry Maguire has signed a new contract and Mainoo's new deal is very close!

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Ed and Dominic discuss reports that Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo are close to signing new contracts. It's an important step both for squad depth ahead of likely European football and a heavier schedule, and in retaining key local talent.

Maguire will stay on a shorter, lower-value deal - a sensible move given injuries across United’s centre-backs, his reliability, experience, and suitability as a squad option. For Mainoo, his low wages are an issue, as is his strong leverage due to United’s thin midfield and planned departures. The club needs to fix its wage structure while keeping a key academy figure. More broadly, United’s financial and squad-building strategy under Ratcliffe and concerns about readiness for a 60-game season are discussed.

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Harry Maguire's New Contract

01:46 Maguire's Character

04:38 The 2019 Transfer Market Context

06:15 Maguire Under Different Managers

12:45 Kobbie Mainoo's Contract Situation

20:08 United's Financial Strategy

28:46 Looking Ahead

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The Long Break Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

#992 | Ed and Tom fill the long international and FA Cup break by running through United players on international duty and broader World Cup qualifying storylines, including England experiments under Thomas Tuchel. Maguire and Mainoo featured, there's notes on Portugal, with Bruno’s backheeled assist a hightlight, Brazil featured Casemiro’s return and Senne Lemmens played for Belgium.

United announce friendlies in Helsinki, Stockholm, Gothenburg), Dublin and Wrocław. Then there's is a reflection on United Women’s recent slump, squad depth, poor crowds. Recorded before United took on Bayern in the Champions League on Wednesday.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

02:58 Home Nations World Cup Qualification

03:16 England Players: Maguire, Mainoo and Rashford

05:04 Mainoo and Elliot Anderson Partnership

08:27 England's Attacking Concerns

16:25 World Cup Access and Travel Bans

18:00 Portugal and Brazil Internationals

22:53 World Cup Groups

28:16 United Summer Preseason Friendlies

34:18 Loan Players

37:03 United Women

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Still Punks: Checking in on FC United Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

#991 | Ed sits down with George Baker to check in on FC United’s progress this season. The club is top of the Northern Premier League in a tight title race with Hednesford and Hebburn. Ed and George talk about the run-in, progress that has been made this season, and how the club remains the antidote to commercialisation in the Premier League.

00:00 Introduction

00:27 Season to Date

07:00 Key Players and the Manager

10:30 The Title Race and Run-In

13:39 Easter Monday: The Big Decider

15:36 Non-League Growth, Manchester United's Failings

16:42 Fan Ownership vs. Football Corruption

34:18 Non-League Football's Global Rise

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F*ck Stuart Attwell Mar 21, 2026

Show notes

#990 | Ed and Dharnish review Bournemouth 2–2 United - a game in which United were robbed by referee Stuart Atwell. One moment turning down a penalty for a clear foul on Amad, the next moment, watching Bournemouth score. Inexplicably, Atwell then gave a penalty and a red card for a foul by Harry Maguire. Soft as fuck. But, apart from crap refereeing, United performed well for a half, creating plenty of chances before a quieter second half. What does this mean for the top four race and Michael Carrick's chances of getting the big job? See you in 24 days.

00:00 Introduction

02:14 Referee Controversy

13:14 Fullbacks: Shaw and Dalot

16:42 Midfield, Casemiro's Replacement

25:23 Top Four Race

34:17 Should Carrick Stay Permanently?

46:06 Remaining Fixtures

49:07 Wrap

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United Inc: Chelsea Cheating and Crude Chaos Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

#989 | Ed and Jamie discuss a Premier League settlement with Chelsea over £47 million worth of undisclosed, off-book payments to players, agents and third parties from 20011–2018, involving names including Samuel Eto’o, Eden Hazard and David Luiz.

The £10m fine and suspended transfer/youth-player bans show inconsistent rule enforcement versus PSR points deductions for clubs like Everton and could weaken the Premier League’s position in Manchester City’s case, while signalling cooperation and ownership change can reduce sporting sanctions. It's incredibly lenient.

There's an examination of how a Gulf-wide conflict has driven crude oil from about $65 to ~$105, pressuring INEOS’ thin-margin, highly leveraged petrochemicals business, potentially delaying or complicating refinancing at INEOS and United amid reduced prospects of Fed interest rate cuts.

The conversation finishes on the potential impact around United's new stadium in a high-rate, high-cost environment.

00:00 Introduction

03:09 Chelsea's Off-Book Payments

07:09 Premier League's Lenient Penalty

17:45 Implications for Man City's Case

20:23 The Abramovich Fund

22:15 War in the Gulf and Oil Price Shock

28:33 Impact on United's Refinancing and Ownership

32:43 New Stadium Challenges

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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The Tactics Show: Carrick’s Patience Pays Off, Bruno Pulls the Strings Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

#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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One Giant Leap Mar 15, 2026

Show notes

#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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Villa Preview, Champions League Race, Chaos in Europe Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

#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

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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The Tactics Show: Defeat at Newcastle Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

#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

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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11 Long Days Ahead Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

#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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