No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

#1043 | The transfer window smashed Premier League spending records. The real story is how incestuous it all was: clubs buying from each other, squeezed by the same rules and looking to square their own books. United funded their window through a revolving credit facility and not player sales. They sold precisely nobody all summer.

Ed and Jamie dig into why, including a wage bill that is about to jump with three new signings, Rashford’s return and Champions League bonuses.

Then a full tour of the league's finances: City and Chelsea both bankrolled by relentless trading, Villa turning their squad over for a tidy profit, Everton and Crystal Palace both looking primed for a sale and Spurs spending like a club that's given up on ever being bought.

The pod closes on the outlook: United's transfer debt clears over the next 12 months, creating real flexibility next summer, just as Maguire, Shaw and a stack of big contracts come up for renewal.

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0:28 Intro
2:29 Transfer market: money cycling in the Premier League
5:57 How United funded the window
8:48 United's wage bill
11:39 Why United didn't sell
15:11 Manchester City
16:05 Chelsea's player trading machine
20:58 Aston Villa
24:08 Everton
27:35 Crystal Palace
29:09 Spurs' spending spree
33:45 Liverpool
37:08 Looking ahead to next season
43:00 Wrap-up

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.
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#1042 | Ed and Tom discuss United's return to the Champions League, which was a comfortable 4-0 win over Sabah, with the game effectively dead by half-time. It was about all we could ask from an opener like this. Sesko and Dorgu both impressed in changed roles up front and at left-back, reopening the debate over their role in the team.

Mainoo and Tielemans continue to look like United's best midfield pairing, with Tielemans's passing already taking pressure off Bruno and Mainoo demonstrating his all round game.

There's also a word for the youth team's own win and 15-year-old JJ Gabriel's UEFA Youth League debut hat-trick.

The pod closes by previewing a much tougher test: Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.

0:28 Introduction
1:58 United 4-0 Sabah: the verdict
6:14 Team selection
11:19 Left-back debate: Dorgu vs Shaw
16:21 Cunha, the front line and Carrick's system
23:47 Midfield: Mainoo and Tielemans
42:49 Youth team victory
45:40 Manchester City 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.
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#1041 | Ed and Dharnish dig into United’s draw with Everton. The buildup through Mainoo and Tielemans was as good as it's looked in years but Carrick’s side lacked any real box presence, with Cunha and Bruno both dropping deep.

Defensively, United's press still isn't working, and disconnected lines left gaps that led directly to both Everton goals.

How can Carrick fit all his in-form attackers together without sacrificing the buildup that's making United so watchable?

Then there’s a preview of a huge week ahead: the Champions League opener against Sabah, then City at Old Trafford, where sitting deeper and playing on the counter looks like the best plan.

0:00 Intro: Everton 2-2 United
2:07 Buildup and central progression
5:10 Box presence and the final third
8:01 Picking the best XI
11:59 Pressing problem
15:39 Goals conceded and game management
19:02 Substitutions and Carrick's decisions
21:51 Champions League draw and the derby

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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.
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#1040 | United led twice away at Everton through Mbeumo and Sesko only to do a very good job of chucking it away late on Merseyside.

Ed and Dan dig into the tension between United's new possession-based approach and a back four that isn't built for a higher line. And there are questions about Cunha's role as a false nine again.

Then there's a look ahead to the Champions League opener against Sabah in midweek.

The episode closes with author Dan Williamson, talking about his new book on United's 1991 Cup Winners' Cup win, If I Hadn't Seen Such Riches.

0:00 Introduction
2:31 Everton 2-2 United: the verdict
5:06 Structural problems and United's new style
8:17 Team selection: Cunha, Bruno
18:56 Goals and defensive errors
23:08 Substitutions and game management
25:02 Bigger picture
28:25 Sabah preview, Champions League
36:02 1991 Cup Winners' Cup memories
39:45 Interview: Dan Williamson

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.

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#1039 | United's transfer window closed with Dominic and Ed landing on a mixed verdict, somewhere around a six out of ten. United made three good midfield signings, but no left-back and no backup centre-forward.

Who's going to fill the gap?

How much financial headroom was there to spend more?

And why were United cautious?

Deadline day itself produced a bizarre five-way standoff between United, Everton, Chelsea, Fiorentina and Monaco over Zirkzee, Camara and Balogun that ended with nobody getting what they wanted.

The pod then moves on to Everton, where the fanbase is angry and the manager is on their side. United should be favourites, but how will the visitors shape up after last week’s victory?

0:00 Introduction
1:45 Verdict on United's window
3:55 Costs and financial headroom
9:23 United's left-back problem
16:35 Zirkzee-Camara-Balogun standoff
21:11 Loans out
29:48 Everton preview
41:28 Wrap-up

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Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — Claude.ai/NQAT
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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.
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