Rant Cast

Not one, but two victories for Louis van Gaal’s side this week. First, United moved to within one win of qualification for the Champions League Round of 16 with victory over CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford. Then came a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion. Yes, that was two goals – the first time United had scored twice in seven games. Ed & Paul digest all the fall out from two victories that despite bringing six points in two different competitions both came with soporific performances. Plus ca change at Old Trafford – and the fans remain unhappy. Your questions are answered, there’s a brief discussion about the international break and, finally, there’s an even shorter preview of United’s trip to Watford in a fortnight.

Quite how dull is Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United side? Very, if the Reds’ scoreless draws against Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace in the past week are anything to go by. They were the second and third such draws in a joyless sequence. Mediocre results, and a lack of entertainment on the pitch, has led to some unrest off it – with United supporters enjoying a mini Paul Scholes inspired rebellion at Selhurst Park. Ed & Paul review those games against Boro and Palace – and ask the questions on everybody’s lips: will Van Gaal ever push for a more attacking outlook this season; and is Wayne Rooney’s time now up? There’s also a look ahead to United’s fixture against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford, and West Bromwich Albion’s visit at the weekend.  

Three inescapable conclusions emanate from a semi-successful week at Manchester United. First, Louis van Gaal’s team is capable of mixing it with the best domestically. The side also emerged from a difficult away tie in Europe with a hard-earned point. Finally, captain Wayne Rooney is shot. Permanently. Ed & Paul discuss all the fall-out from this week’s pair of bore draws at CSKA Moscow in the Champions League and one of the dullest derbies in recent memories. There’s also a review of this week’s fixture against Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup and next weekend’s difficult looking tie at Crystal Palace.

Battered at Arsenal, comfortable victors at Everton. Manchester United’s consistent inconsistency continues. United’s defeat in north London showcased the very worst of Louis van Gaal; he really did get everything wrong. But on Merseyside every decision paid off – especially the Dutchman’s selection of Ander Herrera, who starred in a 3-0 win. Ed & Paul discuss United’s comfortable victory at Goodison Park, which takes the Reds into third place, just two points behind leaders Manchester City. There’s a preview of the week’s trip to Moscow, where United faces a difficult Champions League tie against CSKA. And there’s a look ahead to the weekend’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford! Also includes your questions and the winner of the Jamie Jackson book competition.  

United, top of the league! More than 700 days since the Reds last topped the Premier League table, Louis van Gaal’s team is once again the preeminent force in English football. For this week at least. Defeat for Manchester City, a draw for Chelsea, together with United’s relatively easy victory over Sunderland at Old Trafford, leaves Van Gaal’s side a point ahead of Eastland’s ‘finest’. Victory included Wayne Rooney’s first Premier League goal since April, a superb Juan Mata performance, and another outstanding display from Antony Martial. Also on this week’s show: Ed & Paul look back on Ipswich Town in the Capital One Cup, take your questions, and preview games against Arsenal in the league and Wolfsburg in Europe!  

“What a waste of money,” ran the Mirror headline before Anthony Martial made his Manchester United début against Liverpool earlier this month. How silly that looks now. The Frenchman scored two more fine goals against Southampton in a narrow United victory at the weekend – taking his total to three, and the Reds to second place in the Premier League. If Martial was brilliant, Wayne Rooney was bad. Very bad. Very very bad. Ed & Paul discuss the contrasting fortunes of United’s strikers, review the performance against Soton and look forward to games against Ipswich Town and Sunderland. To view this week’s competition prize, click here.  

There are debuts to remember and then there is Anthony’s Martial’s introduction at Old Trafford on Saturday. The French teenager joined United for somewhere between £36 – £58 million, with all the accompanying media pressure. So is he any good? After weaving through Liverpool’s defence, and calming scoring a wonder-goal, he just might be. On this week’s pod Ed & Paul discuss United’s 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford, look ahead to the midweek Champions League fixture with PSV Eindhoven in Holland, and to the Premier League game with Southampton at the weekend.

Ridículo! ran the headline in two of Spain’s leading sports dailies. No translation needed. Except that the farce surrounding David de Gea’s aborted transfer to Real Madrid extends beyond the Spanish capital to some of Manchester United’s approach to the transfer window. The third in which the judgement of the club’s senior executives must be called into question. Ultimately the success of United’s transfer strategy is judged in May, of course, but a window that began with the club having planned ahead, ended with embarrassment laid at Ed Woodward’s door. Ed & Paul discuss.

Goals. There was a time when Manchester United scored them. Sometime before Sir Alex Ferguson retired, as Rant Cast recalls. There were none as United drew with Newcastle at Old Trafford on Saturday; and just two in three Premier League games this season. Ed & Paul look back on an uninspiring fixture – one in a pattern from Louis van Gaal’s side. Is the Dutchman’s obsession with possession making football boring? There’s also a look back on United’s victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League – a 3-1 win leaving United on the precipice of a return to European football. Also on the show: your questions answered, a preview of United’s weekend fixture with Swansea City in Wales and a quick look ahead to the game with Liverpool after the international break.

Was it Wayne Rooney’s worst ever performance for Manchester United? Certainly there have been few quite so insipid as the Scouser’s at Aston Villa at Friday night. Rooney, so ineffective he became a damaging liability, might has cost United dear, but for another stout defensive performance. United’s second shut-out secured three points for two wins in as many games. Ed & Paul also discuss the transfer market, the ongoing David de Gea saga, United’s return to European competition against Club Brugge, and the upcoming Premier League game against Newcastle United.  

New season, new hope. Same old result. Lads, its Tottenham. Except this wasn’t quite the run-of-the-mill victory over the north London side that Sir Alex Ferguson once referenced. In fact current manager Louis van Gaal was moved to called United’s 1-0 victory “lucky” on the opening weekend of the Premier League. In this episode, Ed & Paul looked back on United’s win over the Londoners, reviewing the performance of United’s five debutant players, talk transfers and look ahead to next week’s game against Aston Villa.  

In the first Rant Cast of the new season Ed & Paul look back on the summer’s transfer market activity, with Louis van Gaal securing five new players. Have all the holes in Van Gaal’s squad been fixed and who else might come before the transfer window shuts? There’s a review of the tour of the United States, in which United won three games, but lost the final match to PSG in Chicago. Finally, there’s a look ahead to United’s first fixture of the season against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford next Saturday.  

On this podcast special from August 2012 Ed & Paul discuss the acquisition of Robin van Persie for £24 million from Arsenal – the player, the impact, the money. [First broadcast August 2012]  

On this extended Rant Cast regular presenters Ed & Paul looked back on 27 years of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford – the man, the manager, and his legacy. They discuss kind of club will Ferguson left behind, how should fans assess Ferguson’s quarter century in charge, and his replacement, David Moyes! [First broadcast May 2013]  

So there you have it, folks. David Moyes is no more. He is a dead manager, pining for his former job. Sacked by Ed Woodward – rather appropriately – on Monday morning to end 10 months of misery at Old Trafford. In this rebroadcast from April 2014, Ed & Paul covered this momentous occasion in depth, offering analysis of where it all went wrong for the former Evertonian, and what’s next for Manchester United. The boys talk Moyes’ failure, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ryan Giggs’ appointment, likely permanent candidates, transfer news and take your questions in a packed show! [First Broadcast in April 2014]