Rant Cast

In the final Rant Cast of the (traumatic) 2011/12 season Ed and Paul look back on United’s victory over Sunderland, which ultimately proved fruitless as Manchester City stole the Premier League crown in dramatic circumstances. This pod includes a full review of the season, the Rant Cast Awards and a look ahead to the Euro 2012 tournament. First broadcast 18 May 2012

On this episode from November 2011 Ed and Paul discussed Manchester United’s victories over Everton in the Premier League and Otelul Galati in Europe, problems in central midfield, Rio Ferdinand’s demotion to the bench, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first trophy as a manager. And on the even of Sir Alex Ferguson’s 25th anniversary in charge at Old Trafford the boys pay tribute to the legendary coach and ask what makes him tick.

In a double-length end to the 2011 season Ed & Paul review United’s Champions League loss to Barcelona at Wembley, including live audio from the night, when thousands of Reds gathered in north London and pubs around the country. Also on the show, the 2011 season review, player ratings for the campaign and the much coveted Rant awards!

In this episode of Rant Cast Ed & Paul discussed the ongoing saga of Wayne Rooney’s contract. Was it a case of player greed gone mad or the Glazers’ poor investment in the first team squad? What are the morals of demanding £250,000 a week to play with a pig’s bladder? There is also a review of United’s matches against West Bromwich Albion and Bursaspor matches and look forward to the weekend’s fixture against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. This episode was first broadcast 22 October 2010.  

In the 50th Rant Cast Ed & Paul discussed United’s Premier League victory over Blackburn Rovers, a sobering defeat to West Ham United and previewed the week’s Champions League dead rubber against Valencia. There was also a somewhat prescient discussion about corruption at FIFA and a review of a one-sided el classico in Spain. This episode was first broadcast 5 December 2010.  

In the first ever episode of Rant Cast regulars Ed & Paul talked about the build up to the 2009 season, in which Rafa Benitez accused Sir Alex Ferguson of being “scared”, Cristiano Ronaldo departed Old Trafford, and Michael Owen arrived. First broadcast 15 August 2009. Warning: the first episode contains dodgy audio quality, dodgier presentation and even worse editing!

In the final Rant Cast of the season Ed & Paul look back on the past 10 months under Louis van Gaal, including the now (infamous) awards. Also on the show, a review of United’s draw with Hull City at the KC Stadium, your questions and a look ahead to the summer transfer market.  

Manchester United’s last home fixture of the season was a hard-earned, if ultimately disappointing, draw at Old Trafford last Sunday. United dominated for large periods even if the home side lacked for real penetration in a 1-1 against Arsenal. Indeed, the fixture asked as many questions about United’s future as it answered, with the clock ticking down on the season. Ed & Paul look back at United’s penultimate game of the season, ahead to the summer transfer window (where might United invest and what is needed?) and take your questions. Finally, there’s a preview of the weekend’s final game of the season against Hull City at the KC Stadium.

Europe awaits after Manchester United’s hard-fought (i.e lucky!) victory over Crystal Palace in south London on Saturday. Combined with Liverpool’s draw at Chelsea, Louis van Gaal’s side has now effectively secured fourth place in the Premier League. Ed & Paul discuss all the fallout from Saturday’s victory over Palace, where Van Gaal’s side was perhaps fortunate to secure a win after a dubious-looking penalty enabled Juan Mata to score the opener. Then, Radamel Falcao’s foul during Marouane Fellaini’s winning goal was missed by referee Michael Oliver. There’s a review of United’s first acquisition of the summer – Memphis Depay for £25 million – your questions and a look ahead to next weekend’s game against Arsenal.

Remember when Manchester United was good? No, not during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign, but that period when Louis van Gaal’s side won six games on the spin. Seems a long time ago now. Defeat at Stamford Bridge, hammered by Everton, and now a home loss to West Bromwich Albion – and United hasn’t scored a goal in any of that trio of demoralising defeats. Once again an opposition side snuffed out the Reds at the weekend, albeit with Van Gaal’s side creating 26 chances at Old Trafford. Where once second seemed achievable now the Dutchman’s players are looking nervously at Liverpool, with the Scousers just four points behind. Ed & Paul discuss all the fallout from United’s weekend defeat, take your questions and look ahead to a tough-looking fixture at Crystal Palace next weekend.

Six victories in a row followed by defeat at Stamford Bridge last weekend and then again at Everton on Sunday has brought Louis van Gaal’s team crashing back to earth. Remarkably, Dutchman characterised his team’s performance at Everton ‘lacking in motivation’. United’s 3-0 loss was dramatic, but could it be catastrophic, with Liverpool not yet completely out of the chase for fourth place in the Premier League? And does this make United the new Arsenal – forever passing the ball sidewards and desperately chasing fourth place? Ed & Paul discuss all the fallout from the Reds defeat on Merseyside, take your questions and look forward to what should be a much more routine win against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford next week.

José Mourinho’s magic bus – whenever the Portuguese coach needs a result it is neatly parked and always comes up with the goods. Plus ça change. Manchester United enjoyed 71 per cent possession at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, the majority of shots on goal and control of the game – but still lost in West London. Defeat leaves Louis van Gaal’s side 11 points adrift of Chelsea in the Premier League and potentially looking, once again, at a scrap for second, third and fourth place come May. Regulars Ed & Paul discuss all the fall out from United’s defeat at Chelsea, take your questions and look ahead to next weekend’s pivotal fixture against Everton on Merseyside.

As Neil Kinnock once said OH YES, OH YES, OH YES! Victory over Manchester City in the derby – and what a fine victory it was! Four defeats in a row to the Blues had become just too painful to bear, but with Louis van Gaal’s side in outstanding form United smashed the visitors on Sunday afternoon. Ed & Paul discuss United’s latest victory; what it means for the season’s end and for the future. And has Manuel Pellegrini been sacked yet? There’s discussion of the remarkable change in United’s fortunes and performances this season, your questions answered and a look forward to next weekend’s huge game against Chelsea. With United in this form, just how many will the Reds win by at Stamford Bridge?!

Another week, another fine Manchester United performance. Over at Rant Cast towers Ed & Paul could get used to this kind of thing! This week’s Cast covers United’s victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford – a performance in which Ander Herrera stood out among a number of impressive performers. Two goals and a command of United’s midfield begs a question: why wasn’t Herrera picked all season? This week’s pod also covers your questions and looks ahead to next week’s Manchester derby. Could United now be the favourites for that game?

Rare is the moment that schadenfreude is not to be fully enjoyed – and rarer still does that moment come in a United victory over Liverpool at Anfield. And yet the stars aligned on Sunday: United beat the old rivals in Liverpool and Steven Gerrard offered one of the finest comedy moments of the season. United fans laughed so hard that it probably still hurts. On this week’s Rant Cast Ed & Paul look back on a fabulous United victory in L4, praising Juan Mata for a brace of outstanding goals, Louis van Gaal for the tactical masterclass, and Gerrard for stamping his way into United folklore. Tara, Stevie G, we’ll miss you. Sort of. Also on this week’s show: your questions, a preview of United’s next fixture against Aston Villa and the return of the Gilluminati!