Rant Cast

Comfortable victory over a decent side? Check! Two goals from new star striker? Check Check! Outstanding performance from world-class, world-record purchase? Check! Check! Check! In this episode Ed & Paul look back on United’s victory over Southampton at Old Trafford, including Paul Pogba’s second United debut, Zlatan’s double and LOTS of confidence gained. As ever, there are your questions, a look ahead to next week’s game against Hull City, and bonus content for Patreon backers!   If you are interested in supporting the show, and accessing some cool rewards, check out the Patreon page. Talk to us on Twitter: Paul @UtdRantCast, Ed @UnitedRant. Rant Cast is produced by Tom Jenkins TEEJSOUND @Teejsound.

Back to that winning feeling. Last season Manchester United collapsed at Bournemouth – it seemed to say much about Louis van Gaal’s team. No longer, with José Mourinho’s side returning to Dean Court to seal a comfortable win, although not one that always brought back the style. That time will come, but for now the Portuguese has two victories from two competitive matches. Ed & Paul look back on United’s opening Premier League match, look forward to Paul Pogba’s return against Southampton this Friday and take your questions. There’s bonus content for Patreon backers!   If you are interested in supporting the show, and accessing some cool rewards, check out the Patreon crowdfunding page. Talk to us on Twitter: Paul – @UtdRantCast, Ed – @UnitedRant. Rant Cast is produced by Tom Jenkins – TEEJSOUND / @Teejsound

Same old United, always winning – at Wembley. José Mourinho’s team returned to the capital just 78 days after collecting the FA Cup to bag the Community Shield with victory over Leicester City. Much has changed in the interim: new manager, new faces, and a new belief that the dark times of the past three seasons are now over. Ed & Paul review United’s performance at Wembley, and look forward to the new campaign proper, which begins against Bournemouth at Dean Court next weekend. There’s a discussion about United’s latest move in the transfer market, for Paul Pogba, your questions answered, and bonus content (for Patreon backers!)   If you are interested in supporting the show, and accessing some cool rewards, check out the Patreon crowdfunding page. Talk to us on Twitter: Paul – @UtdRantCast, Ed – @UnitedRant. Rant Cast is produced by Tom Jenkins – TEEJSOUND / @Teejsound

Summer’s gone, so sang the Boo Radleys. Not a few weeks since the final Euro 2016 ball was kicked and here we are gearing up for the start of the new campaign. Ed & Paul return with a review of Manchester United’s pre-season efforts, a look at the evolving squad under José Mourinho, and a preview of this weekend’s Community Shield against Leicester City at Wembley. All of that plus your questions, and an introduction to Rant Cast’s Patreon crowd-funding campaign. Enjoy!   If you are interested in supporting the show, and accessing some cool rewards, check out the Patreon crowdfunding page. Talk to us on Twitter: Paul – @UtdRantCast, Ed – @UnitedRant. Rant Cast is produced by Tom Jenkins at TEEJSOUND / @Teejsound

It’s over. The longest, biggest and most negative (?) European Championships in history finished with Portugal, minus a hobbling Cristiano Ronaldo, beating France in Paris. Glory for Ronnie and Nani, tears for the French – Patrice Evra, Morgan Schneiderlin and Anthony Martial included. All of that and more on the final Euro Cast!   If you are interested in supporting the show, and accessing some cool rewards, check out the Patreon page.

There’s a 1,000 ways to leave your lover, but even more to miss a penalty. Italy and Germany went at it hammer and tongs for 120 minutes of enthralling Euro 2016 quarter-final action – only to produce one of the lowest quality (and most entertaining) penalty shoot-outs in history. Rant Euro Cast covers this and the rest of the quarter-final actions – and looks forward to two semi-finals that will include, miraculously, Wales. All of that plus your questions, a look at two significant incoming transfers at Manchester United, and Ryan Giggs’ departure after 29 years at the club. Enjoy!   If you are interested in supporting the show, and accessing some cool rewards, check out the Patreon page.

On the day the UK goes to the polls, the Euro Cast looks back at the thrills and spills involved in major nations trying desperately not to go out of Europe. Paul and Ed talk through each of round of 16 fixtures, chatting about how each of those teams performed in the group stages. They take a look at France’s underperformance, Wales making the Euro Cast preview episode look shoddy and ill-informed, Icelandic commentary and why Roy Hodgson really, really, REALLY should play Marcus Rashford. All of that plus your questions and the chance to give away a superb Cal Gildart print while discussing the tournament’s funniest moments. Enjoy! If you are interested in supporting the show, and accessing some cool rewards, check out the Patreon page.

Bonjour, et bienvenue à la deuxième Euro Cast! In this week’s show Ed & Paul look back on the first round of games from France, where the hosts beat Romania through a stunning Dimitri Payet goal, England drew with Russia and Bastian Schweinsteiger scored for Germany. It has been a week of fine goals, some good entertainment and the odd surprise. And two brothers going at it without compromise. Last week’s competition winner is Andrew Yaxley who wins a £25 Art of Football voucher. Congratulations, Andy! This week’s prize is a print of your choice from the fantastic Cal Dilgart’s Belle Epoque poster series. Just tell us what’s the funniest moment of the tournament so far not involving Jogi Löw! Tweet Paul, Ed or Cal with your answer and make sure you use the hashtag #rantcast. Or drop us a mailer. Due to postage costs the contest is open to UK / Republic of Ireland listeners only.  

Bonjour, et bienvenue à Euro Cast! Over the next month Ed & Paul cover the European Championships in France, with 23 teams chasing glory at Stade de France on 10 July. And England. In the first edition a tournament preview. Yes, it’s every bit as detailed and deeply researched as you hoped. This week’s competition is to win a £25 Art of Football voucher. Tell us ‘Why Gazza missed’ this chance against Germany in 1996. Tweet @utdrantcast or @unitedrant using #rantcast.

The end – for Manchester United’s season and for Louis van Gaal’s time at United. At least the old boy went out with some silverware to show for it after one of the most miserable campaign’s in living memory ended with the Dutchman facing the sack. Van Gaal’s time at United has been a failure, even if it concluded with the veteran coach defiantly parading the FA Cup in front of the media on Saturday night. Plus ça change, Louis. Welcome, José. Ed & Paul cover all the main talking points from United’s 2-1 extra time victory over Crystal Palace at Wembley. It was a classic ‘game of two halves’ (three!) which featured a spectacular winning goal from Jesse Lingard and a fine captains performance from Wayne Rooney. Van Gaal’s dismissal and Mourinho’s arrival are covered in full, while there’s a look back on the season with the coveted Rant Cast Awards. Rant Cast takes a break until August, although there will be a special series of Le Rant Cast Euro, covering the European Champsionships in France this summer.  

So it came to pass – Manchester United failed to reach the Champions League for the second time in three years. Confirmation was delayed by 48 hours, but Manchester City’s draw at Swansea all but guaranteed the Blues a place at the top table of European football. Despite beating Bournemouth on Tuesday, Louis van Gaal’s side is out: of time, of the Champions League, of credibility. United had to beat the south coast side 19-0 on Tuesday and for 45 minutes it looked as if the season might end less with a bang than a Van Gaal-inspired whimper. The Reds at least rallied to offer long-suffering supporters a modicum of entertainment in the second period. Ed & Paul cover all the drama on Sunday, with United’s match called off in farcical circumstances, as well as the hastily rearranged match on Tuesday. Also this week you questions, a look ahead to the FA Cup final next Saturday, and the now weekly look at the managerial situation.

Just when Louis van Gaal’s side has seemingly reached its nadir along comes a fresh blow. The FA Cup semi-final victory over Everton was a high, only partially puncture by a limp home draw against Champions Leicester. In fact, Manchester City’s home draw with Arsenal gave United real hope of making the Champions League and redeeming a season. Then came two dreadful performances on the road: in victory over Norwich City and defeat to West Ham United. Ed and Paul look back on United’s win at Carrow Road and defeat in East London. Just how has Van Gaal allowed his team to retrench into old habits, even with the injury crisis over and progress supposedly being made? There are your questions and a look ahead to the final game of the Premier League campaign against Bournemouth at Old Trafford.  

Did you hear the one about Louis van Gaal’s sex life? It was a lot more entertaining than his football team. Once again this week Van Gaal proved better value for money off the pitch than on it as United laboured to a score draw against Leicester City at Old Trafford. The Dutchman called it United’s “best performance of the season” – although he has a very small pool of decent performances to pick from. Ed and Paul look back on United’s tie with the champions elect – a game that takes Champions League qualification a step further away from Van Gaal’s team despite Manchester City’s heavy defeat at Southampton. With just three games to play United might need City to lose another two matches. Also on the pod this week: your questions answered and a look ahead to United’s game with Norwich City in East Anglia next weekend!  

Sore head this morning? You should have after Manchester United beat Everton at Wembley to reach the FA Cup final, following shortly on from another solid Premier League win. Could Louis van Gaal’s team make a late charge to reach the Champions League and end the season with silverware? Ed & Paul look back on United’s two victories this week – performances built on a change in formation and a more attacking outlook. It has only take the Dutchman two years to work out the formula, but will he actually stick with it? In addition to looking back on a momentous day at Wembley, the pod looks forward to United’s fixture with champions-elect Leicester City at Old Trafford next weekend and takes your questions.  

They say a week is a long time in football. It is when it comes to Louis van Gaal’s unique brand of football. One step forward, how many back? Manchester United’s victory over West Ham in the FA Cup brought rare cheer on the road, only for the Reds’ old limitations to be exposed once again as the Premier League’s worst team, Aston Villa, visited Old Trafford. Same on Louis van Gaaal, same old performance then. Ed & Paul look back on United’s two victories this week, and ahead to the FA Cup semi-final with Everton at Wembley next weekend, and a midweek Premier League tie with Crystal Palace.