No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

#1005 | Ed and Jamie discuss United’s likely Champions League revenue uplift, which might be over £100m across prize/broadcast, matchday and sponsorships. Despite higher associated costs EBITDA projections might top £250m next year. How might that translate into summer spending under new squad-cost rules? It might well be a theoretical ceiling near £400m, with £300m more plausible. And what other revenue streams might there be from possible sales to bolster United’s transfer budget? Finally, there’s a discussion on World Cup finances. How will FIFA spend its projected $13bn World Cup revenues, driven by high ticket pricing, commercial deals, and broadcasting rights?

00:00 Introduction

05:16 Matchday Income and Sponsorship Bump

11:18 How Much Can United Spend?

16:46 Transfer Targets and Player Sales

19:33 Betway Sponsorship

26:03 Michael Carrick

39:35 FIFA World Cup Finances

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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#1004 | Ed and Tom look back on United’s 0-0 draw at Sunderland, the first goalless game of the season. Casemiro’s absence exposed how disjointed United look without him. With five mostly enforced changes, they discuss underwhelming displays from Mason Mount and Josh Zirkzee, limited attacking output from the full-backs, and United’s lack of physicality. Once again, Senne Lammens came to United’s rescue. What a signing he has been. 

With Champions League secured, and not much action on the pitch to talk about, the conversation turns to summer priorities - especially central midfield signings. Finally, there’s Forest next week to think about.

00:00 Introduction and Match Reaction

02:17 Player Ratings: The Stand-ins

05:40 Kobbie Mainoo and The Midfield 

14:00 Summer Transfer Priorities

28:02 Strikers: Zirkzee, Højlund and Chido Obi

40:58 Last Summer's Signings Reviewed

42:10 Transfer Wishlist

50:49 Forest, The Title Race and Real Madrid Drama

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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#1003 |  Ed and Dominic discuss United’s new Betway training kit sponsorship worth £18m per year and the wider ethics and prevalence of betting money in football as front-of-shirt bans loom. They then cover controversy around the FA Youth Cup final being staged at City’s 6,000-capacity Joie Stadium, limiting United’s allocation compared to the 67,000 at Old Trafford in 2022.

The conversation turns to Michael Carrick’s interim reign: a pragmatic approach, improved results and momentum, Mainoo’s introduction, and the risks of replacing him amid a thin managerial market and a Frankenstein squad.

Then they preview Sunderland away, prioritising momentum above the introduction of too many youth team stars.

00:00 Introduction

01:36 Betway Training Kit Sponsorship

09:58 FA Youth Cup Final Controversy

14:06 Academy Players and the Reality of Elite Youth Football

22:12 Michael Carrick: The Case For and Against

31:37 The Manager Market and Alternatives to Carrick

38:18 Transfer Plans and Squad Needs for Next Season

40:28 Sunderland Match 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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#1002 | Ed, Dharnish and Daniel react to United’s 3–2 win over Liverpool and debate whether “underlying metrics” matter without context? United are succeeding on fine margins with elite attackers and reduced chances conceded under Michael Carrick. They break down Carrick’s approach: bypassing the opposition press, sitting compact in a mid-block, and attacking quickly in transition.

With Champions League secured and Carrick seen as favourite for the job, we discuss how his football might evolve toward more control while keeping his tactical flexibility. The focus turns to summer recruitment, especially finding the right midfield partner for Kobbie Mainoo, with quick-fire takes on targets like Wharton, Anderson, Baleba, Tchouaméni and Mateo Fernandez.

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Are the Underlying Metrics Bad?

04:38 Third Next Season - Acceptable?

08:31 Liverpool Match Analysis

10:20 Carrick's Game Model

13:52 How Does Carrick Evolve the Team?

22:53 Transfer Targets and Midfield Profiles

26:00 Rapid Fire Transfer Round

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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#1001 |  Ed and Daniel enjoy United’s 3–2 win over Liverpool. United’s strong first half that could have produced four; Liverpool almost snatched an improbable draw, only for a fine finish from Kobbie Mainoo to win the game. It’s the first time for a decade United secured a Premier League double over Liverpool - and the win officially secured Champions League football next season. In truth United were always likely to find enough against a ponderous Liverpool team but a couple of individual errors allowed them back into the game.

With just three games to go, the conversation inevitably turns to the managerial situation and summer transfer market. 10 wins in 14 puts Carrick in pole position, but does Mainoo’s impressive performances change the calculation in the market?

00:00 Intro and Match Reaction

08:40 The First Half

15:01 Sesko and the Attack

15:38 Midfield Performances and Summer Needs

23:11 The Second Half

37:46 Is Carrick Getting The Job?

45:55 Liverpool Tactics

48:39 Sunderland Preview, Fergie Illness

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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