Episodes

#250. Another week, another disappointing result after United lost to a low quality Sunderland outfit at the Stadium of Light. Low quality you say? A phrase that aptly describes the team that Louis van Gaal has built. With the Champions League now seemingly out of reach Ed & Paul ask - why has the Dutchman still got a job and just how toxic is his legacy at the club? In addition to looking back on United's trip to Sunderland there's a look forward to United's match with number-crunchers Midtjyll...

#249. They say he is a legend. No, not Wayne Rooney's acting, nor the booze the United striker was shilling, but manager-in-waiting-if-we-believe-the-tabloids José Mourinho. The former Chelsea manager's representatives have reportedly held talks with United in recent weeks. On the pitch, incumbent Louis van Gaal steered his side to a draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but the Reds could have taken more from the game. Ed & Paul take your questions, discuss the transfer window, and ponder Gary ...

#248. Victory! Over Liverpool! At Anfield! Look past the dull football, searingly negative approach, and predictably conservative tactics for a moment and remember that United emerged victorious, over Liverpool, at Anfield! Also on the pod this week Ed & Paul discuss United's 3-3 draw with Newcastle at St. James' Park - a match that already feels like an aberration of entertainment in an otherwise unbroken commitment by Louis van Gaal to dullness. And you questions. Lots of 'em! No Question Abo...

#247. Ed & Paul cover one of the most boring games to have been played during the show's run: United's 1-0 win over Sheffield United in the FA Cup third round. There are questions from the listeners, and one from Louis van Gaal, whose future is...

#246. New Year, new United. Well, not quite, but Louis van Gaal's team did at least secure victory for the first time since November as the Reds beat Swansea at Old Trafford. The win keeps United in the hunt for a Champions League place after a disastrous December. Also on this week's pod Ed & Paul look back on the Christmas programme, with United losing - in humiliating fashion - at Stoke on Boxing Day, and then securing a draw with Chelsea. There's a brief discussion about transfers as the Jan...

#245. After a two-week break, the show this week catches up on United's three defeats over the past fortnight - to Wolfsburg, Bournemouth and Norwich City. Louis van Gaal is surely close to dismissal, with supporters, players and perhaps the Board having finally turned. Ed & Paul discuss a calamitous period, with José Mourinho's sacking at Chelsea opening the door to the Portuguese manager at Old Trafford. On the last episode of the year the pod also covers United's busy Christmas period, which ...

#244. Ed & Paul look back on United's draw with West Ham at Old Trafford, asking why the team failed to score despite recording 21 shots on goal. While United's draw with the east London side offered more positive signs than the previous week's...

#243. The entertainment couldn't last. United completed two bore-draws inside a week. Plus ça change. First, against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, with the Reds' scoreless draw leaving United's ongoing participation in the competition hanging in the balance. Then, at the weekend, where Louis van Gaal's team drew at Leiester City in another thoroughly uninspiring performance. So boring has the Dutchman's team become that Ed & Paul are bored talking about the boredom. It's that boring. Bu...

#242. Victory for United at Watford. Louis van Gaal's momentarily stood top of the Premier League table. More than a 2-1 win at the newly promoted side, Van Gaal's men actually looked vibrant in attack once again. It has been a long time coming. It was a side shorn of the sick Wayne Rooney and the injured Anthony Martial - and yet, with a new-look front three of Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Memphis Depay, it was a performance of far more vigour than in recent weeks. The front-three, together wit...

#241. 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 Brom. Two goals in a match for the first time in seven games. Ed & Paul digest all the fall out from two victories that came with soporific performances. Your questions are answered, there's a brief discussion about the international break and, finally, there's...

#240. How dull is Louis van Gaal's 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 has led to some unrest off the pitch, with United supporters enjoying a mini Paul Scholes inspired rebellion at Selhurst Park. Ed & Paul review the week's games and ask the questions on everybody's lips: will Van Gaal ever pus...

#239. 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 thi...

#238. Battered at Arsenal, comfortable victors at Everton. United's consistent inconsistency continues. 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 to third place, just two points behind leaders City. There's a preview of the week's...

#237. 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 City, a draw for Chelsea, together with United's relatively easy victory over Sunderland, 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 disp...

#236. "What a waste of money," ran the Mirror headline before Anthony Martial made his 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 per...

#235. 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 to score 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 Ho...

#234. "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 United's approach to the transfer window generally. 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, but a window that began with the club having planned ahead, end...

#233. Goals. There was a time when United scored them. Sometime before Sir Alex Ferguson retired, as the pod 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 game. 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 close to a return to the C...

#232. Was it Wayne Rooney's worst ever performance for United? Certainly there have been few quite so insipid as the Scouser's at Aston Villa on Friday night. Rooney, so ineffective he became a liability, might have cost United dear, but for another stout defensive performance. United's clean sheet secured another three points. 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 game against Newc...

#231. 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. Louis van Gaal was moved to called United's 1-0 victory "lucky." 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. No Question About That is available on Ap...

#230. In the first show of the new season Ed & Paul look back on the summer's transfer market, 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...

#229. In the final show 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, your questions and a look ahead to the summer...

#228. United's last home fixture of the season was a hard-earned, if ultimately disappointing, draw at Old Trafford. United dominated even if the home side lacked for real penetration in a 1-1 against Arsenal. 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 the penultimate game of the season, ahead to the summer transfer window (where might United invest and what is needed?) and take your questions. Final...

#227. Europe awaits after 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, where Van Gaal's side was perhaps fortunate to secure a win after a dubious-looking penalty. Then, Radamel Falcao's foul during Marouane Fellaini's winning goal was missed by referee Michael Oliv...