Angel Delight
In this week’s show Ed & Paul look back on United’s insipid draw with Sunderland at the weekend – a game that leaves the Reds on just one point after two Premier League matches. United laboured to a scoring draw against the Wearsiders, with Juan Mata claiming his seventh goal in nine starts in the ‘number 10’ role at United. Despite the Spaniard’s strike United struggled in both defence and attack as the Reds adjust to a radically different system. There’s a discussion of the transfer market, with United acquiring Marcos Rojo since the last podcast and set to sign Real Madrid’s forward Angel Di Maria in the coming week. Your questions, Bantergate and, finally, previews of United’s fixtures against MK Dons in the Capital One Cup and Burnley in the Premier League follow. Can the Reds secure a first win of the new season?
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Interesting how people get excited about ‘iconic’ shirt numbers. At United the number 7 is a big deal because of Ronaldo, Cantona, Beckham, Robson etc and often Georgie Best gets a mention. In Georgie’s day players didn’t get their own dedicated shirt number. Shirt numbers 1-11 were given out on matchday to the starting eleven. Number 12 was the for the sub. Georgie often wore no. 7 but also no. 11 and no. 8. Of course, there were no names on the back either, nor badges (except for finals) nor sponsors’ logos on the front. Nothing to get too excited about.
Totally agree with comments about McKay situation.
We are on one point, not two.
Don’t we get a bonus point for signing Di Maria? 🙂
Doesn’t 4231 solve all our problems? In a fluid system di maria, rooney & mata can all fit in and swap around. Plus Januzaj, kagawa, powell also get chances to play in the formation. My line up would be De gea, rafael, evans, jones, Shaw, di maria, carrick, herrera mata, rooney, rvp.
My younger brother and me regularly tune in to listen to your latest podcast every week, we both love how much sense you talk 🙂 (sorry for how cliche that sounds!) thanks for keeping up such a great show, we too will be anxiously waiting for Vidal to make his debut on saturday 😉
Thanks Ed! 🙂
Sorry to moan again, but if you are going to keep predicting United wins (a win and a draw this time, to be fair) then at least make an effort to explain your reasons.
You didn’t even discuss the specific threats Burnley offer, what tactics they are likely to employ, who are their danger-men, or anything. Just a few glib words about Mata, Rooney and Van Persie being good enough to beat them. Who is going to pass them the ball and into areas where they can hurt Burnley?
No analysis at all, yet we get at least 10 minutes on a done-to-death story on a long-since-sacked manager of a minor team. All you did was make the same point that the rest of the media did, several days ago – that racism is bad and that the LMA blindly defends its members to the point of losing credibility.
After Burnley, you have QPR at home – a side desperate for points and in a match that you simply have to win. Any chance that you might actually speculate on what they are going to try and do to United, what their plan is going to be and what team/tactics United need to get a result?
I’m not trolling here, I’m just making these points because you both seem capable of putting out a much better podcast than you currently are.
I appreciate that you are offering what you think it constructive criticism, but I would counter with the following.
Firstly I couldn’t care less if you don’t think the Mackay thing was worthy of us talking about, we both do and the more voices speaking up against the status quo the better.
Secondly we both have full time jobs, so don’t necessarily have time to do opposition scouting.
Please feel free not to listen to the free show we put out for fun every week. The people that enjoy it will keep listening to it and the people that don’t, don’t have to. We’re not going to change it to better suit your tastes.
Hi Paul,
I think this is about the time that someone else weighs in to add that irrespective of whether or not you guys have full-time jobs, it’s mightily good of you to take the effort of getting one of these out every week. It always bemuses me that you and/or Ed actually apologize when there’s a delay in getting the Pod out some weeks – because, you really are not accountable to anyone, and don’t have to do this.
Strictly speaking, you’re selling yourself short – anyone who heard the World Cup Rant Casts would appreciate just how much effort you guys put in, just because random strangers (like me) like listening to you guys talk.
Suffice it to say that most of us appreciate the time you put in, and are deeply thankful to the two of you.
Not to be too ingratiating/brown-nosey about this, but a ‘Rant Cast’ song to the tune of “You are my Solskjaer..” (with a few details changed), would not be an exaggeration.
This pod won’t go on forever, but you can rest assured that many, many people (around the world) will be quite, quite sad to see it end.
I’ve been a long-time listenser, you just don’t know it because not everyone uses Twitter. Your Rant Casts make me happy – they’re funny and enjoyable. There’s a lot to be said for something that makes your life better!
COME ON YOU REDS!
– Red in Seattle
Well, you seem to have plenty of time to scout whatever shiny new signing Manchester United are reported to be chasing.
It seems a little disrespectful to show no interest in the team you are about to face. I find it hard to believe this would be the case if you were up against Barcelona, next week. Teams like Burnley are regularly beating United at the moment.
As you point out, the show is free and those who are unhappy can walk if they don’t like it. However, I do like the show and will be listening to next week’s edition.
You should make it clear if you only want comments that offer praise for what you do, or comments that just refer to what’s going on at United right now . At the top of the comments box it just says Speak Your Mind.
Presumably, you don’t regard what I wrote as being constructive criticism? These things are obviously open to interpretation, but if you don’t care what the listeners think, why have a comments section on the podcast page at all?
Dan – “Disrespectful” – how unbelievably arrogant. You come off as somebody offering criticism for the sake of your own self aggrandisement. I completely missed the constructive bit. Fine, but it just makes you yet another internet troll, a keyboard warrior.
I’m afraid you misunderstand something key though – you’ve had a say, this is an open comments board, and you have not been edited or moderated at all. But at the risk of speaking for Paul – the issue is that you think, somehow, that you get an editorial say. You don’t. This isn’t a debate. As somebody who has contributed absolutely nothing to the show over 3 years, why would you?
Thanks for the feedback, but as Aaron Sorkin once said: “fuck the audience” and fuck you for getting on a high horse about this. Hopefully that’s a little bit more disrespectful still. The Mackay issue was the most important topic in sport this week. If you can’t see that, too bad for you.
You’ve had your say and we hear you – bits you like, bits you don’t. But we’ll do it our way. If you don’t like it, there’s one less listener. Too bad. Hope that’s absolutely clear enough for you.
If you’ve been listening for a while, Ed and Paul have talked in depth about tactics and do so in great detail whenever there is a notable change or a new player comes in. It’s a great show because they don’t so the same faux-intellectual crap every week because they have the best communicational short hand in the biz. Get yourself a weekly Sqwaka stats email if that’s what you’re after.
Dear Dan;
May I call you Dan? It seems that I’ll have to because that’s the only reference I have as to your identity.
With regards to your point about Mackay, some of us more enlightened types rely on the Rantcast for our news due to growing concern over the rise of the Illuminati and their growing control over the world’s media outlets. Paul and Ed are unbiased and pure, and I, as well as the millions of other listeners, look forward to their weekly aural injection with much anticipation.
As for tactical discussions re: your Burnley point, I’m sure that there are many other podcasts out there that cover such topics, and would suggest that you click your mouse on their icons in future. Failing that, I’m sure the Illuminati would LOVE to further entrench themselves into your subconscious by having you buy any number of their newspapers which cover all the subjects you seem so keen to learn about.
Stay vigilant,
Danner.
Dear Paul and Ed;
Many thanks for another excellent recording. I’ve run the usual tests on the audio and have come to the very satisfying conclusion that it is as yet untainted by higher “powers”. You’ll be pleased to know that the tests also came back positive on voice analysis, so I know for definite that you are who you claim to be and that the kill orders have been put on hold pending further tests throughout the year.
Keep up the good work and stay vigilant,
Danner
X x x X
Hi Dan,
I think this may not be the podcast you’re looking for. We often spend a fair bit of time on the opposition just not this occasion as we ran to over an hour of free content. In any case I get the impression that listeners like the mix of topical debate, news and views.
Ed
It’s not clear whether you’re a United fan or not, but we’re Manchester United, we shouldn’t be concerned about Burnley’s tactics or what players they have. That’s not disrespectful, that’s nature, survival of the fittest. We’re a bigger predator in the Premier League food chain. That’s a fact, not arrogance.
I love your fresh, original views on United. Your podcast is unique and beautiful. Frankly speaking, I know a lot of people who don’t listen to podcasts, myself included, at all but see the rantcast as the exception. Well done and good luck.
Excellent show as always, keep it up!
Hey Paul, nice work. Tuning in all the way from India.
Thank you for the great episode again guys. One of the highlights of my week as has been since I started listening about 2 years ago. Keep em coming
Thanks guys! Pro tip about that Di Maria / Alonso tweet – apparently, Di Maria’s nickname is Noodles cos he’s a thin lad!
Totally right to weigh in on MacKay – every voice against his awful behaviour builds the crushing weight against this sort of shit in football.
I’m sure you guys will have taken a look at this, but just in case – http://www.espnfc.us/blog/tactics-and-analysis/67/post/2003603/louis-van-gaals-tactical-evolution-at-manchester-united
Thanks and love from Calgary, AB
Ed, I’ve listened to at least 40 episodes and got a lot out of them. Actually, from the beginning of last season I listened to every podcast from UnitedRant, UnitedWeStand, CanTheyScore and RedMancunian. Sadly, it appears that Andy Mitten could bear no more and we are now down to just three weekly United podcasts that are worth listening to.
Paul’s being a little too defensive. There is a lot more that I like about the show than I don’t like.
Dan – I think you’ve had your say now. Sadly you have mistaken me for somebody who gives a toss what you think. Listen if you want, don’t if you don’t. I’d rather think if you have something to say to Paul you’d say it to him, not me. See ya.
Is that tone really necessary?
I don’t think the guy was trying to instigate some massive arguement and he has said he is a regular listener. I think it’s fair to say we all get you guys do this for free, and we are grateful. My Saturday morning would not be the same without popping you on before the match, for example.
But mistaken you for somebody “who gives a toss”? Yeah, I did actually. And equivalents of fuck off and don’t listen if you don’t like somehow don’t square with my impression that you did. Oh, well.
Yes it was.
I get that feedback good and bad is part of being on the internet. I get tons of abuse on Twitter, whatever I say, by both sides of any argument. But I think that receiving a lecture on what is good and bad content, what is “disrespectful” content, or what should or should not be in the show from somebody who has never attempted to engage with the show before is not something I need to take seriously. We’ve spoken lots – I’d accept feedback of that nature from you, while disagreeing with it. Dan has never commented, reached out on Twitter, nor on Facebook, nor sent me an email. As far as I’m concerned, long time listener or not, he did not need to make his views public but did so to get a reaction – that’s a troll by any definition and I don’t need to accept it. Thanks as always for your views.
Thanks for the response, Ed.
That clarification definitely makes sense and I hear you on the abuse portion. Great podcast as always. Wish the results on the field matched!
@SKW
Both Paul and Ed sound very well-spoken and well brought-up on the show and I’m sure that, if met in person, both would offer only courtesy, charm, generosity of spirit and a disarming line in self-deprecation.
The internet does funny things to people, though. An olive-branch can look like the prop that’s holding up a man-trap and the instinct of many is to presume the worst in others and get any retaliation in first.
How simple, life used to be.
Awesome we go from editorial advice to condescension. Or is that me presuming the worst?!
Paul & Ed,
Don’t mind the haters. You guys are doing a terrific job (wish ManUtd did the same!). This is probably the best United podcast out there. Keep it going!
Good Podcast!:-)
Ed, My niece has just read this conversation and she thinks you ‘sound’ sexy when you are angry. She is going to be a first time listener to the next podcast. So at least one new fan.
Steve – it sounds like I’m in there. I should abuse more people
Had to comment to say that title is brilliant, I don’t know how the papers missed that headline!
Fallen Angel might be more apt, given how much time he’s going to spend prone on the deck while brandishing an imaginary card.
If he plays out on the left, today, he could be up against the fantastically-named Kieran Trippier.