Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have, after an arduous process, completed their partial takeover of Manchester United and will now assume control of football operations. We'll hear from Sir Jim himself, speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon in central London. The Athletic's Adam Crafton was there, and he joins us to reflect on a wide-ranging discussion. From stadium development to corpor...

Manchester United won 2-1 at Luton's Kenilworth Road on Sunday night, and Andy Mitten was the happiest man in Bedfordshire. It wasn't all plain sailing, despite Rasmus Hojlund setting new Premier League record's for United's fastest goal and their fastest two-goal lead away from home. In fact, it became a bit of a chore. Partly because Luton showed their resilience, but also as a result of some ta...

Manchester United have identified Newcastle's Dan Ashworth as their primary target for the position of Sporting Director. With investment from Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS nearing approval, a period of dramatic change seems inevitable. It's a fascinating time for us to be able to talk in depth with the club's Director of Academy, Nick Cox. In a wide-ranging discussion, we get into the realities of tu...

Ian, Carl, and Laurie are up bright and early on Monday morning in the hope that we can catch Andy Mitten has he passes through yet another airport. This time, it's India, where he enjoyed Manchester United's huge win at Villa in the company of a club legend. Scott McTominay earned that win with another late goal, prompting a magnificent stat from Laurie. We get into his unique role and a renewed...

It is sixty six years since the Munich Air Disaster and the death of Sir Bobby Charlton in October means all survivors of the crash have now passed away. Yet, in recent years attendance at services in Munich and at Old Trafford have grown. We discuss the crash's legacy, Daniel Taylor's articles on The Athletic, and how the anniversary is observed. Robin van Persie returned to Carrington this week...

Recorded post-match at Old Trafford: Ian Irving, Andy Mitten, and Carl Anka are revelling in the slightly unfamiliar feeling of a comfortable win at home. What's more, it came against a pretty good West Ham team and, by a three goal margin. Birthday boy Rasmus Hojlund got the scoring underway with the only goal of a "pleasantly boring" first half, and Alejandro Garnacho notched twice in the second...

Ian, Carl, Andy, and Laurie expected to be talking about Marcus Rashford, hoped to be talking about a Manchester United win, but had no clue about the rest. In the end, the evening belonged to Kobbie Mainoo. The 18 year-old scored his first senior goal for the club, a wonderful run and finish, and it was the last-minute winner in a seven-goal thriller! All this came after Rashford was chosen to st...

It wasn't all about Marcus Rashford this weekend, but his absence (through 'illness') did provide a medium sized distraction as Erik Ten Hag prepared his squad for a trip to fourth-tier Newport County. What next for the 26 year-old forward who shone last year but can't consistently reach the heights his talent promises? In the end, the return of some key figures saw the Red Devils through fairly c...

We've got a full complement again as we dip briefly back into the Omar Berrada hire with The Athletic publishing fresh details on how the club got their man. Anthony Martial has undergone groin surgery, which means he will be out for ten weeks. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, he may have played his last game in a spell that leaves us asking what could have been. Manchester Uni...

Ian, Carl, Laurie & Andy discuss the huge story broken exclusively by The Athletic’s David Ornstein that Omar Berrada will move from Manchester City to become Manchester United’s new CEO.. Plus there is time to answer a selection of questions from listeners across a range of topics including the summer transfer window and the United player you'd love to have seen play. Hosted on Acast. See aca...

A bit of finances special by taking a dive in to United’s latest financial results and making sense of what it means for the club on and off the pitch We’ll bring you the latest transfer news - not much coming in but a bit going out, and there’s news from Sir Jim Ratcliffe's meetings with fans and locals this week as well plus yet more detail on how his investment was negotiated and completed. The...

Ian, Carl, Laurie & Andy breakdown United's two-two draw against Spurs at Old Trafford - was the performance a worry or should it be seen as a good point? Are we seeing signs of Marcus Rashford returning to full fitness? And Laurie & Ian share their first impressions of sharing a room with Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up today Ian, Laurie & Andy take a deep dive into one of the most significant characters at INEOS - Sir Dave Brailsford. The Athletic's Matt Slater joins the pod to give his unique insight into Brailsford's background and what he can bring to United. We’ll also of course look ahead to United back in action in the Premier League at home to Spurs -a match where Sir Dave is expected to be...

Erik Ten Hag picked the strongest Manchester United team available at Wigan in the FA Cup 3rd round and the result was never in doubt, but it still left Ian, Andy, and Laurie a bit cold. We consider how Dave Brailsford and the INEOS contingent will have viewed the performance, and how they decided who would sit next to who, plus what's really going on with the Martial/Varane contract talks. And th...

Ian, Carl, Andy & Laurie are back to look back on another eventful few weeks at United. Coming up, what if any business United might do during this transfer window following the confirmation of investment from INEOS… On that we’ll look at the likely departure of Jadon Sancho on loan and what that could mean for United’s plans this month And a upbeat look back at that dreadful result at Forest...

Ian, Carl, Laurie & Andy give their reaction to the news that Manchester United finally confirming that billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has agreed to purchase a minority stake in the club. Find out what how the deal panned out and hear about the work that still needs to be done as revealed in Laurie special report on the current state of the football operation Sir Jim is inheriting. And of cours...

Ian Irving is on great form, unlike last time, and the whole team are feeling pretty upbeat about Manchester United's prospects going into the new year. Join us as we look back at twelve months that started so brightly, with Erik Ten Hag and his squad winning the Carabao Cup at Wembley, before subsiding badly going into the new season. But, as we said, we are an optimistic lot, and we're expecting...

Ian Irving and Andy Mitten are feeling a little tender this Monday morning. Fortunately, it's not because of another chastening defeat at Anfield! Laurie Whitwell completes the trio as we dissect a resolute defensive performance from Erik Ten Hag's Manchester United, albeit one with very little attacking threat. Given recent results, especially those at Liverpool, this can be viewed as a step in t...

Andy, Ian, Laurie and Carl get together inside Old Trafford to reflect on another defeat, this time going out of the Champions League with a flat performance in defeat to Bayern Munich. There is also a look ahead to a huge game at Anfield against Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League without a raft of big players.. *** • Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/reddevils...

Just when you think United have turned a corner, you realise they have been down this dark road before.. Ian, Andy, Laurie & Carl pick the bones out of a dreadful 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Bournemouth and try to find reasons to be positive ahead of Bayern Munich's visit on Tuesday. *** • Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/reddevils to grow your business–no...

Ian, Laurie, Carl & Andy reflect on a positive night at Old Trafford where Erik ten Hag once again made a big call & got a big performance as United put away Chelsea. There is also a look ahead to Bournemouth the first game of another huge week. *** •  Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase....

It's a full house on the podcast as we dissect another awful performance away from home at a top-half Premier League side. A 1-0 defeat in Newcastle didn't tell the story with Ten Hag's men clearly second best throughout. St James's Park has not been a happy hunting ground in recent years and the hosts were "good value" for their third consecutive win over Manchester United since the Carabao Cup f...

Ian, Laurie & Carl are joined by Andy from Istanbul to review another Champions League performance from United that felt like a recurring nightmare.. United once again implode, throwing away a two goal lead twice to draw 3-3 in Istanbul against Galatasaray…. United’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage hanging in the balance… *** • Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.co...

Ian, Andy, Carl & Laurie pour over a hugely satisfying win for Manchester United topped off by one of the greatest goals they have ever scored courtesy of Alejandro Garnacho.. There is also a first-hand assessment of Kobbie Mainoo's stand-out debut performance in a much needed win for despite a few wobbles in the first half. There is also a look ahead to Galatasaray in the Champions League in...

United have not played since the last pod but Ian, Andy, Carl & LAURIE still have lots to talk about.. You'll get the latest on the takeover which is edging closer - has it really been a year since that crazy day of the announcement of the strategic review and Ronaldo leaving? We’ll also take a close look at the matter on the pitch with a tasty game at Everton coming up - which could see the w...