Rant Cast

On this week’s Rant Cast: Ed & Paul ‘debate’ the merits of a sound education in mathematics, bemoaning the state of  government investment into a system that has left Paul unable to tell the difference between a percentage and an absolute number! In between the bickering over Long Ball Louis’ tactics, the pod covers United’s excellent victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford – perhaps the finest 34 minutes of attacking football the Reds have produced this season. Does this mean Van Gaal’s philoshoofy has finally taken root? There are your questions on Twitter, Rooney’s punch gate fiasco and a look ahead to United’s visit to Anfield at the weekend!

On this week’s Rant Cast Ed and Paul celebrate the victory over Newcastle, commiserate over United’s defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup, argue over whether Louis is really playing hoofball, take Twitter questions, discuss sexism in football (there’s a lot of it and it is very bad) and get all excited / terrified for the run of big games ahead.  

On this week’s Rant Cast – victory and a decent one at that. Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford wasn’t always pretty, but in creating more than 30 chances with 75 per cent possession, the Reds certainly dominated. After defeat to Swansea City last week, Louis van Gaal’s side is now back in prime position to qualify for the Champions League – with no little thanks to former Reds John O’Shea and Wes Brown! Ed & Paul discuss United’s performance, Radamel Falcao’s ongoing struggles, Adnan Januzaj’s bright cameo and Ander Herrera – now a fixture in the team! Also on the cast – a preview of the week’s games to come, including Newcastle United in the Premier League on Wednesday night and Arsenal in the FA Cup next Monday!

After Rant Cast’s longest ever non-summer break the boys discuss a veritable deluge of football over the past month, but has it been any good? Since the last Cast Louis van Gaal’s side secured FA Cup victories over Cambridge United and Preston North End, a win in the Premier League over Burlney, and a last gasp draw at West Ham United. It’s a run that has taken the Manchester United’s record to one defeat in the past 19 matches. Title winning form indeed. Yet, there’s something just a little amiss here. Amid the great results the performances have rarely sparkled – if at all. Regular presenters Ed & Paul discuss the past four matches and look ahead to United’s game with Swansea City in Wales at the weekend – asking the questions: can Louis find the balance he desperately seeks; and just how far is it ok to take the ‘win at all costs’ philosophy as United chase a Champions League place next season?

On this week’s Rant Cast Ed & Paul look back on Manchester United’s draw with Cambridge in the FA Cup. How did one of the finest squad’s in the land end up struggling at the League Two minnows? The lads assess Louis van Gaal six months into the job during a period in which Untied has won just two from the past six fixtures and ask – where does the Dutchman go from here? There’s a look ahead to the Reds’ Premier League game with Leicester City at Old Trafford, listener questions and a final chance to win a very nice painting of Radamel Falcao!

Back after a short break, Rant Cast is (sort of) united in grief for the demise of Red Issue, Manchester United’s longest running and most controversial fanzine. Sharp, incisive and never short of deliciously cutting, Red Issue has been a staple of the match-day experience for more than 25 years. Love them or loathe them, please join Rant Cast in a minute’s silence and #prayforredissue. Also on this week’s pod presenters Ed & Paul cover all the news that’s not fit to print, including United’s defeat at home to Southampton and the victory over QPR in London. After a game and half of under-performance in the now highly dubious 3-5-2 system is it time for Louis van Gaal to rethink his tactical outlook? Finally, there’s a look ahead to Friday’s game against Cambridge United in the FA Cup, where – unfortunately – Ed gets the opposition manager’s name wrong. Now that’s Alanysis for you! Red Issue branded selfie-sticks available at all good retailers.

Liverpool is in mourning, with captain Steven Gerrard announcing his death retirement move to another club for shed loads of money, eight years after nearly moving to Chelsea for bucketfuls of cash. Regular presenters Ed & Paul join the national wailing … or not. Also on this week’s show: a full review of United’s disappointing performances against Stoke City in the Premier League and Yeovil Town in the FA Cup. Is it time Louis van Gaal revisited his strategy away from home, where United has won just three times this season? There’s a preview of next weekend’s home fixture with Southampton at Old Trafford and a look ahead to the fixture with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. Finally, your questions and a very special competition with Mils Art.

It’s the end of another year, but there’s no let up in the football on offer. Ed & Paul review United’s matches against Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur: one a solid victory, another an unfortunate draw as the Reds take four points, but should have earned six. Still, there were plenty of positives from a packed 48 hours for Louis van Gaal’s team. There’s a preview of Thursday’s trip to Stoke City. Cold, windy and often hostile, can United beat Stoke for a second time in the past few weeks? Your questions are answered and, finally, the lads discuss what they know about Yeovil Town, United’s League One opponents in the FA Cup. (Hint it’s really not much).

Ed & Paul get together to discuss all the festive football fun, or at least the slightly underwhelming draw against Villa. But hey, it’s nearly Christmas and Falcao scored, so it’s not all doom and gloom for United. They look forward to games against Newcastle at home and Tottenham away, predict two United wins (obviously) and answer all the questions that the good people of Twitter have thrown their way. Merry Non-Denominational Winter Festival of Your Choosing, everyone!  

This week on Rant Cast, Paul & Ed talk prison: and just how long Ander Herrera might be dodging the showers after being caught up in a Spanish match fixing investigation. They discuss United’s victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford. It started poorly – the Scousers could have taken a 2-0 lead – but finished with perhaps the best hour of football United has played all season. Six wins in a row, third place, bring it on! Finally, Ed and Paul look forward to United’s seventh victory in a row – at Aston Villa at the weekend!

This week on Rant Cast, Paul & Ed try and keep a straight face whilst discussing United’s convincing win over Southampton, and look back on a slightly better United performance against Stoke. They discuss Marouane Fellaini in terms that will be more familiar to long-time listeners than the recent praise he’s received, resurrect the reverse-curse-of-the-Rantcast and veer off on a massive tangent about whether or not Wayne Rooney has fulfilled his potential. Finally, Ed and Paul look forward to United absolutely smashing Liverpool at the weekend, take a load of listener questions, and run a competition to win a really, really lovely mug.

This week, Ed & Paul look back on United’s stroll in the park at Old Trafford against Hull City. United completed dominated the game, which saw fine performances from, well, pretty much everyone. They debate Van Gaal’s “Philosophy”, pragmatism, and the fundamental nature of faith, before taking listener questions and previewing the upcoming games against Stoke and Southamption, Can Mark Hughes’ side spring a surprise against United? Can Louis van Gaal’s side spring a surprise against Southampton? All this, and probably some more, in this week’s Rant Cast.  

On this week’s celebratory Rant Cast Ed & Paul look back on Manchester United’s victory over Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday. The hosts bossed possession, created more chances and probably should have won; United took home the points in a match every bit as joyous as the Reds 8-2 victory over Arsenal in 2011. Victory lifts United into the Premier League top four, with the Champions League now firmly in Louis van Gaal’s sites. Yet, this was certainly no classic United performance, with the Dutchman conceding style for a more pragmatic approach in north London. The Cast looks ahead to United’s game against Hull City at the weekend, one of two in five days that the Reds really should win with Stoke to come on Tuesday. There’s your questions answered and the winner of last week’s competition(s) is… well, not quite revealed!

On this week’s Rant Cast regular presenters Ed & Paul look forward to United’s fixture against Arsenal this weekend. The Reds’ record against Arsene Wenger’s side is outstanding in recent years, but with so many players injured – including three more on international duty – can United cope in north London? There’s more on injuries: what has caused the catastrophic loss of players this season and who is to blame? The boys discuss whether Louis van Gaal’s intensive training regime plays a part or if bad luck is at the root. There’s a review of international week, transfer market speculation and, finally, all your questions. Plus – look out for two special competitions this week!  

In this week’s Rant Cast Ed & Paul look back on the Manchester derby. United lost but Louis van Gaal’s side came close to pulling off an unlikely result after Chris Smalling’s first-half dismissal. Another defeat and 13 points behind the Premier League leaders – or a step in the right direction, with spirit seemingly high in the camp? There’s a focus on Smalling: just how brain-dead is the United defender? Wayne Rooney – was he really any good? Angel di Maria – should we be worried about another average performance? And Marouanne Fellaini – has he played his way into the team on a permanent basis? Finally, there are your questions and a look ahead to next week’s crucial fixture against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.