Rant Cast

On this week’s show – we look back on Manchester United’s double defeat to Norwich City and Galatasaray. While the kids lost in Turkey, the oldies came unstuck in East Anglia. It was one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s less salubrious weeks. Yet, the daddy of all managers celebrates a new statue in front of the old North – now renamed – stand. In a week for managerial changes, we discuss Roberto Di Matteo’s sacking at Chelsea, and a new Spanish appointment in west London. We also discuss Sir Alex’ possible replacements – could double title winning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be in the frame? Also on this week’s show – Eric Cantona, a Rogues XI competition winner, we take your Twitter questions and a new feature on the show!

Rant Cast this week looks back at Manchester United’s latest comeback victory as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side triumphed at Villa Park. How many more times will the Reds concede only to snatch a late victory? We talk Javier Hernández – has the little Mexican emerged from a ‘difficult second season’ to become a key man in United’s charge towards the Premier League title? Also on this week, we talk financials,  with Q1 results coming out. For the first time since the Glazer family took control of the club in 2005 United’s gross debt dips below £400 million. It’s only taken £550 million wasted on debt repayments and other costs to take debt to a “manageable” level! Finally, we take your Twitter questions, and preview United’s trip to Norwich City and the European tie with Galatasaray next week.

On this week’s Rant Cast we discuss two victories in the past week for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men – neither without some difficulty. First, Manchester United overcame Arsenal 2-1 at Old Trafford, but not before Wayne Rooney had missed yet another penalty. Then in midweek United qualified for the Champions League knock-out stages with victory over SC Braga. The lights went out at Estádio Municipal, but Ferguson’s side found a late spark to win and qualify with ease. Also on this week’s show: we take your many questions, discuss Robin van Persie’s form, preview Sir Alex’ brand new statue and look ahead to the weekend’s game against Aston Villa.

On this week’s show regulars Ed and Paul discuss a feast of goals over the past week, with Manchester United beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in somewhat controversial circumstances, before succumbing to the same team in the league cup. Where Sir Alex Ferguson’s team claimed three Premier League points, a younger outfit dropped out of the cup after a stirring game in west London. One again, though, the narrative of post-match commentary centered around controversy, with referee Mark Clattenburg the brunt of Chelsea ire for more than one reason. Also on this week’s podcast: we talk Nani and Ferguson’s all-too-obvious frustration with the Portuguese winger, and Paul Pogba a talented youngster now taking Italy by storm. Back at Old Trafford, United host Arsenal on Saturday lunch-time – it’s around 100/1 for the teams to share nine goals between them. After the past week that’s surely a good punt! Finally, we take your questions and look ahead to a European trip to Braga.

On this week’s packed Rant Cast regular presenters Ed and Paul look back on Manchester United’s matches against Stoke City in the Premier League and SC Braga in Europe. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team came away with two victories, but once again looked suspect at the back. Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand and Ferguson were embroiled in a media row over the Kick It Out t-shirt that never was. Ferguson came within a whisker of a PR disaster, while Ferdinand maintained a quiet dignity. We analyse what the row means for United, Ferguson, Ferdinand and race relations in English football. We talk about David Gill’s appointment to the Football Association and the inherent conflicts of interest involved, while we laud Ajax fans rejection of “modern football”. And Wayne Rooney’s endorsement of Barrack Obama – does that seal the presidential election?! Finally, we preview the week ahead with a double-header against Chelsea in the Premier League and Capital One Cup.

On this week’s post international break Rant Cast we look back into the now seemingly distant past to Manchester United’s thumping victory over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. Sir Alex Ferguson’s wingless wonders gained revenge for a 3-0 loss at the same venue last season, while posing some interesting tactical questions for the season ahead. Also this week: we talk internationals, with the bulk of Ferguson’s squad away with their national teams. Fortunately for the Scot all should return in rude health for United’s matches with Stoke City and Sporting Braga at Old Trafford in the coming week. We talk Tom Cleverley’s potential contract, Yaya’s wages, Chicharito, Wayne Rooney’s captaincy, Nani’s terrible form, and Nemanja Vidić’s fitness. Finally, back at home Liverpool’s Director of Communications took on a Twitter star with hilarious consequences, a crazy Austrian man jumped out of a balloon from space, and we take your – usually odd – twitter questions.

On this week’s Rant Cast we look back at Manchester United’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford; the Reds’ second Premier League loss of the campaign to date. We ask why United can’t seem to stop shipping cheap goals this season, and whether it’s the defence, midfield, Sir Alex Ferguson, or all three that’s to blame. We review United’s away victory at CFR 1907 Cluj in the Champions League – a game in which Ferguson’s men came from behind to secure three points with a fine double from Robin van Persie. Just four more points in as many games should ensure that the Reds reach this season’s knock-out rounds. Also on the pod this week – your questions, the Ashley Grimes scarf competition winner, our view on the best and worst TV pundits. Finally, we look ahead to United’s trip to Tyneside to face Newcastle United this weekend. Can Ferguson’s side avenge the 3-0 loss at St. James’ Park last season?

On this week’s packed podcast we look back at Manchester United’s victory over Liverpool at Anfield – a day which began with eyes focused on visiting supporters’ behaviour, and ended with Scouse abuse of referee Mark Halsey. Sadly, however, captain Nemanja Vidić did not play, with the Serbian missing for at least two months. We take in the Capital One Cup, with a youthful United side beating Newcastle United at Old Trafford. Anderson and Tom Cleverley got the goals that take the Reds through to a fourth round meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Is this a new start for the big-boned Brazilian midfielder, or yet another false dawn? Given it’s League Cup week we talk youth – the four who debuted on Wednesday night and those who have come through the ranks over the years. Also on this week’s pod: your Twitter questions and another ‘fabulous’ competition prize to give away to one lucky listener. Finally, we look ahead to the weekend’s fixture with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, and United’s visit to Transylvania – as Sir Alex Ferguson’s team takes on CFR Cluj in the Champions League.

In this week’s show regular presenters Ed & Paul look back on Manchester United’s thumping victory over Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford. In one of those clichéd ‘games of two halves’ United battered the Latics with three goals inside 15 second half minutes. But the game was marred by a post-match controversy over anti-Liverpool chanting, which has been covered just about everywhere this week. Did the media get the tone and accuracy of the coverage right, and what should United fans do next, especially with a match at Anfield coming up on Sunday. We move on to the midweek game against Galatasaray and another sub-par United performance in Europe. Indeed, it is now 18 months since United put in a really convincing performance in European football. We look ahead to the trip to Liverpool, and the Capital One Cup tie with Newcastle United at Old Trafford.

This week on the nation’s favourite Manchester United podcast* we look back on Manchester United’s narrow victory over Southampton at St Mary’s before the international break. Did Robin van Persie’s hat-trick get United out of jail free after an ‘omnishambles’ of a defensive performance? We talk international football, with a large proportion of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad away with their national sides over the last week. England won won, and drew won, but there was greater success for some Reds. Also on this week’s show – we talk Wayne Rooney’s book, Cristiano Ronaldo’s sadness, take your Twitter questions, talk Anderson’s food habits, ponder the merits of Eric Cantona’s collar, give away a Paul Scholes shirt, and preview the week ahead with Wigan Athletic and Galatasary visiting Old Trafford. *Well, in the top 10 at least!

On this week’s Rant Cast we say a final goodbye to a much loved and misunderstood friend – Dimitar Berbatov – who is joining Fiorentina Juventus Fulham in a £4 million deal. Also on the show – we look back on victory over Fulham at Old Trafford. This was a ‘game of two halves’ that saw the Reds take three points despite some very average defending. Rafael, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney made the headlines for various reasons. We talk transfers – how did United do in the window, were they the right purchases and how will the incomings affect the Reds’ style in the season ahead? We take your Twitter questions: should Ferguson ban journalists, what’s Tom Cleverley’s best position, and many more! And finally this week – we look ahead to United’s trip to Southampton at the weekend.

On this week’s packed Rant Cast regulars Ed and Paul look back on Manchester United’s opening day defeat at Everton – dissecting Sir Alex Ferguson’s team, tactics and the outlook for the rest of the season. We talk transfers, with United signing Robin van Persie and Alexander Büttner since last week’s show, although there is no sign of that long-debated midfielder anywhere. And we delve into the disastrous form of Wayne Rooney and Nani at Goodison Park, talk injuries and Michael Carrick’s role. Meanwhile, in the world of finances the George Soros fund bought around two per cent of the club – what does this mean, if anything, for United’s future?

New season, new hope! Well not if you’ve been following Manchester United’s IPO in New York this summer. But with Shinji Kagawa, Nick Powell and Robin van Persie joining* there’s plenty to talk about in the first Rant Cast of the new season! Regulars Ed and Paul talk the summer transfer window, financial shenanigans in the Big Apple and tactics ahead of the new campaign. Have the acquisitions calmed frayed tempers in the stands, or did Sir Alex Ferguson take his battle with supporters one step too far?

**With humble apologies for the one-off sub-optimal quality of the audio on Ed’s channel this week due to a technical fault** In the final special Euro edition of Rant Cast this summer, regular presenters Ed and Paul review the knock-out stages of the 2012 European Championships in Poland in Ukraine – taking in both the quarter and semi-finals. We laud Italy, commiserate with Germany, vigorously debate Spain and lampoon England! We also look ahead to what promises to be an exciting final between Spain and Italy on Sunday. Will Spain take a third international tournament in a row, or can Italy provide an upset? With many thanks for listening over the past month to these special European editions of the Rant Cast. We’ll be back with you after our summer holidays for the start of the new Premier League season in August.

In the third Rant Cast Euro Special regular presenters Ed & Paul discuss the second week of the Championships, which brought more great games, goals and moments. We review each of the groups, discuss the major talking points and look forward to the knock-out stages of the tournament. It was a week in which England won twice, Germany powered on, France stuttered and Spain continued to defy logic. With our predictions and preview for the week ahead. Euro Cast will be back with a final show next Saturday, just ahead of the championship conclusion!