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

If you were to try and identify Manchester United's worst first half performance this season you would have a lengthy queue of candidates, but the latest showing at Goodison Park might just be it.

In fact, the malaise dragged on for 70 minutes when, possibly fortunate to only be 2-0 down, the team were sparked into life by Bruno Fernandes. The captain beat Jordan Pickford with a free-kick but also dropped deeper in midfield to generate some momentum.

Manuel Ugarte's well taken equaliser was the end of the scoring, even if there was plenty of drama yet to come. But, with Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town coming to Old Trafford on Wednesday, Laurie is doing some frantic sums!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our normal schedule resumes and we're back on some familiar subject matter, but not before another big interview courtesy of the team at The Athletic; this time, Charlotte Harpur sat down with Raphael Varane and while he spoke in a measured manner he was fairly candid about his time at the club.

Manchester United's accounts were published on Wednesday and, even for those versed in the club's financial problems, some alarming figures emerged. Debt repayments resulting from the Glazer family's leveraged takeover have now passed £1b.

On the pitch, it's the last ever trip to Goodison Park this week. After a long sustained period of success there, fortunes changed somewhat; a solid recent record might be threatened by a Blues side resurgent under the doubly familiar figure of David Moyes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the debut of our spin-off, in-depth, discussion podcast Talk of the Devils EXTRA and we're not afraid to dive in head first!

Getting goals is the most valuable skill in football and, as a result, strikers are the most expensive players. It's also something Manchester United are really struggling with this season and a likely priority in the next transfer window.

So, who are United's recruiters looking at? Has the shortlist changed much since Ruben Amorim came in? What does all this mean for the strikers already on the books? And, can a former Utd striker provide any clues to exactly what it takes to succeed?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was dubbed El Calamatico; a clash of two teams falling disastrously short of expectation in the Premier League this season. Unfortunately for us it was Tottenham, through Manchester United fan James Maddison, who found the crucial breakthrough.

In fairness to Ruben Amorim's eleven, they had little support from the bench after a series of injuries in training this week. But, the forwards failed to convert one of a few decent chances on the night; an all too familiar story (that we will look into in greater detail on Wednesday's all-new TotD Extra).

With Amad Diallo ruled out for the season we're facing up to the reality of a lengthy period of pain and suffering, all the more difficult to endure because you can't know for sure whether Amorim is the man to bring success back to Old Trafford.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No midweek game but no respite; this is Manchester United! It's an epic show with no fewer than three FA Cup round-ups after the senior men and women and the U18s all booked their opponents in their respective competitions.

If things aren't going great in the Premier League, it may be even messier in the backroom where more job cuts were announced in an effort to stem a major financial drain, even if the cause of that shortfall lies elsewhere.

Before a look at the Calamatico v Spurs, we also dip into United's effort to catch up with the Premier League's best performers on their data systems and usage. Improvements are long overdue, but are Brighton and Bournemouth a fair comparison?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry Maguire was the hero at Old Trafford on Friday night as Manchester United progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup in entirely uncontroversial fashion... well, that's not entirely true.

Yes, it was offside, but that's not the controversy we're talking about. What we want to know (as do many listeners) is why Ruben Amorim played his new left-sided winger on the right!

Patrick Dorgu played 45 minutes at right wing-back before he became a half-time substitute for Alejandro Garnacho, with the Argentinian injecting pace and purpose into what had been a dour performance. Meanwhile, his compatriot Lisandro Martinez is facing up to a long rehab after confirmation of an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The January transfer window closed on Monday with a new experience for Manchester United fans. The club's restraint in the face of deals they didn't consider good value has been met with a mixed reception by fans.

So, with the help of your questions, we assess that strategy, and think about how Ruben Amorim will now address the main problem he has this season; a team that doesn't score enough goals. Can he turn the Reds aroooound?

Ruud van Nistelrooy will return to Old Trafford on Friday for the first time since his short interim spell as manager; one that included unceremoniously dumping Leicester City out of a domestic cup competition.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Any sense of optimism that had been building around Ruben Amorim's team was squashed by a workmanlike Crystal Palace who, remarkably, haven't conceded a goal against Manchester United in two years.

Were the wounds self-inflicted? Amorim chose to move Kobbie Mainoo, excellent in Europe as a ten, to play false nine and left out both his misfiring strikers. Overthinking, or perhaps a message to the transfer department?

Danish international Patrick Dorgu has signed from Serie A's Lecce and uncertainty about Marcus Rashford's future may be coming to a head as he travels to Bodymoor Heath for a medical at Aston Villa. Complicated deal it may be, but will it free up funds for the club to bring in an attacker before Monday night's transfer deadline.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruben Amorim deployed Kobbie Mainoo in one of the number ten positions against FCSB as Manchester United won comfortably to ease themselves through to the last 16 of this year's UEFA Europa League.

A "rotated" starting XI looked like a bit of a gamble from the Portuguese manager, but a cautious approach initially followed by the introduction of more creative players at the break really paid off. The draw for the last 16 will take place later in February with four potential opponents; Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar, Real Sociedad, or FC Midtjylland.

There's at least one transfer in the offing, but even that might be held up. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are next up in the Premier League, and United's recent record against them does not make for pretty reading. Do they qualify as a bogey team?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a case to say Lisandro Martinez is providing Manchester United's most potent attacking threat at the moment as we dig into some alarming trends with respect to the centre forwards.

Positive sounding news on stadium development this week but unease continues to rumble among the fans and there was a fairly hostile response to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's presence at Craven Cottage.

But, with FCSB up next, a top eight finish in the Europa League first phase might bring some respite and everyone but the Window Warriors TM will be glad to see the transfer deadline pass next week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.