Mailbag: Ticket prices, transfers, and takeaways
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The Athletic FC Podcast Network. This is Talk of the Devils, the athletics podcast dedicated to Manchester United. We're back in our normal spots after life on tour. Well, one night at least and then a day in the studio for our live show and the Talk of the Devils recording for the previous episode. Go back and have a listen to that.

the reaction to leicester and everything else if um if you've got a chance so far today we're going to do a mailbag episode we've asked for questions on social media on email and on the whatsapp channel as well we've had a brilliant response so thank you to every single one of you for getting in touch and we

Unfortunately, we won't be able to answer all of them. We won't be able to sing all the songs that you've suggested, but we'll get through as much as we can over the course of this episode. And we are in the company of a full house once again. So hello, Andy Mitten. Hello, Laurie Whitwell. Hello, Karl Anka. Hello. Oh, in unison. Nice. You can tell we've spent time together this week, can't you? We could make a fine barbershop quartet, couldn't we? We could do, actually. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Different tones for different tunes. Yeah. Okay. Well, let's answer people's questions in harmony, maybe, Laurie, over the course of this podcast. What a pro. Look at that. I try sometimes. Lots of questions, lots of different topics. One thing that's really on the agenda, we did talk about it a little bit,

on the last podcast Andy are the season ticket price increases which have been announced by Manchester United you wrote about it on the Athletic on Monday as well and there's been quite a reaction since we last recorded to this must have released their fan survey results which say that over 50% of people surveyed believe that the increases are bigger than what they expected 20%

On the other hand, say that they believe the increase is not as bad as what they expected. 13%, they say, will not renew their season tickets because of this increase. We'll talk about the OAP discount situation in a moment because that's a major issue as well. But what have you made to the reaction to the increases, Andy? It's a ticket price rise. No one's going to celebrate it, especially when rival clubs...

a freeze in theirs. Most of the feedback I've had has been from people like your father who are affected by the 50%, 25, 50 to 25%, which is actually more because tickets are going up by around 5%. Anyway, it's the issue of, of this week. People are annoyed about it. There's lots, I said in the other podcast, there's lots of devil in the detail and,

And now you've seen the detail in the response from people, such as car parking going up by 15%. And I saw an announcement from Manchester United's Disabled Supporters Association saying that that's really unfair on a lot of our members who need cars to get to the game because they might not be able to use public transport. It is a big issue, I think.

On the positive side, if I'm taking one positive, the freezing of the junior tickets, which is actually a reduction if you think inflation is 3% at the moment. In that survey, people say in...

the increase was more than they expected. I disagree with that. I think Adam Crafton was right in his piece. I think that there was going to be a much, much bigger increase. And thanks to people like the Fan Advisory Board, that increase was brought down to 5% or 2% in real terms. If the Glazers weren't involved at the club with all the associated costs, there would be far less pressure on Manchester United to...

put any increases on ticket prices. But it has been a big issue for 30 years. And I've had a lot of people coming up to me in the last few days with very valid reasons. People saying that they've had enough. They don't feel a connection to the club like they used to. They think football's changing. They don't think that they can afford it, which is all absolutely right and valid. But I've had the same thing for 30 years.

And then I see them people the next season. Now, some people have definitely been priced out. And maybe we'll talk a bit about FC United further on in this podcast. And when I went to FC games, I met people who were absolutely priced out of going to Manchester United games.

I think tickets, prices, it's a different issue for different people. I remember writing quite an angry article about the ticket prices in San Diego when Man United played Wrexham Reserves in 2023. $200 to see a friendly game. Terrible. Me and my mates, this is terrible. This is disgraceful. Football's eating itself. I stand by every word. I went to San Diego. I couldn't find one person who cared about the prices. So it clearly hits different people in different ways.

The season ticket holders are the people who are there week in, week out. They are there for the less attractive fixtures. They are the people who bring the atmosphere. They bring loyalty. They're not people who just want to turn up for Liverpool at home. And these are the people who should be looked after. In the eyes of the club, they are being looked after. But there's a load of other issues as well. I don't want this answer to be too long, but it is quite complex. I'm also getting a lot of complaints from people who are having the seats moved as well. They've enjoyed...

where they've been sat. They built up a community around where they've been sat, which might be near to the dugout. And then suddenly they're told that they're getting moved. So they're obviously angry and upset about that as well. Yeah, you can understand that certainly. I mean, you referred to Adam's article in there, which was on The Athletic a couple of days ago. I'd urge anyone who subscribes to go and have a read of that. It gives a bit of background as to how this season ticket price increases ended up being 5%. In his piece, he said it could have been as bad as 20%. I think we've all heard

big numbers, maybe even bigger than that at different points. So maybe that is a reflection of our opinion of the 5% increase. The OAP situation, Laurie, obviously is the one issue really where it feels like there is a bit more momentum behind maybe

trying to affect the club's decision on this so must have said that it was the top concern of the fans that they surveyed and basically they want the club to consider a phased introduction of the change in discount from 50% down to 25% obviously some fans already have only got a 25% discount it depends when they became OAPs effectively

but it does affect 7,000 season ticket holders so it's a good chunk of the season ticket holders that are going to be affected by this and you can see why this may be an area that the club would would look at for sure it's a lot of people right and it's people that for the most part I think have been going for a long time right you you you get your season ticket early on and then you stick with it and you follow the club through thick and thin and so you get to a point where you

should you be rewarded for that right you know you get to an age where you're now taking a pension and so you know you're not earning a salary um and so you know can you get a little bit of discount for that and obviously it was a big discount 50 percent and i suppose the club would look at it and go well it doesn't feel quite right to have some people turn 65 66 and have only 25 percent reduction and then other people have 50 percent you could make the argument though that i

I think, you know, for example, in your dad's case, Ian, like, he's obviously been a supporter for a long, long time. Was it the 70s you said that he got his season ticket? So you're sort of thinking, well, he's seen the club really through thick and thin. And should there be a reward really for that at the end of it where, you know, I think a phased introduction does seem plausible. Like, is there a way of even weighting it so that you're kind of giving a discount to people that have had it for even longer than others? You know, I don't know if that's a fair thing, but I feel like that

has some validity to it. So yeah, it's really interesting. I mean, the whole idea of ticketing is a complex one, isn't it? And I was struck by, you know, Must's survey review, you know, 3,300 fans for 48 hours of the announcement and 53% saying that they were worse than they expected. So maybe, as you were saying there, in our minds, because we've been hearing bigger numbers, we had a certain perception, whereas other people that were just

waiting for the announcement to come will have been thinking well maybe it is a price freeze because Liverpool have frozen prices after they had dialogue with their fans so it's not beyond the realms of possibility so yeah I mean and also yeah 13% of season ticket holders saying they're not at all likely to renew their season tickets

resulting in about 6,000 fans. I mean, that's, again, a significant number of people. Yeah, I mean, that would be very striking if people did follow through on that. Let's see. I do think there's possibly, just a final point on this, something, and I'm certainly not trying to say that people that are of a certain age shouldn't be allowed to go to football, far from it, but there comes to a

a point maybe where you do need to also look after younger people coming through who obviously don't have the finances or you want to make sure that the age of people supporting the club is vibrant and young and you're getting new people coming to the ground because I think the average age of people in the Stretford end has risen from I guess 17, 18, probably when your dad was going, when Andy was going to nearly 40 I think now. I think he's had probably over 40 actually the average. So that's a

big rise over the decade so I think there's something to be said for if you can work a way of just reconfiguring that that would I think be a good thing

Yeah, the 1958 group has said that they're disappointed that the club haven't frozen prices in line with Liverpool and they described some of the increases as stealth rises, which are going on behind the scenes and have been for the last couple of years. The issue is, Carl, fundamentally, the product's not as good as it used to be, so why should the price be going up to watch a worse side? That is essentially summing up people's anger and also the fact that, obviously, there is the money that's being spent every year on interest payments going

that the Glazers have caused, not supporters. Absolutely. It's this idea there's been trouble in the boardroom and yet the people on the shop floor are having to bail them out. There's that frustration. In the real moments, I do get to sit in the Stretford end. You can hear that frustration being directed at certain players about their wage packets or about their transfer fees and saying, we're paying X amount of money because United have to spend this much on this player and they're doing X, Y, Z. Look, this is...

I totally understand where the 1958 are coming from. The way they voice their concerns, they come across to me a bit like the frog noticing the boiling water going, hang on, what's all this then? And the difficulty is when it is a football club that you love, the economists call football fans sticky consumers. Even if you want to give up your season ticket, there's always this, oh, well, if I do give up,

It might be the season when United finally come good again or it might be the season when my team finally come good again. What if they win the league? Yeah. What if Ronaldo comes back? The Leicester City fan who gave up their season ticket before they go off and win the Premier League. The Nottingham Forest fan who gave up their season ticket before this season. So that's the emotional connection that holds.

always holds you back. However, if you want to be super mean about it and super glib about it, Manchester United, in one way or another, through these ticket prices, have done something to show they're not that keen on rewarding that loyalty or they're not that keen in reciprocating that love you're giving to Manchester United back. So I totally understand why the 1958 YMUS are getting these messages right now. We've kicked using this word complex.

Just because it's complex doesn't mean it's impossible. And I appreciate the work done by Must and the communication given from the 1958 in making it clear that

Complex isn't an excuse, especially if you're one of the biggest football clubs in the world and you're supposed to have some of the smartest people in the room. Find a way to make it less complex. Yeah, it's an interesting way of putting it, certainly, Carl. I mean, a week on Saturday will be the scene of the 1958 group's latest protest at FC United, which is a real twist on how things have gone amongst Manchester United supporter culture in recent years. Their match at Broadhurst Park,

Stockton Town and it's an attempt by the group they say to try and unify supporters of both clubs because they

Andy, this is a very complex dynamic, isn't it, which has been developed over years, has been developed under the pressure of a lot of anger. And to try and do this is an interesting approach from the 1958 group. Yeah, it's not done before. So FC United playing the third tier of non-league football, the seventh tier of football in England. They've got a really good ground in Moston, in North Manchester. Yeah.

It's supporter-owned. It was formed 2005 after the Glazer takeover, and they average about 1,800, and it is an admired non-league club. There was a big split in Manchester United's fan base when they were formed. I met a couple of lads in San Sebastian a few weeks ago who hadn't spoken to their friends post-2005. I lost half my United We Stand writers there,

After the Glazer takeover, they went to FC United and they're like, why have you not come with us? And I had other people saying to me, why have you even given them a page in United We Stand? It caused a massive, massive split. But I think FC United's fundamentals is affordable football is a really good idea. And it's to their credit that they've been going for years.

For 20 years, a lot of Manchester United songs are sung at the games. They've got a brilliant terrace behind the goal. They call themselves Reds. They sing Manchester United songs. I know loads of people there, really good people. A lot of them who were priced out of watching Manchester United matches. Working class Mancunians, a lot of them. I remember going to an away game with them at Newcastle.

I had family who played for him. My brother was one of their first ever signings. My brother got their first manager in back in that summer of 2005. I remember seeing people like, I can't afford to go to Old Trafford anymore. So this was a direct impact of ticket price rises. Now, having a protest at Broadhurst Park, which is where FC play, it's new. I think both groups want the same thing.

That's for better rights for football supporters. The end to groups, to people like the Glazers being able to take over football clubs like Manchester United. I do not disagree with that at all. Using highly leveraged buyout. And what people who went to FC foresaw 20 years ago has proved to be true. They put all these warnings in there.

They said, if you load a club with debt, this is what's going to happen. OK, Manchester United carried on winning a little bit, European World Champions in 2008. But a lot of what the FC fans said was going to happen has happened. But it's not for everyone. You know, there is a big schism in Manchester United support about FC. I think it's mostly healed over the last 20 years.

And I think it's pretty brave what the 58 have done, going to talk to him, trying to find common ground. And I think the common ground between both sets of supporters is they want what is good for football supporters. This is the opposite of the Glazers. And for me, that's not a bad thing.

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Okay, let's get stuck into more of your questions and we'll pick up the pace a little bit. Hopefully these ones are not quite as complex to answer as those first few topics that we had there. So first up, I thought sporting tapas, this is from Rick, was hugely disrespectful, Andy. You should really know better. Their fans liked to be known as just sporting or last tapas. LAUGHTER

I thought he was being serious. Well, what he doesn't know is that Sporting Tapas' ultras are called Last Ketchup and they ended up producing a song years later. So there's your fact for today. Nothing wrong with Sporting Tapas.

Okay, we'll move it on. This is from Derek. I noticed that Rasmus Hoyland's hairstyle against L'Areal and Leicester resembled the style he cut during his time at Atalanta and earlier at United, and he's played well in both games. Is it a coincidence? Now, there's only one man I can put this question to on our panel. Lawrence James Whitwell, does hair impact performance? Not the other two people on this panel that asked me for hairspray before our live show.

Just answer the question, please. A very niche bit of insight there, I think, from the listener. Very impressive. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it feels a bit like Samson, you know, does his hair coming back give him the strength to finish off these chances? And also maybe he's doing that challenge like the United fan is where he's not going to get it cut until United have scored. Well, unless he's scored five goals in a row, maybe or something like that. So, yeah.

More power to the follicles, I'm saying. Yeah, I mean, maybe he's brought back curtains to ensure it's not curtains to his Manchester United career or something along those lines. Oh, very good. Sorry, I missed that one, didn't I? Yeah, I just thought I'd draw that up. Hope he's not skin fading into the history books. Okay, okay, all right, all right, all right. Yeah, different. Do you want to ask another question, Carl? Yeah. Right.

Ben, do you have a favourite United player who wasn't very good? I love David Bellion and really wanted him to work out even though I knew it would never happen. What? David Bellion now works as a creative designer for Paris FC. Does he? Yeah. He's got a really cool job and he's on my to interview list. There's a really good piece interview with him in Hypebeast about his love of high fashion and streetwear.

So fascinating, fascinating man. Manchester United player who wasn't... Is he still quick? I mean, some of those outfits are pretty rascal. Manchester United player who wasn't very good, but you just really liked. I probably paid attention to Obertan for a bit longer than I should have.

Similar vibes from Mbelyan, wasn't it? There was a song that Pete Boyle wrote about Obatan that I loved singing. So I sort of had a bit of a soft spot for him as well. Is it the one to the tune of Spider-Man? Oh, I don't know. Obatan. Obatan. Does whatever an Obatan can. Yeah, that is good. It wasn't that though. It was a lot worse and I'm not singing it. Go on, Carl. Yeah, Obatan was one I kept checking up on. Bebe was another player who, I mean, I still watch

always still like check up on his results and whatnot because I'd find his story and how he became a professional football player fascinating I find your pronunciation fascinating as well very accurate

the baby sounds a bit like in Schitt's Creek if anyone's listened to Schitt's Creek the mother the mother in that yeah she says baby anyone else got a choice for this I met David Bellion in Salford last year he does indeed obviously I tried to meet Obertan in Charlotte North Carolina because United played in South Carolina last year and got went through the club I got knocked back didn't get back to me for an interview

I'm like, whoa, I've already had this like three times in my life. Bebe, I've interviewed him loads. He's a really, really interesting lad who, although he was mocked at Manchester United...

actually had a very good career as a professional footballer playing top level football mainly at Rio Vallecano met him there a few times he's still playing you know where he plays now Ibiza he who last last exactly I've just checked it is David Bellion's play is a creative director at Red Star FC in Paris not Paris FC my mistake

I thought they were called Paris FC though at some point, were they not? I don't know. There'll be French people shouting at us, but let them shout. Yeah. I went there and did a piece on them for the road to Qatar thing that we did. So I should really know this absolutely. Slap sense. There we go. Didn't see David Bellion. Yeah. You got a pick of a player? Um, uh,

While you're thinking then, Keith Gillespie. And I thought he was good. He was. Very good, actually. And he probably could have been very good. But he was a make-weight for Andy Cole moving to Newcastle. He was, I think, the first player that I got a signature from, maybe. I remember my dad bringing it home from a night out on a...

Little napkin. A little drinks napkin. Probably still got that somewhere. But yeah, I love Keith Gillespie. Eric Jemba Jemba. Oh, he had a soft spot for Eric. Just a bit of fun. He just wanted him to be good. So good they named him twice, you know, all that. I'm still not sure he was as bad as what people made out, actually. I think we've had worse midfielders recently than him.

I met him in Salford as well last year. I'm not joking. Why have I done this? Why have I opened this up? I met him in September. You're meeting ex-United players in Salford. Are you bumping into them or are you actually arranging two meetings? A bit of both.

Eric Jemba Jemba is living in Nantes where he spent most of his life and he's in coaching in youth football. Okay, well that was good. Is there a player on this planet that we could name that you haven't met in Salford and you'd give a little bio for? I've never met Lionel Messi in Salford.

Fair point. Let's move it on. If either of Darren Fletcher's sons make their debut for United, will they be the first father-son combo to have played for the club? That's from Joey. Anyone know the answer to that? Yeah. Oh, go on. Oh. No, they wouldn't be. The most famous father-son would be John Aston, John Aston Senior. Yeah. John Aston played in the...

European Cup final in 1968. Man of the match. I remember speaking to him after Bobby Charlton died. Brilliant, brilliant talker, John Aston, and ran a market stall in Glossop near Manchester for a number of years. There are some really, really close ones. Jim Ryan, well, his son Neil, who became a coach. Neil was a young footballer. Didn't make United's first team. Did play at Altrincham and other clubs. Lovely bloke as well. Yeah, no, Neil's a top lad.

I met him in Salford at Christmas and I'm not even joking. Oh my God. That was by chance. It was by chance. And if he's listening, he'll completely back it up. Couldn't you actually meet Lionel Messi in Salford? Because obviously David Beckham's the connection there. Couldn't he get him over to Salford to meet you? I'm sure he could. I don't think it'd be top of his list of things to do. Into Miami training at Littleton. Yeah. Wilf McGuinness played for Manchester United and Paul McGuinness was a young professional and Paul obviously became a very good youth coach but never played first team.

There are quite a few others. There's quite an interesting one from the 40s and 50s, a guy called Charlie Mitten. Both of his sons made it to Manchester United reserve level and played professional football elsewhere, including at Newcastle United, Coventry City, Leicester City, Exeter City, but never at Manchester United. So that was another close one. So if one of the Fletcher boys does it, well, if they both did it, it's certainly been the first pair of brothers to

And yeah, there's a couple of other close connections. McShane, no, he was an actor. Harry McShane, Ian McShane. He played for United. He wasn't a footballer, sorry. Lovejoy. All this shit, and no one brought up Robbie Savage and this boy as well. You're correct, Carl. You're totally right. Oh, well done, Carl. But Robbie didn't play first team, did he? Charlie did. Robbie did not. No.

Yeah, good shout that. That's one of the close ones. Yeah, it's amazing how you can miss out someone from a couple of years ago but remember the one from the 1930s but that is how some people's minds work. I got told off actually for forgetting a Danish player on the last podcast when I was referring to us having three Danish players. I'll defend myself. This is from Podbod who feels like someone you shouldn't argue with but three players in the international squad is what I meant. Chido Obi obviously not got to that stage yet. I do think

know that he's Danish. Peter as well got in touch and said, I hail from the great country that brought United such players as Jesper Olsen, John Siverbak, Mads Tim, Anders Lindegaard, Christian Eriksson, Rasmus Hoyland, Patrick Dorgut, Chido Obi, oh, and a lad called Peter Smeichel. Yes, we are aware of how much of an impact Danes have had on Manchester United and continue to. Interesting to see Rasmus Hoyland talk about how Peter Smeichel is helping him. So maybe it's more to do with him

and not his haircut. Why? He's actually having a bit more of an impact in recent games. No questions from me. This is from Jack. But just a plea to keep Laurie as far away from any United songs or chants as possible. I've only just recovered from his pre-match Aerosmith for him then to come up with Hey Now, Hey Now because United are going to Bilbao which is bloody awful.

And I think that's probably fair comment. Hit that person with a negativity buzzer. Oh, I haven't got it with me, but I should, shouldn't I? I've sung on this podcast already, so sorry for that. I've already broken his request. Probably already switched off. He won't even hear me read that out. Producer Ollie, give him a negativity buzzer for me.

Thanks, Carl. Andy, I don't know if you actually know whether this is just someone taking the mick or quite accurate, but on the Spotify comments to the last podcast from Donal, it said, Bilbo is Bas for Bilbao. It might be Bas, yeah. I think it is. So follow, follow, follow, because United are going to Bilbo. It's Gary Casco.

Yeah, I think it's true, but I need to ask someone who's Basque and just double check that. Right. Well, that's perfect then, isn't it? Because then that's a tribute. Yeah. That feels a lot more technical than sort of the Saucy Dad situation that we've already addressed. But yeah, let's see how that one works out.

Yeah, it's correct. Bilbo. Okay, so follow, follow, follow because United are going to Bilbo. Yeah. I mean, that is a much easier way than making up new words. How did you find out that quickly? How did I find out quickly? My dog speaks Basque, mate. Carry on. Isn't the internet amazing?

Justin, who would win a game between the 1999 treble winning team and the 08 double winners, Carl? As Gary Neville was injured in 08, he can only play for the 99 team and Wes Brown can only play for the 08 outfit. Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs can play one half for each team. No draws, penalties if needed. What do you reckon? This is such a good question. I am going to give this one...

to the 2008 double winners yeah got an extra angles of attack through Tevez Rooney Ronaldo and

Do you not think the substitutes could swing it the 99 teams way though? If it was 99 and Keane is there, I'm going that way. But that's what I'm going to swing this one on. As well as a variance of attack. So wait, is it the squad that was in the 99 final? We surely have. You said Scholes, haven't we? So it's just the team, isn't it? So I think Keane counts. I think Keane can play. Also, I'm thinking if it's a double winners, then it's Wes Brown.

And it's Hargreaves at right back. Right back. Well, right wing, so right wing was where he played in the final. So if everyone's fit and no one's suspended... Did he not play left wing in the final or in Hargreaves? Yeah, Hargreaves was out wide. I thought it was on the right. Why am I misremembering this? We should probably look it up rather than just state to each other vaguely where we think people may have, may not played. So Hargreaves was on the right.

Who played on the left? Ronaldo. I don't think you can do the final line-up versus the final line-up because it's just not a true reflection. This is very technical, but it's just not a true reflection of 99, is it? To miss out Keenan's goals. No, you are correct. And you need to involve Sheringham and Solskjaer coming off the bench as well. Good shout. Then you're like, that's squad not team, isn't it? I'm going to give this to the double winners from 2008. I re-watched the final...

not too long ago and first time I watched it I was in my teens straight out of my A-level results and I was really quite annoyed because I knew I'd failed a bunch of exams and I went ugh we're losing we're playing really badly here and I rewatched it as an adult and I went hang on we're bettering Chelsea here what's going on we were never losing against Chelsea I was genuinely surprised by how in control United were for large swathes of those games and I know there's a clip that goes around

round on social media a lot of Rooney picking the ball up from deep and then eventually starting to join in the counter-attack at the other end so I think yeah I think 2008 has

a couple of additional areas of attack, angles of attack, that will take the 99 team just a little bit beyond. Ivor, do you argue with that? Yeah, I'm saying 99. Oh, yeah? Yeah, I just think Keane, Scholes in his prime. I think you saw that variety in attack. I think the United's 99 team had a decent amount of variety in attack. Yeah, I suppose you'd probably say Ronaldo and Rooney were certain, well, were great players. Would you necessarily say that about

all United's front line but I think they all brought something different so I'm thinking that maybe it could be a game that swings that way and this and then ultimately ends up with 99 they never knew when they were beaten were they?

And ultimately, United did go out to Portsmouth in the FA Cup in that 2008 game, which they shouldn't have done. They should have won that game. Should have been two treble winners, really. We're not going to have Rio Ferdinand or John O'Shea or whoever ended up in net that game, are we? They're peering, but yeah. Get them in goal. I think if they played each other 10 times, the 08 team would get the edge on it because of Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney,

I think football had advanced a little bit as well, got a little bit quicker, even in that decade. But then if it was all square, I think you'd bring Sheringham and Solskjaer off the bench and they'd just smash you right at the end. Name on the trophy. Beckham into Sheringham and Solskjaer has won it.

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This is an interesting one, actually. I probably should have asked this question on a recent podcast. So thank you, James, for doing this. Laurie, it's probably coming your way, this. Do we know what happened with the transfer of Kenda to Chelsea? Yeah, they signed him for a load of money. Thank you. I'm being facetious. Yeah, I mean, obviously, we've reported that United were in talks with Sporting over the Kenda deal. We're looking at bringing him in this summer. Certainly a player that I thought, you know,

you know gun to head probably would end up at United just because of the clear bond between him and Ameren who'd promoted him into the first team because of the fact that he fitted a part of the pitch that United do still need I think strengthening in 17 year old wide players from Sporting Lisbon are alright as well aren't they history will tell us well there we go exactly get you

you know that that sort of particular pathway is a well-trodden one and so yeah they were obviously exploring it now then the two sort of bits that came into it were sporting saying that they ideally you know or

or pressing for him being loaned back to them, which Chelsea have agreed to. So United, I just don't think we're ever going to do that because if they're spending 50 odd million euros on a player as Chelsea have done now, then they're going to be playing in the first team next season. They're not going to be allowed to play for another club on loan. Whereas Chelsea have obviously got numerous wide players. They've got time and space to allow this kind of thing to happen. It's questionable still, I would say, but fine, that's what they want to do. And then another thing was also the age that he is.

obviously it's an appealing proposition, but there was a little bit of pause for thought over, okay, if it's going to cost £40, £50 million, then do we absolutely want to put it towards him rather than a player that we know is more experienced, obviously got a lot of youth players in the team, you know, Joro, Aiden Heaven, Dorgu, they've sat, you know, they all look quite promising, but at the same time, you need perhaps a bit of experience to balance that out. And so I suppose that was the reason why there were

maybe hesitating a little bit and then obviously Chelsea have gone no we'll do the deal now and yeah I think United were aware that Chelsea were going to do the deal and didn't then you know meet what Sporting wanted so that's the way it's gone and let's see how it develops I'm doing a piece on wing backs I just finished it so that will be up on the website Friday morning if

If Manchester United don't have the money to buy the wing-backs they need, they might have to start making them. So the piece will be looking at how you make a wing-back. Talking about wing-backs then, Carl. Ben from Sheffield. Talk about Fringpong! I think you've been sharing with me Fringpong at Leverkusen. Feel like he'd be a good fit in this system and cheap. Cheap? He says cheap. I don't know what he costs. I think we've got two different versions of cheap. I definitely think he'd be a good fit for Manchester United. You think he'd be very expensive? Not very expensive, but I think he'd just

I think if you look at the queue of potential suitors for him, the clubs he's been linked to, he's been linked to Bayern Munich, he's been linked to Real Madrid, I think Manchester United wouldn't necessarily be number one of his list. One of the concerns I have, so I've got a whiteboard behind my desk as I'm talking to you right now, one of the things I've got written on it regarding wing-backs is, well, one, the talent pool for wing-backs is smaller than your talent pool for full-backs. The majority of the good wing-backs in

in Europe are playing at either Bayer Leverkusen, Inter Milan, Atalanta or at Sporting. Is that because they play that system by any chance? And then, I mean, Laurie talks about the United tax. If I am any of these football clubs, why on earth would I be letting any of these players go for cheap? If I'm Bayer Leverkusen, the moment that summer transfer window starts, I'm looking at my phone and the moment United call me, I go, 80 million, please.

And if they go, oh, no, that's 60 points, 80 million. Why would I give up my good wing back for cheap? They've then got to find someone to play in that system as well, haven't they? They would have the same issue. I think if you want a cheap wing back, you are probably going to have to look a bit lower down the footballing pyramid or get them very, very young or do what I think United are doing.

probably eyeing up which is looking at the academy and seeing which players might be able to make that jump yeah okay well we'll look out for your piece which I'm sure will reflect that in the coming days Andy one for you here I'd love to know what the team think of Angel Gomez Manchester lad available on a free and now an England international with the qualities in midfield that we are looking for that's from Daniel do you think there's any chance he comes back I've not seen him in Salford but Loris seen him in France go on Loza

I actually saw him in Press Switch. Oh, look at that. Which is part of Salford. Yeah, yeah. Sort of. The epicentre of the world, it seems. From my point of view, I think he'd be a really interesting sort of free transfer, right? His contract's up there.

from Lille. United have signed a player, although they did it the other way around, didn't they? They let a player go for free and then signed him for a lot of money in Port Pogba. This would be at least equitable. This is a better way of doing it. Yeah, let him go for free, sign him on a free when he's more developed. I haven't heard anything to suggest that that is something they're going to do, but I think it's certainly one to maybe keep an eye on because obviously United's finances aren't the best and free transfers can't be ruled out. Yeah, okay. Again, this is another question actually from Rich that maybe I should have asked on a recent podcast.

But he says, I'm starting to see references to Chelsea looking to pay a penalty clause to cancel the obligation to buy Jadon Sancho. Any truth in that possibility? Does anyone know? Yeah, I think there is some truth to it. I mean, we've heard this a little bit of time for a while that Chelsea were making sort of noises like they weren't necessarily going to go through with it. And we'd all thought,

I thought, you know, obligation, it's a set thing that you have to then follow through on, pending the fact that they finish above 15, I think it is. But yeah, it seems that there's also this option, if they really want to do it, of paying a clause to not sign him, which would be a bit odd. I mean, I guess United would accept it, they'd have to if it's part of the contract, but at the same time, would you not want to sign a player that is playing for you? I know he's not exactly setting the world alight, but he is...

picked a lot by Enzo Maresca so yeah so what I'm told is certain circumstances where if the transaction cannot proceed in that instance Chelsea would have a penalty to return him but you know no one's going into numbers as far as I can tell at the moment and there's no plan from United's point of view that they're going to have him back but we'll see.

Last one on transfers, Andy. James is asking, where does a new goalkeeper rank, in your opinion, in the list of priorities this summer? I don't think it is a priority at the moment. I know that Anana started the season well and his form has dipped off a bit, but...

I've not been told that that is a priority by any of the people who I've spoken to. I don't know whether any of the other lads have heard a difference to that. That's in terms of a first-team goalkeeper. I think that there will be change underneath that. I would be surprised if Tom Heaton's at the club next season, for example. So...

goalkeeper but not a first team goalkeeper. It's tricky for Onana in that obviously he was brought in to play a style of football on the Ericsson Hark that never properly became realised and now Aaron's come in and the amount he's required to play with his feet is not as large because you've got three at the back there as well. It's up to Onana to make sure that the

that the priority list goalkeeper is lower down. And I think there have definitely been parts throughout the calendar year 2024 where I didn't think United would need to buy a new first-team goalkeeper. However, I can totally understand if there have been matches where this is not going to work, you need to get someone up there. It's up to him to make sure he's more Edwin van der Sar and less Fabian Barthez, so to speak.

Yeah, that does make sense. So next, this is from Peps. Have Sir Jim, Lord Foster, Andy Burnham, Sedko and gang factored in the relocation and I quote, the best match day chippy in the world and that's Lou Macari's Fish and Chip Shop.

Anyone know if that's been factored into the plans and the redevelopment? Before the Arsenal game, I spoke to one of the shop owners who was very concerned about what might happen to his premises. And he'd heard this and he'd heard that. And I said, well, just calm down because he'd had the shop for a long time. I said, I've not heard anything definite at all.

I think the side point is it's really important that this new development isn't Disney-fied, it isn't a closed shop, that everything has to be sanctioned. One of the appeals of football grounds is the independent stores, the independent pubs, chippies, merchandise stores, which are around a football ground. It would be a great shame if the likes of Lumacar is chippy, but...

I'm not in charge of planning, but I don't see a threat to it from where we are at the moment. No. Okay. Um, kind of related actually Jackson, Abra and Thomas all getting in touch to ask about a little checklist of things to do in Manchester and places around the ground to visit as well, which we'll do in a future podcast. I'm sure when we get chance, cause I think that would be a really interesting conversation. There's lots of brilliant places, but yeah, maybe, maybe go for fish and chips at Luma carries fish and chip shop to start with. And, um,

and go from there. And we'll talk about that, like I say, another time. This is from Jack. With United getting deeper into the Europa League, does that mean we are likely to see the likes of Ahmad, Mainu, Shaw, and super Johnny Evans back before the end of the season? And Reno as well asks, where is Johnny Evans? Does anyone know where Johnny Evans is? Cheshire. Not Salford. Well, his wife, Helen Evans, was actually on stage at the stadium announcement the other day, fostering partners, doing an excellent job. The most recently spotted Evans. Yeah, I can confirm that.

I'm told that Jonny Evans has an issue with his back that has obviously required time away. He's been out for quite a while now. I think he's been allowed some recuperation as well away from Manchester, away from Cheshire. And Salford. Yes. It would be interesting to see if he comes back because obviously, you know, the Aidan Heavens

injury situation needs a bit of clarity to it. Lissandra Martinez being out, Lenny Yoro being out. You can certainly see Johnny Evans actually featuring a back three. You'd feel like it'd suit him. So I don't know whether he is going to be back though before the end of the season. Ahmad, obviously it was a bit different, wasn't it, in terms of what

Amarin said, he kind of rolled back on him saying he's definitely out and sort of thinking actually maybe he could be back for the Europa Cup final in Bilbao. And yeah, the others, Mainu certainly, there's a hope that he's back fairly soon, I think. Luke Shaw, it's still a bit of a mystery a little bit. So yeah, sorry Andy, you've got your hand up, go on. Just to confirm that Johnny will be available to lift the Europa League in Bilbao.

Excellent. Huge question to finish on, but I like it. This is Mo from Joburg. Carl, I'll send this your way first. I saw discourse about whether or not we should count Bruno Fernandes as a club legend. And I saw a few Reds say he's not, but others compared Bruno to a David de Gea in terms of impact.

I want to know if you guys consider him a club legend or not and what really constitutes one at United. Everyone's face has got really stretched all of a sudden. Okay, all right. Club legend. Yeah, Bruno's going to go down as a club legend. Out of any of the players from the post-Ferguson era, he's probably the first one. Go down as one or is one yet? He will be one.

right he's going to be one when he hangs up his boots and I am I'm very relaxed about the idea of him retiring as a Manchester United player I'm actually quite sad that he's

I mean, I know he's never injured and he's a constant road running man, but I don't think he's going to be a United player when that stadium is finished, even if it is finished in the next five years. Sounds like a challenge. That's close. That's a close call. I definitely think there should be something in that build that says Bruno Fernandes helped Manchester United get to where it is. I think if Bruno Fernandes wins the Europa League, he is one...

trophy away from this not being a debate because he's an FA Cup winning captain he's a League Cup winning captain the amount he's contributed on both sides of the ball is ridiculous yeah okay he's scored a lot of penalties and he has a lot of histrionics but last 10 years football players made you happier in a United shirt Tim he's the best Manchester United player but

When I think of legend legends, I think of the lads with statues who've won European Cups, they've won titles, they've been crowned European Footballer of the Year. If you look back at when Manchester United were as bad as now, for parts of the 70s, for example...

very few of those players would be called legends, even though they're really, really popular at the time. And supporters of a certain age who identified with them will remember them with great affection. I think history will remember Bruno really, really well as a Manchester United player. But in that top bracket, I'm not so sure. The one thing with him, Laurie, is only won an FA Cup and a League Cup, which for a club with...

I've got my hands on my head. I'm doing it. I'm admitting it. For a club with the glorious history of winning trophies, there are other club legends who have won double-figure league titles, for example. It does feel like maybe he needs a little bit more silverware, but then, like Carl says, if...

player with the most goals and assists in Europa League history can go and win the Europa League and maybe add to that in the future perhaps he is on his way to becoming a Manchester United club legend I think that is the issue right because United have got such a storied history a glittering past that this current crop how can you ever call any of them legends in comparison to what those guys were able to achieve the thing is I would say Bruno in isolation though has done things that you know are

of putting him in that kind of conversation because of the way he's dragged his team through difficult moments, the ratio of being involved in goals and his availability. And yeah, the moments, I think that people will still cherish, you know, League Cup and FA Cup. I know it's only, there's kind of smaller prizes, but there's certainly memories to last. And I think if he goes and wins the Europa League, that then puts United back in the Champions League,

Yeah. I think that would seal it really. People are going to shout at me here, but we've had a couple of messages which I've seen recently from fans and I'm sorry that I can't remember the names, but they'll be shouting at the devices. It was me. It was me. I've compared Bruno Andy to Brian Robson as someone who is a talisman for the club at a time where the club's not at their best. And just looking back at what Robson won,

during his Manchester United career. Three FA Cups in 83, 85 and 90. A Cup Winners' Cup, of course, in 91. So there's that bit of European success to add to the legacy. And he was technically part of the early Premier League squads, but obviously not playing such a pivotal role on the pitch. So is Brian Robson a club legend? Yeah, he is. And my brother's profile picture on his phone is not of his own face. It's of Brian Robson. He doesn't know Brian Robson.

So I actually, I reported this to Brian Robson and got him to ring my brother very recently. That was the restraining order. I know. Threatening him to sue him for copyright of using his picture. Bruno's not statue level.

But I do think there should be like a little... When they build the murals and they do artwork around the new build, he will be there. And I don't think you can say that about a lot of players from 2013 onwards. I think this is going to be a nice conversation as we head towards the build. And certainly if it's going to be done in five years, it's a conversation that needs to happen sooner rather than later is how...

they can do these little things to honour players, significant figures for the club as part of this new stadium build. So I do think that I've seen other clubs, you know, name different things after current players, past players. And I think that that is an important thing that needs to be considered. I thought it was an interesting aspect in the question that David de Gea was referenced. So is the list of saying that David de Gea is a legend? You know, I think that was being sort of said there. Yeah, so...

He seems to be someone that people use as like, he was here for ages, he did pretty well, but he never quite got into that very, very top bracket. Although he did win the Premier League, didn't he? Won the Premier League, won Countless Player of the Season awards, won the Europa League. But is he a legend? But anyway, my...

I'll leave that there for people to ponder. See, I think David De Gea is, no, he's not won league titles like Michael and Van der Sar, but he had a massive impact on United. History tends to remember players better years after the event. You sort of forget the contract demands 10 years down the line. I thought it was just a fax machine issue. You just remember the amazing bits. Well, the final point on Bruno Fernandes and his

legendary status, potential legendary status. I think also the way he conducts himself around the pitch and off the pitch should be a factor in that because it's all part of making football an enjoyable experience for people. I know so many people that have waited outside Carrington and he always...

stops and signs their autographs for kids, you know, takes a picture after games. He commits his works to the United Foundation. He speaks to academy players when they come into the first team environment to make sure that people know their names and everything like that. So I think that is what a legend should do. So,

I do think he probably needs a bit more silverware to absolutely solidify it, but I think he's getting into that position. Right, well, it certainly sounds like Bruno Fernandes is edging his way to legendary status, which is my best attempt at summing up

how you three feel about his status at the club. But I enjoyed that. It was brilliant. Thank you so much for all your questions. I'm really sorry for the literal, I don't know, tens and tens of questions that we got that we've not been able to answer. We will do another mailbag episode at some point in the future. And of course, we always welcome your input into the podcast, devilspodattheathletic.com. So join in, get involved. And thank you, Andy, Laurie, Carl. Thank you for answering the questions. Thanks for getting involved.

in all the different topics as always thank you for your company and thank you for listening along we'll see on the next one take care bye-bye the athletic fc podcast network

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