From Amad to Zirkzee: end of season awards and review
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Yeah.

Thank you to everyone who's got involved with this, though. We've had some fantastic contributions. I'm going to put Laurie, Kyle and Andy on the spot as well. Obviously, we've got the full band for this one. And by the end of the podcast, we'll also bring you a little bit of a news roundup as well, because Andy needs his transfer fix, obviously. And he's been speaking to Omar Barada, too. So, yeah, we'll talk about that towards the end of the podcast. But first up, lads...

There's been a late shout for the Player of the Season award at Old Trafford, hasn't there, Andy? Oh, yeah. I think Laurie and Carl both played today in the media team. I haven't seen any pictures of you. I mean, there's nothing on social media. They were so excited. I heard they said to the referee, can you end the game quickly just so we can get to our socials and put pictures of ourselves up playing at Old Trafford? I've still never played on the pitch at Old Trafford, but I've been in Germany for the Nations League. So I thought I'm going to get them properly scouted by like a UEFA qualified coach and

So do you want the feedback on Laurie and Carl? Specifically, if it's honest. Laurie's in good nick for his age. Played one key pass through. Is this correct? Yeah. It was the assist for the equaliser late on. Takes far too much time on the ball. Basically, checks his Instagram and by the time he's uploaded it, someone's come in and nicked the ball from him.

But there was compliments about the physical shape of both of you. Carl as well. Strong lad. Loud. Yes. Even on the touchlines. Is it? Barking orders from the dugout. Absolutely. Yeah. You drew this year, didn't you? Because you got battered in previous years. Hang on a minute. There's no comment on Carl's performance, just the fact he's loud. No, I said he's all right.

He's alright. So we were captained, marshalled. Our manager was Simon Peach.

listen to the podcast, hi Peachy, who made the bold decision to go for a back three. Oh, where did he get that idea from? And I play left-sided centre-back in a back three, and the only thing I've got in common with Lenny Yoro as a left-sided centre-back is the fact we both have a moustache. But good game, Laurie was good. I actually thought you brought the ball out very nicely, Carl. Too kind. Right, listeners didn't want to hear us talk about how we play football. I could go on for a lot longer, to be honest. Now we're having to end it there. No, no, no. End of season awards? Yeah.

In fairness, Larry probably would prefer us to talk about your performance today because he started off with a nice little comment, to be fair. He said, thank you for an incredible podcast. It's a joy to listen. It's a joy to have you listening, Larry. But he said, sadly, I won't nominate anything. Last season was as low as anyone would think we'd go. There's nothing to celebrate. Let's look ahead. Well, let's not. Let's look back on what was the 24-25 Manchester United game.

What's that, who did Latin at school? One of you did Latin. Is it Laurie? Did you do Latin? Did I heck? I went to state school. No. As if I did Latin. Anus horrible, is it? Something like that? Anus horribles. I'm not going to pronounce it, but I use it every now and again when I write these season reviews. Worst year. Lowest year. Anus horribles in Mancunian. Anus? There you go. I wonder where you're going with that then.

There you go. Right, let's get started with the Player of the Season award, who isn't Bruno. Kyle, you got first pick on this one. Who have you gone for? Alright, I've already mentioned him on this podcast, but I'm going to go for Lenny Yorra. It took a while for him to get his first few minutes due to the toe injury, foot injury, I should say. He sustained in pre-season. But I think the way he adapted when he was signed under at Ten Hag to play, probably, next to Lissandra Martinez in a back four. And he's...

come on leaps and bounds especially after a really difficult game against Southampton I think since then he's just sort of put all the pieces together really understood how to use his body and how to be really physical when dealing with wider threats and how you have to marshal space so yeah I'm going to give this to Laniero I think he's been very impressive in what we've seen I want to see more of him I think he might be slightly better on left-sided centre-back rather than right-sided despite the fact he was signed to play on the right

me a lot so it's a hero for me. Yeah he's grown this season I don't think there's any question about that I think the second half of the season towards the end of the campaign particularly in some of the big European games that Manchester United had and on route to Bilbao I thought he was a standout player Andy you see

Seemed to mention him every time in the Europa League towards the end of the campaign that he was standing out to you. Jaro, well, he was doing well, wasn't he? I remember in Lyon, he played really well. I think he's had a good season. I know when he was brought in, he wasn't expected to start most weeks. I think he's played more than people at Manchester United expected him to play. And in some ways, that...

That injury at the start, I know it was clearly negative and it was horrible watching him go down in Los Angeles, but it allowed him to adapt to Manchester as a city. I mean, I'm with Carl. I hear really good things about Lenny Oro. I think he's got a mistake in him. He's got to be careful there. It's good bringing the ball out. And I think defensively, sometimes when he's passing the ball, he can lose possession. Or was it against Southampton? He had a horrible game.

He had a horrible time against... Sulemana. He did, yeah. That was probably his low point this season. But since then, he's really kicked on, especially when getting an arm around an attacker, really slowing them down. One of the big things with United's quite large array of centre-backs is the number of them are...

Alameda prefer to mark the man rather than mark the space. Harry Maguire very much sees you with the ball, wants to attack you and deal with that. Mateus De Ligt is similar. I think Joroh and Joroh's importance to United is he is a bit like Rafael Varane, a little bit more comfortable taking over those larger areas of space. He's got recovery pace in a way that Maguire and De Ligt don't have. So I think any sort of configuration in the back three next season...

we'll be better off if Jorah is there. Yeah, John liked him as well. He picked Jorah for this. He said, Jorah needs to develop, but grew into the season well. And he's one to build around. He's definitely a player for next season for United. It's not every United they're looking at in the transfer market, Laurie, is it? They're looking everywhere else, apart from centre-back, basically. And Jorah was a good reason for that. Yeah, I certainly think he was bought with the intention of growing into the season. And I'm just looking at the number of minutes he played in the end.

1162 minutes in the Premier League, which is sort of like 13th, 14th most of all the players in the squad. So clearly that injury did impact what he was able to contribute to the team. But as Kyle said, when he came back, he had that spell, didn't he? Where he just looked so accomplished, so calm. I think also outside of the game, he seems to speak with a real composure way beyond his years. And I think that's something to be tapped into because obviously the pressure that you have playing for Man United is huge. And if you can be that calm

sort of collected when you're 18, 19, then I think it's a positive sign. So I would push back on him being player of the season aside from Bruno Fernandes, but obviously we can maybe get into alternative use. Just because he hasn't played enough. Like I know that Lyon game was memorable and then beyond that point, but I just think you need maybe more from a player of the season. Okay, you need more. Andy, you had to pick two. Does pick two bring more? I think Masraoui has been...

A top signing, and we don't often say that about Manchester United signings in recent years. There's several reasons for me saying this. I think technically he's secure with the ball at both feet. He dribbles well out of pressure. He's got a good game understanding. I know that his teammates and his coaches like him, respect him, partly because he's virtually ego-free. I think United knew they were getting a good player, but I've been surprised how aggressive he is, how agile he is, how strong he is.

He can play right-back, full-back, central defender. Number 10. Yeah, goalkeeper. I think he's pretty consistent and a quiet lad, unassuming. I think his teammates trust him on the ball and know that he will be calm under pressure. And that is about as much a compliment as I could say about a player in his first season in a very tough league.

Yeah, robustness, Masraoui. That's been the great thing about him. I mean, I think he's probably played more football this year. Well, I don't know why I say I think. I know he's played more football this year than he's ever done before. And I interviewed him towards the end of the season and I heard him speak as well ahead of the Europa League final and I loved his bluntness. You know, I won't repeat the word that he used to describe Manchester United's season. I think we've mentioned it before on the pod, but

the sort of open and honestness of being able to say, you know, how bad it's been and how much better it should be. You know, there's a confidence there. There's an assuredness. Playing at the level that he's played at previously certainly helps him, I'm sure.

Is that a bit more to your liking, Laurie? That is. Getting a bit prickly already, aren't you? No, I'm nodding along to a lot of what you're saying there. I mean, you mentioned playing more than he has done previously, and that's definitely the case most games in his career. But actually, I just looked again. He's actually played more games in one season for Man United than he did in two combined for Bayern Munich. 57 for United this season and 55 for Bayern Munich in the two previous seasons. So...

That's pretty outstanding. We asked him any secret before the Europa League final. He said he's cut out fizzy drinks. So that's the big revelation as to why he's been able to sustain for so long. And obviously, I hope it's okay touching on this, but we were sort of worried, didn't we, a little bit after that Aston Villa game where he had to have a heart procedure that we were wondering whether that would keep him out for a length of time. And he was sort of back within a fortnight. It was crazy. So he's obviously somebody that practices...

what he preached in terms of sort of discipline off the pitch. And yeah, I think the ability to take the ball in tight spaces and play in different positions, I think it really does stand him apart for this kind of category of award that we're trying to give out here. Yeah, seven different positions he started in games for Manchester United this season. Right back and left back in the traditional sense under Eric Ten Haag. Left centre back, right centre back. Left wing back, right wing back.

Number 10, Kyle, which I think we'll probably mention a little bit more a little bit later on in the podcast. But yeah, does Neuse get a bit of love from you as well in this category? Yeah, he's been solid. If Manchester United had finished higher in the Premier League table, he probably would have been most people's shout for bargain of the season. You can see this was at the point he arrived with Matthias De Ligt and there was again eyebrows raised about Ten Hag's getting more former Ajax players, more players he's worked with. And yet,

absolutely no complaints about his on-field performances across this season. He's just been a very good steady Eddie. And how many Manchester United purchases post-Hurghston have you been able to describe as a steady Eddie? Well, yeah, and you do need a few of them, don't you, to be fair? All the great United teams had them. Speaking of steady Eddies, he's not really a steady Eddie, but he kind of should be, and he may be becoming one again. Laurie, who's your pick? Pick three. I just think you have to...

Give the guys props. Well, I was going to give him his full name. I thought Edward might have even been his middle name, but it's not. Harry's his middle name. Is it Jacob Harry Maguire? Whoa, whoa, whoa. Harry Maguire's real name's Jacob? I just Googled this. We've done this before, surely. I wasn't aware of that. I didn't know that. Yes. I believe the men in Mr. Maguire's family are all named Jacob. Okay. Okay.

Is there a reason for this? Several years ago, a Talk of the Devils listener pointed this out, and I believe we mentioned this quite quickly. I believe a lot of the men in Maguire's family... His brother's called Joe Maguire, Joseph Daniel Patrick Maguire, so that's wrong. Oh, right, so he's not Jacob then. He's a J, though. Are they all Js, maybe? Maybe they could be all Js. I mean, do you want me to keep Googling, or should I keep going with my Harry Maguire rhetoric, my Harry Maguire grandstanding? Because how can you...

Turn down a guy who gave us that moment against Lyon, who's come through the most acute and sort of sustained, I would say, critique from fans of Man United, of England fans. Abuse. Abuse. Booed on pre-season tour a couple of years ago, questioned that he was even at the club, had the opportunity to leave, said, no, I want to stay, and has handled himself with...

the kind of character that you need from somebody who has worn the Manchester United armband. And yeah, maybe he still doesn't really totally suit what Ruben Amorin is trying to do because I think he wants defenders that push up and are aggressive. I mean, he's pushed all the way up to centre forward, to be fair. But I just think he just carries himself in such a way. And just, but yeah, it triumphed, didn't it, with that moment against Lyon. And then to back it up with the,

the Maradona impression in Bilbao and taking all that with, you know, the humour in which it was intended. You know, he was asked about it in the pre-final press conference. And, you know, you could get a bit shirty about sort of this idea that you're not a very good footballer, but actually he sort of says, you know, Ruben Amarin's been telling me to dribble more in training. So he's rolling with it. And I think that just showed the kind of person he is. And I think to come back from where he was at to then have such a good run for United and, you know,

it could have been glorious, couldn't it? If that Lyon goal then is the platform for a Europa League win, it's sort of bittersweet in that sense. But I still think that moment holds true for the emotion that it created and will be remembered still for years to come.

Andy, you couldn't have nodded any more to Laurie's statement, sir. I'm just thinking it's the first time I've agreed with absolutely everything that Laurie said since I first ever met him. It's spot on. I know we can extract the urine out of each other a little bit, but he's totally right. There's been times when the abuse was so pernicious and targeted towards him. The fact that he has withstood that

He's absolutely to his credit. I don't think any footballer should have to put up with the stick that he came up with. It went so far beyond the pale. I think they can accept you're playing poorly. I don't rate you. You've had a bad game today, but some of it went so, so far. He had to call the authorities because a bomb threat was called to his house.

It's disgusting, isn't it? I do feel sometimes uneasy when we go, oh, all the things Harry Maguire has been through without explicitly pointing out what it was. There was a point in time where more or less every single action Maguire did on a football field was derided and turned into meme fodder. And there are some very well-known and prominent former professional football players who...

just use various expletives to describe him as a football player. And you're going, is this appropriate? Is this a good way to get this person to get out of their obvious funk? And I think, yeah, all credit to him. He's been through things that I don't think many football players will ever be through. Hopefully. And I hope most football players will never have to go through that. And he's come out the other side and, okay, he doesn't wear the armband anymore, but he's absolutely a leader in that dressing room. And you can see that.

in games like against Lyon and games against Athletic Club. He's definitely got value to Manchester United. Yeah, definitely. I think I've actually changed my mind on who...

He's going to win this category, but we'll see. Oh, fingers up, Larry. Well, just to say, Harry Maguire's other brother is called Lawrence Henry Maguire. Oh, yeah? He's got my vote even more. Kindred spirit. Harry's mum and dad go to more games than I think any other family member, and it's lovely to see. These are working-class people from a village just outside Sheffield whose son has done really well. All three of the sons are football players.

And it's just great bumping into him in places like Bilbao. Ten minutes after, he's just dribbled down the right wing. And they're like, did you see that in a proper Yorkshire accent that I'm not even going to try and do? Go on. But to have that light moment after the stick that he's gone through, because I bumped into him in airports after European Games when he's not been getting any minutes. And it must be horrible as a parent. And I do not buy this line at all. They get paid a fortune. I'm sorry, it just doesn't make sense.

a difference to some of the abuse that you're getting. So I think you're absolutely right, Laurie. Yeah, we did have a shout from Paul for Maguire. He's been consistent. A lot of seven out of 10 games popped up with vital goals, like Laurie was saying. Should have mentioned before, Dean picked Masraoui. Paul looked knackered by the end of the season, but can't fault his effort and willingness across a number of positions today.

But yeah, I think I've changed my mind. I thought I was going to come on here and just pick Ahmad. A valid choice. Kid's special. Makes me smile. But I think I'm changing my mind. I mean, Connor...

I'm on by a country mile. If it wasn't for the injury, I think it would actually be a tough choice between him and Bruno. Fair point. Brian, not that one. I'm on. There's been the shining light throughout. I'd quiet games, but I don't feel he's let anyone down while on the pitch and came up with some big performances. And Matthew, it has to be. I'm not excited to see how your own can develop next season though.

I just feel like with Ahmad, when he came off the bench against Athletic Club, when he was back from injury, you could feel the warmth and the positivity spread around the stadium. He's a player that makes the seats at Old Trafford clack. And if you've been to the matches there, you'll understand what I mean. Someone who gets people on their feet, someone to get excited about, to feel optimistic about, someone who you feel like can drive the club forward in games and towards the future. So that's why I thought...

it was going to be Ahmad. But, but, Jacob Harold Maguire, congratulations. You are the player of the season who isn't Bruno. It was a very, very, very

persuasive argument and it swayed me so congratulations the only one my dog barked at Ian was Ahmad so that's just another point of view I love you used the word clack there because it's true the seats at Old Trafford and he's right in the run up to Will Bower saying that Ahmad has become one of the three or four big name players for Manchester United and for someone so young because the others were like Bruno and Casimiro and King Harold Maguire good on him

Wow.

When pro defensive end Cam Jordan isn't running after quarterbacks, he's running his own businesses. He sat down with Microsoft's Jessica Hawk to learn how AI can help. As a football player, we're really focused on the X's and O's. It's fun because it's a strategy game as well. And I think that transitions well into the business world. There's so much data underlying every single thing that you're doing in your business and having a way to unify all that data. This is like electricity. This is a major platform shift. And I think we're all learning together.

Ready to race your AI game? Find your winning edge at Microsoft.com slash challengers. I've never felt like this before. It's like you just get me. I feel like my true self with you. Does that sound crazy? And it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous. Okay, that's it. I'm taking you home with me.

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Did you know that foreign investors are quietly funding lawsuits in American courts through a practice called third-party litigation funding? Shadowy overseas funders are paying to sue American companies in our courts, and they don't pay a dime in U.S. taxes if there is an award or settlement. They profit tax-free from our legal system, while U.S. companies are tied up in court and American families pay the price to the tune of $5,000 a year.

But there is a solution. A new proposal before Congress would close this loophole and ensure these foreign investors pay taxes, just like the actual plaintiffs have to.

It's a common sense move that discourages frivolous and abusive lawsuits and redirects resources back into American jobs, innovation, and growth. Only President Trump and congressional Republicans can deliver this win for America and hold these foreign investors accountable. Contact your lawmakers today and demand they take a stand to end foreign-funded litigation abuse.

Okay, category two, the goal that got you. The idea is it's the goal that got you feeling something during the season. The most whatever it was might be up for debate. I think everyone's got a very slightly different take on this. Laurie's laughing already. The goal that got you feeling something very particular. Phrasing. Yeah. I mentioned on the last podcast that...

The goal that got me feeling something the most during the season was Marcus Rashford scoring a minute into Ruben Ameren's reign at Portman Road against Ipswich. That flash of, oh my goodness, what is happening here? Even the fact that I'd driven the entire way there with a sense of anticipation, and that's not just because Laurie was in the passenger seat, shorty riding shotgun and chatting about what might be all the way there. It just felt like...

this is fresh, this is new, this is different. United were playing with a different formation. There was the same players used slightly differently and obviously that buzz that we often refer to when something new drops and you don't really know everything about it and it just brings a freshness and excitement. Obviously it dissipated pretty quickly but in that moment as Marcus went off to celebrate and Ruben said,

We had the first sight of him patrolling his technical area. Even that got people excited at the time. That was the goal that got me feeling something. I don't think that's going to win, but that was the one that...

crept into my mind when I first thought about this category but Andy what was the goal that made you feel the most something this season? It was surprisingly quite a few given how bad the season was but to score two away at City in December we were all there it

Just a brilliant end to an unexpected end to the game. Ahmad got the winner. And then you're sort of buzzing off it because you've moved up 13th in the table now, boys. We're going to absolutely smash it here. But just to win at City, it was the only win in a really, really bleak period. A horrible December, the worst December for like 90 years or something. I can't even recall the goal. I know it was from tight.

But just the event, just being there as moments. I know we can talk about Leon and maybe there are other moments, but that was the first thing that came to me when I saw that question. And I chose that not because I'd seen what any of you had put for your answers. Martinez is through. Ahmad through the middle. He's got a touch on it. And Ahmad has it in the 19th minute. Ahmad.

Ahmad, what have you just done? He has been sensational. He really has. Deary, deary me. It was a very good goal. And just to describe it a little bit, because Andy can't remember it, it was, you know, a ball, I think from Martinez, right down the flank. And then Ahmad just...

gets his foot full stretch, gets his toe out in front of Edison and then slots it in with his next touch from a tight angle. It was amazing. And Thierry Henry did a brilliant analysis of it, didn't he, on, I think, Monday Night Football, where he sort of said, Amad is looking at where the ball is going to go rather than where it is. And that's the key to getting that moment ahead of Edison. I mean, obviously we could touch on

Jacob Harold Maguire's fantastic goal in Lyon but let's move it on from that against Lyon rather it had me feeling something and as you've touched on there Ian it helped me feeling all kinds of emotions happiness relief satisfaction validation pushing

Pushing onto other kind of emotions. Mason Mount's brace against Athletic Club at Old Trafford. Probably the second one because it was like, wow, okay, this guy is special. Left foot on the angle from about 50 yards. You could go again, could you? So yeah, that was special. Just because also it was a full stop or an exclamation mark even on United going to the final. They'd turned what was a tense match

of sort of frustration and thinking, are they going to mess this up? A lot of tension. A lot of tension. You know, it totally relieved all that tension with that first goal. The twist and turn like Federico Makeda had done all those years before. And then to top it off with that, with his left foot, you know, a moment where the fans are sort of saying shoot, but not really in hope or expectation, but he goes and does it. What a moment. Here's Joran. Oh, lovely turn, boys.

Is that the goal to send Manchester United to Bilbao for the Europa League final? He's had such a difficult time at this club, so many injury problems, but he's come up big when Manchester United needed him. With 18 minutes left, they can see... Mount's first goal against Athletic Club at Old Trafford, the first of many, hopefully, demonstration of his true potential since he's signed for us. That's from Nick Keth.

So for me, it's a tie between Ahmad's first, Ahmad's second and Ahmad's third goal versus Southampton in January. Been a United fan for 35 years. My family is Danish and Peter Smyker was my favourite player as a child. To finally get to Manchester and to be trailing last place Southampton with 10 minutes to go, bloody hell. Enter Ahmad, what a night. No wonder that stands out to you. Great message. I think you're probably right, Laurie. I think it probably does have to be Harry Maguire, unfortunately.

and his goal against Lyon. But Carl, you put your hat in the ring. Throw your hat in the ring. That's right. I'll throw my hat in the ring. So I wrote down on the sheet Bruno Fernandes' goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup. Yeah. I've said this before.

I'm one of those Cockney Reds. I'm a Cockney Red who grew up in the 90s, so I am hardwired to view Manchester United versus Arsenal as the big grudge match, and it's one of the fixtures on every single calendar I look forward to the most. So when United score a counter-attacking goal against Arsenal, I can feel long, dormant synapses in my brain snap into place.

which was made even better because that game had three or four moments where I was going, Man United and Arsenal genuinely hate each other. Oh my God, this is great. So the thing I was feeling, you can maybe call it nostalgia. You can maybe call it a bit of adrenaline. So I don't remember my chronic back pain anymore, but that was beautiful. I will also say before we crack on with Maguire,

I made a bigger noise when Mainu scored. Good point. Yeah. Because I thought we were properly done and dusted. Unfortunately, couldn't be here on the post Leon podcast. But when Mainu scored, I don't know, two or three people wondered what my reaction was when Mainu scored. I ran around in a circle for several minutes and then hit a knee slide, realized I was not on a surface where I could hit a knee slide. And I shouted very loudly. It's Mainu mania.

I adore that football player. You will not know how important that goal was for me in that moment. It's Manu Mania. I can't like Manu Mania. It's Manu Mania, baby. Baby. Technique for that goal was superb. It was a class goal. Quality as well as important. So good.

And it's the little bit he said to TNT Sport afterwards where he said, when you're in that area, an inch feels like a yard, so you've just got to make sure you stay calm. And this is the thing that always gets me about Manu's best goals, is he manages to eke out an extra fraction of time. I know he doesn't place every single finish, but he scores and it feels so intentional where he's putting the ball in.

What a football player. I really hope he stays at Manchester United for all his career. Another reason I said I'm mad, probably subconsciously, is that goal is my screensaver on my computer. It's a picture that I took. And it got clocked a few weeks ago. Someone who, I forget who it was, sat next to me and went, why have you got pictures of City fans on your computer? I went, what are you on about? Because my Word file was covering where the United players were. So the top of the screen is just these City fans looking absolutely devastated. Yeah.

I had to lower it down to say, it's United scoring there. I was getting the wrong idea about you then. Well, to be fair, you did see a disproportionate number of Manchester City games towards the end of last season. I was wondering for a little while as well, to be fair. But anyway, let's continue the debate on the goal that got you feeling something. There's some interesting moments that people have put forward. Van de Ven assisting Johnson. This is from Sharif.

Criminal goal to concede. This was Spurs at home, I think, in the Premier League. Played Spurs that many bloody times. And half the team was culpable. That goal gave me a premonition of what was to come because then, this is Connors, Johnson in the Europa League final. Never has a goal made my stomach sink like the Titanic. Like that. Arjen,

Casemiro's long-range effort against Leicester under Ruud van Nistelrooy just vibes those four matches I didn't realise Casemiro could kick it that far to be honest

1-0 in Bilbao the first leg of the semi-final mainly the Maguire cross but also the double header ending with Casemiro's goal that was from John Martinez at Anfield surprised we've not mentioned that yet far too long since we scored there I was feral when that one went in that's from Max W and even Ahmad after that as well yeah yeah to get the equaliser

Lee said Martinez away. Extra points for it being a proper wallop. Harrison, I was lucky enough to be there and when that ball crashed off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net. That is what following United is all about. Get in.

James in Oslo, Harry Maguire's winner against Lyon. The goal itself was solid, but it was more about the redemption arc of Harry. The importance of the goal and the absolute pandemonium that followed. Good suggestions, to be honest. Good season, wasn't it, when you think about it? I think we've listed every goal that United scored in the season, actually.

We certainly mentioned every goal they scored in December anyway. I've already given an award to Harry. So, again, I've been swayed. Al, your argument has swayed me. So I think Kobi Meynu's goal, his equalising goal against Lyon, is the goal that got us feeling the most something. Whatever that was, I'm not quite sure. But congratulations, Kobi. There's going to be five minutes added on. Here's Casemiro looking in. Kobi Meynu takes his throw! Yes!

Oh, my God! Oh, my...

Right, this overlaps a little bit, so bear that in mind when you're putting your arguments forward. But the standout moment of the season on or off the pitch. It shouldn't just be about glory, this. It should be a little bit different again. But let's see what the lads have come up with. Laurie, I'll let you go first because you have definitely picked something alternative for this category. Yeah, standout makes me think, yeah, a moment that made you sort of stand up to attention and get taken aback. Not again.

Oh my God. Oh, you had to really, didn't you? How do I move this on now? Anyway, the moment I've gone for... I've got one idea. ...is a press conference that I wasn't even at, but Ruben Amerin, after the Brighton game... A voyeur. ...where he said that this United team were the worst in history, which...

I mean, it is a statement, right? I mean, it certainly was a moment where you're thinking, wow, okay, this guy is serious about giving brutal truths out. And it sort of showed you the kind of character he is. Okay, he's obviously very personable, very charming in press conferences, but he has an edge and he also has emotion to him. And this has actually just been after he'd been in the dressing room, you know, whacking the table, sending the drinks, bottles flying and damaging the TV. So he's in that kind of...

heightened state, I suppose. And he comes out with a statement like this. So I just, yeah, it's one of those kind of, for me, it was a pretty wow moment where you just don't get a Man United manager saying that. I was in the room and he was talking to Anton Tolui from Sky. And this is, the thing that really got everyone in the room was it was,

mostly unprompted. It wasn't as if he was being lured into a trap. It wasn't as if he was asked, where do you think this team stands? Do you think this is the worst team in Premier League history, Ruben? No, it wasn't a trap. It wasn't lured. It was just, I think maybe we are being the worst Manchester United team in history. And then he goes, so there you go. There's your headline. And we're all just like, what? What are you doing? He's honest.

I don't know if you should be an honest Manchester United manager. Well, there's being honest and then there's being honest, isn't there, as well, really? Indeed. So a few weeks after he went, I had Eric Ten Hag rang me while I was in Poundland in Ermstun and he gave his version, very honestly, of what had gone on in the past few months. Hello, people who have attended any of the live shows. I thought you'd like that one.

But mine would be the Lyon game at Old Trafford because 2-0 up and Manchester United were surprisingly comfortable, hadn't conceded a goal at home, hadn't gone behind at home. It felt like the biggest game in the season. And then Lyon scored 1, 2, 3, 4, and they went down to 10. And Ryan Cherky was fantastic throughout the game. And...

I couldn't believe what I was seeing because when United were leading, I'd booked and paid for my travel to Bilbao for the semi-final. And I just thought the season's over. And I kept that private, but some people went public with it. Maybe we should call them out at some point. People were tweeting, big accounts as well, season over, that's it. Except it wasn't.

Because Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty and then Cobby scored that wonderful goal. And then King Harold obviously got the winner for an amazing, one of the best nights at Old Trafford ever. It wasn't the best, but it was right up there. I think we put it number six in the greatest ever comebacks in Europe. Can I just check that Andy getting a call from Eric Ten Hag in Poundland was one of your moments of the season? I thought you were going to say Eric Ten Hag was going to give us his view on Ruben Amring calling it the worst team in history.

No, that would be headline, that, wouldn't it?

No, it was them. I don't even normally go in Poundland, but my mum told me that they have reading glasses in there for £1.50 or three for three quid. So I went in and I'm sort of looking about and then I see on my phone, Eric Ten Hag. And I had to go outside Poundland in Urmston and take this call for 20 minutes. Did you not need the reading glasses? No, I'm getting old, mate. I need these glasses. And it was a pretty difficult conversation, to be honest. I felt he felt bruised and I think he's a good man.

And I'm like, just remember City. You'll never forget that. I couldn't see him because I wasn't on a screen like you lot when you talk to each other on the phones, but I reckon there was a smile there. LAUGHTER

Oh, they definitely would have been. Yeah, 100%. Yeah, it's tricky this because you do automatically go to Lyon. The blurb and delirium of the extra time finale for Manchester United. I mean, the latest ever win in European history for any side. It's criminal really that it won't count for what it should have counted for if it got the job done in Bilbao. But that's what football is all about, isn't it? That feeling of emotion. I think, you know, it feels...

The night time feels the darkest before the dawn or whatever the phrase is. I think I've murdered that a little bit. But that idea that it was completely dead and buried. The season's finished. Done. What on earth are these absolute whatevers doing on this pitch? How on earth have they messed this up? How have they gone from 2-0 up and Garnaccio with an open goal to going out of Europe against a team that really they should be expected to beat as well and to save it?

and save it in that way and that late. And even just recording the podcast after the game, that's the one that sticks in my mind the most. Maybe the final as well. We'll talk about some of the best podcast moments a little bit later. It's hard to see past Leon at home.

Let's see what you've come up with then. James, again in Oslo. Nusmaz Rawi storming over to deal with Liam De Latt when he was trying to dish it out to Ugarte at Old Trafford. We need more of that fight. Simon, Rude waving at the Stretford end for the last time. Reduced me to tears. That was a nice moment, to be fair. This one's good as well. This is from Max. After the Newcastle game when Xerxe was booed off,

The whole fans in the United end the next game never stopped chanting his name. I thought that was beautiful. This is lovely as well from Paul. My 19-year-old son was rendered paraplegic last summer. Ten weeks in hospital, at one point he was told he may never walk again. Happily, he's fully recovered and in making it back to Old Trafford for the comeback against Brentford was my moment of the season. I'm not surprised, Paul. That's fantastic to hear and thank you for sharing it.

Someone's mentioned McTominay ruling Naples. I mean, really, do we have to look at other teams for our moment of the season from former Manchester United Academy products? McTominay becoming the new king of Naples. Surely we don't need to look at other teams, do we, Carl, for our moment of the season? Save this. Well done to him. I'm going to eat some humble pie because I said this is as good as it gets for McTominay. And he's gone off and been the Serie A MVP.

Napoli don't win that title without him. So congratulations to McTominay. I was one of your most vocal critics and you've turned me into a massive fan. Great season. I'm eating humble pie. Well done. That's not your pick though, is it? No, no. I know this episode is meant to be positive vibes, but it has been quite a painful season. And I think there are some standout moments that

There were two or three moments this season where something happened and I was sort of doing a couple of deep blinks at what I'd just seen or what I'd just witnessed going, oh, good golly grief, this season's going to be a slog.

So I went out on the Saturday night and then on the Sunday I woke up and looked at my phone and Adam Craft and Laurie Whitworth said Dan Ashworth had been removed after five months in charge. I forgot about that. I think that was a stand-up moment for me. I had quite a sore head going, oh, good grief.

That was a standout moment. One that stood out for me was the September match between Liverpool and Manchester United. And just watching Arna Slott quite artfully explain how Liverpool beat Manchester United. I was like, oh Jesus Christ, it's going to be a long season. But one for me, and this is very much because I'm one of those listeners. Imagine me wearing my glasses and putting them up the ridge of my nose because I'm one of those X's and O's freaks.

The stand-up moment for me and the moment I still think about every now and again while I'm auditing brushing my teeth is the 45 minutes of

Also, where it got rumoured that Eric Ten Hag was going to start Masraoui as the 10 against Fenerbahce. And everyone trying to figure out if that was actually going to happen. So we're going, no, it can't be. It can't be. It can't be. It can't be. It can't be. I can't have been leaked by a random Twitter account. So it was leaked by a random Twitter account. Then the line-up comes up and you're going, wait, is he actually going to play him as the 10? And then he did. So that's a moment that I...

I'm not going to remember much of this season outside the Lyon game, for good reason. Outside the Lyon game and the derby. But there are two or three very odd and peculiar moments watching Man United this season that are going to stick with me. And that sort of 90 minutes of hearing Masraoui was going to start as a 10 to watching him play as a 10...

Yeah, that's just like wormed into my brain somewhere. He even said he was surprised when we asked about it before the Europa League. He was like, yeah, I was surprised. I played it, but it was a long time ago. Yeah, the most surprising thing for me was in that pre-match sort of build-up period that you referred to, Carl, United had the option to play dumb, which a lot of teams would do, a lot of managers would do, and just sort of say, yeah, this is the line-up, you know, like put it in alphabetical order or number order on the line-up.

on the Twitter sort of graphic but Eric Ten Hag I've been told was quite happy for everyone to know that Nusmaz Rawi was going to start at number 10 and made no effort to hide it in fact quite the opposite was quite happy for it to be displayed on the UEFA team sheet so everyone knew exactly what the plan was

It was the combination, wasn't it? With Ahmad also being on the bench. And then it was that night, wasn't it? He's obviously seething to not come on. Anthony's gone on at that point. But you had a player like that on the bench and no, he went for Masraoui as number 10. Yeah, yeah. And then Mourinho said it didn't even work because Amrabat, who was at Fenerbahce at the time, said, warned him about it ahead of time. Was he still following the Manchester United Twitter account at this point then, Amrabat? Is that all he found out?

I mean, to be honest, I'd love to give it to just something like that because that would sum up how bad the season's been in some ways that it's a historic press conference quote or a bewildering team sheet moment that wins the standout moment of the season. But because Lyon was so good, I think it has to go to the extra time turnaround against Lyon and he's got his fists in the air. Yeah, it's...

It's won two awards there, hasn't it? But it was the standout moment of the season. So there you go. Right, a slightly different award. This is the first time we've been doing...

any of these awards so they're all new awards really but this is an award that we if we've been doing this for 10 years would have brought this out like Mourinho when he gave Scott McTominay the manager's player of the year award at the end of season award dinner that no one knew about before Jose got up and stood there so this is the talk of the devil appreciation award for an outstanding contribution to Manchester United and it's been so outstanding and so heralded

that we're going to rename this award from this moment moving forward after the first recipient, Andy, who is...

Johnny Evans from Belfast. Get in. Got to be, hasn't it? Yeah, yeah. And I'd like him to stay at Manchester United. I think, obviously, he's not going to be playing. And he didn't play anything like as much as he'd hoped last season. I remember in August on the pre-season, I said to him, would you rather play 25 games for United this season and score zero goals...

or five games and get a last-minute winner in front of the Stretford End. He said, five games and a last-minute winner. So the five games was closer to what he ended up actually playing. And he nearly got the Stretford End one. He should have been allowed to take that penalty against Villa. It's bang out of order. This is the biggest misstep of Amarin's career so far, not pushing for that. Bruno's out of order as well for not letting it happen. I'm not going to let this lie.

The UN are looking into it. It's a serious matter. And there's going to be... Take it to Cass. Yeah, you should have been Johnny Evans. It's well tied not letting him take it. Absolutely no doubt he would have smashed it in. I'm getting a bit lighthearted, but I do think he was a very important player in a dressing room. He's short of the good type of character. Has been short of the good type of characters in the last couple of years. I think he's a role model for...

for any footballers in so much as he put his education as a real priority in his life. I think that's good advice for any aspiring player. I just think he's a good human. And when he left 10 years ago to go to West Brom, I wasn't convinced that at the time it was the right thing to do. We can all say he shouldn't have gone. He should have gone, whatever. I was really surprised when he came back on an absolute pittance, by the way. But he wanted to come back.

And when, I never said this publicly at the time, but when United asked him if he'd be interested in coming back in, he put his boots on and went into his garden and just started like thinking, have I still got it here? And just playing it by himself, just envisaging these different scenarios. And wouldn't any of us do that? But he's actually doing it for real.

And probably thinking I'm just there in reserve because he looked after himself so well. A few months later, he's at Burnley putting these beautiful balls through. So there's never going to be a statue of Johnny Evans at Old Trafford, but a good egg from a really nice family as well. And I think a fitting winner for this award, unless that's what I dispute it.

No dispute in that, Larry, is there? No, no, no. We were going to give maybe some honourable mentions, were we? But I feel like letting the Johnny Evans appreciation marinate a little bit longer. Although, I mean, am I allowed? I agree with absolutely everything you said there, Andy. But he did have an opportunity to take a penalty in the Community Shield and it didn't go well. So that's maybe. Was that at the back of people's minds? Community Shield's a friendly, doesn't count. Okay, fine. Honourable mentions, should we get on to them?

Yeah, Tom Heaton I wanted to mention. Just because, not the same as Johnny Evans, but a lot of similarities in terms of the character and the personality. And I'm pleased to see that the club are in talks to try and keep him around. Obviously, he's not played much since he returned last year.

was it four years ago now he's only made three appearances none for the last two years but i know that he's a big voice in the dressing room i know he's a character that people lean on in hard times uh who's an important influence on some of the younger members of that dressing room as well he's been a constant pretty much in matchday squads throughout the last season or so he's always out there in the warm but old trafford as well a lovely lovely guy um

Someone older than me who still plays for Manchester United. So for that reason alone, he needs to be keep...

kept on and they need to keep giving him contracts. But yeah, there's a hope that he can stay, Laurie, isn't there? Definitely, I think. He's the type of throwback character that's important. Yeah, they released the list, actually, of players that are leaving the club and they were saying that they're still in talks with Tom Heaton. So I would expect that he gets another year on his contract, even as a playing deal. Okay, obviously, he's probably not going to play much, if at all, but having that guy around...

in the squad you know with the warm-ups with just that presence that he's got um i think is is really important so yeah i agree with what you've said there and carl you wanted to mention someone very special as well to us someone very well an important part of the podcast actually in an indirect way yes i want to to mention luke on security at old trafford so when i

leave the press room and I head down the stairs go take my seat Luke's there in his suit I give him a fist bump we have a quick chat he's always trying to get me down the snooker because he's a very very good snooker player and that's why I don't want to play him there but Luke is one of the many many many staff at Manchester United who help us get this podcast together particularly when we

at full-time at Old Trafford. So I want to say thanks to Luke. I want to say thanks to Leanne. I want to say thanks to Karen. I want to say thanks to so many people at United. Yeah. I think it's really, really important that, Carl, a lot of people have left the club this year. A lot of people who've done nothing wrong, who've lost their jobs. And you've mentioned some of the people who help us directly. There are hundreds of people who we haven't come into any contact with. And it's just really sad what has gone on. I get the reasons why.

for it happening and you know you're singing the praises of loot there but I saw him walking through Bilbao with a man bag on that was proper snide so I'm just going to take him down a couple of pegs I've got a picture of it now I'm going to find it

Hello Luke if you're listening, keep using your man back. He played against us today actually. Oh did he? Is he any good? Yeah, yeah, he's good, yeah he scored a couple of years ago although I mean I think it was a cross, he claims it was a shot, it was from distance to be fair so he's a good player as much as a good snooker player. Constantly giving chat, constantly giving chat off the ball as well. I can imagine him being chirpy. Oh it's a Valentino one as well, very nice.

Very nice. Anyway, to round off that section, congratulations to Johnny Evans, the first ever Talk the Devil's Appreciation Award winner for an outstanding contribution to Manchester United. And henceforth, this award shall always be known as the Johnny Evans Award for an outstanding contribution to MUFC. Amen. I went a bit weird there, but let's bring it back. MUFC, amen!

I feel all emotional. Okay, favourite podcast moments. Right, this award is our last one that we're going to do. But this was all about you, the listeners. We wanted your suggestions. We wanted to know the bits that you enjoyed the best. And we've had some absolutely brilliant shouts. So I'll read some out. Lads, give us a shout if they resonate with any of you. But yeah, James, it's been the theme of this pod really, but post-Leon, the buzz was unreal. Alternatively...

the academy chat was brilliant coverage yeah it was good to do that actually Adam Lawrence obviously is leaving the club but to get his insight also Nick Cox as well who's just received his UEFA Pro licence I saw Andy congratulating Nicholas on social media earlier on today not to miss an opportunity

But yeah, that was great, absolutely. And Elkana says the show after the Europa League finals, how raw it was, how much this isn't just a job for you guys. I can confirm that. That is the lowest I've ever seen Andy Mitton ever. That was a very difficult podcast to record, actually. So yeah, I'm not sure if the right word for that is favourite podcast moment, but that was definitely a poignant one from this season. That bloody leaf blower.

That leaf blower. Yeah. The most disappointing aspect of how irritating that leaf blower was, was the fact that when you listen back to the pod, you couldn't hear the bloody leaf blower. And it was so irritating. It was there the whole time until we finished. Well done, producer Ollie, for saving the business from that. Blame Ollie for that. I kind of wanted people to feel the pain, do you know what I mean? But they probably were already feeling the pain in a very different way. I reckon we do another 15. Ollie, how bad is this leaf blower?

Okay, alright, thank you. Put a break in there, Oli.

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Sean, I love the extra podcast before the first... We love doing this. Before the first leg against Athletic Club where the lads chatted about United's best away performances in Europe. I love that you guys mentioned the 3-0 draw with Barca in 98-99. Such an underrated game in the run to lifting the Champions League. This is a cracker from Graham as well. Brilliant shout. Andy will love this. The moment that got me hooked on the podcast was talking about the 1-1-5...

3007-192 banner. I laugh my arse off. It has a special meaning to me because growing up in Hazel Grove, must be the only United fan in Hazel Grove, the 192 used to take me into Manchester City Centre. Back then, Stockport wasn't the city stronghold that it is now. Erm...

Andy, you need to explain this again to people who are not aware of the exact significance of these figures. So a flag appeared in the United end at the Derby and it just said 1-1-5, 3,007-1-9-2. 1-1-5 is the charges that the club are facing or were facing at the time, might be more now.

3007 was their attendance for a competitive game against Mansfield Town and 192 is the number of the bus to Stockport where all City fans live because they're not Mancunian oh no but I used to get the 192 back from town on a night out it's alright it's ok you can carry on living it's not a problem does it explain the haircut? it was a bit dangerous you know you had to sort of be on your guard yeah yeah a bit tasty

The little part of you that's a Bertie was afraid on the 192 bus on the way back to Stockport. Maybe Spike, yeah. Next up, Luke, this one doesn't need explaining. Carl singing DJ Sammy. Do you want to give us another blast, Carl? No. Producer Oli can put in the old one. Aid in heaven.

nice um this is great as well um and this this grew legs which is what i like about this moment so marcus in the faroe islands when andy was on an airplane with bonnie tyler andy you are welcome to come back so yeah this was a story that andy told about being on a plane with bonnie tyler obviously when the bonnie tyler reuben hammering chant first started to the faroe islands and it turned out that

It wasn't just about Bonnie Tyler, was it, Andy? It was her guitarist, her long-standing, long-time guitarist who's a listener to this podcast, who ended up coming to the London live show as well that we did back in March, who also...

create a lovely section for us in a great podcast moment. Yeah, I told that story like I was just talking to mates in a pub as we often do on this podcast and I had no reason to doubt it in my mind but then I thought, I've told tens of thousands of people this, are you absolutely sure it's Bonnie Tyler? Why would I forget something like that?

But you've got responsibility with what you say in this podcast. And I'm sure there'll be a Bonnie Tyler fan who say, you know, she's never been to the Faroes. So the next day to get an email saying that was one hell of a trip. And it was 2006. It was 19 years ago. And it was all true. And then he came to the podcast shows and that song was,

Just grew more and more popular, didn't it? And I know it's not for everyone, but it sounded pretty good as it took off. And it baffled a lot of people because United were losing every week, but the support for the manager. I remember being at Newcastle away and getting hammered. And the whole away end is just singing for the manager. Defiance amid the disappointment. Yeah, at the end of that game. Yeah, that chant in my head is Newcastle away. Definitely, that was...

That was loud and proud in both senses, wasn't it? Connor, favourite pod moment, the negativity buzzer. Yeah, that was a bit of a moment where we just had to change the narrative after a little bit of negative feedback, shall we say. So the negativity buzzer came out and made an appearance. He also says honourable mention to the Glaze, the Takeover series. Yeah, those two podcasts weren't exactly a pleasure to do, but...

but we felt that they were important. Laurie played a blinder on them Glazer ones, by the way. He did loads of work behind the scenes, getting people to come and talk on them. They don't just happen easily. You know, he chased people down for interviews, so he deserves a mention on that one. Yeah, I agree with that.

That's enough praise for Laurie. Yeah, it is. This is the Andy Mitton section, Andy. So Andy talking about geography and water levels made me laugh so much. He's so funny. Bless him. That's from Max. What's funny about it? Nothing, Andy. Keep doing it, mate. Keep telling us about it. This is from Lee. Some very funny Andy Mitton tangents. The number one being getting his wife on the line. Tell us how to pronounce Amarin properly.

Also, more seriously, the excellent coverage of the redundancies and women's team and what's been going on behind the scenes. Sharif again, every time I hear Andy say, I'm buzzing.

admittedly it's become fewer and far between as this season's gone on. Another one here for the Glazer Takeover podcast. This is from Dean. Andy Walsh's emotion got me, but the highlight has to be Andy's rallying cry against the backdrop of some 90s beats. This is probably my favourite actually. I can't remember ahead of which European tie it was, but it should be released as a limited edition seven inch. I mean, we knew Carl stood there next to that car park and,

outside St. James's Park that it was going to be a bit of a moment that absolutely so Andy and I have both borrowed a spare coat off Ian yeah you had it out the boot because the weather the temperature had dropped we're trying to find good ways to explain just a really gutting defeat to Newcastle and here comes Andy just like look hard work needs to be done so let's do it properly and I think more than one listen at the time because I'm ready to go on Thursday and that was one of those speeches of yes Gaffer yes boss absolutely

He's getting serious again. I want to go back and listen to it now. We needed it. I stand by it. I really meant it. Don't say it off again. He's right. Just the remix. Part two. Man United are meant to be a welcome distraction from the annoying important things in the world. So you paid your council tax. Your boss has said you're not getting the pay rise. You missed the bus. The car's gone past you and the puddles hit you. Then you go home and you watch Man United and Man United's supposed to

take your mind off the annoying bad things in the real world. And then there've been too many times this season where it's just been bad. And then you don't know where to put all that extra anger and stress. So then you're just moaning and it just creates this horrible loop. So Andy was saying, look,

Don't bring that energy to the biggest game of our season so far. Are you going to moan and whinge? Yeah, the loop was the beat that Andy then managed to get into. I was pissed off with people moaning all the time about it. And also I thought there's a lot of room for improvement with United's fan culture, the variety of the songs that were being sung. And we were going to places and seeing how, you know, the atmosphere in Lyon, for example, was really, really good.

And I thought, you're going to moan and you're going to whinge about it or you're going to actually do something about it. Because there were so many times when the atmosphere at Old Trafford was very mid-table. It just hurts me because I'm a United fan and it just hurts me when I go around, fortunately with my job, to these amazing places and the atmosphere is miles better. And I know a lot of people have made the effort at Old Trafford to improve it. No, we get it. We get it, definitely, despite the jest. Mark, see you again. Points.

I can't believe he volunteered that.

It was even worse than that. It was empty second and third division football grounds. LAUGHTER

That's more his level. This is a nice one to finish as well. This is from Carolyn. So Harry's header versus Leon. My son and I were there. We burst into tears hugging each other so hard. We missed the on-field celebrations. His best friend died suddenly, aged 27 on St. Patrick's Day and would have been at every game with us, including that one. So the goal and the standout moment are wrapped up together. Podcast highlight of the season. The fact you lads can turn a terrible season into something bearable.

I'm not sure we've done that, but we've tried. Even though we've been dreadful, there have still been good moments, especially in Europe. Skin of our teeth wins, snatching defeats from the jaws of victory, sometimes the other way around. Laurie's trip to Portugal, air miles handy, jetting off around the world, poor Ian having to suffer Anfield, but I must overall thank Carl. He made my son's day in the Wayfarer, sat alone without his best mate. Carl took the time to talk to him, had a photo with him.

Carl, you're a true gentleman and a caring guy. I don't mind if you don't read it out. I just wanted to share with you how we really appreciate you guys. Thank you, Carolyn. Bless you. Thank you, Carolyn. It was a great Friday night having a beer with your son. He's a lovely gentleman and I hope to see him again soon. Super. What's going to win then? What's our favourite podcast moment of the year? It's got to be Andy, hasn't it? You reckon? Yeah, okay. Producer Ollie, play it. Play it right now.

...

PSG's following took the piss a few years ago. They came, they completely out-sung Manchester United fans. No, no, no, no, no, no. Get in before five minutes before kick-off because you can make a difference. Just stop moaning for an hour and a bit and get behind your team. Make a difference.

No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. Get the team towards Bilbao. So yeah, that wins it. Congratulations, Andy.

Right. We've been going a while, but we need to do a quick news roundup. But thank you to every single one of you for getting involved with that. It's been brilliant to do this season once again with all you listening along. Tell your mates, get involved. Always devilspod at theathletic.com. Follow, subscribe. We've got some announcements coming up as well over the summer, so keep your eyes for that. Talk of the Devils bigger and better coming to you in different ways, maybe. We'll see about that. Let's do the news section.

Very quick if we can, lads, because it's been a long listen. But there's still lots going on despite it being the summer. So I'm going to give you a section each, if that's okay. And Andy, I need to start with you because you have been talking exclusively to the Manchester United CEO, Omar Barada. Went to see him last Monday at Old Trafford, spoke to him for well over an hour, which is good at the time, but not when you come to transcribing it all and you realise it takes your days. In English, I presume, to make it easy for you? No, did it? He speaks five languages.

Yeah? Did it in Moroccan Arabic, me and him. Ha ha!

No, he did it in English because he's a Mancunian now, isn't he? Very bright lad. Came out of it thinking he's very smart. He knew he was smart anyway. He was smart at Barcelona. That's why a team from Greater Manchester gave him a job years ago. It wasn't Bolton. It was another one. And then he ended up at Old Trafford. Yeah, it was one of them. I reckon he's following me around, you know, because I started round about Barca and he got a job there. Obviously, I'm never going to go to City and now he's come to United. Now, if he does well at United and

and I think he will do well, then we could be set. He's got a very clear plan how Manchester United can be great again. He could have easily stayed at that club on the other side, but clearly it's been very difficult, but just to get some good insight into his relationship with Jim Ratcliffe, with other key people, the Glazers, was very, very interesting to me. Who made what decisions? What's happening next?

and to go on the record and do it as well. And it's going to be in the summer issue of United We Stand, that interview, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. You know I do a lot of my best stuff for the Athletic, but every now and then I've got to do an interview for United We Stand. And to be fair, I'd asked him a long, long time ago about doing this, and he said, yeah, I'll speak to you at the end of the season. And he did. If you want to order one, get lively, because, yeah, get lively. He's right. Don't leave it to the aggregators. You want to read this one in full?

No, no. Do you know the work that goes into doing that? I mean, no one's getting the small violins out, but my day last Monday, I got up at quarter past four in the morning to start doing that. And I should have been in a different country doing my actual proper job. So that type of journalism, as you all know, because you do it as well, it takes a huge, huge amount of effort. And if you don't buy it, you lose it. I've seen you repeatedly ask that.

very important people at Manchester United during half-time of Europa League games and whatnot throughout the season just going remember Omar has said he's going to give this chat so this is you get these interviews by repeatedly asking again and again and again and oh my god I can hear myself going well why don't you do that Carl stop talking and do your work when I bumped into Justin Morehouse who's a listener hello Justin at the Europa League final in Bilbao I said to him what's like some of your favourite things about

about the podcast we were going to put it into this big bumper episode about the brilliant day in Bilbao which has felt hollow ever since really so I'm not sure whether any of this stuff will ever see the light of day but he did pick out Andy Mitten explaining that he is a journalist and the role of a journalist was one of his favourite things about the podcast so he may take the piss out of me for saying that I can see how they would yeah

Yeah, so Justin will be smiling now, I'm sure. Laurie, next up then, you've also been a journalist. So you've got Sade Brailsford's exit of sorts to talk about and also Jason Wilcox's promotion to Director of Football at United. Yeah, so, I mean, it's been something that maybe has been sort of in the offing for a little bit of time in terms of Sade Brailsford stepping back.

he came in I think with this idea of creating the structure appointing people like Omar Barada and then beyond that Jason Wilcox and others obviously Dan Ashworth didn't work out but you know a

creating a structure that he felt or that the club felt were the right people in the right jobs. And now they're in the job. So, you know, let's see it. Let's allow them to get to work. And, you know, so he was a big part of Carrington when Ineos, Sir Jim Rackley, first got the keys to the place. And as time has gone on, it's been sort of reduced. So that's an interesting detail. And then, yeah, Jason Wilcox becoming director of football. Now, this is actually something that was...

announced in an email really. I think we're going to get perhaps a more formal announcement in due course but yeah, Wilcox becoming director of football, I suppose that makes a natural progression from Dan Ashworth leaving as sporting director, Wilcox was technical director so...

His role is going to become broader and therefore the job title, I think, needs to match that. So, so far he's been very involved with Ruben Amarin. You know, he's got a very good relationship with him, you know, sees him on the coaching pitches every day. This director of football role is a wider job. So there's going to be some transition there. But yeah, I think there are two significant movements in the executive structure. Yeah, excellent. You can read more about that on The Athletic.

Cal, you've also been writing on The Athletic, there's a fan survey on there, really revealing 39% of fans who have been asked think that Ruben Amerin can win the Premier League title with Manchester United. And there's some concerns over Ineos in there as well, it looks like. This was a survey we conducted over June 2nd and the 3rd. Thank you to the thousands of people who responded.

And yeah, 39% of our respondents said they believe Ruben Amon can win the Premier League one day in Manchester United, which that's good, right? One day. That's the point of being a football fan. One fine day. It's the idea that one day, if you buy enough raffle tickets, you're going to win the raffle. We got a new version of, well, we know what the Andy Mitten standard quality is for a new season.

39.8% of our survey respondents said the minimum success for next season would be to qualify for the Europa League. I think that's finishing 6th

rather than finishing silverware but that'll be interesting uh and then 76.7 said the most important player at Manchester United is Bruno Fernandes that's the most straightforward answer I recommend checking that out it's a very good barometer of what athletic subscribers are thinking about Manchester United I also wrote a Jadon Sancho piece that's out on Monday that's out now for you to read and that's all about what club is best for him in the event he leaves and I

It feels like that's happening. It's being worked on. Yes. Yeah, there's lots of great stuff on The Athletic. Despite it being quiet, there's the latest on United's bid to buy. Brian and Burmo, thank you for everyone who got in touch. Those Premier League videos that you have sent might have been something that I may have worked on in the past. So, yeah, blame the family holiday and mythos delirium for not actually...

Remembering the exact way that Brian wants us to pronounce his surname. But Brian Mbermo joining Manchester United, the very latest on The Athletic. There's a great assessment of United's financial position by Critch on there. An update on Rasmus Hoyland's future. Even an interview with Ravel Morrison.

But that brings us to the end of Talk to the Devils. Don't worry, we're back next week. But I hope you enjoyed that. I certainly did. Congratulations to all our award winners. That's not a statement I thought I'd be saying on the podcast, but there you go. I've just said it. Keep in touch. Devilspod at theathletic.com. Thank you again for everyone who got involved. Not just this pod, but throughout the season. Bless you all. Laurie, Carl, Andy, thanks for your company as always. And we'll see you on the next one. Take care. Bye-bye. Well done, gents.

Carl, you've been writing about the fan survey on The Athletic as well. 39% of fan survey think that Ruben Amerin thinks that... Hang on. It's getting late now. Carl, you've been writing on The Athletic about the fan survey that's been done as well. 39% that's jumped out to me straight away think that Amerin... Sorry. What was I saying?

Yeah, Carl, you've also been writing on The Athletic about the fan survey that's been done. 39% of fans polled think that Ruben Amerin can win the... Oh, for goodness sake, I can't talk anymore. Lost the ability to talk. Right, last time. The Athletic FC Podcast Network.

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