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#1027 | Ed and Dom pull three stories into one. FIFA wants to privatise itself, United want fewer season ticket holders and £100m no longer seems like a lot of money in the transfer market. Gianni Infantino's plan was to privatise FIFA's commercial entity and sell a stake to private equity. If he gets his way we'll see World Cups and Club World Cups every summer. Old Trafford's crackdown on season ticket holders is part of the same movement. United are cancelling season tickets over what the club calls touting. Fans say it's nonsense. Fewer season ticket holders, and dynamic pricing on the way? Meanwhile, Chelsea have spent £117m on Morgan Rogers while operating under a UEFA settlement. Spurs have blown £185 million on two midfielders. City are lining up another £100 million midfielder they may loan out. United have done very little. Kids on the way out? Harry Amass and Radek Vitek are reportedly available for sale. Four friendlies remain: Atlético Madrid, PSG, Leeds and Milan. World Cup players are filtering back slowly. Is a third midfielder, left-back, or forward on the way in? A short chat about United's kits closes out the the pod. 00:00 Introduction and Preseason Recap 10:11 Transfer Priorities and Squad Needs 14:46 Youth Academy Player Sales 24:03 Rivals' Transfer Spending 34:34 Season Outlook 37:19 Season Ticket Controversy 44:15 Football's Financial Landscape 49:09 Kit Chat and Wrap-up If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1026 | Ed and Dharnish talk about the evolution of United’s tactics this season. What evidence have wee seen after two pre-season games, albeit with continuing player absences after the World Cup? What impact has Andrey Santos on the side, what does Youri Tielemans capture mean, what changes are likely to United’s in-possession game as a result? Then the gaps: why do United need another midfielder, can the club strengthen at fullback, and if Marcus Rashford returns, what impact might it have? 00:00 The Tactics Show 00:26 Intro and Preseason 04:49 Playing Style 16:41 Fullback Situation and Squad Depth 21:44 Marcus Rashford's Future 31:19 Youth Prospects and Defenders 32:08 Athletico Madrid Preview 34:40 Wrap Up and Transfer Market Outlook If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1025 | Adam and Ed pick over United’s pre-season defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki. Can we learn anything from 45 minutes of action? At least there was a first look at new signing Andrey Santos. Then an XI made up of reserves played out an entertaining second half without finding the net. Then there’s a crazy match for third place in the World Cup, with England beating France 6-4. Kobbie Mainoo was injured and didn’t feature. The only outfield English player not to get any minutes at the tournament. Finally, with Morgan Rogers moving to Chelsea for an eye-watering £117 million, can United find any value for money as they search for a third midfield signing and other players to fill out the squad. 00:00 Open 00:51 Catching Up with Adam 04:07 England, Helsinki and United's Preseason Opener 08:25 Takeaways 12:08 Transfer Market Outlook 15:23 Coaching Staff Questions 22:20 World Cup Third-Place Playoff and England Review 49:55 Transfer Fees and Chelsea's Spending If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1024 | Ed and Daniel pick over the wreckage of England's World Cup, and neither is in a forgiving mood. The charge is that Thomas Tuchel did not just lose the semi-final, he threw it away. From the squad he built for one way of playing, the ball-players left at home, and a midfield of athletes with nobody to control a game, which is why the calls for Kobbie Mainoo only grew louder all tournament. On the match itself, England managed the first 55 minutes well and shut Messi out before Tuchel took off his goalscorer, went to a back five and codified a retreat so complete that England managed two accurate passes in 18 minutes. It’s a sacking offense, but the FA, who backed Tuchel on LinkedIn within the hour and tied him to Euro 2028, will do nothing. Then there’s Kane's future and the lack of a successor, England's missing identity and the intensity gap with everyone else, and to close, a turn to United, Carrick's project, summer signings, and a pre-season that kicks off against Wrexham in Helsinki. 0:00 Intro 5:29 Tuchel's Tactics and Balance Issues 15:03 Argentina Collapse 26:16 Should Tuchel Be Sacked? 28:33 Euro 2028 and Harry Kane's Future 38:35 England's National Identity 43:55 Manchester United Preview 52:37 Outro If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1023 | Ed and Dharnish react to Manchester United signing Youri Tielemans for around £35m, praising the club’s stealthy, leak-free approach. Tielemans offers outstanding value given his versatility, progressive passing and decent defensive work. How will Tielemans and Andre Santos fit a more controlled, central build-up style? And do United still need a third “ground-eater” midfielder? The conversation then shifts to the World Cup: ticket price chaos, England’s exhausting win over Norway, and a preview of England vs Argentina and France vs Spain in the semis. 00:00 Tielemans Signs for United 02:28 Playing Style & Fit 15:37 Transfer Market and Midfield Plans 22:49 Who's Next: Midfield Ground Eater 24:36 World Cup Preview 43:05 Predictions If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1022 | Ed and Jamie discuss United’s Old Trafford redevelopment plans, with the development corporation report into the wider area regeneration project published this week. We go through the likely financing mix: debt, naming rights, personal seat licences, private equity, event partnerships. How will this massive project impact United’s finances, revenues and ability to compete? Then we switch to transfer talk, focusing on conflicting reports around the deal for Ederson and United’s capture of Andrey Santos from Chelsea. 00:00 Introduction: New Trafford Stadium Financing 02:07 Financing Overview 19:04 Naming Rights 21:48 Equity Partners and Ownership 25:28 Transfer Market: Ederson Saga, Andrey Santos 30:18 Chelsea's Financial Model 35:27 Private Equity in Football 37:09 Wrap-up If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1021 | Ed and Dan discuss United’s expected £50m signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea, weighing fan reactions, Santos’ strengths, and questions about his best role in the team. But the broader midfield rebuild this summer still lacks an elite, established number six, with top targets like Aurélien Tchouaméni unavailable after renewing his contract at Real Madrid, and alternatives such as Alex Scott, Lamine Camara and Carlos Baleba carrying various degrees of risk. The conversation then shifts to the World Cup: criticism of Roberto Martínez’s Portugal, Ronaldo’s influence, and England’s tournament so far, including frustration at Kobbie Mainoo not playing and a preview of England vs Norway. And what of Marcus Rashford’s uncertain future after the tournament ends? 00:00 Intro and England at the World Cup 03:32 Andrey Santos Signs for United 14:15 The Search for a Unicorn Number Six 16:47 Weighing Up Alex Scott and Baleba 20:19 Michael Carrick's Playing Career 28:07 Tchouameni's New Real Madrid Deal 34:22 Ronaldo and Portugal's World Cup Meltdown 36:47 England vs Norway and Rashford's Future If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1020 | Ed and Dominic discuss Spurs spending close to £100m on Sandro Tonali and £85m on Matheus Fernandes, triggering online Manchester United fan panic, while United’s only move to date is the deal for Ederson. Is this smart transfer market strategy from Spurs, or are they overpaying out of desperation? Meanwhile, United still need multiple midfielders, especially with an injury to Ugarte at the World Cup following Casemiro’s exit. Then there's England's game against DR Congo at the World Cup. It was another flat England performance, with Kobbie Mainoo still yet to see any minutes and Marcus Rashford frustrating. And while we're talking about Rashford, where does his future lie? The episode ends with talk of United’s new stadium master plan, land purchases, and potential redesign away from the tent. 00:00 Intro and World Cup Catch-up 02:53 United's Midfield Transfer Freakout 14:22 United's Search for Midfielders 22:53 England's World Cup Performance 31:07 Marcus Rashford Future 33:39 England vs Mexico Preview 40:57 New Old Trafford Stadium Plans 48:13 Wrap Up If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1019 | Ed and Dharnish review the World Cup group stage through a tactical lens and preview the knockout stages. There’s England’s surprisingly slow play, lack of central connection, and concerns around the wingers ahead of DR Congo. Portugal have got plenty of issues as well, both structural and those from an overly static Ronaldo. Then there’s Argentina, who have the best midfield rotations and multiple elite progressive passers. France are praised for abundant attacking talent and smart in-game tweaks, Spain for using fullbacks to pin defences and free up Yamal, and Brazil for smart in-game adjustments. There's also a word for the host-nation energy, tactical impact of hydration breaks, and how refereeing changes have changed the game. 00:00 Intro and World Cup Vibes 01:27 England 10:58 Portugal 15:59 Argentina 20:39 France 25:17 Spain 29:15 Brazil 33:53 Germany and Other Nations 37:40 Refereeing If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1018 | Ed and Dan on United's step towards a new Old Trafford after the club bought 25 acres next door. Should United move? And if it's inevitable, can the club keep its history and avoid another concrete bowl? On the money, a warning against the simple version: this will be structured, debt, equity, naming rights and personal seat licences, not one clean option. Then transfers: André Onana's loan to Trabzonspor confirmed, the midfield rebuild stalling, £40m on Ederson, hot competition for Mateus Fernandes, and a question mark over Aurélien Tchouaméni. The World Cup closes out the show, with underdogs entertaining while England's balance, selection and struggle against Ghana's low-block all come under fire. 00:00 Introduction 01:56 New Stadium Debate 03:01 Old Trafford: Heritage vs Progress 04:08 Stadium Financing 19:01 Transfer Window: Midfield Rebuild 21:33 Fernandes and Spending Strategy 38:14 World Cup, England, Group Stages If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices