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New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
What to expect from Talk of the Devils in the 2025-26 season
The new football season is here — and Talk of the Devils is once again the place for all your podcasting needs. The Athletic's beloved Manchester United show is now back to at least two episodes a week until the end of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, with bonus episodes continuing every other week too. Advertisement Laurie Whitwell, Carl Anka, Andy Mitten and host Ian Irving will bring you all the latest from Old Trafford as the team begin to bounce back from their worst finish in Premier League history. The big change for the show this summer has been their foray onto YouTube, with video episodes and bespoke social content available on their dedicated channels. 'The biggest strength of Talk of the Devils is the level of insight,' Ian says. 'Between the lads, they are across everything that's happening at Old Trafford — in Andy's case, everything that has happened at Old Trafford for a very long time. There's a depth of knowledge and insight that you don't get anywhere else. 'It's easy to know who to ask what question; whether it be about the very latest transfer news, a tactical breakdown of what Ruben Amorim is preparing for the new season or how old the floodlights are at Blundell Park, where United will play Grimsby in the Carabao Cup this month. Tune in before the match in a couple of weeks to find out. 'We always hope that it's as much fun to watch and listen to as it is to make.' After sold-out shows over the past few years, the quartet are going back on the road for a five-date tour of the UK and the Republic of Ireland later in 2025. To buy tickets to the live shows, click here. You can listen to every episode free wherever you get your podcasts, including via Apple and Spotify. The show's massive community is at its core and the guys love hearing from their audience. You can get in touch via the various options below: Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
06-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester United vs Manchester City – discussing derby day vibes, tactics and fears
On Sunday, Old Trafford hosts one of the more unusual derby games of recent times. With Manchester United in 13th and Manchester City in fifth, the last meeting of the two with a worse combined league position was way back in… November 2004, when an eighth-placed United took on 13th-placed City. But although there are no league titles or trophies on the line in April 2025, the match is sure to be viscerally contested. To discuss how the game might play out, the state of play at both clubs and much more besides, The Athletic gathered United writer Carl Anka and City writer Sam Lee. Here's what they had to say. Carl Anka: In a season when league positions are below expectation and the chase for silverware looks fraught, local bragging rights might actually mean more. United's late victory over City in December remains the high point of the league season and gave Amorim much-needed credit in the bank with fans. Another derby win might help him convince some doubters that his tactical approach has a future at Old Trafford. Advertisement Sam Lee: In recent derbies, the pattern has been that United need bragging rights while City need the points for their league position. It is similar this time, even given City's poor season. They are trying to qualify for the Champions League through a top-five finish and every point is going to matter, especially because they cannot be relied upon to win pretty much every game in spring like they have done for so many years. Given the way they lost the game at the Etihad in December, coupled with their need for points, this is going to be as important as ever. Carl: This January saw City begin to construct what they hope will be their next title-challenging team, but United have to spend this summer paying off outstanding transfer fees of more than £100million ($129m) on their current, suboptimal squad, and also find funds to help Amorim improve his 3-4-3. The United head coach repeatedly mentions how his side needs greater physicality to cope with the Premier League's top teams; his squad lacks the tough tacklers, hard runners and precise passers that made Sporting CP an exciting watch under him. He could do with another centre-forward, too, but proven goalscorers rarely come cheap. The upcoming summer rebuild may rely on talented academy graduates just as much as transfer signings. Sam: It's quite funny to answer this question when framed in a slightly different way. The need for City's rebuild has been obvious for about six months — many would argue longer. They are losing Kevin De Bruyne and possibly Ederson this summer and the club are planning to make big changes, having known that an overhaul was needed even before the staggering dip in form and results. If City want to stay at the top of English and European football, they simply need to bring in more energy. But if you're asking which team requires more rebuilding, it is probably United because… well… Carl: Forgive the oddity of this next sentence: Erling Haaland's injury is a mixed blessing for both sides on Sunday. City will be less inclined to funnel their attack to a particular point and they've had previous success in the derby playing with a false nine (Phil Foden has performed well in this role in the past) or a 'less obvious' forward. Advertisement De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan have lost much of their running power, but they can still hurt United. Foden has been underwhelming this season, but he knows how to score — and knee slide — around Old Trafford. But it's Omar Marmoush I think Amorim will key in on this Sunday. The 26-year-old has exceptional off-ball movement in the final third and could sting a United back three that often has problems with pacy forwards. Sam: Bruno Fernandes is the bogeyman, plain and simple. Whether the fear is an inspired assist or a goal out of nothing, Fernandes obviously has the kind of talent that can hurt any team. He is probably also the most disliked United player overall and given the 'if it can go wrong, it will go wrong' feeling that takes over many fans before derbies, the idea of him doing the damage is probably the most unpalatable outcome for City fans. There are other reasons for the answer being Fernandes: City have been susceptible to pace this season, but that has subsided somewhat with Abdukodir Khusanov in the back line, and United's derby hero from December, Amad, is injured. Marcus Rashford has done his share of derby damage in the past, too, but he left on loan for Aston Villa in January. Carl: Both teams are vulnerable to counter-attacks. Both teams possess forwards who are dangerous when running in behind defences. This will be a match won and lost in the transitional moments. Who manages to hold their nerve after losing the ball? Which team can get to more second balls? Nico Gonzalez and Manuel Ugarte will be the young pups in midfields largely populated by players in their thirties. This will be a match full of 'old-man strength', where veterans will have to pick and choose their moments. Sam: Guardiola always wants to dominate the ball, of course, more so in big away games and even more so when his team are not especially strong. So everything points to lots of passes! That was the plan last weekend at Bournemouth when he did not pick any wingers, but that probably had just as much to do with Bournemouth's high pressing, which won't be replicated by United. Advertisement Both teams are strong on the break, but Guardiola will see United's threat in that regard and want to shut it down through 'a thousand million passes', which usually involves asking his team not to use their pace on the break. As much as anything tactical, Guardiola also has to pick the players that are in any kind of form and that has been the bigger challenge for a lot of this season, considering the struggles of De Bruyne, Gundogan, Foden, Bernardo, Kovacic, etc. Carl: United win a scrappy match that has more than six yellow cards. Sam: Yeah, a United win wouldn't surprise me. City have been more stable recently, much more than in December, but if United score first, I would fear for Guardiola's side. That said, United are obviously not up to much either, so I'll go with City, just about.
New York Times
10-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester United news live updates: FA Cup reaction and Premier League build-up
A good day to you all and welcome to a special place for all Manchester United fans here at The Athletic . We will be with you every day this week, with our team of correspondents and writers bringing you all the keep news, views and United analysis you need to keep on top of events at Old Trafford and Carrington. Our United correspondent Carl Anka will also be around, filling in the blanks and making us all think about what we did to deserve this… I jest! We've got FA Cup progress to discuss with that win over Leicester City, and then the return to Premier League action on Sunday — with a trip to Tottenham. So stick with us, because we've got you covered from here.
New York Times
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Manchester United news live updates: Transfer window reaction plus FA Cup build-up
A very warm Wednesday welcome to you all — and to something new for our Manchester United fans here at The Athletic . We will be with you here throughout the day, we being me and our United correspondent Carl Anka , to bring you everything United: from getting stuck into the transfer window fallout to having a laugh at, well... Something. Yeah, you might need to give us a little longer on that one. Anyway, from working out how Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine was supposed to work to preparations for Friday's FA Cup fourth round reunion with Ruud van Nistelrooy, we look forward to you sticking with us here as we bring you the best insight and talking points around events at Old Trafford and Carrington. So stick with us, because we've got you covered from here.
