I like the pod - we can still have a moan about it, its the internet thats why we are here!
Talk of The Devils Podcast
- Thread starter horsechoker
- Start date
I like the pod - we can still have a moan about it, its the internet thats why we are here!
Don't agree with any of those recent takes tbh! Anka is great, and actually the opposite of arrogant from what I've heard. Mitten goes to bat for united fans all the time, and does a great job being the buffer between those fans and the club.
I do agree with those who have some mild frustrations with Anka.
It does feel a bit like he wants to frame himself as the authority on tactics.
Doesn't seem like a bad bloke though, just a bit of a character quirk
It does feel a bit like he wants to frame himself as the authority on tactics.
Doesn't seem like a bad bloke though, just a bit of a character quirk
It was only last week Mitten was saying the club were out of order for what they'd done to season ticket holders. Now he somehow goes the party line constantly. He's just a regular fan, that became a journalist due to his love of the club. I don't know how much more he could do to be a proper fan 
It was only last week Mitten was saying the club were out of order for what they'd done to season ticket holders. Now he somehow goes the party line constantly. He's just a regular fan, that became a journalist due to his love of the club. I don't know how much more he could do to be a proper fan
Not questioning Mittens support credentials. Blokes been everywhere for decades.
But his 'independence' now is a bit questionable IMO. Lots of soft takes on ticketing of late and he does plenty of official club stuff now - a world away from our other Fanzine Red News and Barney, let alone Red Issue.
Still rather hear from him on club news than most, its just all got a bit cosy. Just my take.
When i was a postie, i used to listen to all the united podcasts. I used to agree with those takes above on Anka because his footballing opinions always came across abit pretentious, and nuanced to a degree that only he was smart enough to point out.
Now i rarely get to listen to podcasts, so when i do its usually Talk of the Devils and i do like Carl now, whether he's mellowed whose to say. It probably helps i don't hear him week in week out and everywhere but I actually think he's an extremely friendly guy, intelligent and fair play to him for earning the respect of his peers to get selected for all these podcasts.
Now i rarely get to listen to podcasts, so when i do its usually Talk of the Devils and i do like Carl now, whether he's mellowed whose to say. It probably helps i don't hear him week in week out and everywhere but I actually think he's an extremely friendly guy, intelligent and fair play to him for earning the respect of his peers to get selected for all these podcasts.
They are getting frustrated now that they aren't getting any information whatsoever from the club. So unfortunately it means people like these guys and Stone are suggesting we may not sign third CM which is scaremongering.
I watch Stretford paddock whenever the have actual journalists on and whenever Anka is on I find myself struggling to get through it with his overly dramatized ‘tactical’ explanation and how he would usually go down a random tangent not at all related to the issue at hand or to united.
I find Laurie pretty chill and Andy and Stones can both be a bit miserable (especially the latter’s voice) but their episodes are a lot more engaging on all things united.
I do think the quality of these podcasts are much better during the actual season where they’re analyzing post game/pre game rather than have to talk about the same few issues plaguing united’s squad all summer. As united fans we all know what they are.
Interesting that we couldn’t get Welbeck last year because we were offering a shorter deal than what he had at Brighton, which was running to 2027. If so that seems a bit daft.
He's exactly the same. Its just easier to deal with in small doses.
It was only last week Mitten was saying the club were out of order for what they'd done to season ticket holders. Now he somehow goes the party line constantly. He's just a regular fan, that became a journalist due to his love of the club. I don't know how much more he could do to be a proper fan
There was a lot of talk online from the usual morons on X about how he's an Ineos shill for doing the interview on MUTV
There are some people who are so stupid its incredible they're still surviving
It was "one of the things".
It's becoming clearer and clearer that they have absolutley no inside info on transfers. David Ornstein is obviously well informed about imminent transfers from agents, but he's not telling you anything that you woulnd't learn simply by waiting 24 hours.
They do a good job of caveating this in the podcast.
This was notable when Whitwell pulled a sixty million pound prospective fee out of his arse for Hall. Usually he would report from his actual sources, but this just sounded like a complete guess based on general rumours.
With Mitten, he was always something of a football nerd and was never as political or militant as say JP at Red Issue. He was largely respected though. My issue with him now is he almost tries to big up his "football lad" credentials on Talk of the Devils. I'd rather listen to him be a football anorak rather than as you say, loads of soft takes on fan culture/ticketing issues.
Barney is ace. Really wish fans would support them more financially.
Whitwell is a very unimpressive speaker for a professional journalist - on TOTD he just waffles on with no real filter and he communicates very little of any real value unless he has been fed a story by a club official agent or other source
He must be a big problem for the Athletics editorial staff - when speaking he selects the wrong word time and time again - his written work whilst vacuous does at least read as a coherent column so the sub editors must rewrite it for him
We as fans lose a lot of rumours to feed our on line discussion but it has to be better for the club to have so much more control over their messaging during the window
He must be a big problem for the Athletics editorial staff - when speaking he selects the wrong word time and time again - his written work whilst vacuous does at least read as a coherent column so the sub editors must rewrite it for him
We as fans lose a lot of rumours to feed our on line discussion but it has to be better for the club to have so much more control over their messaging during the window
I’ve said it before in this thread but I’m amazed some of you listen to the pod if you dislike the guys so much.
I never listen anymore, but Mitten is a master waffler. As someone said, never answers a question, just waffles about nothing. He has stories, but the man just knows nothing about actual football on the pitch. If you listen, it's for insight about transfers by Laurie.
I feel the same about Mitten. Like him a lot but sometimes, come on man just answer the question you've actually been asked.
Can someone have a pop at Ian please to round this off.
Yeah, he's so anonymous I didn't even know he was participating in the podcast.
I do like the podcast; still find several of the participants annoying to varying degrees
Several? Sounds mutually exclusive then. I can't find anyone who enjoys a podcast but not several of the people speaking on it
Fair play if its just one. Anka I really couldn't take but I think hes OK now.
The Athletic are all about listens, clicks and subscriptions.
If everything maintains reasonable figures, I don't think editorial staff are arsed.
I think he's extremely good at his limited but crucial role and it's a drastic decline in quality when he's off.
No I like it because they discuss matters in a rational, measured way (particularly Whitwell.) I'll take it any day over the likes of Goldbridge and FUTV. I just irritated by Carl Anka's intonation and Andy Mitten's mumbling.Several? Sounds mutually exclusive then. I can't find anyone who enjoys a podcast but not several of the people speaking on it
Fair play if its just one. Anka I really couldn't take but I think hes OK now.
Haha yeah Goldbridge is a wacko. I cant imagine how hes got such a wide viewership
I used to watch quite regularly - but I just can't take the relentless, anticipatory negativity. He clearly wants us to struggle (I don't buy that he's a Forest fan; just obvious that he benefits from our chaos.)
Outrage garners clicks. Look at the likes of Roy Jennings, AFTV and Adam McKola. They all say the most outrageous stuff simply to farm engagement. In general that seems to be the theme for British football YouTube.
They run away from what they have said earlier and dont even acknowledge it. Laurie said we could sign 2 mids of around 75 m each, on a pod close to end of last season. Andy kept saying money is there. Now oth have completely backtracked without any reference to this. They were talking about no europe last year causing financial issues, but we had record revenues in 24/25, we will match those with no training kit sponsor and no europe for end of 25/26. We are likely to be profitable in same period. We paid less wages as rashford and onana were on loan and NO CL meant a 25 % cut for mopst of squad and our per home game revenue is 7.5 m which is highest in the league, Ratcliffe cut 250 jobs to save an annual 40 m or so, which will come into effect for 25/26 season fully and further this year. Since then we ve lost casemiro's huge wages, it probably covers both tielmans and santos wages. We have increased our RCF, which allows us to not be restricted in terms of cash. We have CL which will add a min of 100 m if we pass the group stages, 20 m extra per year from betway, 10 m extra from adidas and bonuses from sponsors cause we made CL.
No top 6 club pleads poverty like the self proclaimed "biggest lub in the world" which is a shame on us. The things they say and reality are quite different, they seem to be used by club for controlling the narrative. They seem to change every week on basis of what club want and they had no clue about any of santos or tielemens . They dint know nothing about Tynan and the expected youth signings leaked from outside. They were lying about ederson deal as well. While in italy they were saying how the deal is off and yet we kept saying it wasnt for a long time, they kept on towing the club line. Its poor journalism, its selling your job for access to sources that want certain stories in the media about the club. Now they are running away from 3 mids , saying it might be two plus mount being back, this narrative probably to gauge the reaction of online fans just in case we dont sign another midfielder. Its pretty poor from a journalistic point of view. Its like they are becoming like matt law for chelsea or that newcastle whackjob reporter.
No top 6 club pleads poverty like the self proclaimed "biggest lub in the world" which is a shame on us. The things they say and reality are quite different, they seem to be used by club for controlling the narrative. They seem to change every week on basis of what club want and they had no clue about any of santos or tielemens . They dint know nothing about Tynan and the expected youth signings leaked from outside. They were lying about ederson deal as well. While in italy they were saying how the deal is off and yet we kept saying it wasnt for a long time, they kept on towing the club line. Its poor journalism, its selling your job for access to sources that want certain stories in the media about the club. Now they are running away from 3 mids , saying it might be two plus mount being back, this narrative probably to gauge the reaction of online fans just in case we dont sign another midfielder. Its pretty poor from a journalistic point of view. Its like they are becoming like matt law for chelsea or that newcastle whackjob reporter.
Yeah Ian seems a top bloke TBH - seen him at plenty of aways over the years as a fan also.
I dont think Adam McKola has many outrageous takes does he?
Maybe he means the 21 is coming thing
Being a writer and an editor myself, I can say that some people can write very well and not be very good talkers, even on the same subjets. I'm probably one.
Hes obviously joking in that. Unlike other sensationalists who say they are serious.
Second half of the season...
Journos aren't supposed to be impressive speakers - especially if their work revolves around writing articles.
Yeah he clearly has actual inside sources but every question to him leads into a monologue about how he met the uncle of some random long forgotten player.
Also weird the producers of the podcast don't call him out on this offline. Like c'mon mate, just answer what you've been asked and move on.