Talk Of The Devils
A panel of specialist journalists from The Athletic deliver insider analysis and reporting on Manchester United, twice a week.
This is a roundtable of credentialed football journalists who live and breathe Manchester United, moderated by a broadcast professional. The hosts are reporting on their own beat, blending news they've broken for The Athletic with tactical analysis and informed speculation. Uniquely, the show sometimes airs speculative, fictional episodes, such as reviewing an imaginary future season, showcasing a creative and playful edge.
“Unlike many fan-led podcasts, Talk of the Devils is driven by the expertise of professional journalists with direct access to the club. This sourcing from The Athletic provides a level of authority and insider detail that sets it apart, while its creative, speculative episodes offer a unique format twist.”
Who hosts this show
Talk of the Devils is The Athletic's flagship podcast dedicated to Manchester United. Hosted by Ian Irving, the show features a rotating panel of the publication's top journalists, including Andy Mitten, Laurie Whitwell, and Carl Anka. It combines deep-dive reporting on club business and transfer news with the conversational dynamic of a fan-focused chat show. The hosts leverage their inside access to provide stories and analysis beyond typical match reports.
Credentials & credits
- Ian Irving: Presenter & Reporter, Premier League Productions
- Andy Mitten: Editor, United We Stand fanzine; Journalist for The Athletic, ESPN, GQ
- Laurie Whitwell: Manchester United Correspondent, The Athletic; formerly Daily Mail
- Carl Anka: Manchester United Reporter, The Athletic; Co-author of Marcus Rashford's books
- Mark Critchley: Football Writer, The Athletic; formerly The Independent
Other ventures
- Andy Mitten: United We Stand (fanzine & podcast)
- Carl Anka: Co-author, "You Are a Champion" with Marcus Rashford
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- uk
When new episodes drop
- 01Man United stadium update and transfer plansJun 25, 2026 · 51 min
- 02From Man United's academy to the World Cup: Zidane IqbalJun 8, 2026 · 55 min
- 03Man United players to shine at the World Cup?Jun 4, 2026 · 1h 10m
- 04Man United end of season awards 2025/26Jun 1, 2026 · 1h 03m
- 05Man United Q&A: Rashford, Ederson, Keane, ‘Carrick-ball’, & moreMay 28, 2026 · 1h 01m
- 06How Man United finished the 25/26 season in styleMay 25, 2026 · 50 min
- 07How can Man United challenge for the Premier League?May 21, 2026 · 1h 04m
- 08Inside Bruno's Premier League assist recordMay 18, 2026 · 58 min
Notable episodes
- 01From Man United's academy to the World Cup: Zidane Iqbal
A rare, in-depth interview that exemplifies the show's panel interview style and access to club-connected figures.
- 02Man United end of season awards 2025/26
Highlights the podcast's unique creative side, with the hosts reviewing a fictional future season for the club.
- 03Man United stadium update and transfer plans
A prime example of the show's core content: journalists discussing sourced news about the club's finances and transfer strategy.
What you'll be asked on this show
When the show features a guest, it adopts a conversational panel interview format. Multiple hosts, including the main moderator Ian Irving, participate in the questioning. The discussion follows a narrative arc, often starting with the guest's personal background and origins before progressing chronologically through their career, challenges, and future ambitions. The hosts build rapport by referencing prior interactions, creating a relaxed atmosphere that feels more like a collaborative conversation than a formal interrogation.
The show operates as a roundtable discussion moderated by main host Ian Irving, who directs questions to his specialist co-hosts. The format is a mix of serious, sourced analysis of club business and light-hearted personal banter between the journalists. While primarily a chat show, it occasionally features in-depth interviews with figures connected to the club.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
11 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“How did your decision to represent [Country] come about?”
Used early to establish a guest's backstory and the origins of their international career.
- Q.02
“Where does your name come from?”
A simple, personal question to explore family history and build rapport.
process
3- Q.01
“How did the [National FA] first learn you were eligible to play for them?”
A follow-up question that digs into the specific process and logistics behind a player's recruitment.
- Q.02
“What was the whole World Cup qualification experience like?”
Prompts the guest to recount a significant, multi-stage career journey, surfacing dramatic moments.
- Q.03
“What's the communication like in the dressing room?”
Seeks to understand the internal team culture and dynamics from a practical standpoint.
mindset
2- Q.01
“How are you preparing to face such high-caliber players?”
This question probes the guest's professional mindset and preparation ahead of a major challenge.
- Q.02
“How difficult was it to switch from the first team back to the U21s?”
Explores the mental challenges and resilience required for a young player at a top club.
personal
2- Q.01
“How important is your faith to you?”
A personal question that allows the guest to discuss their values and mindset outside of football.
- Q.02
“What have you learned about yourself during your time away from Manchester?”
A reflective question encouraging the guest to discuss personal growth and lessons learned from adversity.
backstory
1- Q.01
“Was there a point you felt you might make it as a Man United first-team player?”
Asks the guest to reflect on a pivotal moment or period in their career at the club.
future
1- Q.01
“What are your ambitions for the next stage of your career?”
A forward-looking question typically asked towards the end of the interview to discuss future goals.
Signature segments
- · End of Season Awards
- · Bad Take Amnesty
- · World Cup Draft
- · Q&A Episodes
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are infrequent, as the show primarily relies on the hosts' own expertise. When guests do appear, they are typically figures with a direct connection to Manchester United, such as former academy player Zidane Iqbal.
- Zidane Iqbalon From Man United's academy to the World Cup: Zidane Iqbal
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of Talk of the Devils?
- The main host is Ian Irving, a presenter for Premier League Productions. He is joined by a rotating panel of journalists from The Athletic, including Andy Mitten, Laurie Whitwell, and Carl Anka.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It's a twice-weekly roundtable discussion analyzing Manchester United news. While most episodes are co-host chats, they occasionally feature interviews with guests connected to the club.
- Is this an official Manchester United podcast?
- No, it is produced by the sports media publication, The Athletic. The hosts are independent journalists who cover the club.
- What makes this podcast different from other Man Utd fan channels?
- The hosts are all credentialed journalists with insider access, providing a level of reporting and analysis that goes beyond typical fan opinion.
- Where can I listen to Talk of the Devils?
- The podcast is available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Acast, with full video episodes also on YouTube.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Talk of the Devils on Acastplay.acast.com
- [02]Ian Irving - Alta Loma MGMTaltalomamgmt.com
- [03]Andy Mitten's Profile - Muck Rackmuckrack.com
- [04]Laurie Whitwell's Profile - Muck Rackmuckrack.com
- [05]Carl Anka's Profile - Muck Rackmuckrack.com
- [06]Carl Anka - Pan Macmillanpanmacmillan.com
- [07]Mark Critchley's Profile - Muck Rackmuckrack.com
- [08]Talk of the Devils - Podfollowpodfollow.com
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