Set Piece FC

#942 | Ed and Adam break down United’s 2-1 win away at Crystal Palace, a match that split neatly into two stories. The first half looked laboured. The second half looked like a team that finally woke up. They dig into what changed, who stepped up, and why the performance still raises as many questions as it answers. The conversation moves into the bigger picture too. Kyle Macaulay’s impending arrival sparks a discussion about how United’s recruitment department might finally take shape, what that means for squad building, and how data should guide the next phase. They also look ahead to West Ham, weighing possible lineups and the tradeoffs created by injuries, form, and fixture congestion. 00:00 Introduction01:17 Agenda: Palace, recruitment strategy, West Ham02:31 TV scheduling and matchday experience04:25 Palace vs United analysis06:48 Second half turnaround10:02 Casemiro, Bruno, Mount16:11 System limitations and squad balance19:44 Academy and youth pathways24:04 Zirkzee and Mount goals27:11 Mateta and the penalty shout35:31 Kyle Macaulay and recruitment45:08 West Ham preview and lineup ideas55:19 Rotation and January window56:56 Close 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