BladesPod: Demolishing Bolton, and do we need another striker?

[Beans]

Afternoon all - just recorded and posted a new podcast with Blades Analytics, reviewing the Bolton game and answering a few questions that people lobbed at us on Twitter:

As well as breaking down the game itself, we look at:

• Player ratings (20:40)
• A Chris Basham love-in (27:10)
• Is it a problem if we don't sign a striker before the deadline? (52:55)
• How will our midfield look when Coutts returns? (1:05:35)

As always, feedback is very welcome.



https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/bladespod/id1309198119?mt=2

Cheers and UTB!

 

[Agreasychipbutty]

Personaly don't think we need another striker, Clarke and Sharp were the best pair of strikers in the league last season (at least I think they got the most goals between them) and with a quality midfield allowing Fleck to get forwards, and Freeman back, we should get more goals from people other than our strikers (Bolton for example). That along with McGoldrick whos been pretty good so far and all we need is a LWB for competition with Stevens, like with Freeman and Baldock, and I reckon we should be set. But that's just my opinion and I know shag all so let's see what wilder thinks...

UTB

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I think we do. You never know how form or injuries will take their toll. Or prison sentences.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

We need 2 strikers.

 

[allypallyblade]

This is an excellent podcast. Informed, fair and enthusiastic.

 

[beatific blade]

This is getting really impressive, guys. Please do keep it up.

I wonder whether the University will let you borrow a studio. They have soundproofed rooms with proper broadcasting and recording equipment for radio that you can link a phonecall into to do your two-way with Blades Analytics

 

[bromtom]

We need strikers but it's not a reflection on our 3 senior strikers, we just need cover.

I won't be bothered if we don't get the ones touted around though, but we need 1x fast striker in at least, doesn't matter if he isn't a Billy Sharp tier finisher, I think as long as he can make holes for other players to get in with his pace, we'll have other players around that can put the ball in the net. Just gives us another avenue to find goals.

It'd be great if they could finish too though obviously.

 

[Blades Analytics]

This is getting really impressive, guys. Please do keep it up.

I wonder whether the University will let you borrow a studio. They have soundproofed rooms with proper broadcasting and recording equipment for radio that you can link a phonecall into to do your two-way with Blades Analytics

that's a wonderful idea! sure we can look into something like that to help increase the sound quality and hopefully that will in turn get some more listeners involved

 

[SwissBlade]

that's a wonderful idea! sure we can look into something like that to help increase the sound quality and hopefully that will in turn get some more listeners involved

Bloody hell, were you in a submarine for yesterdays podcast! Bloody hell its the only thing which annoys me in an otherwise excellent podcast.

 

[The Jackdaw]

Depends if the fax machine is working today

 

[Beans]

This is getting really impressive, guys. Please do keep it up.

I wonder whether the University will let you borrow a studio. They have soundproofed rooms with proper broadcasting and recording equipment for radio that you can link a phonecall into to do your two-way with Blades Analytics

That would be nice... at the moment this is very much done on the cheap (in case you couldn't tell...!).

 

[SwissBlade]

That would be nice... at the moment this is very much done on the cheap (in case you couldn't tell...!).

A landline phone might help the connection issues

 

[I should coco]

Sorry lads but the sound was appalling.

I've really enjoyed all the ones I've heard so far, but Jay was virtually unlistenable on that and I gave up. I assume logistics mean you can't record togeter, but as SwissBlade suggests, a landline should significantly improve things.

I don't just want to be negative and I really appreciate the work both of you are putting in. The statistical analysis is a whole new thing on here and it is clear that many others have enjoyed it too. Keep up nthe good work, but please take the bag off Jay's head.

 

[SwissBlade]

Sorry lads but the sound was appalling.

I've really enjoyed all the ones I've heard so far, but Jay was virtually unlistenable on that and I gave up. I assume logistics mean you can't record togeter, but as SwissBlade suggests, a landline should significantly improve things.

I don't just want to be negative and I really appreciate the work both of you are putting in. The statistical analysis is a whole new thing on here and it is clear that many others have enjoyed it too. Keep up nthe good work, but please take the bag off Jay's head.

It did get better, but was hit and miss all the way through, which is a real shame as the quality of discussion was excellent

 

[itsinyerblood]

Re. The above technical issues - I prefer to see these as teething problems. The feedback on here should help in that respect.

Good episode Ben, once again you've managed to hold a conversation with James that is interesting, informative, and with your own individual insights adding sufficient entertainment. Just make sure that there's some balance regarding the appraisal of individual players. We're currently enjoying a minor purple patch, so it's easy to praise and offer constructive analysis. Should we manage to hit a brick wall and our standards suddenly lower, then it will be interesting to listen to your comments about exactly why we appear to have lost our mojo. Here's hoping the Norwood effect continues well into the new year, the buzz at watching the mighty Blades compete so effectively compensates for those times when we've been dire!

Good show fella, it's a great time to be a Blade and you and James offer something extra special that the dedicated Blade can't help but find great pleasure in.

UTB!

 

[I should coco]

Good show fella, it's a great time to be a Blade and you and James offer something extra special that the dedicated Blade can't help but find great pleasure in.

Puts me to shame and makes me feel a bit mealy mouthed.

As itsinyerblood says, it's perhaps easier to do while we are playing well. It will be interesting to see your views when this good run ends in 2027 and we go two years between Champions League trophies......

 

[Dnblade]

Good listen again lads...it did sound like James was in a Submarine at first,but put my ear phones on in the car and it sounded a lot better.
Must admit I've written Bash off on a few occasions,especially as a midfieldat and his final ball/decision making in the final third of the pich...but he's proving me wrong in recent games...I had Fleck just ahead of him as MoM...Norwood looked superb again,just keeping us moving...he's just speeded things up,and gets us going forwards a lot quicker...the likes of Enda and Freeman,and the players further forward are benefiting.

 

[Pompey_Blade]

Crowd Fund could be an option to by some decent microphones etc. Brilliant pod again and I have listened to everyone since they started. Big fan of the idea to get Bergen Blade involved in one! Keep up the good work!

 

[Sothall_Blade]

that's a wonderful idea! sure we can look into something like that to help increase the sound quality and hopefully that will in turn get some more listeners involved

I think the sound quality was better last season.
Have you changed your phone or any other equipment that might have made things worse?

 

[Beans]

Cheers for all the feedback folks - there's a couple of things we can do to improve Jay's connection so hopefully we'll have those in place for the next episode. Sorry about this, the pod is becoming more than "just a hobby" for me so I want it to be as high-quality as possible! But hopefully we can keep improving the sound quality

 

[Th!stledo]

Re. The above technical issues - I prefer to see these as teething problems. The feedback on here should help in that respect.

Good episode Ben, once again you've managed to hold a conversation with James that is interesting, informative, and with your own individual insights adding sufficient entertainment. Just make sure that there's some balance regarding the appraisal of individual players. We're currently enjoying a minor purple patch, so it's easy to praise and offer constructive analysis. Should we manage to hit a brick wall and our standards suddenly lower, then it will be interesting to listen to your comments about exactly why we appear to have lost our mojo. Here's hoping the Norwood effect continues well into the new year, the buzz at watching the mighty Blades compete so effectively compensates for those times when we've been dire!

Good show fella, it's a great time to be a Blade and you and James offer something extra special that the dedicated Blade can't help but find great pleasure in.

UTB!

A very valid point. Statistics will always be statistics. The rational logic of the brain conflicted by the rationalising of the heart will be interesting to see unfold. It's a given that we will all come to varied conclusions and have differing opinions but statistics will allow us to get there in a more informed manner.

 

[Bartleby]

Excellent stuff Beans and Blades Analytics !

Any plans to make them available to download to listen to offline? I don't have itunes/ipod/ipad etc but if they were available as mp3s I would download to listen to in the car etc.

 

[Beans]

Excellent stuff Beans and Blades Analytics !

Any plans to make them available to download to listen to offline? I don't have itunes/ipod/ipad etc but if they were available as mp3s I would download to listen to in the car etc.

You can download from SoundCloud - go to the track you want, click "More" then download from there Thanks for listening!

 

[Bartleby]

You can download from SoundCloud - go to the track you want, click "More" then download from there Thanks for listening!

Thanks for that - have registered on there and got the download option now

 

[beatific blade]

that's a wonderful idea! sure we can look into something like that to help increase the sound quality and hopefully that will in turn get some more listeners involved

Blades Analytics Beans

The Uni of Sheffield and the Uni of Lincoln both have excellent radio facilities in their Journalism departments. Both unis have heir own radio stations too so try contacting them too to see if there's any chance of swindling an hour.

You never know you might get some help from students with production etc...

 

[Selly]

Cheers for all the feedback folks - there's a couple of things we can do to improve Jay's connection so hopefully we'll have those in place for the next episode. Sorry about this, the pod is becoming more than "just a hobby" for me so I want it to be as high-quality as possible! But hopefully we can keep improving the sound quality

The other alternative would be to do the call via something like Skype, and use that to record the audio at either end and then stitch it together from that.

It's a bit more work, and I don't actually know how you do it, but another podcast I listen to does it in that way (and once it failed and they explained how and why)

 

[bromtom]

The other alternative would be to do the call via something like Skype, and use that to record the audio at either end and then stitch it together from that.

It's a bit more work, and I don't actually know how you do it, but another podcast I listen to does it in that way (and once it failed and they explained how and why)

Couldn't you do the podcast over the phone as usual but record the audio separately aswell with microphones and audacity? Then save it as an MP3, email and put them together. You'd have to both clap in unison at the beginning though so you could sync them together.

 

[Steve Mackan]

Crowd Fund could be an option to by some decent microphones etc. Brilliant pod again and I have listened to everyone since they started. Big fan of the idea to get Bergen Blade involved in one! Keep up the good work!

From experience, there is certainly the goodwill to fund costs such as those. And I'm sure there's a sponsor out there if you can sustain 1k listens per pod, which I'm sure you can, judging by the quality of conversation/debate. You obviously have a great understanding of the conventions of what makes a great podcast.

Keep up the good work.

 

[coolhandluke]

I'd like to echo the thoughts of every one else on here chaps . Another top quality offering from you both and you've now got a dedicated follower in me and as such I'll be recommending you to everyone I know .

I did say ' I'd like to echo the thoughts of everyone else on here ' though didn't I . The sound quality was poor . I found using my headphones did help but it was grim . Surely someone must be able to help ?

Foxy , is there anyway someone at the Club could help out here ? Whilst I'm pretty much certain therell be nothing the Club can do on a practical level could they put Beans and Blades Analytics in touch with anyone ? Maybe JG or GA could help in this respect ??

 

[WalkelyFan]

Blades Analytics Beans

The Uni of Sheffield and the Uni of Lincoln both have excellent radio facilities in their Journalism departments. Both unis have heir own radio stations too so try contacting them too to see if there's any chance of swindling an hour.

You never know you might get some help from students with production etc...

But since you are well in at Sheffield Live - why not ask Sangita?