BladesPod: Football's coming back

[Beans]

Afternoon all,

Two weeks today we'll (hopefully) be watching United in action, which is pretty bloomin' exciting if you ask me. Roygbiv and I go over what football might look like when it returns, the importance of having sport back in our lives, how the new sub rules could impact the game, Wilder's "bring it on" attitude vs that of other clubs, and plenty more besides:



Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many other fine podcast outlets too.

Finally! I'm not totally sure how, but some kind soul has put BladesPod forward for a Football Content Award, and we have somehow made the shortlist for the darn thing itself. I'm semi-embarrassed about this when I look at some of the names on that list - The Anfield Wrap! AFTV! - as they are some serious heavy-hitters whereas... we're not. Just being on there at all is very humbling, but if you would like to vote for us, you can do so here in the "Best Podcast - Premier League" category. United themselves are also on the shortlist for the best content created by a club, so you know what to do...

FCAs Voting - Football Content Awards

Read more…

footballcontentawards.com

 

[Aganarama]

Consider it done

 

[nezimão]

really looking forward to listening to this.

voted for blades pod in the awards, only took a moment. a small thank you from me to you for all the excellent content.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

Roy's view from and now a bonafide bladespod
Seems a bit melodramatic to say this but as these two things have been such a big part of my blades supporting life over the last few years ( and just as enjoyable ) it's quite an emotional experience them.being back ,the lockdown has been an anxious time for me and the footy coming back is such a personally joyous thing that I wouldn't even mind staying in lockdown for the foreseeable now although I hope I won't have to

 

[tomtheblade]

Great pod gents!

Favourite moment.. when Roy came out with the gem 'Villa will be coming at us like a house on fire'

 

[Foxy]

Finally! I'm not totally sure how, but some kind soul has put BladesPod forward for a Football Content Award, and we have somehow made the shortlist for the darn thing itself. I'm semi-embarrassed about this when I look at some of the names on that list - The Anfield Wrap! AFTV! - as they are some serious heavy-hitters whereas... we're not. Just being on there at all is very humbling, but if you would like to vote for us, you can do so here in the "Best Podcast - Premier League" category. United themselves are also on the shortlist for the best content created by a club, so you know what to do...

I've already cast my vote as a 'judge'

N.B. Not sure how they'll make up for the ticket prices not being able to host an event. We didn't go along when we were nominated, then the winner in our category wasn't really in our category

 

[TCsLoveChild]

Afternoon all,

Two weeks today we'll (hopefully) be watching United in action, which is pretty bloomin' exciting if you ask me. Roygbiv and I go over what football might look like when it returns, the importance of having sport back in our lives, how the new sub rules could impact the game, Wilder's "bring it on" attitude vs that of other clubs, and plenty more besides:



Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many other fine podcast outlets too.

Finally! I'm not totally sure how, but some kind soul has put BladesPod forward for a Football Content Award, and we have somehow made the shortlist for the darn thing itself. I'm semi-embarrassed about this when I look at some of the names on that list - The Anfield Wrap! AFTV! - as they are some serious heavy-hitters whereas... we're not. Just being on there at all is very humbling, but if you would like to vote for us, you can do so here in the "Best Podcast - Premier League" category. United themselves are also on the shortlist for the best content created by a club, so you know what to do...

FCAs Voting - Football Content Awards

Read more…

footballcontentawards.com

View attachment 81742

Very well done on your nomination. Well deserved and my vote is cast ⚔⚔ UTB

 

[JohnDenver]

Duly voted for Bladespod, Bloom and SUFC.

One question for Beans ....

When you were discussing the effects of Covid, I was trying to get my head around your suggestion that out of contract established Prem players like Bournemouth's Fraser would be so valuable in this market? I thought that (desirable) out of contract players attracted higher wages and sign-on fees, at least partially offsetting the lack of a transfer fee. So if the whole market is depressed by uncertainty and lower incomes, wouldn't Fraser's hopes for a bumper contract suffer the same downward pressure as transfer fees will? I'm struggling to imagine his position will be improved by the new market conditions.

Reminds me a bit of Lunny, who perhaps should have signed a contract before the Covid correction in wages kicked in.

 

[Beans]

Duly voted for Bladespod, Bloom and SUFC.

One question for Beans ....

When you were discussing the effects of Covid, I was trying to get my head around your suggestion that out of contract established Prem players like Bournemouth's Fraser would be so valuable in this market? I thought that (desirable) out of contract players attracted higher wages and sign-on fees, at least partially offsetting the lack of a transfer fee. So if the whole market is depressed by uncertainty and lower incomes, wouldn't Fraser's hopes for a bumper contract suffer the same downward pressure as transfer fees will? I'm struggling to imagine his position will be improved by the new market conditions.

Reminds me a bit of Lunny, who perhaps should have signed a contract before the Covid correction in wages kicked in.

I was thinking in terms of:

- If you can get a (good) player for free, that is obviously more desirable to a club than paying a fee for a player of equivalent ability. In a world where football finance is currently uncertain, this should be even more true than before.

- As a result of that, more teams will be in the market for (good) out of contract players. More demand potentially equates to an opportunity for an agent to drive up the pay that that player will receive from his new club.

My thinking was that wages, being spread over a longer period, are less financially risky than a transfer fee (even allowing for the standard jiggery-pokery with installments, amortisation etc of transfer fees). Plus the player becomes YOUR asset who you could move on for a fee if necessary yourself, potentially offsetting whatever you've been paying him, even in a depressed transfer market. Overall, it's a much lower-risk proposition for clubs.

It may even be that someone like Fraser ends up at a really big club (eg Man Utd, Liverpool) not because they think he's "the answer" but because he's a useful squad option that they can get for free, vs paying £20-30m for someone of about his level.

Edit to say that I think this will only apply to PL-quality players, maybe Championship at a push (see Lyle Taylor). It's a shit time to be a free agent if you're league 1/2 standard.

 

[JohnDenver]

I was thinking in terms of:

- If you can get a (good) player for free, that is obviously more desirable to a club than paying a fee for a player of equivalent ability. In a world where football finance is currently uncertain, this should be even more true than before.

- As a result of that, more teams will be in the market for (good) out of contract players. More demand potentially equates to an opportunity for an agent to drive up the pay that that player will receive from his new club.

My thinking was that wages, being spread over a longer period, are less financially risky than a transfer fee (even allowing for the standard jiggery-pokery with installments, amortisation etc of transfer fees). Plus the player becomes YOUR asset who you could move on for a fee if necessary yourself, potentially offsetting whatever you've been paying him, even in a depressed transfer market. Overall, it's a much lower-risk proposition for clubs.

It may even be that someone like Fraser ends up at a really big club (eg Man Utd, Liverpool) not because they think he's "the answer" but because he's a useful squad option that they can get for free, vs paying £20-30m for someone of about his level.

Edit to say that I think this will only apply to PL-quality players, maybe Championship at a push (see Lyle Taylor). It's a shit time to be a free agent if you're league 1/2 standard.

Interesting, ta. Maybe I’ve been brainwashed by Kev’s old mantra about the cost of free transfers....

 

[Withington Blade]

really looking forward to listening to this.

voted for blades pod in the awards, only took a moment. a small thank you from me to you for all the excellent content.

Likewise from me. You’ve put some great content out over the past few months during lockdown, so thank-you for that. I normally dread going jogging but these podcasts make it almost bearable!

 

[Gimli]

One of the downsides to football returning is that I guess it will mean the end of the excellent ‘mini-series’ of season reviews that Beans and Roygbiv have been producing. I’ve absolutely loved revisiting even our crap seasons!