BladesPod - latest episodes

[Kenilworth]

Very sad news! Been checking Spotify several times the past few days to listen to the latest episode. Especially now we're struggling I've been looking forward to your calm and objective take on things.

Big thanks for what you've done over the years.

I have been looking forrad to a bloody good Roygbiv rant while Beans suppresses several sniggers and goads him on from the sidelines.
Gutted we aren’t going to get that chaotic, cathartic catalogue of catastrophe now

 

[brownblade]

Little known fact is that I actually play the role of Chad on The Red Half podcast

Are you the Sunderland persona?

 

[brownblade]

 

[Kenilworth]

Really hope so, don’t think you and Beans realise just how important you are.
If I saw either of your in a pub I would definitely be buying the drinks as a way to say “thank you”.

I’m quite old and more isolated these days, try to not think about United too much when things are bad.
So it’s great to hear your laughter and ability to turn our poor spell into something quite comical.
What’s the old saying, “if you didn’t laugh then you’d cry”, it really helps when you find snippets of humour regards our demise.

Also you and Beans are so balanced and pretty sensible, able to find negatives and positives.
This should be the norm but these days everything is so exaggerated for effect.
If you read FB or X, anyone would think this is the worse team in our history and we’re currently facing going into the National league.

Spot on Steel. Feel exactly the same.

 

[Cappy]

I’ve decided to call time on the podcast

As mentioned on X, thanks a lot, Ben, it's been a brilliant pod to accompany the football fandom journey, and will be sorely missed in my household. If you ever get itchy to record again, don't think twice!

Thanks and congrats on a cracker pod

 

[Kenilworth]

What the fuck am I going to listen to now on the 2 hour drive to Sheffield on a match day?

You set of bloody ingrates Roygbiv and Beans

 

[Leggy_mambo]

Say it ain't so! You accompanied many a long run and I can only hope that there is no related deterioration in my upcoming half marathon time as a result, I'd hate for you to have that on your conscience ;-).

Thanks to Beans ,Roygbiv and jay for all the time and effort that you have put into this over the years. Always an immediate listen when it appeared in the podcast feed. It's obvious from the response to this news that your work meant a lot to many Blades and I hope that you take rightful pride from that.

 

[Harry's Game]

 

[Scarebus]

Little known fact is that I actually play the role of Chad on The Red Half podcast

Moaning for an hour about united in an American accent is probably pure catharsism. I assume it's how you kept so calm on BladeyP

 

[Super_Dazzler]

Well that is just not the news I wanted when I pressed play tonight.
The original and the best. Always balanced, never over the top and was like listening to two mates.
I remember after the first promotion to the Prem not only re-listening to celebratory episode but also to the almost wrist slashing Millwall episode again and again.
Respect your decision Ben but I beg Roy/Andrew/Weirdo to continue a Blades podcast in some capacity………Traveling?

 

[WestDidsBlade]

As a long time reader of this forum I'm compelled to post for the first time, if only to say a genuine thank you to both of you.

For a lifelong blade cast slightly adrift in South Manchester, BladesPod has been such an excellent way of keeping my connection with the club (I don't get to many matches) - I have always appreciated the consistent mix of calm and reasoned observation, humour and analysis.

Thank you for all of the time and effort you have devoted to the pod over the years.

You'll be missed!

 

[ShefRedandWhite]

Absolutely gutted, BladesPod was my favourite (and truthfully only remaining must listen) of all the available blades media. You really did help me appreciate the highs and muddle through the lows of supporting the blades over the last 8 years.

Thanks so much for your effort and dedication, you've done an amazing job conveying fair and balanced views (at times emotional!) in such an articulate yet accessible manner. As other posters have said, it was like being part of a chat with a few mates.

I'll be eagerly hoping for ( awaiting) the return of the club legends that you are. Can we not tempt you back with huge contracts behind the paywall of patreon etc?!

 

[Super_Dazzler]

Well that is just not the news I wanted when I pressed play tonight.
The original and the best. Always balanced, never over the top and was like listening to two mates.
I remember after the first promotion to the Prem not only re-listening to celebratory episode but also to the almost wrist slashing Millwall episode again and again.
Respect your decision Ben but I beg Roy/Andrew/Weirdo to continue a Blades podcast in some capacity………Traveling

 

[jono_t2000]

Hello S2,

As Scarebus has alluded to above (very quick off the mark there!) - I was hoping to say this after a playoff final win rather than the current mess, but I’ve decided to call time on the podcast. It’s something I’ve been weighing up for a while and, to be honest, it’s an acknowledgement that my heart’s just not in it quite as much as it used to be. Which, if I’m being blunt, you may have noticed at points last season.

I started BladesPod eight years ago, which seems a long time to do anything really. My goal was to be something a little more “considered” than eg Praise or Grumble football phone-in style content, with fairly chill takes rather than clickbaity sensationalism. I hope that BladesPod has lived up to that in the main, but I’m now at a stage of life where United aren’t at the front of my mind anywhere near as much. Rather than put out something a bit rubbish or half-hearted, I think it’s just time to hang up the mic.

I’ve hugely, hugely enjoyed my time recording and putting these podcasts out there, and the (generally!) good-natured feedback they’ve generated, even when it’s a difference of opinion. Above all it’s through this podcast that I’ve made some genuine friendships and met a load of people I don’t believe I’d ever have crossed paths with otherwise. As the pod’s lifetime has overlapped with me becoming a parent – not to mention living through a global pandemic – I can’t overstate how useful it’s been for my own mental health.

I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who’s ever taken the time to record with me – Anna, Dave, Hal, and all the guest fans of other teams who I’ve ever had on, back when I had a bit more enthusiasm. To Jay, without whom I don’t think I’d have carried on going for this long: a man who was my gateway into football analytics as well as giving me the enthusiasm and self-belief that we were doing something worth ours’ and other people’s time. It’s been awesome to see him find an amazing career in the game he devoted so much of his spare time to – one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever encountered.

And of course, a huge thanks to Andrew – someone I’d never met or even spoken to before we recorded an episode together for the first time, and now probably a person I speak to more often than anyone who doesn’t share my surname. An absolute pleasure to record all those episodes with you – six years! – and the one thing that’s made me put off finishing the podcast for the last year or two. A legend of the Lane.

Finally, a thank you to anyone who’s ever listened to the pod or otherwise interacted with me on social media etc. It was only because there appeared to be any audience for this at all that I kept doing it beyond the first amateurish episode. I really do appreciate that that audience continued right up to this day, and I hope you got at least some enjoyment out of the pod during its run.

I’ll still be writing about Sheffield United Women on my newsletter WOMEN OF STEEL (womenofsteel.substack.com), and hopefully will keep writing about the men’s team for the Pinch and anywhere else that will accept a few words from me when they come to mind. But for now, that’s all folks. Thanks again for listening to us.

UTB,

Ben

An episode for the road:



Thanks again. Hugely appreciate anyone who's ever listened or otherwise interacted.

Sorry to see you go. Been a big part of my Blades weekly routine.

Thanks for all your efforts Beans and Roygbiv

Hopefully you come back to do specials like transfer window reviews and end of season review every now and then

 

[Gannon and Egg]

Really appreciate all your efforts lads - loved the podcast and will miss it a lot

 

[just ted]

It’s all been said but just want to add my voice and thanks. Monumental effort and greatly appreciated.

I’ve never met either of you but feel strangely connected, like we’ve sort of been mates for years. Pints on me if we do ever meet before/after/during a match. Thanks chaps. GLTTL

 

[Harry's Game]

Well that is just not the news I wanted when I pressed play tonight.
The original and the best. Always balanced, never over the top and was like listening to two mates.
I remember after the first promotion to the Prem not only re-listening to celebratory episode but also to the almost wrist slashing Millwall episode again and again.
Respect your decision Ben but I beg Roy/Andrew/Weirdo to continue a Blades podcast in some capacity………Traveling?

Roy/Andrew could start a pod cast with a more variable reach than just on the subject of Sheffield United where there is no swear filter where he and mate could riff on subjects they have not really researched and know little about ..

… oh hang on…

 

[jono_t2000]

Roy/Andrew could start a pod cast with a more variable reach than just on the subject of Sheffield United where there is no swear filter where he and mate could riff on subjects they have not really researched and know little about ..

… oh hang on…

More personas than Mick Foley

 

[just ted]

It’s all been said but just want to add my thanks. Monumental effort and greatly appreciated

 

[brownblade]

Has Ben done a Tyson Fury yet?

 

[Withington Blade]

Hello S2,

As Scarebus has alluded to above (very quick off the mark there!) - I was hoping to say this after a playoff final win rather than the current mess, but I’ve decided to call time on the podcast. It’s something I’ve been weighing up for a while and, to be honest, it’s an acknowledgement that my heart’s just not in it quite as much as it used to be. Which, if I’m being blunt, you may have noticed at points last season.

I started BladesPod eight years ago, which seems a long time to do anything really. My goal was to be something a little more “considered” than eg Praise or Grumble football phone-in style content, with fairly chill takes rather than clickbaity sensationalism. I hope that BladesPod has lived up to that in the main, but I’m now at a stage of life where United aren’t at the front of my mind anywhere near as much. Rather than put out something a bit rubbish or half-hearted, I think it’s just time to hang up the mic.

I’ve hugely, hugely enjoyed my time recording and putting these podcasts out there, and the (generally!) good-natured feedback they’ve generated, even when it’s a difference of opinion. Above all it’s through this podcast that I’ve made some genuine friendships and met a load of people I don’t believe I’d ever have crossed paths with otherwise. As the pod’s lifetime has overlapped with me becoming a parent – not to mention living through a global pandemic – I can’t overstate how useful it’s been for my own mental health.

I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who’s ever taken the time to record with me – Anna, Dave, Hal, and all the guest fans of other teams who I’ve ever had on, back when I had a bit more enthusiasm. To Jay, without whom I don’t think I’d have carried on going for this long: a man who was my gateway into football analytics as well as giving me the enthusiasm and self-belief that we were doing something worth ours’ and other people’s time. It’s been awesome to see him find an amazing career in the game he devoted so much of his spare time to – one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever encountered.

And of course, a huge thanks to Andrew – someone I’d never met or even spoken to before we recorded an episode together for the first time, and now probably a person I speak to more often than anyone who doesn’t share my surname. An absolute pleasure to record all those episodes with you – six years! – and the one thing that’s made me put off finishing the podcast for the last year or two. A legend of the Lane.

Finally, a thank you to anyone who’s ever listened to the pod or otherwise interacted with me on social media etc. It was only because there appeared to be any audience for this at all that I kept doing it beyond the first amateurish episode. I really do appreciate that that audience continued right up to this day, and I hope you got at least some enjoyment out of the pod during its run.

I’ll still be writing about Sheffield United Women on my newsletter WOMEN OF STEEL (womenofsteel.substack.com), and hopefully will keep writing about the men’s team for the Pinch and anywhere else that will accept a few words from me when they come to mind. But for now, that’s all folks. Thanks again for listening to us.

UTB,

Ben

An episode for the road:



Thanks again. Hugely appreciate anyone who's ever listened or otherwise interacted.

I’m a little bit more upset about this than I probably should be! Thanks for the time and effort you’ve put in, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to the pods over the years, I think I must have listened to every episode, come win, lose or draw. All the best.

 

[Gtblades]

My favourite pod.
Gonna miss you guys more than Wilder, Basset and Warnock

 

[Slug]

Ahhh man, genuinely gutted to hear this!

Without doubt the premium Blades content out there and the one I constantly refresh soundcloud for to see if a new episode has dropped!

Thank you both Beans and Roygbiv for the hundreds and hundreds of hours of entertainment and therapy you have provided over the years!

Deadbat and Webding you are going to have to pull your fingers out now and start recording more than once every 27 weeks!

 

[Wizard]

Thanks so much for all the work you've put in over the years Ben and thanks to everyone who's contributed. It's consistently been the best United related content out there from the moment it started and was a fantastic companion piece to some of the greatest (and worst) days supporting this club. It'll be sorely missed

 

[Honest Blade]

Don’t post much but like others am compelled to say a massive thank you to you both. I actually feel more upset about this news than our start to the season. Also you have called a lot of things right (no need to go into detail here). But most of all (especially as an exile) I feel I am losing two companions through the highs and lows of being a Blade. Thank you.

 

[Bean Kryan]

Roygbiv - think hamers goal at spurs came from a Robinson long throw.
Thanks for the pod - always a great listen

 

[Bladepicker]

Absolutely gutted about this but totally understand, especially when your young family is getting older and things are taking more time and priorities Beans.

But seriously thank you to you and Roygbiv and I hope you can at least do end of season specials to look at how we've done over the course of a season. You will be greatly missed and I'm gutted, it's like when your favourite TV show comes to an end or your favourite band splits up.

 

[Gimli]

I know you do your other podcast Roygbiv but, you considering filling the void this leaves???

Whooooo remembers…Bladespod

 

[FenBlade]

Thanks very much chaps. The one podcast of which I never miss an episode.

 

[BLADES1988]

Genuinely gutted the pod is ending. Been listening for a good few seasons now. Its always been my fav listen on the bus to work. Hoping Roy now carries the torch forward.

Genuinely thanks for the insights, content, laughs and absolute nonsense.

UTB