BladesPod: Rating our transfer window + Championship narratives

[Beans]

Morning all,

Back after a short break, recorded an extra-long pod with Blades Analytics discussing many things to help you through the rest of the international break...

Firstly, a look back at the win over Villa (I think it's worth reliving, even if it was over a week ago) - 02:50.

Then we give our out-of-10 ratings for every one of our summer signings (and some of our outgoings), taking into account how they've done so far, the amount spent, player's age/potential etc. Good long chat about that, starting at 15:05 - very curious to see if you'd agree/disagree with our ratings for eg Ben Woodburn.

Next, we tackle some "Championship narratives" from the season so far. Basically, which of these early-season hot takes do we think will still be true at the end of the season, and which are just a flash in the pan. Starts at 1:00:06 and includes:

• Will United make the playoffs?
• Might Wednesday finish above us?
• Should you bet on Brentford for promotion?
• Have Forest signed too many players and are going nowhere?
• Could Sharp score 15 goals this season?

Plus some thoughts on Bolton, Leeds, Ipswich, Swansea, Stoke, WBA, Rotherham and others.

Finally, a little preview for the Bristol City game right at the end (1:40:00).

Thanks for listening - the last episode had more listens than any other ep so far which was great to see. Sliiightly better sound quality for Blades Analytics on this one by virtue of a somewhat better internet connection. It's still not crystal but I hope it'll do the job for you.



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

Cheers for listening and UTB!

 

[Steve Mackan]

Ten mins in, the audio much better to me. The levels are much better. Currently basking with you both in the Villa game love-in.

 

[Beans]

Ten mins in, the audio much better to me. The levels are much better. Currently basking with you both in the Villa game love-in.

Wait til you get to the Dem Blades annual love-in!

 

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

Can't be arsed to start a new thread, but another podcast where the Blades get a decent shout out;



Someone on it sounds vaguely familiar too

 

[I should coco]

Got TMS on at work so your podcast will have to wait.

Something to look forward to later, when I'm all tired of looking out of the window.....

 

[Steve Mackan]

Best to date for me. Really liked the narrative takes, great feature. Keep up the excellent work.

-Agree with Jay on Brooks looking a worse deal every time I see him
- Disagree on Swansea and Ipswich (Ipswich bottom 8, Swansea top 8 for me)

Wait til you get to the Dem Blades annual love-in!

Big thank you for this too.

 

[Blades Analytics]

Best to date for me. Really liked the narrative takes, great feature. Keep up the excellent work.

-Agree with Jay on Brooks looking a worse deal every time I see him
- Disagree on Swansea and Ipswich (Ipswich bottom 8, Swansea top 8 for me)




Big thank you for this too.

Don't thank us mate richly deserved for a brilliant bit of work!

 

[Cappy]

Nice work fellas. A solid listen again. Cheers

 

[CaptainMorgans]

This is a top effort Beans .

 

[Antonb]

Class again lads! Your podcasts are a must listen! Been looking forward to this one! Only thing I would have still have liked a player rating for the villa game. But still a fantastic job guys.

 

[IOM Blade]

Made the last two hours of work flyby. Thanks lads.

 

[Swannyblade]

Excellent again...keeps getting better with each episode. It’s great to have a podcast dedicated to the Blades and even better to have a high quality one with two well informed, honest and level-headed contributors. So much better than the knee-jerk, ott arsenal fan tv-style tosh that fans of many other teams have to settle for.
You’re both clearly fans of quality footy podcasts too judging by the little nods to NTT20, Guardian FW, Second Caps etc.
With the imminent hiatus of Shoreham View, it’s nice to get another Blades fill from a different, but similarly well-produced media source.
Can I also say how great it is to see this little community of forum contributors develop who are using their own time to produce high quality output for us less productive/skilled Blades fans...all your efforts really are appreciated - we really are spoilt at present. DEM Blades Annual being a great showcase of this and hopefully the first of many more to come.
Thanks to all and well done

 

[allypallyblade]

Excellent audio treat.

 

[Steve Mackan]

.
Can I also say how great it is to see this little community of forum contributors develop who are using their own time to produce high quality output for us less productive/skilled Blades fans...all your efforts really are appreciated - we really are spoilt at present. DEM Blades Annual being a great showcase of this and hopefully the first of many more to come.
Thanks to all and well done

It's a great testament to the folk involved in all of the different content being produced that they support and encourage one another. May it continue...we'll certainly back with a 'bigger, better' 2019 edition.

 

[Stretch]

As always, a great listen.

Cheers!

 

[Beans]

Wow, thanks for all the feedback and listens everyone - fantastic.

Can I also say how great it is to see this little community of forum contributors develop who are using their own time to produce high quality output for us less productive/skilled Blades fans...all your efforts really are appreciated - we really are spoilt at present. DEM Blades Annual being a great showcase of this and hopefully the first of many more to come.
Thanks to all and well done

Completely agree with this - some brilliant stuff out there and it feels like more and more is popping up as a result. Certainly helps fill the time between games

 

[S64 Blade]

Avoiding work and listening as we speak. Keep up the excellent work!

 

[Smirth]

I’ve only listened to the last 2 but enjoyed both a lot, only came across it because of your appearance on NTT20. Although the last one, at close to 2 hours, ate in to my podcast schedule but it was all good content.

Good to have something that is solely blades related, but also touches upon other teams in the league.

Now I’ve found this, I think one other podcast will have to go because I’m struggling for time on my commute to listen to them all, there really is so much good stuff to listen to now.

 

[Roygbiv]

Halfway through and listening to the happiness in your voices as you reminisce about the Villa game reminds me of two teenagers talking about losing their virginity.


Another great effort!

 

[NE Blade]

This is brilliant. Again I found it thanks to the guest appearance on NTT20. Well done chaps.

 

[The Vicar]

Sat in bed after having my op last week for prostate cancer, catheters are somewhat limiting! What a great listen, being looked after by Mrs Vicar and reflecting on the Villa game, the best 45 minutes I have seen in years, life is looking better.

I look forward to listening throughout the season.

MTLBWY

UTB

 

[Beans]

Sat in bed after having my op last week for prostate cancer, catheters are somewhat limiting! What a great listen, being looked after by Mrs Vicar and reflecting on the Villa game, the best 45 minutes I have seen in years, life is looking better.

I look forward to listening throughout the season.

MTLBWY

UTB

Speedy recovery pal, hope all's well.

 

[I should coco]

As others have said, this is excellent.

Great technical content and Jay does a good job of making the stats stuff interesting. The wandering discusssion about others' chances was also very revealing.

I've been very critcal of the sound quality previously so I'm really pleased to say this was much better. Thanks for listening and sorting this out.

Another wonderful effort lads and please do keep up the good work.

 

[Blades Analytics]

Sat in bed after having my op last week for prostate cancer, catheters are somewhat limiting! What a great listen, being looked after by Mrs Vicar and reflecting on the Villa game, the best 45 minutes I have seen in years, life is looking better.

I look forward to listening throughout the season.

MTLBWY

UTB

This feedback is everything to me personally. If in some miniscule way we have provided some light entertainment I am ecstatic. All the best Vic, speedy recovery and say hi to Mrs Vic who I imagine is doing an incredible job and deserves a bit of a shout! UTB

 

[Blades Analytics]

As others have said, this is excellent.

Great technical content and Jay does a good job of making the stats stuff interesting. The wandering discusssion about others' chances was also very revealing.

I've been very critcal of the sound quality previously so I'm really pleased to say this was much better. Thanks for listening and sorting this out.

Another wonderful effort lads and please do keep up the good work.

Glad you enjoyed it and could hear of much better pal! Thanks for the nice comments! UTB

 

[bromtom]

First time listening to one of these, will be listening in the future, good stuff.

On the Brooks deal, personally I'm happy with it because we look better this season and no doubt with the legal battle in the boardroom, we wouldn't have looked as good had we not sold him.

It hurts to see him playing well no doubt, but he just didn't fit our team unfortunately and deserves starts to be honest.

Monetarily £11-15 million (depending on who you believe) isn't bad, both in terms of he was probably worth that in the summer, and for a Sheffield United transfer fee where we're usually snapping people's hands off at a fraction of the actual fee the player could command.

Having played a few games now though, if Bournemouth sold him in January he'd easily be £17-25 million, though to pre-emptively counter the "why didn't we get that for him?" question, it's because even though we thought he was good enough, he's now shown he is.

Think it's also worth mentioning sell on fees, we might have sold him for a bit less as a trade off for a proper meaty sell on. Wilder said we'd covered ourselves at the time, and he's no mug, maybe we've got a 30% sell on or something?

Could be getting another £10-£15 million for him in another 2 years if he keeps showing what he's got, and £22-27m would be a very good fee.

 

[The Vicar]

Many thanks for your good wishes.