Bit dramatic? 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 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 (http://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
Ben and Andrew's new season enthusiasm was burst quite abruptly by an almost farcically-clinical Bristol City on Saturday, but we discuss the fallout and the bright spots here as well as a need to gerronwi'it in the transfer market, the Anel Ahmedhodzic sale, and tonight's league cup game with Birmingham City. Thanks for listening and UTB!
After a summer sabbatical, Ben and Andrew look ahead to the 2025/26 season and get their heads back in the game ahead of the new campaign. We discuss the general feeling towards it all kicking off, Ruben Selles as manager, Vini Souza's departure, and players we're expecting a breakout season from. We're back, and we're ready for it all over again. Thanks for listening and UTB!
Ben and Andrew react to today's news that Chris Wilder has been sacked as manager of Sheffield United. We discuss why it might have happened, what we think of the timing, and whether we think it's the right decision, plus look back on Wilder's legacy and what a new man could mean for the club going forward. As always, thanks for listening and UTB! === Women of Steel, a free newsletter about Sheffield United Women: http://womenofsteel.substack.com Who Remembers, Andrew (and Liam)'s UK nostalgia podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507764/episodes
Ben and Andrew emerge from under their respective rocks and remove their fingers from their respective ears to acknowledge that a playoff final took place two weeks ago. We do our best not to discuss that in any particular detail and instead appraise how we're feeling about United heading into the off-season and another year in the Championship. Thanks for your patience and for listening! Ben's newsletter on Sheffield United Women can be found at WOMEN OF STEEL: http://womenofsteel.substack.com Andrew and Leeroy's rebranded nostalgia podcast WHO REMEMBERS: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507764
The time for talking is almost over, but until then Ben and Andrew blurt out some nervously-excited / excitedly-nervous thoughts ahead of United's 5th attempt to win a playoff final. Does Sunderland's form matter? Do our two league meetings have any significance? Can we keep our cool? How much of a difference will Wilder make? All this and more covered in an amount of detail greater than zero. Thanks for listening and for one last time this season, UTB!
Ben and Andrew savour a smooth semi-final victory for the Blades, who repeat the scoreline of the first leg and beat Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate. We discuss a brilliant atmosphere and a memorable George Baldock moment, the great position the squad is in, how we're feeling heading to Wembley to face Sunderland, and the farce around the delayed kickoff announcement. Back with a preview of the match itself next week, in the meantime thanks for listening and UTB!
Ben and Andrew have a brief but giddy review of United's fantastic 3-0 win over Bristol City in the first leg of the playoff semi-finals, as Callum O'Hare and forgotten man Andre Brooks give the Blades a healthy cushion following Harrison Burrows' first half penalty. We talk about two big refereeing decisions, wily Wilder, the value of Kieffer Moore and a few other odds and ends ahead of Monday's second leg. Thanks for listening and UTB!
It's time for our old friend the playoffs, and Ben and Andrew are feeling optimistic (well, mainly Ben). We look ahead at the two games to come with Bristol City, including how both sides are shaping up and the fact United actually having a strong squad to pick from for once in a playoff campaign. Finally, with the regular season over, we revisit our Chip Butty Predictions from the start of the campaign to find who owes who a tasty carb-based meal. Thanks for listening and UTB!
With the Blades about to try and win the playoffs at the 10th attempt, Ben and Andrew look back through history to see what went wrong in every previous campaign and what lessons we can (hopefully) learn that'll help Chris Wilder's class of 2025 finally giving us that sweet sweet Wembley win we've been waiting 100 years for. Thanks for listening and UTB!
With United's status as the third men of the Championship confirmed, Ben and Andrew look at what needs to happen over the next few weeks to get the squad as ready as possible for the knockout fun of the playoffs. Thanks for listening, and UTB!
Ben and Andrew lament a dreadful defeat at Plymouth that means it'll almost certainly be the playoffs for United this season. We look at where it's gone wrong, what we'd like to see next, and whether there is still more than a glimmer of hope for the top two... Thanks for listening, and UTB!
Ben and Andrew take a deep breath and talk through two terrible results for United that sees them falter in the race for automatic promotion despite not really playing that differently to the rest of the season. There's some encouragement in that, but also a fair dose of frustration of course as the fun of they playoffs nudges closer. We also look ahead to what is now a huge game at Plymouth on Saturday. Thanks for listening and UTB!
Ben is joined by Anna Kent of Rainbow Blades to discuss United's impressive win over Coventry (with a few minutes revisiting the derby win, because why not), the rise of Rhian Brewster, and the promotion run-in. Finally, we turn our attention to United Women and their battle against relegation - any chance of a happy outcome for both United teams by the time we reach May? Thanks for listening, and UTB!
Ben and Andrew savour a Steel City derby double, as the Blades win 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday. Rhian Brewster (!!!) grabs the headlines as youngsters Femi Seriki and Sydie Peck impress, while Michael Cooper remains the calmest man in Sheffield. We also dissect Chris Wilder's post-match interview and the reaction to it, the legacy of a derby double, and plenty more from a very fine Sunday at Hillsborough. Thanks for listening and UTB!
Ben and Andrew talk about the Blades getting four points from two home games against Paul Heckingbottom's Preston and an impressive Bristol City. Tyrese Campbell stars again and Rob Holding looks good on his first start, but United end up getting stung for playing another close game. We then pause thoughts of promotion briefly for the upcoming derby match on Sunday. Thanks for listening and UTB!
Ben and Andrew recap another away win for the Blades as Ben Brereton Diaz and Tyrese Campbell give United the points at Loftus Road and keep us in the top two. We also look ahead to Preston this weekend and the return to Bramall Lane of Paul Heckingbottom. Thanks for listening and UTB!
Ben and Andrew are feeling fairly upbeat in defeat after Monday night's loss to Leeds, with plenty of encouragement from United's performance against the league leaders. Thanks for listening, and UTB!
Ben and Andrew review a messy but important win for the Blades over Luton, with Anel Ahmedhodzic settling it late on. We discuss the latest edition of the "performances vs results" debate, the state of the promotion race, and our upcoming match against Leeds. Thanks for listening and UTB!
Ben and Andrew discuss United's dismantling of Middlesbrough with a fantastic performance, including a star turn from Sydie Peck and impressive displays from Gustavo Hamer (obviously), Callum O'Hare and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. We also discuss the less-impressive Matthew Donohue and look briefly ahead to Luton this weekend.
jared strafford
nah keep doing what you are doing Ben, true Blayeds love it!
Tino Romano
It's a good podcast but at 1 hour 43 minutes it's too self indulgent, needs to be closer to an hour in my opinion.