First Buzz: 2021-22 Topps UEFA Champions League soccer cards
 

First Buzz: 2021-22 Topps UEFA Champions League soccer cards >> [URL="http://bit.ly/2ZFzogE"][B]BlowoutBuzz.com[/B][/URL]

[IMG]https://www.blowoutcards.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-22-topps-uefa-champions-league-soccer-1-.jpg[/IMG]

Looks nice. I just wish they didn’t make so many unnecessary parallels.

This is great to see!

[QUOTE=fadster;17755378]This is great to see![/QUOTE]

Do you really think the soccer market can support a paper and chrome version of the same product especially considering how much the print run of each is going to go up compared to just 2 years ago? I just don't see the market growing that fast.

[QUOTE=netmasters;17755415]Do you really think the soccer market can support a paper and chrome version of the same product especially considering how much the print run of each is going to go up compared to just 2 years ago? I just don't see the market growing that fast.[/QUOTE]

Every regular Topps UCL release is flying off the shelf even at inflated prices, I think there is room for something like this especially if they finally start selling some retail outside the US. I do think that this means that they can definitely ease back on some of the paper collaborations and OnDemand sets. What is interesting here is that the checklist is 200, I think it would be smart to keep Chrome and Sapphire as more premium products with 100. Use this to take a few more chances on the checklist which could pay off a couple of years down the line.

[QUOTE=fadster;17755436]Every regular Topps UCL release is flying off the shelf even at inflated prices, I think there is room for something like this especially if they finally start selling some retail outside the US. I do think that this means that they can definitely ease back on some of the paper collaborations and OnDemand sets. What is interesting here is that the checklist is 200, I think it would be smart to keep Chrome and Sapphire as more premium products with 100. Use this to take a few more chances on the checklist which could pay off a couple of years down the line.[/QUOTE]

It may be flying off the Topps site but its not really appreciating in the after market if it's not Sapphire. I think we all realize that the 2020-2021 class is pretty loaded with rookies yet those hobby have barely moved over where anyone could actually buy them that didn't have a bot. If they would've kept the sets/print runs to even 2019-2020 levels imagine the joy we would all have right now. I realize Topps doesn't care about that as they have never shown great foresight but this is how you get back to junk wax. Your idea that the checklists would be different is a good one but I see little chance that actually happens. They want expanded checklists and expanded parallels for higher print runs.

Time will tell but I think “flying off the shelf” is still in relation to the singles prices we saw 6-10 months ago. We just collectively react so slowly and a lot of the people “into” soccer aren’t really smart enough about soccer to know what they are getting into.

So… that may continue. And then maybe having this become a $75 box of cards someday is nice. And who knows what releases will get remade and what checklists will look like.

Does seem that Gavi is going to be heavily featured. :)

8 out of 10 Topps Parallels are absolutely utterly horrific. That Pulisic and Foden are legit obscenely ugly.

..but then they always pull a banger out of the hat

mind boggling.

So there is going to be paper, Chrome, Sapphire, and Aoki chrome of basically the same set. I honestly don't understand how Topps gets away with re-printing each set multiple times but just changing the card stock or finish of the card, especially when we also get 10-15 parallel versions of each card in each set.

To me, the two best sets this past season were Merlin and Stadium Club because they were different.

If Topps wants to come up with a more affordable base Champions League set it should make the cards look different. Go with a Heritage look or a sketch card look or something other than the exact same product with a little less shine.

I'll wait for Chrome but good to see more and more soccer products to meet the demand and hopefully bring box prices down. I don't expect the rookie class this year to be that great if Gavi is your main guy but someone may burst on the scene, you never know.

[QUOTE=Gin&Juice;17755685]So there is going to be paper, Chrome, Sapphire, and Aoki chrome of basically the same set. I honestly don't understand how Topps gets away with re-printing each set multiple times but just changing the card stock or finish of the card, especially when we also get 10-15 parallel versions of each card in each set.

To me, the two best sets this past season were Merlin and Stadium Club because they were different.

If Topps wants to come up with a more affordable base Champions League set it should make the cards look different. Go with a Heritage look or a sketch card look or something other than the exact same product with a little less shine.[/QUOTE]

The reason that Topps can get away with this is that most product these days is being bought by flippers or group breakers, who think they can make a profit off anything.

Actual collectors probably buy only 5-10% of any product's total print run.

The 1975 Throwbacks should be cool, although the Messi example is horrendous (they should use PSG, instead of "Paris" for the team name.

Hope that insert set includes some retired players.....

[QUOTE=Gin&Juice;17755685]So there is going to be paper, Chrome, Sapphire, and Aoki chrome of basically the same set. I honestly don't understand how Topps gets away with re-printing each set multiple times but just changing the card stock or finish of the card, especially when we also get 10-15 parallel versions of each card in each set.

To me, the two best sets this past season were Merlin and Stadium Club because they were different.

If Topps wants to come up with a more affordable base Champions League set it should make the cards look different. Go with a Heritage look or a sketch card look or something other than the exact same product with a little less shine.[/QUOTE]

Agree. 4 sets x 10+ parallels each = 50+ of the Same. Exact. Card. And it’s usually not a great looking card either.

As a player collector, I’ve largely given up on Topps.

I'm excited for this, price dependent. £50-60 a box for paper, and I'm in.

Collect the full paper set, then buy select Chrome and one or two Sapphire - that will be my plan.

[QUOTE=netmasters;17755415]Do you really think the soccer market can support a paper and chrome version of the same product especially considering how much the print run of each is going to go up compared to just 2 years ago? I just don't see the market growing that fast.[/QUOTE]

no. Unless they start doing case hit inserts. take a page out of panini's book

[QUOTE=ATLOTP;17757700]no. Unless they start doing case hit inserts. take a page out of panini's book[/QUOTE]

Even when they do case hits, that actually look really cool IMO, nobody seems to care like they do with Panini. It's weird but fine by me as I keep buying and hoping the market comes around some day.

Topps is losing MLB, lost UFC, and just lost WWE.

They're going all-in on soccer. Be happy with it.

You guys that complain about print runs - those short-print days are over.

UCL/Europa and F1 are Topps' biggest sports licenses now. They're going to have to commit.

[QUOTE=PJKards;17759453]Topps is losing MLB, lost UFC, and just lost WWE.

They're going all-in on soccer. Be happy with it.

You guys that complain about print runs - those short-print days are over.

UCL/Europa and F1 are Topps' biggest sports licenses now. They're going to have to commit.[/QUOTE]

I’m selling all my cards and getting out…companies are all about over-producing and don’t care about quality anymore

[QUOTE=bsnsports0605;17760594]I’m selling all my cards and getting out…companies are all about over-producing and don’t care about quality anymore[/QUOTE]

LOL

that made me laugh, sorry.

guess you weren't around in the 80's and 90's when every player had about 1 million cards printed?

did you buy Merlin Chrome this year? That was on pretty much the best card stock I've ever seen, ever.

If only they could learn to cut the cards properly!!!

[QUOTE=YayNJ;17760915]LOL

that made me laugh, sorry.

guess you weren't around in the 80's and 90's when every player had about 1 million cards printed?

did you buy Merlin Chrome this year? That was on pretty much the best card stock I've ever seen, ever.[/QUOTE]

well of course i was....pallets of boxes at Sams Club...

everything i opened this past season was pretty much ungradeable..and yes i opened merlin chrome

i like to open and grade cards..just what it is. i lost interest

[QUOTE=bsnsports0605;17761167]well of course i was....pallets of boxes at Sams Club...

everything i opened this past season was pretty much ungradeable..and yes i opened merlin chrome

i like to open and grade cards..just what it is. i lost interest[/QUOTE]

If you are buying boxes of cards and expecting 9's and 10's each time then I don't know what to say bud.

I'd go as far to say over grading has done more damage to the hobby than anything else this past two-three years.

[QUOTE=bsnsports0605;17761167]well of course i was....pallets of boxes at Sams Club...

everything i opened this past season was pretty much ungradeable..and yes i opened merlin chrome

i like to open and grade cards..just what it is. i lost interest[/QUOTE]

I'm a big fan of merlin, but I only buy singles. My experience was very few pack pulled cards were centered and free of print lines, so even when you got the player you wanted the card likely wouldn't gem. At least buying singles you can check the centering.

[QUOTE=YayNJ;17761308]If you are buying boxes of cards and expecting 9's and 10's each time then I don't know what to say bud.

I'd go as far to say over grading has done more damage to the hobby than anything else this past two-three years.[/QUOTE]

Each time, no….at least one card, yes…

I graded zero cards from the 20-21 sets

[QUOTE=bsnsports0605;17761939]Each time, no….at least one card, yes…

I graded zero cards from the 20-21 sets[/QUOTE]

You must have had some terrible luck then, as I've had plenty of CSG and SGC 10's and 9.5's this year.

[QUOTE=ianh182;17761100]If only they could learn to cut the cards properly!!![/QUOTE]

Or properly center the image, which is probably related to cutting them poorly. I quit buying Merlin due to the sheer number of rubbish, off center cards I was pulling.

Better hope the checklist is nothing like the Kick UCL set that dropped today. It will be ROUGH.

[QUOTE=ianh182;17761100]If only they could learn to cut the cards properly!!![/QUOTE]

There are at least 2 factors that contribute to the poor cutting/centering.

1. The human factor. When the uncut sheets are aligned and held in place just prior to being cut, a person is doing it, not a (far more) precise machine.

2. The cutting blade. As a brand new/freshly sharpened blade cuts through hundreds or even thousands of sheets, it obviously dulls over time and with each cut. The blades are a real PITA (and time-consuming) to change out, so one crew will many times just keep cutting with a blade that they know is dull, then leave it in the machine for the next crew to change out when their shift starts, so that they don't have to do it.

[QUOTE=IndySportsCards;17762396]Or properly center the image, which is probably related to cutting them poorly. I quit buying Merlin due to the sheer number of rubbish, off center cards I was pulling.[/QUOTE]

Totally agree.. and it seems like PSA has gotten more stringent with their standards. I worry that Merlin between centering and print lines will be like Megacracks on grading but at 5x the box price

Topps is going to have a rookie cup, im always been a fan of the rookie cup. this cup looks weird should just used the classic one from basball

[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNQWQYxXsAMtrxz?format=jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=glassofwater;18046542]Topps is going to have a rookie cup, im always been a fan of the rookie cup. this cup looks weird should just used the classic one from basball

[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNQWQYxXsAMtrxz?format=jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

I think it looks nice honestly. Glad they changed it up

Edouard Mendy is 29 years old and has been starting in a top tier league for 4 years. When do we stop trying to manufacture value with rookie designations? The rookie cup made sense 50+ years ago when Nolan Ryan had a single card. It is meaningless now, especially if Eric Garcia gets a cup.

^ worse, he's 30!!

Rookie cup makes zero sense. It doesn't exist, and the fact Moukoko got in, shows it has zero credibility already. You can't just shoehorn *all* baseball card traditions into another sport and expect it to work.

It's sad that Topps is choosing to create soccer for baseball fans, and not soccer for soccer fans.

[QUOTE=YayNJ;18047552]It's sad that Topps is choosing to create soccer for baseball fans, and not soccer for soccer fans.[/QUOTE]

That is an interesting point. I am curious what they could have done differently to make it more soccer oriented and not old baseball. They do the 22 under 22 in the MLS product so I am curious if that is more applicable to soccer. Interested to hear your thoughts.

I am also curious if the product date has been pushed back. Blow Out is now showing March 30th as the release date in their presale page.

[QUOTE=MarcieDee;18047974]That is an interesting point. I am curious what they could have done differently to make it more soccer oriented and not old baseball. They do the 22 under 22 in the MLS product so I am curious if that is more applicable to soccer. Interested to hear your thoughts.

I am also curious if the product date has been pushed back. Blow Out is now showing March 30th as the release date in their presale page.[/QUOTE]

Hope not. The other sites all still show March 16.

this has now been delisted from an online store that was showing it (blasters)

looks like it is delayed then?

[QUOTE=YayNJ;18055114]this has now been delisted from an online store that was showing it (blasters)

looks like it is delayed then?[/QUOTE]

Yes cardboard connection removed the 3/16 launch date as well.

Wonder if they'll setup to do the 1st edition just before this.

Grr this sucks.

The pushbacks and delays suck.


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Now they've added a standalone rookie cup product apparently? Expecting a drop anytime. The baseball rookie cup product was pretty cool so I may be in for this one.

[QUOTE=mikee1186;18065380]Now they've added a standalone rookie cup product apparently? Expecting a drop anytime. The baseball rookie cup product was pretty cool so I may be in for this one.[/QUOTE]

Where did you see this? MC members had first dibs on the baseball one iirc, wonder if it will be the same for these.

They posted on social media this morning.

It's not clear but I interpret the announcement as a separate product.

1st edition is live but I just don't think I want to do it for that price.

[QUOTE=mikee1186;18065846]1st edition is live but I just don't think I want to do it for that price.[/QUOTE]

Stuck in the waiting room, what's the price?

288GBP for me

$366 on uk

Limit 1, I grabbed 1.

Yolo. Got 3

[QUOTE=mikee1186;18065860]Limit 1, I grabbed 1.[/QUOTE]

I dont think it was limit 1

[QUOTE=BRob1;18065875]I dont think it was limit 1[/QUOTE]

Yeah it said limit 1 but it seemed like I could get more.

I got 6 or 8. I need to confirm.

Sold out now on UK.

[QUOTE=mikee1186;18065877]Yeah it said limit 1 but it seemed like I could get more.[/QUOTE]


i bought 2 and hearing of people who bought more than that.


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Should be under 5k boxes if the product pages are correct

German site still going strong. 2 per order

[QUOTE=Dr. K;18065923]German site still going strong. 2 per order[/QUOTE]

I must have just missed it!

Thought about it for too long on the UK site lol....still not sure if it's really worth it at that price.

[QUOTE=MTBRM;18065939]Thought about it for too long on the UK site lol....still not sure if it's really worth it at that price.[/QUOTE]

If the print run really was only 5k, these will be awesome.

[QUOTE=MTBRM;18065939]Thought about it for too long on the UK site lol....still not sure if it's really worth it at that price.[/QUOTE]

They definitely won't be. So many releases coming up that a 1st Edition stamp, with no historical significance in football, will mean eyes will be way gone very soon. Ridiculous price IMO.

The standard box is only going to be around £60-70 surely?

If it's over $100 on Blowout I can't imagine it being anything else?

[QUOTE=Mitch;18066000]They definitely won't be. So many releases coming up that a 1st Edition stamp, with no historical significance in football, will mean eyes will be way gone very soon. Ridiculous price IMO.[/QUOTE]

You must not be familiar with Series 1 1st Edition baseball...

[QUOTE=Archimedes;18066212]You must not be familiar with Series 1 1st Edition baseball...[/QUOTE]

this isn't baseball though, and I really wish Topps would stop making soccer for baseball fans, and actually made soccer for soccer fans..

I think the bigger issues are that there is no one at the equivalent status of Wander in this and we've had releases dribbling out diluting the rookie hype of anyone in this. I'm still in for a box to rip, I don't think this will be as popular out the gates in terms or resale but if a couple of leftfield players take off could be interesting in a few years.

[QUOTE=fadster;18066248]I think the bigger issues are that there is no one at the equivalent status of Wander in this and we've had releases dribbling out diluting the rookie hype of anyone in this. I'm still in for a box to rip, I don't think this will be as popular out the gates in terms or resale but if a couple of leftfield players take off could be interesting in a few years.[/QUOTE]

Plus paper soccer cards. Does anyone care? I am honestly not sure. Didn't see this in time to buy but not sure if I would even touch it at that price.

[QUOTE=YayNJ;18066227]this isn't baseball though, and I really wish Topps would stop making soccer for baseball fans, and actually made soccer for soccer fans..[/QUOTE]

I've always been a baseball fan and a baseball card fan, so I'm not sure what the difference would be, but fair point.

[QUOTE=Archimedes;18066212]You must not be familiar with Series 1 1st Edition baseball...[/QUOTE]I'm familiar. Which number on the checklist is Wander Franco in this release?

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[QUOTE=Mitch;18066355]I'm familiar. Which number on the checklist is Wander Franco in this release?

Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]

You didn't act fast enough to grab one, did you? LOL.

[QUOTE=Archimedes;18066478]You didn't act fast enough to grab one, did you? LOL.[/QUOTE]

99.9% of people didn't.

being sat at your computer waiting for drops isn't exactly something to be proud of.

[QUOTE=YayNJ;18066486]99.9% of people didn't.

being sat at your computer waiting for drops isn't exactly something to be proud of.[/QUOTE]

I'm pretty proud of it.

[QUOTE=Archimedes;18066501]I'm pretty proud of it.[/QUOTE]

Good for you champ, good for you.

[IMG]https://cdn.fstoppers.com/styles/large-16-9/s3/lead/2017/01/ebay_troll.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=YayNJ;18066534]Good for you champ, good for you.

[IMG]https://cdn.fstoppers.com/styles/large-16-9/s3/lead/2017/01/ebay_troll.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

I mean, you're reviewing images to post on an internet forum, so...

[QUOTE=Archimedes;18066478]You didn't act fast enough to grab one, did you? LOL.[/QUOTE]I passed. I had it up on UK, and then shared the link to my buddies for DE and ES where it sat for a really good time. I've not seen a single box re-sell on ebay yet. I'm just not seeing what anyone else is, but all power to you. If you've got money to burn with all of April's releases coming I respect that.

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This is odd. It really says something about a product when baseball fans want it more than soccer fans do.

Could be a sleeper hit , I doubt it though but me personally I have zero interest in a paper product with guys that have had cards for years and a rookie class that from what I can tell right now absolutely blows.

Zero chatter in any soccer FB group I am in though about it.