First Buzz: 2021-22 Topps Merlin Chrome soccer cards

BlowoutBuzz · 01-31-2022, 03:52 PM

First Buzz: 2021-22 Topps Merlin Chrome soccer cards >> BlowoutBuzz.com

YayNJ · 01-31-2022, 04:01 PM

Looks like a bad mash-up of Premier League 2003 and Premier League 2005?

mikee1186 · 01-31-2022, 04:05 PM

Like most, loved these last year despite ripping only retail. Looking forward to seeing this again (although after the season is done!). I see they are ripping off stained glass inserts for a case hit, but they do look good.

Not sure about the ball relic / auto. Are they going with player touched thing, or just random ball from a warehouse? Can't imagine they are game used, which would be cool.

YayNJ · 01-31-2022, 04:07 PM

they are borrowing an insert design from Gypsy Queen Baseball too

Mitch · 02-02-2022, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YayNJ

they are borrowing an insert design from Gypsy Queen Baseball too

I noticed this too. Looks like a mix of gypsy queen and heritage and doesn't feel very Merlin at all to me.

I do like the base and parallels though.

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kyleuk21 · 01-31-2022, 04:16 PM

That Messi auto and CR7 Renaissance look awesome. Not a fan of the base cards, though.

mikee1186 · 01-31-2022, 04:29 PM

I like the base and most of the insert mock-ups. Assuming these have that same thick card stock, I think the design will play well.

fadster · 01-31-2022, 06:02 PM

Topps seem to be slightly missing the point by thinking Merlin had some sort of Medieval / magic theme. Renaissance looks like a stained glass analogue and a very rare hit, 1 in 2016 packs is 1 in 112 boxes or just over 1 in 9 cases. Ageless Alchemy looks better than last year and only 1 per box

badkarma318 · 01-31-2022, 06:31 PM

Merlin will always be the red-headed stepchild of the soccer card world.

GrangerCollectr · 01-31-2022, 08:54 PM

That Renaissance is pretty awesome looking. And if those are actual match used balls then that will make this product very enticing (if the price is right)

Anish · 01-31-2022, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrangerCollectr

That Renaissance is pretty awesome looking. And if those are actual match used balls then that will make this product very enticing (if the price is right)

Nah, it’s just a UCL match ball. Topps literally has 0 match used stuff.

The autos look on card….probably stickers otherwise they would have said something but here’s to hoping.

mikee1186 · 02-01-2022, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anish

Nah, it’s just a UCL match ball. Topps literally has 0 match used stuff.

The autos look on card….probably stickers otherwise they would have said something but here’s to hoping.

This isn’t true on the match used. Topps has often used match used relics, for soccer anyhow. I have some.

But probably right on the ball. That would be surprising otherwise

Anish · 02-01-2022, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikee1186

This isn’t true on the match used. Topps has often used match used relics, for soccer anyhow. I have some.

But probably right on the ball. That would be surprising otherwise

In recent years? Which sets? I know they had some back in the day but now all their stuff says “not from any specific blahblahblah”

reddragonthe · 01-31-2022, 11:16 PM

Probably "just" a 20% increase in production on this depending on what they do with the odds... but just 1842 numbered versus 1577. Still gets us within roundhouse range of 3k hobby cases and 75k blasters.

djcuse · 01-31-2022, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddragonthe

Probably "just" a 20% increase in production on this depending on what they do with the odds... but just 1842 numbered versus 1577. Still gets us within roundhouse range of 3k hobby cases and 75k blasters.

Does this account for the base set going from 100 to 150 players?

reddragonthe · 01-31-2022, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djcuse

Does this account for the base set going from 100 to 150 players?

Oh s^&$. No. Nice catch. So "only" a 75% increase. Yikes if this comes out at $300/box.

mikee1186 · 02-01-2022, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djcuse

Does this account for the base set going from 100 to 150 players?

I hate that. So much value last year with the 100 player checklist.

kingb22 · 02-01-2022, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikee1186

I hate that. So much value last year with the 100 player checklist.

If the scope includes Europa Conference league in addition to the Europa League + Champions league, there would be plenty of teams to support 150 players. In particular, you'd be able to pick up all the French/Dutch/Belgian league guys who don't get a first card until relatively late in career

Phxcoyotes85 · 02-01-2022, 03:07 PM

Merlin was a low key great set last year and I like the increase in the base checklist. Not as nice of a design this year (Topps seems allergic to putting club crests on UCL designs) but as long as they keep the excellent cardstock it’ll be a winner

mfw13 · 02-01-2022, 03:15 PM

Not horrible.....but if Topps is going to put out retro products, I'd really like to see them include more retired player content, and use real vintage Topps designs from the 70's, not Merlin designs from the 90's.

YayNJ · 02-01-2022, 03:42 PM

The 90's is 30+ years ago mate.

Most people consider things "vintage" after 35-40 years. (art world, fashion world, automobiles etc....)

mfw13 · 02-01-2022, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YayNJ

The 90's is 30+ years ago mate.

Most people consider things "vintage" after 35-40 years. (art world, fashion world, automobiles etc....)

Obviously....my point is that the 90's Merlin sticker designs are fairly uninteresting visually, whereas the 1970's Topps designs are more well-known since they were also used for Topps baseball & football products.

Mitch · 02-02-2022, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

Obviously....my point is that the 90's Merlin sticker designs are fairly uninteresting visually, whereas the 1970's Topps designs are more well-known since they were also used for Topps baseball & football products.

How many football collectors have any interest in a football box with old baseball designs as it's niche though?

Merlin hits the right chord with many football collectors for nostalgia. Would a 70s Topps baseball set do the same? Where's the marketing angle?

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mfw13 · 02-02-2022, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch

How many football collectors have any interest in a football box with old baseball designs as it's niche though?

Every soccer card collector who also collects 60's/70's/80's Topps products in other sports (like me).

I'd imagine that there are quite a few....that's why Topps UCL Living has been so popular.

Topps has quite a few "iconic" designs.....Merlin hardly has any.....

Mitch · 02-02-2022, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

Every soccer card collector who also collects 60's/70's/80's Topps products in other sports (like me).

I'd imagine that there are quite a few....that's why Topps UCL Living has been so popular.

Topps has quite a few "iconic" designs.....Merlin hardly has any.....

You know Merlin wasn't only stickers, right? The cards were hardly bland. Each year designs would vary.

Not everything has to appeal to the US market, especially not for this sport.

As for Living and football... IMO it's just awful and they need to give it up - the artist certainly has. The last round of releases sold 1000 odd sales across the 3 players as singles and the 3 pack. I guess that keeps it afloat, but shows that those classic designs for this particular sport mean very little to sole collectors of football.

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01-31-2022, 03:52 PM	#1
BlowoutBuzz Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 14,047	First Buzz: 2021-22 Topps Merlin Chrome soccer cards First Buzz: 2021-22 Topps Merlin Chrome soccer cards >> BlowoutBuzz.com __________________ www.blowoutbuzz.com >>><<< Got something cool or interesting that might be worth a story? Know someone whose collection could be profiled? Send me a DM.

01-31-2022, 04:01 PM	#2
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,369 hanelcocards	Looks like a bad mash-up of Premier League 2003 and Premier League 2005? Last edited by YayNJ; 01-31-2022 at 04:09 PM.

01-31-2022, 06:02 PM	#8
fadster Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,275 fadster	Topps seem to be slightly missing the point by thinking Merlin had some sort of Medieval / magic theme. Renaissance looks like a stained glass analogue and a very rare hit, 1 in 2016 packs is 1 in 112 boxes or just over 1 in 9 cases. Ageless Alchemy looks better than last year and only 1 per box __________________ IG: @goldenballrookies

01-31-2022, 08:54 PM	#10
GrangerCollectr Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,374 millercrows millercrows31	That Renaissance is pretty awesome looking. And if those are actual match used balls then that will make this product very enticing (if the price is right) __________________ *"If you're not having fun, you're probably doing it wrong"* Instagram - indy_card_collector

02-01-2022, 03:07 PM	#19
Phxcoyotes85 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 196 Phxcoyotes85	Merlin was a low key great set last year and I like the increase in the base checklist. Not as nice of a design this year (Topps seems allergic to putting club crests on UCL designs) but as long as they keep the excellent cardstock it’ll be a winner __________________ WTB Steve Nash Suns on card autographs

01-31-2022, 04:05 PM	#3
mikee1186 Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: TN Posts: 2,147 mikee1186	Like most, loved these last year despite ripping only retail. Looking forward to seeing this again (although after the season is done!). I see they are ripping off stained glass inserts for a case hit, but they do look good. Not sure about the ball relic / auto. Are they going with player touched thing, or just random ball from a warehouse? Can't imagine they are game used, which would be cool.

01-31-2022, 04:07 PM	#4
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,369 hanelcocards	they are borrowing an insert design from Gypsy Queen Baseball too

01-31-2022, 04:16 PM	#6
kyleuk21 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,971 redlegs317 kyleuk21	That Messi auto and CR7 Renaissance look awesome. Not a fan of the base cards, though.

01-31-2022, 04:29 PM	#7
mikee1186 Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: TN Posts: 2,147 mikee1186	I like the base and most of the insert mock-ups. Assuming these have that same thick card stock, I think the design will play well.

01-31-2022, 06:31 PM	#9
badkarma318 Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 680	Merlin will always be the red-headed stepchild of the soccer card world.

01-31-2022, 11:16 PM	#14
reddragonthe Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 3,359 rddrgnthe	Probably "just" a 20% increase in production on this depending on what they do with the odds... but just 1842 numbered versus 1577. Still gets us within roundhouse range of 3k hobby cases and 75k blasters.

02-01-2022, 03:15 PM	#20
mfw13 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 17,553	Not horrible.....but if Topps is going to put out retro products, I'd really like to see them include more retired player content, and use real vintage Topps designs from the 70's, not Merlin designs from the 90's.

02-01-2022, 03:42 PM	#21
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,369 hanelcocards	The 90's is 30+ years ago mate. Most people consider things "vintage" after 35-40 years. (art world, fashion world, automobiles etc....) Last edited by YayNJ; 02-01-2022 at 03:44 PM.