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

[BlowoutBuzz]

First Buzz: 2021-22 Topps UEFA Champions League soccer cards >> BlowoutBuzz.com

[KhalDrogo]

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

[fadster]

This is great to see!

[netmasters]

Originally Posted by fadster

This is great to see!

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.

[fadster]

Originally Posted by netmasters

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.

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.

[netmasters]

Originally Posted by fadster

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.

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.

[reddragonthe]

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.

[YayNJ]

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.

[Gin&Juice]

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.

[Ianhatcher]

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.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by Gin&Juice

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.

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.

[mfw13]

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.....

[Anish]

Originally Posted by Gin&Juice

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.

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.

[Mitch]

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.

[ATLOTP]

Originally Posted by netmasters

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.

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

[netmasters]

Originally Posted by ATLOTP

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

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.

[PJKards]

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.

[bsnsports0605]

Originally Posted by PJKards

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.

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

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by bsnsports0605

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

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.

[ianh182]

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

[bsnsports0605]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

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.

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

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by bsnsports0605

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

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.

[BRob1]

Originally Posted by bsnsports0605

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

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.

[bsnsports0605]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

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.

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

I graded zero cards from the 20-21 sets

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by bsnsports0605

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

I graded zero cards from the 20-21 sets

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.