The Pinch Podcast

The last Formline pod of 2025…

Huge thanks to everyone who listens to The Pinch Podcast. We’ve had a blast this year talking tactics, stats and performances — and we were delighted that this pod made the final shortlist for the Football Supporter’s Association awards for ‘best podcast’.

In this episode, it was great to talk about an incredibly positive period in a season that once looked dead and buried. Riley was recording from outdoors, so apologies if anyone notices a little crackle down the line. We’ll be back at early in the new year, and fingers crossed we’re talking about another incredible formline.

Oh, and there will be one more Hang it in the Louvre pod next week. Watch out for that!

Caty Murray joins us to nominate the three Sheffield United images that have shaped her life as a fan. She takes us from the joy of Rob Hulse’s opening-day header to the feverish excitement of Sander Berge’s arrival — and finally, the stark pain of Newcastle’s 8–0 at Bramall Lane. A warm, funny, and nostalgic episode about first heroes, shared trauma, and how Blades history lodges itself in the memory.

Well that was easy…

Sam and Riley pick apart a derby that United won at a canter — from the slow, almost surreal rhythm of the match to the sense of inevitability that settled in long before the third goal. It was probably the calmest derby in living memory, a game where everyone had time to stand out, and we were left wondering whether anyone actually wanted the referee to blow early.

It won’t always be like this, so let’s enjoy it…

To mark the launch of Blades by Numbers, a new interactive Sheffield United data dashboard, The Pinch dives into what the numbers can tell us — and what they can’t. Sam Taylor and Riley Roberts talk xG, performance patterns, and how data can deepen rather than deaden our love of football.

What’s been most enjoyable about these podcasts so far is how each guest – and the three images they bring – has taken the conversation down its own unexpected alley.

In this episode of Hang It in the Louvre, the Pinch team welcome Marc Webster — one half of the Tufty Club — to nominate his three most iconic Sheffield United images. From Bobby Davison’s derby-day triumph to David McGoldrick’s powerful anti-racism stance and the cursed Lundstram toe, we have a simply superb chinwag.

Gah! Another mad and maddening defeat. This time against a Derby side who were gifted three goals. Sam, David and Riley briefly chat through the loss to Derby before getting into the good (and bad) stuff.

Inspired by Riley’s piece a little while back, we look at the metrics that tend to point towards success in the Championship. How are Blades doing in those? Listen to find out (it’s not all bad).

The Formline returns with an episode about three games in a week and the performances within them. Specifically, we're focussing on four key issues: Michael Cooper, Harrison Burrows, Callum O'Hare and the state of our matches at 0-0. In fact, what formation are we even playing?!

Someone call 999, the Louvre has been robbed…

But fear not, our latest guest is here to replenish the stocks with pure, unabashed Blades imagery.

You’ll know him from Blades Pod. You’ll know him from Who Remembers? pod. You’ll definitely know from him Roy’s View From and hopefully from his social media reviews on The Pinch too.

Andrew/Roy/Panchero Hague arrived at the Pinch Wing of the Louvre with three images in his backpack (spoilers below). He left only one behind, with Sam and David picking their favourite from a) one for your lock screen b) one for your wall c) one to tear up or burn, with a tear in your eye.

Not a deadbat, the Tufty Clubsman joined us over a very good evening where we chatted about kits, friends, family, icons, Wembley, drinking, Dave Bassett, the Kop, the memories and the cigars — all through the prism of three images. That’s how this works…

Hang it in the Louvre asks guests to pitch us three photos for our gallery. Listen now to hear DB’s selections and then, once you're done, check out the brilliant Tufty Club podcast; it’s perfect for an autumnal bath.

Oh, and you can see David’s choices below.

Our regular podcast about affairs on the pitch, the Formline returns with an episode about two losses. More losses, more depressing interruptions into what was a team that ‘just won’. Sheffield United are now a team that just loses. But in the games against Southampton and Hull, could it have been a different story? How close were we to three wins in a week? And how far away are we from being a competent team with a competent plan? If all those questions depress you further, worry not! We have a new motto to live by: there’s always a Watford.