Today we get our first look at this year’s version of Threads, and though original mockups look promising, I am cautious before giving Panini any praise until the final product hits shelves. I will say that if everything holds up the way it is being previewed, Panini has finally taken a theme and concept and done it well. The running “thread” (pun intended) that is in these previews is that each of the cards uses the motif of jerseys and pieces of jersey as the background idea for the set. This is something I absolutely love, especially when done well, and hopefully, these cards will end up that way.
I will say that for 2010 threads, the full game shots on the base set were a welcome change from the usual photoshop backgrounds that Panini is infamous for using. This year, it looks to be a similar approach which is awesome, even though the parallels are usually done in the hideous rainbow foil board that Panini must have stockpiled in a secret warehouse somewhere. I also like the design of the three inserts with the pro players on them, if not only because the cards wont look ridiculous if the jersey swatch stays where it is for the non-auto’ed version.
I still very much think the manu-letter autos are not worth anyone’s time in the way that they are done. There is ABSOLUTELY no reason that they just cant take the name of the team and have the premiere attendees sign those instead of the black and white “teamless” nameplates. I would much have a Purple and White signed “VIKINGS” nameplate than a Black and White “PONDER” name plate. Its beyond stupid.
Overall, im sure Panini will find a way to screw over everyone on these cards. They did it with the great design and Contenders last year, and this probably wont be much different. You, as well as I, probably noticed that the cards that drive this product are eerily absent from the preview, something that I hope was NOT on purpose. Ill guess ill just have more fodder for criticism as soon as the rookie collection cards are finally previewed down the road.
Here are the images:
I like how the Time Tebow card is an image of him getting hit.
Base Card is nice. Full bleed on 90% of the card is hard to mess up. I will give them one set of all horizontal cards. It’s not a bad change of pace.
Star Factor looks like a pair of my boxers. WAY too busy.
Franchise, Kings and Gameday subsets look nice. I hope they keep the Kings subset as an auto-only set. Please dont add a swatch or patch to it. That would be 3 very similar patch auto subsets in the same set….not good.
Why do companies feel that every set need a dual auto? Is that not the same dual auto design that is in Elite? Whats that? You say design elements are limited when fitting on 2 stickers and 2 photos? Well, then you should probably just pick one mid-end, and one high-end set to use them in.
I agree with the Letter autos. But why can’t they have their nameplates in their respective jerseys? These are just the plates anyway. You’re telling me that in the month post-draft they can’t make up 30-some name plates in team replica colors? It’s lazy.
Just my thoughts. Sorry its been a while since I have posted. Been wrapped up in other things and haven’t been into the hobby for while. Hopefully a product will come out soon that will bring me back in. Keep up the good work Gellman, I still check your site a couple times a day.
I see threads everywhere.
I saw the preview on Panini, and opened it expecting the same old same old.
Shockingly, I was kind of impressed. I hated Threads so much last year I didn’t think there was any chance I’d like it this year, but I actually REALLY like that base card…especially if (as it looks) the threads on the side will match the team colors. The inserts are also not too bad. I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say I’d buy a bunch of it, but if the rest of the inserts and rookies looks as nice, I could be tempted to buy one or two.
Also, just because it was brought up, I really DISLIKE more than 1 auto on a card. What if I don’t like the other players? Or even if I do, it just makes the card that much more expensive when all I care about is ONE player on the card.