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Posts tagged Soccer Cleat Review

Cristiano Ronaldo Mercurial Vapor IV FG, Goal!

Nov15
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Burner

Cristiano Ronaldo is making up for lost time after missing the first 3 games of the 2008/09 season. With 8 goals so far this season in the Premier League, including 6 goals in his last 4 games. His two goals in Saturdays games came from blistering free kicks. Ronaldo has a unique ability to make the ball turn in the air, and against Stoke, after only 3 minutes of the game, Ronaldo had the ball swerving and dipping into the back of the net. For any Fantasy League manager, Ronaldo is a must!

We have reviewed the Nike Mercurial Vapor IV FG that Ronaldo wears before, but lets take another look at these unique cleats. These cleats are designed for speed, and the lightweight design helps give a player a one step advantage over their opponents. A VAPOR forefoot plate with multidirectional traction pattern gives you excellent grip. The upper material used in the cleat is soft, supple Teijin synthetic leather. They weigh a superlight 7.4oz.

Nike Mercurial Vapor IV FG - Marina/Volt/Metallic Silver

From other reviews, these cleats are an excellent purchase. Because of the materials used, the cleats contour to the shape of your foot increasing the comfort. Speed is a huge part of the current day style of soccer, so these cleats are a must have for wingers and speedy forwards looking for an advantage over their opposition!
Also, check out this pretty funny video of Manchester United’s Kit-man using Ronaldo’s gear, pretty entertaining!!
http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikesoccer/2008/11/12/nike-pro-albie-is-tackleproof
Posted in Kit Bag - Tagged , ,

Tottenhams Resurgence

Nov13
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Burner

Tottenham experienced an extremely difficult start to the 2008/09 season. After 8 games, they found themselves bottom of the table with only 2 points and a sacked manager. Juande Ramos came in for a great deal of stick, and bore the brunt of starting the season so badly after leading Spurs to glory in the Carling Cup in his first season. Losing Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov impacted the team hugely, as they struggled to get things going up top. But over the past few games things have really changed. Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko are starting to form a strong partnership leading the team to 3 wins and a draw in their last four games. So, what cleats are these players wearing?

Funnily enough, Bent recently changed cleats, moving from Nike cleats to the Umbro SX Flare – White/Navy/Gold. These cleats seem to have ignited his goal scoring touch, having bagged 7 goals so far this season and 5 in the last 5 premiership games. The Umbro SX is designed for improved motion and touch control. It has an anatomically designed insock that helps improve comfort. Not only are they made of Kangaroo Leather, but Michelin have partnered with Umbro to develop an advanced PU control print system applied to the front and upper area of the cleat. This helps to increase ball control, touch and help in passing accuracy. These cleats are more of a wide fit, and weigh 9.4oz.
Umbro SX Flare - White/Navy/Gold
Pavlyuchenko has only scored 2 goals in the Premiership, but both of these have come in his past 3 games and have been winning goals. His partnership with Bent is sure to be the key to Spurs challenging climb up the table. Pavlyuchenko wears the adidas F50.8 TUNIT Russia Upper. The F50.8 is a unique cleat as it allows you to change the top to any style available that you like. Before Euro 2008, Adidas released many different uppers for the qualified countries. The Russian upper comes in a main white, with red stripes and a blue Russian symbol on the tongue area. It has a second density, clear 3D heel/bottom unit. As with other Tunit F50.8 uppers, it has a covered lacing system that allows for increased striking area.
adidas F50.8 TUNIT Russia Upper
With Spurs still in the Uefa cup, and having knocked out Chelsea in their quest to retain the Carling cup, it is probable that we will see more of the Bent/Pavlyuchenko relationship and their cleats!

Posted in EPL - Tagged , , , , , ,

Puma King XL 40th Anniversary Edition

Oct29
2008 1 Comment Written by Burner

The introduction of the original Puma King cleat came in 1968, 40 years ago, and today it is still one of the most popular cleats around, standing the test of time. The cleat was introduced in 1968 in honor of the great Eusebio, the legendary Portuguese international (he was born in Mozambique) who at the 1966 World Cup scored 9 goals. Eusebio was part of the development team that created the Puma King cleat.

Over the years, the King became synonymous with soccer players around the world and was worn by legends including Brazil’s Pele, Argentina’s Maradona and Dutch maestro Johan Cruyff.

This year’s special limited edition 40th year anniversary edition comes in a red color. The newest addition to Puma’s range retains its classic lines and traditional styling, but it has updated materials, enhanced features and some new design details. Super-soft, ultra-thin full-grain leather is complemented by a high-density silicon heel counter and conical firm ground stud construction for optimal stability and maneuverability.

Reviews about the cleats have been very positive. Great feel and touch are the main reactions of players wearing the cleats. Puma are renowned for the comfort of their cleats, and from wearing the v-Konstruct II personally I would agree with the comfort level of Puma Cleats. Also, by purchasing at the right place, you are also given a really nice shoe bag that contains a shoe brush and polish. Worth watching out for!

My favorite feature of the cleat is the tongue, where the cleats 40 years, 1969 to 2008, is stitched on.

Posted in Kit Bag - Tagged , , ,

Ronaldo’s new Nike Mercurial Vapor IV

Oct24
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Burner

Nike have unleashed Cristiano Ronaldo….in his new marina and volt Mercurial Vapor IV. At the weekend, Ronaldo debuted the cleats with a second half goal vs West Brom, and also wore them during the Champions League clash with Celtic. During both games, Ronaldo was his usual creative self, setting up some great opportunities with crosses from both the left and right hand side. The Vapors are designed for the fast paced player, someone who likes dribbling and pulling off tricks. They are aero-dynamic and have a large surface area for a cleaner strike zone. Players that currently wear the cleats include Theo Walcott and Robinho…flair players.

And it looks like Nike have picked up the right players! Robinho’s big move to Manchester City, Theo Walcotts emergence with Arsenal and England(his hat-trick vs Croatia being the highlight) along with Ronaldo, who is one of the favorites for the World Player of the year has certainly helped their sales numbers and is helping them push ahead of Adidas in boot sales.

Nike Mercurial Vapor IV FG - Marina/Volt/Metallic SilverBuy Nike Mercurial Vapor IV FG – Marina/Volt/Metallic Silver

Posted in Kit Bag - Tagged , , , ,

Tony Lochhead: Nike Legend II

Oct17
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Burner

Name: Tony Lochhead

Position: Left back/midfield
Team History: UCSB 2001-04
New England Revolution 2005-07
Wellington Phoenix 2007-
New Zealand National team: 17 senior caps
Cleat: 9.5US Sneaker: 10.5US

What cleats do you wear?
Last season i was wearing the Total 90 lasers but I have gone old school and now wearing the Nike Legends. I prefer leather boots, they dont last as long as the lasers but alot more comfortable and fit my feet better than this years Total 90.

How much would you pay for the ‘perfect’ pair?
I would pay a couple hundread, you cant really get a good pair without spending that.

What advice would you give to someone choosing a cleat?
I try to find a cleat that is going to fit my foot well, it has to be comfortable, especially in the conditions that we play in. Alot of the fields are hard as we play in the summer months.
Advice I would pass on would be to have a pair of cleats to train in and a pair just to play your games in, as I have been told that your cleats only have about 6 games of life in them before you should replace them. Because we play in the summer here, most of my cleats are molded and I only have one pair of studs. I have a couple of pairs to train in and a pair of game boots. These days I tend to wear the white cleats which I would have never done when I was younger but the majority of the boots seem to be white and it looks weird when you wear black, haha!!
Posted in Kit Bag - Tagged , , ,

Danny Kennedy – Adidas Predator

Oct10
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Burner

Name: Dan Kennedy
Position:GK
Team History:UCSB 2001-04
Puerto Rico Islanders 2005(USL)
Club Deportivo Municipal Iquique 2005-08(Chile)
Chivas USA 2008-

Cleat size: 10.5
Sneaker size:11

Preferred cleat? Predator firm grounds
In one sentence why? Very comfortable and I like the control I feel that I have with the ball.

What do you look for when choosing a cleat? Color- I usually wear black cleats, Comfort- I do not enjoy blisters, and weight- nothing too heavy

How much would you pay for the perfect pair?
$200 seems to be the standard for nice cleats these days, so I guess I wouldnt pay more than that.

What advice would you give to someone when choosing a new pair of cleats?
I usually have about 4 pairs of cleats, three firm grounds and one soft ground…I like the firm ground cleats to play in when the conditions permit, I also like to train in them. I always have a firm ground broken in and ready to go…for rainy and wet conditions…I usually rotate my cleats using them for games only in the begining, then once they start showing wear and tear I turn them into my training boots. I usually clean and leather food all my cleats the day before the game.

Danny Kennedy is currently one of the leading goalkeepers in MLS. His leadership qualities are well renowned, shown by his captaincy of the 2004 UCSB team that played in the schools first ever National Championship Final game. We thank Dan for sharing his knowledge on soccer cleats with us!

Posted in Kit Bag - Tagged , , , ,

Newest Released Cleats Review

Oct10
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Burner

So what are the newest cleats on the market? Here is a look at what pro’s in England and Europe are taking to the field.

Patrice Evra debuted the new Black/Orange Blaze Mettalic Silver Nike Total 90 Laser II. This is the newest color release of the Laser II series. The cleat that is most worn in the English Premiership, has an innovative front panel called the Shotshield system, which increases the ‘sweet spot’ area.

Nike Total90 Laser II FG - Black/Orange Blaze/Metallic Silver

Others to wear the cleat include Evra’s team mates Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, and Real Madrid’s Wesley Sneijder.
Check out the commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmcl2qq85Vs

Designed for speed, the new Puma V1.08 was released for the start of the 2008/09 season. The newest version is available in a black/white/olympian blue. The lacing in these cleats is off center, allowing for a better distribution of of pressure on ball impact.
PUMA v1.08 i FG Jr - Black/White/Olympian Blue
These cleats are worn by Tottenham’s David Bentley, Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka and Mauro Cameronesi of Juventus.
Check out the commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nty9NVINL_4

Michael Owen is the center piece of Umbro range of cleats, and their 2008/09 release the Umbro Speciali Anatomical has aided with Owen’s goalscoring this season. With Newcastle struggling at the bottom of the table, Owen has continued to score goals! The laces on this cleats are shorter than on normal cleats, allowing for a better striking area.
Umbro Speciali Anatomical - Black/White/Gold
The Reebok Sprintfit Lite Pro have just been released onto the market in this gold/red/black design. It follows the success of the Reebok Sprintfit cleat, and these new cleats own the title of Reebok’s lightest cleat available on the market currently. These cleats are perfect for the speedy player who looks to dribble fast with the ball close to their feet.
Reebok Sprintfit Lite Pro FG - Gold/Red/Black

These cleats will be debuted by both Thierry Henry of Barcelona, and Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs.
Posted in Kit Bag - Tagged , , , , ,

David McGill: Umbro

Oct09
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Burner

Name: David McGill
Position: Center Midfield
Team History: UNC Charlotte 2000-01
UCSB 2001-03
Dublin City 2004-06
Shamrock Rovers 2006-07
Shelbourne 2007-
Cleat size: 9-91/2
Sneaker size: 10

Preferred cleat? Umbro
In one sentence why? Because I have broad feet and they are a broad fitting boot.

What do you look for when choosing a cleat?
A boots comfort is the priority, not its label. If the boot is not comfortable then you will not be able to play to your best. Second would be the leather of the boot, make sure it’s a good quality so it can last more than one tackle!

How much would you pay for the ‘perfect’ pair?
I wouldn’t really have a limit on a price. If I’m comfortable in the boot then I’d pay whatever the price is, be it $20 or $200.

What advice would you give to people when purchasing new cleats?
First and foremost is comfort. I would always have at least 2 pairs of boots, 1 pair of molded and 1 pair with studs, but usually I try to have 2 pairs of each. This is because of the weather conditions here in Ireland. The 4 pairs should do me for the season. To break in my boots I’d ask someone with a slightly bigger foot to wear them in training once or twice. If you can’t get someone that will do that then put on a couple of pairs of socks, soak the boots in water and wear them in training yourself.

Are there any tips you can give for maintaining cleats?
Always look after your cleats by washing them as soon as training or your game is over. A good polish or some leather balm on them when they have dried should also help increase lifespan.

David plays professionally in Ireland for Shelbourne FC. He had a very successful career in college, before turning down the chance to sign for LA Galaxy, opting to sign for Dublin City, who were at that time in the FAI First Division.
He is best known in Ireland for scoring the winning goal in the first division play-off in 2006, helping Dublin City FC win promotion to the Premier division for the first time.

Posted in Kit Bag - Tagged , , ,

What your soccer cleats say!!

Oct07
2008 1 Comment Written by Burner
Do you wear a pair of white, blue or even green cleats? Or are you a fan of the traditional, old school English black ‘clogs’? Well, here is a recap of a recent English study conducted by top sports psychologists. Find out before you chose you color!!

The Old Pro: Black Boots
- A safe color and suggests certainty and authority. Always worn traditional black boots, and always will.

The Maestro: White Boots
- White represents purity and light and the Maestro oozes talent and class, and has everything except sweat-inducing work rate.
The Hot Potato: Red Boots
- Red is an intense color which generates emotions. This fire-brand is impetuous and rash and will make their mark on the game, and their opponents.

The Veteran: Blue Boots
- We look for blue skies, for peace and tranquility. He is convinced that his experience and nous more than makes up for a lack of pace. He switched to blue boots to demonstrate his coolness and calmness under pressure.

The Enigma: Green Boots
- Here is a player who has the manager tearing his hair out in frustration. On his day, he can win a match by himself. One week, storming the barricades; next week, missing in action. Why? Who knows?

The Entertainer: Yellow Boots
- Yellow brings good cheer and optimism. Our yellow-booted entertainer is the life and soul of the team and shows lots of energy and enthusiasm.

The Organizer: Brown Boots
- Our brown booted player will be a smartly turned out defender, unyielding and dependable with a penchant for a sliding tackle.

The Golden Boy: Gold Boots
- The color of sun brings warmth and wisdom. He is super talented, but he might believe too much in his own publicity.

The Headless Chicken: Silver Boots
- Silver offers light and balance, and he has speed and pace to burn. However he is sometimes known as a headless chicken and his passing can be erratic.

The Eccentric: Orange Boots
- Orange offers freedom and emotional release. Your orange booted player can be prone to impulsive decision making and heart stopping gaffes – the boots express his individuality and desire to be different.

Posted in Kit Bag - Tagged , ,

Another Soccer Cleat review!!

Oct05
2008 2 Comments Written by Burner

Well, it is more reviews than just a review! Check out the latest soccer cleat reviews over at http://www.soccercleats101.com, (our sister site) where the team have been working hard to bring quality content and information on all the latest soccer cleat releases.

The site has also had a recent redesign and I recommend getting on the email subscription list as you will receive emails with all the latest coupons and discounts from online soccer stores, as well as information on the latest reviews. Rumour has it that they are currently testing the Adidas Predator X, which will be released in late October!

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