Skills Show

This little mix should inspire you for your games this weekend...

CORY GIBBS SUPPORTING FOOTY GURU...

Cory Gibbs of the Chicago Fire (MLS)/US Men's National-
Showing off his adiPower Predators in the FIRE boot room.... Thanks for the picture and good luck with the season.

IM ON ONE WITH FOOTY GURU

Blogger Note: Production by Juan.

Price sensitive consumers-FYI

With the growing number of boots reaching over the $200 price point range many consumers are wondering what is left in terms of boot choices if you are shopping on a budget. However, there is hope for the consumers who do not have deep pockets. Both adidas and Nike have many different options at different price points in order to reach different consumers which ranges from your level of play, price sensitive consumers, and the style/poser consumers.

Furthermore, there are a couple of different boots on the market right now that are very affordable and in some instances perform just as well as the elite level boots. But before I start to point out different affordable boots, I would just like to make the point that the boots do not make the player, the player makes the boots.

 The first boot I would like to showcase is from adidas is called the adidas adiCore IV which is the drop down version of the adiPure. With the adiCore IV adidas designed the boot to fit like a glove with a full grain leather upper along with a EVA/poron insole that adds cushioning in the heel and forefoot. At a staggering price of $90, I believe this is one of the top unknown boots and based on the style, value, and comfort you cannot beat this price.  This is a boot that should get recognition, and shows consumers that you do not have to pay $200 to get a top of the line boot.

The next boot which should be no surprise to any of you football boots fans is the Copa Mundial. It may seem like an old school heritage boot but once again if you are shopping on a budget and looking for that top class boot at a reasonable price take a look at the Mundial. Made in Germany the boots had a price point of $100 which is crazy because it has a k-leather upper which is soft and supple and offers a great ball feel to players. Once again, this boot may look old school or outdated but there is a reason this boot is still around.

The next boot I believe is an awesome boot that comes at a realistic price is made by Nike. The Tiempo Premier FG is a reengineered boot from 1994 which is part of Nike Soccer’s Touch/heritage silo. With this boot you get a retro feel/style along with a k-leather upper and the old school chronicle stud configuration. The boot even offers that big fold over tongue that was popular almost from what seems like a decade ago. The price point of this boot is $125 which is hard to beat.

Another boot that I think deserves recognition is the Nike CTR 360 Trequartista II which is one of the most comfortable boots I have ever put on. Based on the quality of this boot it is hard to tell the difference between the Maeistri and the Trequartista. If you are a player looking for an all around boot and are shopping on a budget you should definitely check out the Trequartista which has a price point of $90. I would recommend these boots for any player that is playing competitive and that has a wider foot.

I hope some of you followers give some of the boots above a try especially if you are shopping on a budget. With the price of football boots continuing to rise it is always nice to have boots at different price levels for all levels of consumers/participants. Let me know if you have had any experiences with any of the drop down boots.  

Viva Futbol Volume 73

This is the way the game should be played. Players expressing themselves on the pitch.

2012 adizero F50 II Preview

Looking around the pitches it seems that if the implementation/introduction of the adidas adizero series is running away with the football market at the moment. With the sprint frame outsole used by adidas we have seen boots in recent weeks produced from adidas that no one could have imagined. A recent example, is the adipure IV SL in which adidas used their imagination/creativity and created a hybrid heritage boot used for the modern game.  The adipure IV SL is a dream boot and it is boots like this one that adidas keep turning out that keep grabbing footy consumer’s attention. In addition, many consumers are excited about the next generation adiPOWER predator which weighs an astonishing 7.8 oz. With the use of the sprint frame adidas has been able to create hybrid speed boots used for the modern game and to supply the market with what they demand which are speed boots.

Looking at adidas current line of boots many consumers have been wondering what is next for the line of speed boots. Unlike the Nike Vapor series adidas has already begun to push the limits for 2012 by creating a new adizero II for fans rather than just changing the color adidas from recent releases are holding nothing back and from the looks of it are hoping to take business away from Nike in 2011-2012.

A couple months ago I posted pictures of some interesting pictures of a adizero that a the miCoach technology connected to it, which is similar to Nike Plus system. “The miCoach is a series of devices designed to assist the "athlete" during physical activity and check the progress achieved with a feature on the company's Web site that stores data and offers user tips. With a signal generator located in the sole of his shoe, and having as a simple receiver smart phone the idea behind the device is to help people to optimize their training.”

An example of one of the big guns from adidas testing the miCoach was found in a picture, below; that shows 

Schweinsteiger trying out the sensor technology in a match this season.

After looking at some pictures you may notice key differences in performance/profitability adidas has included to improve and make the adizero II a more marketable boot. Granted these are just sample pictures but the new look/style along with the insertion of the miCoach from adidas I believe this boot will be a point of difference in the boot market and set the tone for technology for years to come in terms of development in 

soccer boots.

Noticeable differences between the adizero II and the current f5o model:

• Insertion of miCoach from adidas will make the adizero II one of a kind.
• Different overlays on the adizero II look to aid in support/protection along the outside and instep of the boot.
• The insertion of a hybrid k leather toe box and a synthetic shell is a one of a kind combination and could adi’s version of kanga lite to aid give players the touch and comfort of leather in certain areas of the boot while not weighing it down by using sprint skin on other areas of the boot.
• Weight: TBD

I am interested in hearing your opinions regarding the idea, style, and the f50 series in general. 
What do you think about these boots?

Nike vs adidas

If you are a fan of MLS then this picture will bring a smile to your face. The league has come a long way thanks to the help/support of adidas. But i must admit, it is frustrating because i see two different marketing campaigns where adidas pushes MLS while Nike pushes the the National Team. At the end of the day, if these companies came together and maybe Nike helped out the MLS or the other way around Soccer in America would be better. Is it not our goal to some day win a World Cup as a nation? 

GOLAZO Energy Drink!

Footy fans check out my buddies blog aka Pitch Black Underground for a NEW energy drink that is geared for all footy players who have a passion for the game of soccer. Pitch Black has been given the exclusive commercial that is geared for the PDX market. Be one of the first to see the commercial and let me know what you think. In addition, I also teamed up with Pitch Black Underground for a freestyle video that showcases GOLAZO. Check me out free styling here as well on Free style/Pitch Black!

ARE YOU SUPERFLY?

You can play football anywhere...

Golden Balls Testing adiPOWER Predator in Pre-season?

Unlike most testing models which are usually blacked out boots to conceal the appearance of the boots David Beckham has been spotted during pre-season wearing a all white pair of boots that most definitely resemble the next Predator, called the adiPOWER Predator which is expected to hit stores this June 2011. It is very interesting to see DB with an all white pair of boots because all of the other sightings around the globe have been blacked out versions of the soon to be adiPOWER Predator. 

I am very interested to see what DB thinks about the new Predator; Only time will tell but rather then a power boot I think footy fans will perceive it as a speed boot/light weight boot which could hurt the silo especially if Nike introduces the next Total 90 with innovation and creativity. However, like the adizero release the hype surrounding these boots is immense due to the fact it is the herald Predator series and it will be the lightest Predator to date weighing in at 5.8 oz. 

In the end, I believe there is a niche for power boots within the industry and with a power boot also comes more protection which a lot of the speed boots do not offer. 

Do you like the direction the Predator is headed?

Man on the Pitch series...

During the coming weeks I will be writing a series of post regarding which boots you should wear depending on what position you call home on the pitch. The point of this series is to inform/help players both young and old who are looking to purchase new boots aid them in their quest. The positions I will look at are forwards, wingers, midfielder's, and defenders.

Man on the Pitch Series; Forwards

Depending on your style of play will depend on what boots you choose. Any boot will do but it depends on you as a player and what you feel comfortable playing in. Boots in today's soccer market can be labeled in three different categories which are heritage, speed, and power boots. If you look around at the worlds best strikers they are all wearing boots that suit their individual games. For example, if you are a power runner/bull dog like Wayne Rooney or Torres then maybe you will choose the the T90 which is a power boot. Or maybe your game is all about speed and flair like CR7 who endorses the Nike Mercurial SuperFly. Then in the middle of power and speed lies the heritage/classic boot category. For example,if you are the engine of the team and prefer simplicity on your boots like Frank Lampard or a Joe Cole then heritage boots might be right for you.

A list of the three different categories of boots:

Heritage: Nike Tiempo, adidas AdiPURE, adidas Copa, Umbro Speciali, Puma King
Speed: Nike Vapor, Nike SuperFly, adidas adiZERO, Puma SL, Umbro GT Pro
Power: Adidas Predator, Nike T90, Puma Power Cat,

The only way to see if any of these boots are right for you is to take a look at what kind of player you are and then make your way to your local boot shop and try on the boots to get a feel for how the boot fits your foot.

Looking for the Nike CTR 360? What category would you put it in, I am indifferent; caught between heritage and speed.

AdiPOWER Predator; adidas sells out. RIP power & accuracy

Passion for the Product- above me/footy guru
 T-shirt I made for an interview I had at adidas.

GOOD OLD DAYS...

Besides the hoopla that adidas has set the tone in 2011 by creating the lightest boot on the market, blah blah Lighter is not always better, market gimmicks make poor consumers believe that the lighter the boot the faster you are. You could put messinator and ronnie in a boot that weighs a ton and they are still going to be the fastest players on the pitch. Let me make this clear, players make the boot, the boot does not make the player. You can not teach speed and if you have ever truly been tackled so hard wearing these speed boots you will think twice about how light and rather focus on how much protection is this boot going to offer me. I am more concerned with one of the most popular boots of all time. A boot that changed the game of soccer in terms of technology, style, and comfort. A boot that in the past couple releases has begun to die little by little. What boot is on my mind....

The predator which at one time was the best boot you could buy, now days however people are walking right by it and going for the super light weight boot that looks like something you would wear to a ballet reception. Sure the trend is light weight boots, but I think the predator line has struggled to innovate and put their one of a kind technology what got them to soccer supremacy in the boot world on the back burner and focussed more on how light they could make the boot. With the new adiPower getting ready to hit a store near you, it will be interesting to see if this boot flops like the predator x did on the Footy market. The predator has always been a power boot, a boot that possess the technology to allow you to make that game changing cross or shot that changes the game. Again, the player makes the boot but the predator used to be that go to boot that elite players flocked to in order to raise their game or to get more power/accuracy around their shot. With adidas giving in and making the boots super light you have to think the power, technology, comfort, and protection this boot once produced is now gone. Lighter is not always better and if you are an elite player you need a stable boot that provides comfort/protection in order to get you through your season. Back in college I would take knocks while wearing the vapors and playing a Friday, Sunday schedule it would be hard to recover if I had a bone bruise at the top of my foot...

In the end, only time will tell but in my opinion the past couple of predators have taken a back seat to innovation. I think the power swerve technology is a interesting technology and something that combined with a new upper/rubber knobs then the predator could be the power boot that elite players go to. Making the predator lighter is not the option that I would have taken the series and if adidas was smart they would make a power boot/hybrid that was the weight of 9 oz that packed power behind your shot. I can not imagine how much power of increase in surface area you can get with a boot that weighs 5.8 oz. Should be interesting how consumers perceive this boot and technology. I still believe this boot has all the tools it needs to be the power boot it used to be but ultimately I believe adidas sold out and followed the trend of making a boot as light as possible with a sticker on the boots that says defenders please step on my foot, I have no protection.

Issues i see on the adiPOWER Predator?

How much protection will these boot provide?
RIP power, accuracy? Will this boot be a game changer or has all the technology gone into making it as light as possible?
How durable is this boot going to be? With the sprint frame outsole will the cleats be snapping like they did on the F50?
Will this be the boot/predator that people take a chance on, or will it flop like the predator X?

From the fans of the predator, are you happy where adidas has taken the predator line?

Consumer feedback regarding this post:

"Just checked out your newest blog.....love the Predator t-shirt.

Also love the post. Predators are may favorite footy boots of all time; CTR is 2nd though I have never used them; but appreciate the concept and reviews that I have read about them.

My favorite Predators are the Pulse's. I have a pair of the lower level ones and love them.
I also love the PowerSwerve ones with the ClimaCool technology (love the black and white color).

I am really disappointed in the direction Adidas has taken Predators. I thought their new release was a chance to get back to their roots and make up for the mistakes they made with Predator X........I think adiPower just took an even larger dent out of the Predator legacy. Predators are not meant to be a speed boot. they are pure power and control plain and simple. They are trying too hard to be something they are not; which is very disappointing."

-Anonymous

Nike Vapor Superfly III

Keep in mind that these are just hand made samples, but from the looks of it Nike will stick with the same design  on the next release of the Superfly series. Besides a change in the color which is expected from Nike it looks like this boot will come in three different colors, include Nike sense studs, fly wire, carbon fiber out sole and teijin microfiber leather.


Changes/Profitability for Superfly III:

• Take away the Nike sense studs; great idea but poor execution. If the pros are not wearing it then there must be stud pressure, poor traction, etc.
• Make a leather/kanga lite version of the boot. Bring something different to the table.
• Put together a hybrid boot which consists of multiple vapors of the past. Have spoken with many elite players and some of the best vapors in the mercurial silo were the I, II, III version of the boot. 
• Make a hyrbid version of the vapor with the Tiempo lite series.
• Drop the price, the hype has faded and there is no longer a demand for a $400 boot. 

I'm off the planet series: Post #2 by Footy guru:

I'm off the planet series: Post #2 by Footy guru:

This week I again focussed on developing a boot for Nike and with this development idea I focussed my effort on the Tiempo series. This boot would be Tiempo inspired in that it would be a classic boot in terms of look, style, comfort and most importantly price. Over the past two years like a lot of Nike boots, I believe in terms of comfort, style, and performance the Tiempo series has taken a back seat like the total 90 and vapor Series. These styles have changed color but from a consumer stand point me and the rest of the world are hungry for new styles, ideas, concepts, and technology from Nike.

My idea is to create a boot that caters to the classic/old school footballers that want the touch and feel of a k leather boot with out the sparkle and flash that most todays football boots offer. Sometimes less is more and with this idea Nike could satisfy a lot of consumers needs and steal consumers from adidas because like the rest of the companies adidas is making boots more narrow and lighter. For example, I am testing the current adiPURE IV and it seems more narrow then the last one which is cause for concern.

I feel that the mold of the current Tiempo limits footballers with wider feet. Those footballers with wider feet then turn to PUMA, Kelme, and sometimes Diadora. My idea is to create a boot called the INTERNATIONAL that is full grain k leather that has off center lacing and a similar last to that of a CTR. The asymmetrical would provide a cleaner striking surface and offer the boot a unique look unlike Nike has produced yet. It would be a clean design with either molded or bladed studs and feature no tongue to help aid in looks/style. Furthermore, i Imagine a full grain k leather boot that is black and white, has a wider footbed and is at the price point of a staggering $130. This boot would be simple; a k leather upper, wider forefoot and Nike is able to compete with the adiPURE from adidas. Sometimes less is more, and I think a k leather boot that is wider, splashed with the swoosh at a staggering $130 would fly off the shelf.

In the end, I am just using my imagination and believe a this would be popular for consumers and give Footy folks with a wider foot a chance to wear Nike. All the Nike boots are so narrow or are splashed with technology. What happened to just a normal k leather boot that the weekend warrior or the old professional could wear? Next week I will be coming up with a boot for adidas that involves a twist that I believe could be a banger!

Specs:
Name: International
Category: Classic Performance
Positions: forward, midfield
Upper: K leather
Weight: 9 oz.
Inspiration: Eric Cantona, classic boot style,look, and feel.
Creator: Footy Guru

Specs of the Nike CTR 360 II