We could now shoot from over the half way line and bend the ball around corners – to be fair David Beckham did both of those in a pair of Predators so they weren’t far off the mark!

I can even remember the April fool’s day when newspapers carried pictures of Neil Ruddock in a Predator headband that gave him more heading power – classic!

Some of the boys have been parading round in the latest versions of the Adidas Predator X in a black/yellow or yellow/red, and to be fair they look pretty sharp. No more massive black groves of rubber but a great striking zone on the front instep of the boot and they no longer use the famous Craig Johnston Kangaroo leather – they have now changed to Taurus bull leather no less.

They are an iconic boot that have been worn by some of the greatest players that have ever graced a football field. The likes of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Del Piero and Raul don’t just wear any old pair of boots – they are master craftsmen and the boots are the tools of their trade.

Even Dirk Kuyt has a pair!!  Although I thought his had lead in them the way he was running against Chelsea the other weekend!

“One of the most comfortable pairs of boots I have worn”

The White and Green or White and Macaw Green Adidas Predator X as it is officially known are really stylish and possibly my favourite, although I will always be a fan of the traditional black and red.

A great boot whatever the colour and, I have to say, one of the most comfortable pairs of boots I have worn.

If you want to read more about the boots, you can check out these Adidas Predator X blogs which have a little technical to explain the science behind the boots.

Win a pair of Adidas Predator X Boots.

For a chance to win a pair of the Adidas Predator X, in the stylish White/Macaw Green colourway, take a look at me Robbie Savage Q & A Competition!

They had left the price tag on the box and I have to admit I thought they were going to be made of gold when I opened the box. Instead I was met with a gleaming pair of snow leopard print boots that back in the day I would have probably worn on the dance floor rather than the football field. You have to admit they are a stylish boot with the big orange swoosh across them so you don’t forget who has made them.

As I pull them out of the box it is quickly apparent they are built with speed in mind and at the tender age of 36 I need all the help I can get in that department! I still get excited about a new pair of boots, something that never leaves you and I can’t wait to get them on, similar to the feeling I get when I am testing driving a new car. So out of the box on the feet and let’s give them a spin around the training ground.

It felt a bit weird having a brightly coloured pair of boots on my feet, I’m used to wearing traditional black or white boots pretty much my entire career. The first thing that hits me, apart from the pattern, is how light they feel! It is almost as if I am wearing a pair of thin socks with studs in the bottom, that feels pretty good and as I trot out onto the pitch I have an extra spring in my step, perhaps this could be the answer to me playing another 5 years!! Kicking the ball around is a pleasure in these boots, the material is so thin which means your foot feels so close the ball and and the coating on the synthetic leather upper does seem to make it easier to keep close control.

I mentioned they are built for speed and I would definitely recommend them for wingers and attack minded players, they are so light and great for control. Not sure I am suited to them in the thick of things in midfield but I will keep dreaming!!

When I got home with the Nike Mercurial Victory CR7 Safari Junior FG boots the boys couldn’t wait to try them out. The three of us went out onto our field of dreams in the back garden to try them out, snow leopard print all round, it was quite a funny sight! Kids look up to the professional players and of course they both know who Cristiano Ronaldo is, he is that guy Daddy had in his pocket during the Derby vs Manchester United game a few years back!

They enjoyed the novelty of them and they were nice and light and within minutes they wanted to try out their Ronaldo free kicks, I was quick to point out that Daddy takes better free kicks for Derby. The most important thing at their age is that they enjoy playing the game and live a healthy lifestyle, whatever boots they are wearing. Within half an hour the novelty of the boots had worn off for them and it was back to normal, just the way it should be!

£275 (or £259.95 from ACA Sports) for the adult boots is a lot of money in anyone’s book but football is all about earning the extra yard, scoring that late goal or winning that vital point for your team.

Certainly the £34.95 price tag for the junior boot is a lot easier to stomach for young players but I am always keen to stress to the boys that it is the player in the boots and not the boots that make the difference.

To view a great selection of Nike Mercurial football boots for adults and juniors, visit ACA Sports.

The birth of GK Union.

The GK Union brand started up in early 2010 with the idea of letting goalkeepers of all levels wear pro quality gloves at an affordable price, with the prices going up and up for match gloves GK Union set out to produce a pro standard glove coming in under the £30 mark.

With this aim in mind GK Union have released two differing styles of glove since there birth, named the Union Pro Flat Palm and the Union Pro Roll Finger, both these gloves are designed with a 3.5ml mega grip latex to ensure great feel and grip when in contact with the ball, the GK Union gloves also feature flex points above the knuckles and around the thumb joint for great comfort when wearing your Union Pro Roll Finger or Union Pro Flat Palm gloves. The gloves also come in junior sizes and are priced at £21.95 with the adults at £29.95.

When it comes to choosing your goalkeeper gloves the most important things is comfort and size, GK Union come up trumps in both these brackets, a great fitting glove that once on your hands is very comfortable and with the mega grip latex palm you also get fantastic grip on the ball.

Looking to the future.

Moving forward GK Union are set to release a new glove in time for Christmas, named the Union CGS PRO, the glove features a Roll Finger Design with a 4ml Supersoft Palm, this glove will be released as a limited edition glove.

We stock an extensive range of goalkeeper gloves, with many special offers on gloves and equipment over at ACA Sports

1. GK Union Roll Finger £29.95 (Adults) £21.95 (Junior)

GK Union is a new start up goalkeeper brand that have just launched there new range gloves, GK Union are marketing these gloves as a top glove available to all levels of keeper and we feel they are spot on. The GK Union roll finger glove is available in adults and kids sizes and is a great goalkeeper glove at a very good price point. Designed with a 3.5mm mega grip latex palm, the GK Union Roll Finger is a very durable glove that also gives great grip on the football.

2. Kaliaaer XGM Pro AM64 ACA £29.95

The Kaliaaer XGM Pro is designed with a high quality 4mm AER grip on the palm, and a durable backhand latex material. For this edition, ACA Sports teamed up with Kaliaaer to make the gloves feature the ACA Sports logo on the strap. A brilliant value for money glove with some added quality of course!

3. Precision FP Roll £29.95 (Adults & Juniors)

The Precision FP Roll gloves have removable finger protection in them, a nice feature if you are starting out and not really sure if finger protection is right for you. These goalkeeper gloves are available in adults and kids sizes and both are made with 4mm supersoft latex. The finger spines featured in this glove are very flexible, when closing the fist, adding to the overall fantastic feel to the gloves once they are on your hands. 

4. Puma Powercat 2.10 Roll Finger £29.95

The goalkeeper glove is much better than I thought it would be, it feels very nice on the hands. The Puma Powercat 2.10 Roll Finger glove features a 4mm graphite plus latex foam for great grip, at a price point where this quality of plam is hard to come by. A very good glove for any goalkeeper looking for match or training gloves.

5. Uhlsport Fanghand Soft Roll Finger £29.95

These are new goalie gloves from Uhlsport, which have been designed with a a 3mm palm, thinner than all the other gloves reviewed here but don’t let that put you off, once you have it on your hands it feels great and the grip is brilliant. The Uhlsport Fanghand Soft Roll Finger is a very good glove at an even better price, perfect for those who value the history of a make like Uhlsport.

View the extensive range of goalkeeper gloves and equipment on offer over at ACA Sports.

They are everywhere at the moment and with good reason – there is nothing better at keeping you warm and still being able to perform at the top of your game. It’s not so long ago that no-one would have even heard of baselayer. But we as professionals first started wearing them about five to six years ago for the first time. Now if you look at any junior game on a parks pitch on any Sunday morning you’ll see all the youngsters themselves wearing baselayer.

It’s now an accepted integral part of our training and match kit.

Under Armour Cold Gear Mock

You know I like my cars – well Under Armour Cold Gear Mock is the Rolls Royce of base layers!

Towards the upper end of the price range but definitely worth the money. These are the most popular brand with professional players throughout the Premier League and the Football League. The Cold Gear Mock keeps the body at a constant optimum temperature for performance – so good you don’t even realize you are wearing them.

Great to see so many kids wearing them too …. None of us like seeing our young children freezing in the cold weather on a Sunday morning.

Under Armour Compression Shorts

As you would expect from Under Armour, another high quality product.

The Under Armour Compression Shorts are really comfortable to wear both during games and at training they offer good support as well as keeping you warm. Perfect when you are warming up at training and loosening off the hamstrings and also protects the groins as well, once you start wearing them, you feel naked without them.

Like the waist band too – very Calvin Klein!

Nike Pro Combat Ultra Warm leggings

Compression Leggings are the in thing on the training ground at the moment.

I remember when one of the lads wore them for the first time – he got hammered by the rest of us! Slowly but surely more people started wearing them and all of a sudden they are part and parcel of the training kit.

There is nothing better to keep you warm and give you the freedom to move during training and the Nike Pro Combat Ultra Warm leggings are a great example of this style of base layer.

Skins Recovery Compression Tights

Skins Recovery and Recharge products are the latest development in the evolution of compressionwear and baselayer.

Despite all the hype and the pr speak, I really think the Skins Recovery Compression Tights do work and there is going to be a real take-up of this and similar products in the British game. Ice baths have been part of our routine for a while and recovery leggings are starting to become an accepted part of recovery too.

At my age I need as much help as I can get – must be the massive work rate I have! The Skins compression tights are nice and tight which helps increase blood flow, which is vital to aiding recovery.

Wear them under your after match clothing or track suit bottoms after training, perfect.

Precision Training Base Layer Mock

Kitting out your child or yourself with everything required to play football is not a cheap business these days.

So Precision Training have got it exactly right with their pricepoint for this excellent value-for-money range. I was struggling to find a base layer for my two young lads but Precision Training have hit the mark with this one. The base layer mock is a fantastic shirt at an even better price. The material takes sweat away from the body quickly and keeps you warm and comfortable – vital when the kids are training on a wet and cold Sunday morning.

Well cut to fit the body and available in some stylish colours (including pink) – can’t go wrong with this one.

Looking for more compression clothing? View the extensive range at ACA Sports

Over the coming weeks I will be reviewing items from balls to base layers, boots to goalkeeping gloves – hopefully giving you an idea of which product would best suit you and your team.

First Up, Match Balls!

It always amazes me that there are so many different footballs on the market but having tested these out you can definitely see the reasons why. Who would have thought there would be so much technology in a simple football?

The way things have evolved with the football is making the game quicker and more dynamic which makes for a fantastic spectacle for the fans – bit of a nightmare for the goalkeepers though!

Mitre Max  Football

This is an absolute classic!

The ball that reminds me most of my time in the Premier League – things have moved on a bit since this ball first came out and it is a bit heavier than the balls we use now.

Easy to control free kicks because of the weight it makes an ideal match ball.  Will work well for the Sunday morning matches as well as those slightly higher up the non-league echelen on a Saturday.

You can’t go wrong with this middle of the range price ball – top draw.

You can pick up the Mitre Max football for £25.95 from ACA Sports.

Nike T90 Tracer Hi Vis

Goalkeepers in the Premier League might already  be having nightmares about this ball! The tag line for the ball gives it away – kill the nil!!  Oh dear keepers!!

It is easy to strike and it really flies. My mate, Derby keeper Steven Bywater, and the rest of the goalkeepers’ union bemoan how balls become repeatedly lighter and move around in flight more with every passing season.

Fans want to see goals, though, not clean sheets.  With practice you could make this ball swerve into the top corner with ease – it is actually quite hard not to strike it well – lucky for me!

The Premier League version of the Nike T90 Tracer Hi-Vis is available now for £79.95.

Mitre Tensile Football

For me, Mitre is still THE classic football manufacturer.  So much heritage and tradition.

This is the Match ball we use in the Championship week in week out.  We also make sure we are training with them all week – each club has it supplied in their bespoke colours, which is a nice touch.

The Tensile has a different panel design  to previous years.  This is great ball to pass with – it zips across the pitch nicely and is easy to control, sometimes!!

The Tensile is perfecttoo  for non-league clubs and those Sunday morning players who want to play with the best.

Pick up your Mitre Tensile match football for £64.95, bargain!

Adidas Champions League Finale 2010

Can you believe this is the 10^th edition of the iconic Champions League ball?

Adidas have released this for the 2010/11 season and a Special Edition version will be used at Wembley in the final later this season.

After the controversy that the Jabulani World Cup ball caused in the World Cup it was important that Adidas delivered for the Champions League. They have certainly done that!

The Finale plays a little bit heavier than the Jabulani but nowhere near the old school favourite – the Adidas Tango. This latest edition from Adidas is definitely worthy of gracing the Champions League.

The Adidas Champions League Finale is on sale now.

Mitre Revolve Match Football

This is last year’s Football League ball. More classical than this year’s Tensile , a little heavier and it doesn’t zip around the field quite as much. That said it was great for accuracy and I enjoyed playing with them last season.

The Mitre ball this year is a step up though – it suits my passing game – yes you read that correctly!

Still this is a quality ball that would cope with high level football easily.

The Mitre Revolve is available for just £59.95 from ACA.

The Speed Range of football boots is based around lightweight boots, flash colour’s and styling, and maximum technology. Not the boots you typically see on goalkeepers, these are aimed at wingers and strikers and the creative players in a team. So, perhaps we aren’t the best to review them, but we’ll try anyway!

Today’s review includes the top 3 “speed” football boots on the market at the moment from Adidas, Nike and Puma. First up, the Adidas F50 AdiZero football boots.

The Adidas F50 AdiZero review.

The Adidas F50 AdiZero are the lightest of the boots in this review, by a big margin, as they weigh only 165 grams! This is a huge difference to the other boots and you feel it immediately.

The boots though, feel surprisingly sturdy despite being so thin, and are very comfortable. You will see bands on the insole of the boots which do a fantastic job of supporting the boots and your foot.

 The sole is great on firm pitches, though we aren’t sure if the new angular studs are what offers added comfort. They have a more traditional feel than other “speed” boots as well, with a traditional front lace with full length tongue which we think greatly improves feel and comfort – some of the covered lace designs are just too gimmicky!

Overall, we love the Adidas F50 AdiZero, and find it hard to fault. The synthetic upper may quickly age, as it shows creases quickly in any flex zones, but as this doesn’t affect performance, it’s not really a flaw. And we are pleased that all models are offered in a slightly heavier leather version, this offers more players the chance to benefit from a fantastic boot.

JustSocca Score: 9/10

The Nike Mercurial Vapor VI Review.

Weighing in at 230 grams, the Nike Mercurial Vapor VI are only 20 grams heavier than the much more expensive Superfly edition of the boots, and though you would notice the difference, they are still very light once they are on.

The heel and insole of the Vapor VI combine to offer added comfort over its expensive big brother, and the outer of the boot feels thicker and offers more padding. Though the differences might actually not be as pronounced as we felt, on the pitch this gave us more confidence.

The sole unit is fantastic and offers great support on firm surfaces, but the forefoot design wasn’t our favourite. The toe area is a little large which meant the bend in the boot could dig in a little, but what affected us  might not affect someone with a different foot shape! Overall, we like the Nike Mercurial Vapor VI, but the £180.00 price tag lost it a point or two in our final score.

JustSocca Score: 7.5/10

The Puma v1.10 Boot review.

The Puma v1 range has been evolving for a few years now, and the Puma v1.10 boots are the latest in this long line of lightweight football boots. Having said that, they are the heaviest boot in this review, weighing 235 grams, which is still light compared to most other styles of boot.

The first thing we noticed is that they felt small, mainly due to being a narrower boot, so if you have a wide sole, you might add a half size to your normal shoe size. Then, after wearing the previous two boots, we noticed the added weight, they do feel heavier, and as a result of the multi-material design, they feel a lot more rigid.

The sole on the Puma v1.10 boots is great though, with smaller studs than the others which offer a comfortable feel on hard surfaces. As well as this, we like the tongue cover, which still gives enough access to the laces to make tightening them easier than similar designs on the market.

That said though, they unfortunately don’t feel quite as light, or even as expensive as the other models, despite being in the same price bracket.

JustSocca Score: 6/10

And the Winner is…

The Adidas F50 AdiZero is our favourite in this review. An incredibly light football boot, which doesn’t seem to lose out on comfort or support, the Adidas F50 AdiZero was instantly comfortable and provides superb feel and touch. And as Messi’s boot of choice, the Adidas F50 AdiZero can boast a pretty nice stamp of quality!

Have a look at our top 5 replica shirts and tell us what you think?

1. Arsenal Away Shirt 2010/11

In its stunning gold and burgundy colourway with classic v-neck collar, it’s the new Arsenal away shirt from Nike that makes our top 5 list at number one, made using 8 plastic bottles all of which have been recycled,  the new Arsenal away shirt is not only an eco-friendly shirt, it also offers bags of style due to its modern faint pin-stripe design running throughout the fabric.

2. Real Madrid Home Shirt 2010/11

Back again with the classic style we expect from the Spanish giants, the new Real Madrid home shirt is back with a slightly updated look. Royal blue 3 stripe branding down the sleeves give the shirt a fresh new look, while Adidas Climacool fabric gives the shirt a high level of breathability and comfort.

A top buy for the 2010/11 season, this Real Madrid home shirt will be seen worn by world superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and new signing of the month Mesut Ozil.

3. AC Milan Home Shirt 2010/11

A traditional football shirt recognised by football fans all over the world, the AC Milan home shirt from Adidas is back for the new season it is traditional famous black and red Rossoneri stripes, this time the shirt comes without the fold-over collar, but instead with a modern hexagon style cut. A popular football shirt for the Italian Giants, this shirt comes in at number 3, thanks to its traditional style, with modern features.

4. Man United Home Shirt 2010/11

The Man United home shirt for the 2010/11 takes a completely different look from the classic styles worn over the past decade, to go back to the late 1970’s early 1980’s and replicate the same style as worn during that successful era. Still in a traditional red and white colourway, this Manchester United home shirt comes styled with a thick white collar, featuring thin white piping down the sleeves and a faint chevron pattern throughout the fabric on the back.

5. Barcelona Away Shirt 2010/11

The Catalan giants are back for the new 2010/11 season with this stunning mint coloured Barcelona away shirt from Nike. This shirt makes our top 5 replicas, thanks to its fresh bold colours with blue and maroon panel design running across the chest. This Barcelona away shirt is sure to be fans favourite for the new season ahead, especially with superstar players such Messi, Xavi and David Villa bracing the shirt.

Replica football shirts which didn’t quite make the list.

Picking 5 top replica football shirts was a very hard choice, with our choices based on the personal opinions and discussions of our in house team.

A few which didn’t quite make the list of top 5 is the new Liverpool home shirt which comes in a traditional red colourway with a  jacquard print design throughout the fabric, as well as the new Chelsea away shirt which comes in a stylish black and orange colourway with retro pin-stripe design down the body.

1. Selsport Wrappa XTR – ACA Price £54.95

The Selsport Wrappa XTR is a great new glove for 2010, which oozes quality the minute you put it on. Designed with the 4mm ULTRA Adhesion+ latex palm, this is an all weather glove designed to continue performance in all conditions.

Other key features of these goalkeeper gloves include the 3-point Selsport wrist lock and a roll finger cut for maximum latex coverage. Although it is one of the dearer gloves on the list, we think it’s great value for money regardless!

2. Uhlsport Ergonomic Absolutgrip – ACA £44.95

A nice flat palm goalkeeper glove, the Uhlsport Ergonomic Absolutgrip is pre-curved and benefits from the long lasting, high grip Absolutgrip latex palm. As well as this, you get the Ergonomic cut, which offers reliable flexibility and ensures the gloves offer added freedom of movement.

Easily one of the best Flat Palm gloves available, it reaches our Top 5 as the price is a bargain at under £50!

3. Nike Gunn Cut 2010 – ACA £44.95

Continuing on from previous years, the Nike Gunn Cut 2010 shows further improvement this year, and is now one of the better Roll Finger gloves available. The Nike Gunn Cut features a belt lock wrist bandage, and Pre-Curved fingers, making the hands “catch-ready”.

A great addition to your bag, the Nike Gunn Cut is the glove of choice for Nike sponsored goalkeepers.

4. Reusch Magno D1 – ACA £34.95

OK, so in black/red the Reusch Magno D1 might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s the choice of this years fantastic Reusch range, and is the cheapest in our list. Another Flat Palm goalkeeper glove, the Magno D1 features Durasoft latex, which is superb in all conditions and offers a fantastic feel on the ball.

A bit of a no-frills goalkeeper glove, but this isn’t a bad thing as performance is premium!

5. Puma Powercat 1.10 Protect – ACA £54.95

At this price, you get a lot of glove for your money! The Puma Powercat 1.10 Protect features finger protection throughout, yes, including the thumb. The spines used can be removed or moved so the glove is customisable for each goalkeeper.

A Twin Wrap thumb and Control Wrap technology ensure maximum latex to ball contact, essential in gaining maximum grip, and reducing uncomfortable seams.

A fantastic goalkeeper glove to round off our Top 5!

Goalkeeper Gloves that nearly made the list.

Choosing just 5 gloves wasn’t easy, with a few models just missing out on a Top 5 place. Among them were the Adidas Response Pro, Precision Supersoft Roll and Kaliaeer XGM Pro ACA Edition, all of which offer good value for money and performance.

Fear not, though help is at hand with our pick of the best new football boots to hit the shelves!

1. Adidas Predator X – Black/White/Cyan

We start with a boot that isn’t strictly new, but for good reason. The Adidas Predator X are fantastic football boots, that justify their cost with a host of technology that we think actually makes a difference, such as the XTRX and TRX stud designs, the Predator Vamp and Power Spine.

But why are they on this list? Simple, the new Black/White/Cyan colour. The rugby version of these boots have come in a similar colourway for a few years, but never in a standard football version, until now!

2. Nike CTR360 Maestri – White/Cyber-Black

The Nike CTR360 Maestri launched last year, but didn’t really take off until recently. We’re not sure why, though the original colourways weren’t to everyone’s taste, and they sort of sneaked on to the market, but we think the new White/Cyber colourway finally lifts the CTR360 into our Top 5!

Innovative cushioning on the outstep, and a clever strike zone on the instep, along with a superb leather upper, really make the Nike CTR360 worth a look and offer a great alternative to some of the more obvious Nike choices!

3. Puma Powercat 1.10 – Black/Red/Silver

Built for power, the Puma Powercat 1.10 (clue’s in the name) mixes some of the classic design you would find in a Puma King, with modern technology which competes against the Adidas Predator X and Nike Total 90 football boots.

PowerGil technology on the instep offer better football traction for added power, control and swerve, very much in the vein of the Predator. Added to this, is a 3D layer called PST which transfers more energy to the ball for stronger shots and passes, and you have a nice alternative to Adidas and Nike. And we think they look good!

4. Adidas Kaiser 5 Liga and Cup

OK, so they are the oldest boots on our list, but we’ve just taken them in for the first time in ages and had to tell you! Despite being largely branded as a cheaper version of the classic Adidas Copa Mundial and World Cup football boots, the Adidas Kaiser 5 more than hold their own in this company!

Almost identical to their big brothers, the Adidas Kaiser 5 feature a couple of subtle but important differences, and some equally important similarities. The main differences are an upper that is made of full grain calf leather, not kangaroo leather, making it sturdier, and the famous foldover tongue is actually bigger and easier to control.

The similarities are just about everything else! To the eye, and foot, the sole on SG and FG feel very similar, the internal heel counter feels identical and it is very hard to tell them apart visually, other than a neat white stripe on the Kaiser. And for £45, we reckon you won’t a better boot for under £50 or higher!

5. Lotto Zhero Gravity Ultra – White/Navy/Gold

Lotto have been bringing out the top of the range Zhero Gravity models for a while, and the latest Ultra model takes the ethos behind the design even further! One of football only lace less football boots, the Lotto Zhero Gravity Ultra truly offer a sock-like fit.

A superlight microfibre upper offers fantastic water resistance and is as strong as any other material you are used to seeing on football boots. The Twist’n Go rotating stud might be a little gimmicky, but there is no denying that these boots are comfortable!

They also feature a new memory foam insole for maximum comfort as they groove to your foot perfectly. Yes, they are the dearest boots on our list, but there is definitely something special about slipping them on a pair of boots which fit this smoothly!

Football Boots that didn’t quite make the list.

Out of all of the football boots on offer, listing just 5 was hard, and if the list was made last week, or next week, the Top 5 might have been different, mood depending!

Amongst the football boots that didn’t quite make the list, but are still worth a look are the new colourways of the Nike Total 90 Laser III, the boot of choice for Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres, the latest Adidas F50 AdiZero, designed for and by Lionel Messi and ignroing the Cactus Green Nike Mercurial Vapor VI was never going to be easy, even if we wanted to!