With Christmas fast approaching (you can tell its Xmas as the Easter eggs are in the shops) its time to look at the Footy Boots picks for the best presents you can buy.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll highlight our top 5 medium and entry level boots, but we start off today with our selections from the elite level. We’ve come up with one boot per brand – boots that we know can do a job and will offer value for money.

Nike CTR360 Maestri

This new line from has exploded on the scene and Nike must be purring in head office after getting Cesc Fabregas to be their lead ambassador.

The Spanish international has hardly put a foot wrong since he started wearing the CTR and his performances must be going a long way to persuade players that this is the boot for them.

Dampening pods on the outside of the forefoot provide a softer first touch when receiving the ball, whilst an asymmetrical lacing system greatly expands the ball control area.

The instep utilizes a harder material to provide extra pace on the pass - the forefront and the instep work together for a lighter more controlled take but quicker delivery, minimising time on the ball.

Nike has developed the revolutionary KANGA-LITE synthetic leather that mimics the supreme feel of kangaroo leather, while maintaining its performance in all conditions and allows for a snug fit.

When a player strikes the ball, a well planted foot is just as important as the striking boot. Nike has integrated dual-density forefoot studs that not only reduce the stud weight but help grip the ball better without compromising traction or stability.

The heel studs are built to be strong and stable to create a sure footing while controlling the ball with the other foot.

Shape correcting memory foam delivers uniform contact with the ball for greater precision. An injected pass-pad on the combines with the memory foam to deliver the ball at optimum pace.

In addition to receiving, controlling and distributing, in developing the boot, Nike not only looked at increasing control, but maximising comfort. Therefore, a sock liner with an additional comfort layer sits within the boot, reducing stress on the foot and minimising friction.

adidas Predator_X

Walk down Oxford Street in London, look at the display in the adidas shop and then say you aren’t impressed by the latest in the Predator line. We’d venture that you’d find it a difficult task to undertake.

A brand new ‘Powerspine’ has been inspired by the revolutionary ‘fingersave’ technology that now exists within adidas goalkeeper gloves.

Positioned in the inner sole of the boot, the ‘Powerspine’ minimises the energy lost when players strike a football through a reduction in the “kicking flex” in the forefoot area.

This additional energy is transferred into the ball and away from the fragile ligaments and bones that exist at the top of the foot.

Through vigorous testing the Predator_X is proven to have on average 7% more kicking power than the most recent Predator football boot.

The ability for players to swerve the ball has always been the stand-out technical innovation of the Predator football boot and a new material has been used on the Predator_X to further enhance this.

Positioned on the kicking zone of the boot, the Predator element is a mix of rubber and silicon meaning it is lightweight but impactful.

The positioning of the Predator element has been slightly altered to maximise the swerve players are able to achieve. These changes result in an increase in swerve and a proven consistency no matter what the weather conditions.

To enhance control, it is the belief of adidas that the space between a player’s foot and the top of the boot must be minimal. Optifit technology brings the upper materials in all areas as close as possible to the top of the foot.

Thermoform technology has been incorporated on the side of the boot which acts as memory foam to enable a perfect fit time and time again.

The football boot is constructed from Taurus leather which combines a weather and abrasion proof material with lightweight features. The inclusion of the medial split and mono-tongue provide stability and support.

Umbro Speciali

The England captain wears them and that’s good enough for us. When a player of John Terry’s class and ability believes in a boot, then who are we to say any different.

Umbro has designed a boot that builds upon Speciali’s traditional values with incredible comfort, improved control, increased accuracy and additional power.

The boot’s famous premium soft leather creates outstanding fit, delivering supreme touch, accuracy and control.

The eye catching A-Frame design has become a central functional component for the new Speciali, cradling the mid-foot and securing the heel.

The high density memory foam in the tongue and collar maintains its shape and there are fast flex grooves in the outsole for greater flexibility. The lightweight precision studs are engineered with aircraft grade aluminium and its the lightest Speciali Umbro have ever made.

Lotto StadioFuoriclasse

If you want minimalist styling with a classic look, excellent detailing and a trim to die for then Italy is the place to go.

We just adore the look of the Stadio Fuoriclasse and while it doesn’t get anywhere near the exposire of the boots as mentioned as above, perhaps if you all buy it for Xmas, it might do so soon.

As you’d expect from an Italian boot, the Stadio Fuoriclasse has a certain amount of flair and whilst it’s available in the Lotto staple colourways of White / Black and Black / White, it also comes in a striking Black / Neon Green version.

It’s fairly brimming with interesting features starting off with it’s water-repellent kangaroo upper for an extraordinarily comfortable fit.

The removable anatomic insole maximises comfort for the entire sole of the foot and the new outsole with the conical studs is sewn onto the upper to ensure durability.

The boot is completed by the Puntoflex technology, inserted in the metatarsal zone of the outsole, ensuring the correct flexing of the forefoot.

Concave PT+

A strange choice perhaps but we were keen to include a boot from an up and coming brand and since they signed John O’Shea on a two-year contract, Concave certainly comes in to that category.

O’Shea is the company’s first major signing and he’ll doutbless be providing a great shop window for them playing week in, week out for Manchester United.

Patented technology on the top of the boot gives players 30% better control and 15% more power, according to an accredited university study. Concave is unique in that respect.

Those performance improvements are derived primarily from the most effective ‘sweet spot’ ever introduced — rated at four times larger than traditional football boots.   The benefit is an upper that conforms to the convex shape of the ball – essentially “hugging” the ball.

The Shank Balance Stabilizer or SBS provides support and reinforcement to the mid-foot area to help control balance between the front and rear of the foot. The SBS protects from an over extension of the middle of the boot – too much flexibility can lead to metatarsal bone damage.

MetaGuard is an extra layer of protection built into the boot. It’s a unique upper design featuring a flexible layer of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomers) and reinforced cushioning foam composite offering increased protection against the occurrence of metatarsal injuries by adding a protective layer to the top of the foot.

Football authorities in the Republic of Ireland have asked that the second leg of their World Cup play off with France be replayed.

The Football Association of Ireland has lodged a complaint with Fifa after they were knocked out in Paris last night following a French goal which should have been disallowed.

The ROI went out 2 – 1 on aggregate after a 1 – 1 draw away from home. But in the build up to the French goal, Barcelona’s Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball on 2 occasions. While the first could be described as instinctive, the second looked calculated.

An FAI statement read:

The hand ball, was recognised the Fifa commissioner, the referee observer and the match officials, as well as by the player himself.

There is precedent for the invalidation of such results. In 2005, the bureau of the Fifa World Cup organising committee reached a decision to invalidate the result of a World Cup qualification match between Uzbekistan and Bahrain on the basis of a ‘technical error by the referee of the match’.

The Football Association of Ireland is hoping that Fifa and its disciplinary committee will, on behalf of football fans world-wide, act in a similar fashion so that the standards of fair play and integrity can be protected.

Blatant. Totally blatant. You can forget all the post match comments of ‘it wasn’t intentional’, Thierry Henry was at the heart of one of the worst examples of cheating on a football field last night and time has come to say enough is enough.

At the centre of a major storm, French international Thierry Henry

For those of you who missed it, like the referee and his assistant, the Republic of Ireland were leading 1 – 0 against France in Paris and seemed destined to take their World Cup play off match to a penalty shoot out.

But in the 13th minute of extra time came Henry’s outrageous act. He handled the ball, not once but twice, before setting up William Gallas for the deciding goal.

On camera, Henry admitted that it was handball but said that he didn’t mean to do it. However, Irish defender Richard Dunne told reporters that the Barcelona forward admitted to him that he had cheated.

Henry wears Reebok football boots, but should he any longer?

At least Henry should know how Dunne and his team mates will be feeling this morning. Who can forget his raw and emotional pitch side interview after the Champions League final of 2006 when he accused Barcelona of a less than honest approach during that game?

So what can be done?

First off it’s worth noting that any retrospective action against Henry or France will be of little consolation to the Republic. France are off to South Africa and they are not. That said, surely there must be action of some kind.

Certainly, if I was sitting in the Reebok board room today, I’m not sure I’d want my brand to be associated with such an individual as Henry. The incident, already known as ‘Hand Gaul’ is going to be replayed endlessly for years to come and Reebok will be at the heart of it. If I was them, I’d be sending Henry a letter curtailing his contract for ‘gross misconduct’. Gillette might think about doing the same. How Henry can now be mentioned in the same breath as Federer and Woods is beyond me.

Henry is one of Reebok’s biggest name ambassadors

Secondly, though Fifa and Uefa will be privately delighted that a major country like France has progressed at the expense of a lesser national like the ROI, they should ban Henry from taking part in the competition.

Any other message from either Reebok or the football authorities will be interpreted that cheats can prosper.

Thirdly, and here we go again, but how can it be that millions of viewers around the world can see that an offence has taken place and yet the referee and his assistant, who was perfectly positioned by the way, cannot. Where were Michel Platini’s extra assistants? If he’s so sure that they are the way forward, why were they not employed in such a crucial game as opposed to being used in worthless trials during the Europa League? And, if there was ever a more clear cut example that video technology is so desperately needed, I’ve yet to see it.

Henry’s conning of the officials and football world at large can be best summed up in the words of Liam Brady. “A shameful night for football.” Too true Liam, too true.

adidas plan to make trainers costing just €1 for people who cannot afford to buy shoes.

Unlikely to be less than a pound, an adidas trainer.

The scheme is due to start in 2010 in Bangladesh and takes its inspiration from Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who suggested the “social business” project to the firm.

It is not known yet if the shoes will have the Adidas three-stripes label on them, or be sold under a different brand name. Runau said it had been suggested the shoes not be branded at all, but this was being studied. ‘We’re just at the beginning,’ he said.

The good news is that they have agreed to make the shoes on a non-profit basis, selling them at no more than the cost of materials and manufacturing costs.

This initiative will help adidas improve their image. Only last year adidas were slated for allegedly paying Chinese factory workers low wages.

When our US based tester Matt first spotted the F50i being player tested by Higuain a little over a year ago in Madrid, he was so impressed he put his name down straight away to be the reviewer. Here’s how he got on….. 

I was excited about testing the F5oi. It was August 2008 when I first saw the football boot whilst watching the Real Madrid pro’s training. Ever since I’ve been looking forward to lacing up the F50i and seeing if it lived up to my high expectations.

Adidas F50i Boot Test

The F50i tested - Leather in the white / black / red colourway.

Aesthetics

The all important looks. adidas has positioned the world famous three stripes brilliantly, giving the football boot a very sleek look in design. I like the look of the F50i, I think it flows well from heel to toe. Some say the silhouette doesn’t match the streamlining effect of the stripes making the F50i look slightly bulky. I don’t see that though.

Comfort/Fit

The football boot has no defining shape that hugs the foot to the upper and sole, I found this made it a little uncomfortable first up. The soleplate was surprisingly rigid and, being on firm ground, I felt pressure points from the studs all over the sole of my foot.

I was impressed with the lace cover, it is very well designed. It allowed easy access to tighten the laces which really helped improve the fit.

Durability

The leather is thick, so there’s little chance of it wearing thin in a short time span. Having said this, the stitching does pull at the leather and cause small tears on the instep of the boot. I found the leather stretched about 1/4 of an inch after a few weeks of use, so you may need to wear thicker socks over time. That said, with a little stretching the football boot can become more comfortable.

The studs are replaceable adding longevity, no problems there. It’s also been reported that TUNiT soleplates have been prone to snapping and cracking. During and after the testing, I saw no signs of potential soleplate problems.

Touch

Having worn the synthetic version of the F50i, I was expecting a very thin ult k-leather to be used in order to mimmick the SprintSkin material. That wasn’t the case. The ult k-leather is pretty thick and importantly, provides a great feel for the ball.

In fact the ult k-leather is very plush, it covers all areas of the forefoot. In my mind it makes these football boots ideal for dribbling and cushioning the ball.

Traction

The soleplate of the TUNiT line is a bit suspect to criticism in my opinion. There is little arch support offered and whilst I’m being really picky,  the “Allesklar” material used in the heel counter and sole plate doesn’t shave off much weight.

Another big plus is the ability to change your studs to suit the surface of the playing field, it can save you having to buy specific boots for different turfs. There’s no need to worry about your studs being worn down either as you can simply buy a new set. And, in my tests, the studs stayed tight throughout, though I always recommend checking them before each use.

Conclusion

The biggest point of note for this football boot is the great touch it provides, an essential consideration for any serious footballer.

The downside for me was the comfort when first used, and the fit.

I think adidas will improve on a few features going forward and with the likes of Messi, Villa, Young, Robben and Defoe all acting as boot ambassadors, it’s easy to understand why this football boot has been such a huge hit since it’s release back in May of this year.

Have you used the F50i? If so, drop your review in the comments section below.

Ah, the summer of 1994. 2 Unlimited were on top of the charts with The Real Thing, Forrest Gump and The Lion King were battling it out to be the biggest grossing film of the year and Motor Trend magazine decreed that the car of the year was the Ford Mustang. And of course, there was the small matter of the World Cup.

The tournament was held in the USA for the first time and with the host nation reaching the knockout stages, it was a storming success. The average attendance was 69,000 and the total attendance 3.6 million, the highest in World Cup history.

The final was Brazil verus Italy, Brazil led by Romario and Italy by the great Paolo Maldini. As well as becoming the first final to be decided on penalties (Brazil won 3 – 2) the game was also notable as both Romario and Maldini wore the Nike Tiempo Premier.

Fifteen years on, Nike has re-created the classic Tiempo with a Limited Edition Tiempo ’94.

This very special football boot has the throwback style of the ‘94 boot with a modern, updated outsole for excellent traction.

It includes a kangaroo leather upper with the same vamp pattern as the 1994 football boot and a retro Tiempo Premier folding tongue.

The insole features a molded sockliner with Poron cushioning for comfort, and “LIMITED EDITION” detailing.

The outsole is composed of lightweight TPU with glass fibre shank and forefoot flex grooves. Combination conical and bladed studs for traction and pressure dispersion, on firm, natural surfaces.

This is a great ‘feel good’ boot and is guaranteed to bring back memories of those fantastic 3 weeks in the American sunshine. Crafted in Italy, this exclusive football boot comes with a commemorative shoe bag.

The Tiempo 94 is a limited edition football boot, retailing at £99.99. If you bag your slice of football history, let us know.

Scottish football officials have begun their search for a new national coach following the sacking of George Burley.

The former Ipswich manager was given his marching orders after Scotland’s 3 – 0 loss to Wales at the weekend.

Among the early favourites for the post is the Kilmarnock boss Jim Jeffries along with Dundee United’s Craig Levein and Walter Smith of Rangers.

Jefferies says he is flattered to be linked with the post but hasn’t made it clear if he wants the job.

Jeffries said:

The day I’ll comment on anything like that is the day I get asked, and then I’ll be able to say yes or no.

George would try 100%, he’s a very passionate man. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t work out and he’s had to face the consequences.

The one thing I’ve always said with Scotland is, ‘It’s not how you play.

People travel and spend a lot of money to see the team get a result. Because they don’t play every week, it doesn’t matter how they play.

It’s about qualifying and getting the points and not losing, because they’ve not got the same quality as a lot of the nations.

If you open up a bit thinking you’re going to entertain at that level, if you’ve not got the quality, itcan be a problem.

He could dazzle with his feet, and occasionally his hand, but Maradona’s mouth has never been quite so talented.

Certainly, Fifa have taken exception to what came out of it after Maradona had seen his Argentina side beat Uruguay to qualify for next summer’s World Cup finals.

Maradona, who had been criticised by the media before the game, let fly with a foul-mouthed tirade which was broadcast live on television.

The ban will run from 15th November to 15th January 2010, which means he will miss the World Cup draw on 4th December.

He could also miss a home international friendly against the Czech Republic scheduled for 16th December at a so-far unspecified venue, though his role as coach at the World Cup will not be affected.

Maradona, who attended the three-hour disciplinary committee hearing in Zurich, was also fined £15,000.

World Cup shambles

The reason London won the 2012 Olympic Games was because they got so much of the bid right. It helped that they had as their figurehead, Lord Sebastian Coe. Understated but statesmanlike, passionate, enthusiastic and acutely aware of how to play the political game. Indeed, many believe it was Coe’s final address to the IOC that swung the vote. It probably helped too that he’d won two Olympic Gold medals.

England’s World Cup bid for 2018 is headed up by Lord Triesman. As Neil Custis of the Sun pointed out on Sky Sports this weekend, the average football fan wouldn’t know Triesman if he slapped them in the face. England need to appoint a new figurehead, and quickly. A man that will inspire and who Fifa dignitaries would want to walk over to and shake by the hand. Triesman couldn’t inspire me to change my 3 week old socks.

Friendly fire

International friendlies, who needs them eh? Certainly not England who fielded a B team in the defeat to Brazil, nor Arsenal who will now be without the services of Robin van Persie for a least 6 weeks after he was injured playing for Holland against Italy. George Burley’s probably not too keen on them either after his Scotland team was taken apart by Wales.

That said, John Toshack would be entitled to feel somewhat differently after the wonderful display from Aaron Ramsey. The 18 year old was involved in all 3 goals against the Scots, including a fantastic solo effort. Wales and Arsenal have a real gem on their hands.

Maradona banned

Diego Maradona has been given a two month ban by Fifa following his obscene tirade after Argentina qualified for the World Cup finals. The Argentina coach is prohibited from “any football-related activity” until 16th January. Mind you, judging how Argentina played during their World Cup campaign, I assume that the ban won’t rule him out of coaching them during this period. Football related – hardly!

Purple rain

England’s rugby players certainly looked the part on Saturday against Argentina in their new purple Nike kit. Ugo Monye even more so, wearing a pair of limited edition white and purple Nike Superfly’s.

A shame then that the England management continue to play him out of position at full back. The unfortunate Monye, a revelation on the Lions tour of South Africa when playing on the wing, was all at sea in the wet and windy conditions as England stumbled to a 16 – 9 win. Never has a boot made for speed and movement been so chronically underused.

Football fans who enjoy marvelling at the latest equipment would have been excused for turning there eye towards a different sport when the England Rugby beat Argentina at Twickenham by 16 points to 9.

England beat the Pumas, but it was the arrival of their special Purple Rugby shirts and some seriously cool football boots that stole the show.

Not only were the entire England team wearing the new purple rugby kit, Nike also introduced a limited edition white and purple Mercurial Superfly football boot to celebrate the new national strip.

Mercurial Superfly White Purple - Limited Edition

Ugo Monye, the Harlequins winger / full back, was the man charged with wearing the Superfly which was one of only 70 that have been manufactured. Each boot has been handmade in Italy and individually numbered from 1 to 70. The white boot with purple Nike swoosh carried the message ‘Wear it Proud’, whilst the tongue carried his name.

The Mercurial Superfly is an ultra light boot, weighing a mere 185 grams (for a UK Size 8), and is manufactured using Nike’s other innovation, Flywire technology.

Flywire is the technology designed to make a boot stronger without sacrificing weight. The essence of Flywire is to utilise high-strength threads that act like cables on a suspension bridge, which give lots of support precisely where it’s needed. The strength of Nike’s Flywire technology is created through the specific placement of these threads across the upper of the football boot.

With added feedback from Nike’s stable of athletes, Nike has also improved the soleplate for this year’s Mercurial Vapor. Nike then kept the carbon-fiber sole plate from the Mercurial Vapor SL to again make the Nike Superfly football boot even lighter.

England back Ugo Monye said:

The purple change kit and now the white and purple boots are associated with the iconic track jacket and all things England Rugby. It is a privilege to wear purple and I can’t wait to play in the boots on match day.

Purple England Rugby Shirt

For the new England Rugby shirt, Nike and the RFU collaborated on a new design, drawing on inspiration from the purple track jacket that was rewarded to players called up to represent the England squads in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

The innovation and technology in the new change kit mirrors that of the latest white home kit which, weighing in 27% lighter than in previous seasons, is designed to give the England team every possible advantage on the pitch.

Tight fitting rugby apparel was introduced by Nike in 2003 in a bid to help reduce the opportunity to be tackled via the shirt.

Concave has pulled off a major coup by confirming that Manchester United star and Republic of Ireland international John O’Shea will wear their boots for the next two years.

O’Shea, who wore the ConcavePT+ boots for the first time during the Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, made his decision to become a  Concave ambassador following an extensive trial period of wearing the new 2009 Concave boots during United practice and other private, self-directed sessions.

After watching O’Shea sign his two-year deal, Concave CEO Jim Grimes said:

It is a great pleasure to welcome John O’Shea to our line-up. In fact, we are thrilled when someone of John’s stature believes in our product they way we do.

It is well known that John has earned the respect of his teammates, coach, and football fanatics around the globe. John’s hallmarks are his enduring passion for the sport and his commitment to excellence. Those qualities are the bedrock of our company culture.

John was very meticulous in his evaluation of our product, very particular about what he would sign his name to. So it truly is an honour for us to be affiliated with a player of John’s calibre. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with him.

O’Shea made his United debut in 1999 and became a regular in the side during the 2008 / 09 season. He has now made over 350 appearances for the club and holds the unique distinction of having played in every position, including that of goalkepper. Most recently O’Shea has worn the adidas adiPure II.

After putting pen to paper, O’Shea said:

As a professional football player it is crucial that I wear a boot that can help maximise my performance on the pitch. I believe Concave is the next big thing in football, the boots are unique in design and offer exclusive technology which hasn’t been seen before. The boots offer me increased protection and confidence, and I hope to be wearing Concave for the rest of my career.

Concave is a relative new-comer to the football boot world, having launched its first model of it’s technologically advanced product last autumn, as exclusively reported by Footy Boots. They are now introducing their much broader and eagerly anticipated 2009 product line in football specialty shops and online in the UK and the USA – and soon, globally.

Concave attributes its patented technology on the top of the boot with giving players at all levels the ability to increase their ball striking skills – in the areas of power, accuracy and control – while also protecting against foot injuries. In fact, tests have demonstrated a 15 percent increase in power and 30 percent greater accuracy when striking the ball, over traditionally designed football boots.

Although the financial aspect of the deal is to be kept private, it’s clear that O’Shea will become the marquee focus of Concave’s brand presence in the UK and Ireland, including at point of sale, online networking, and other promotional interaction with customers.

As the national team kick-off their preparations for South Africa 2010 with a testing friendly against five-time world champions Brazil, fans can continue to play a key role in helping to bring World Cup football to England in 2018. 

Significant global backing has already been secured as fans from 140 countries around the world have pledged their support to the England 2018 FIFA World Cup Bid via the official website, Facebook pages and text message service.  England 2018 supporters have also been pictured all over the world with Back the Bid scarves from Mt Everest to the Rocky Mountains, Hong Kong to Sydney and Rome to Dar es Salaam.

English football’s passionate followers can provide vital support to the England 2018 World Cup Bid by demonstrating how much a World Cup in England would mean to them.  Fans from across the globe have joined some of the biggest names in English sport and entertainment in backing England 2018, including: John Terry, David Beckham, Germany captain Michael Ballack, Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles, Formula One champs Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, Chicago Bulls captain Luol Deng, England’s Ashes winners, Hollywood star and comedian Eddie Izzard, funnyman Peter Kaye, world champion athlete Jessica Ennis and legendary musicians Noel Gallagher and Sting.

Back the Bid

There are a variety of ways supporters can Back the Bid including texting ‘ENGLAND’ to 62018, logging onto the official website www.england2018bid.com, joining the official Facebook site www.facebook.com/england2018 or by following the bid on Twitter www.twitter.com/england2018bid.  Fans recently provided another dramatic illustration of their desire for World Cup football in England when a giant ‘Back the Bid’ message involving 25,000 supporters was unveiled at the Belarus fixture at Wembley.

Speaking ahead of this week’s Brazil game, England captain John Terry urged fans to show their support:

The passionate support for English football is one of our greatest assets and I’ve no doubt people will show how much they want a World Cup in England by texting ENGLAND to 62018 and getting their friends and family to do the same.  Support from fans could really make a difference and help us win the bid so I hope they join me in Backing England 2018.

Supporters will also be able to select their favourite Host City by texting the name of that city to the 62018 number (users will be charged at their standard network rate for all text messages). In addition, a special England 2018 iPhone application and widget are available ensure fans keep fully up-to-date with the latest news, video and imagery at the touch of a button. Both can be found at www.england2018bid.com along with the latest news, videos and pictures.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was October’s most effective performer across Europe’s five major leagues, according to the Castrol Index..

After studying every minute of every match in the top five European leagues and the Champions League in October 2009, Castrol Performance Analysts have decided that Didier Drogba’s performances have been head and shoulders above the rest.                 How does the Castrol Index work?

With the Chelsea forward returning to Champions League action following his three-game European suspension, he can now continue to close the gap on the top 20 in the Castrol Rankings.

Liverpool’s Fernando Torres (8th) remains the top ranked Premier League player, followed by United’s Nemanja Vidic (12th), but Drobga is on course to close the gap if he maintains his current form.

Chelsea’s superiority in the Premier League in October is reflected in the fact that the Stamford Bridge club boast nine players in the top 100 of the Castrol Rankings, more than any other Premier League club and only beaten by Barcelona who have 12.

Thierry Henry and Barcelona retained their dominance at the top of the October 2009 Castrol Rankings, but the leading group will be casting a nervous glance over their shoulders at the sight of Didier Drogba moving up through the field.

Chelsea striker Drogba had an outstanding October during which he produced a series of performances that marked him out as the month’s most effective performer across Europe’s five major leagues and moved the Ivory Coast star up 50 places in the Castrol Rankings to 23rd place.

The best of games for Drogba was in the 4-0 win at Bolton which showcased the player’s ability both to score goals and create chances for others and was the highest scoring performance of the month. With the Blues forward returning to Champions League action following his three-game European suspension, he could continue to close the gap on the the top 20 of the Castrol Rankings.

Do you agree that Drogba was Europe’s best performing player in October? Let us know below in the comments….

 

New Spain Football Shirt - Red/Collegiate Gold - Kids

European champions Spain qualified for the 2010 World Cup with two qualifying group matches to spare and will be amongst the favourites to lift the World Cup.

Here’s the new Spain Home Shirt the talented Spaniards will be wearing.

•    The home kit features a strong red colour selection paying tribute to the 1964 European Cup winning team.
•    Inclusion of “La Furia Roja” script inside the collar commemorates the recent success in EURO 2008.
•    The new Indigo Blue away kit features colours found in the crest while the three stripes mirrors the national flag.
•    The initials R.F.E.F. on the back is a reference to the proud Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol.

Tell us what you think  of the New Spain football shirt…