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.

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.

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.

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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.

We all know, in the back of our minds, that slipping on a new pair of football boots isn’t going to transform you overnight.

If you currently play as well as Sylvester Stallone did in ‘Escape to Victory’ you won’t suddenly possess the skills of Pele, Maradona and Messi just by slipping on some new footwear.

Bobby Moore, Michael Caine and Stallone

However, as technology ever increases and manufacturers claims grow ever bolder, perhaps the advantages a newly developed pair of football boots can give you aren’t as far fetched as some of us may have believed a year or so ago.

Before we go any further lets be clear. If you change to Superfly’s, you won’t automatically cut a couple of seconds of your best time for 60 metres. If you can’t beat the keeper from 30 yards no matter how hard you try, it’s unlikely that by putting on the new Predator_X that you’ll immediately morph in to Steven Gerrard and if your touch is about as impressive as that of an elephant after a big night out and one too many vodka and Red Bull’s, it’s doubtful that by utilising the Tiempo III that you’ll take on the grace and balance of Darcy Bussell.

I really must work on my first touch!

However, football boot science is such that the constant flow of improvements must create certain advantages. These are possibly heightened at the elite level but may not be quite so obvious for amateurs.

By way of interest, let’s examine what has happened to players who have started wearing the Nike CTR360 Maestri.

First off, I think it’s fair to say that Nike couldn’t have made a better choice than Cesc Fabregas to be the football boot’s lead ambassador. The Spaniard is in the form of his life. He started off by debuting the boots against Blackburn Rovers, a game in which he set up four goals and scored another. A flash in the pan? No way. He’s exuded total control ever since, masterminding Arsenal win after Arsenal win. And he can’t stop scoring either as goals since that Blackburn game against AZ Alkmaar (twice), Spurs and Wolves have proved.

Elsewhere, what about the two strikes of Sergio Aguero against Chelsea? Both were simply stunning. A fantastic volley on the run and one of the truest free kicks you’ll ever see.

There are others. Celtic may not be firing on all cylinders at the moment but Scott McDonald is one of their most consistent performers, Jan Vennegor of Hesselink scored a vital goal for Hull City just the other day, there’s Mario Balotelli in Italy and even Wayne Routledge in the Championship for QPR. All seem to be enjoying a new lease of life since transferring to the CTR360.

Coincidence? Maybe. But then again, maybe not. Let us know what you think by commenting below and, if you’ve worn the CTR360 and noticed a marked improvement in your game, tell us about that too.

Despite being replaced by the v1.10 last month, it’s been interesting to see how many players have opted not to ‘upgrade’ just yet.

The v1.08 was a great success for PUMA, responsible for 65 goals in the Premier League last season on the feet of players like John Carew, Peter Crouch and golden boot winner Nicolas Anelka. Even Ashley Cole famously converted from adidas though he’s since moved on to Nike.

So what was it that made the v1.08 so special? This week, I’m looking at the K-leather incarnation, immediately after testing the v1.10 to see if I can see why certain players are sticking with their now-outdated models.

Comfort/Fit

I’ve used the v1.08 countless times as an example of a boot that isn’t instantly ‘wearable’ – and I’m not about to do a u-turn on it for this review. Whilst the K-Leather version shows a definite improvement in the comfort of the upper, the heel does rub on the first few wears. If you’re planning on picking up a pair, make sure you follow all the advice you can get on wearing them in at this time of year, as the rain will only make the damage done to your heel even worse.

Another issue I had with the boot is the length of the studs on the SG model. PUMA have clearly looked to combine their knowledge of the running track with that of the classic 6-stud football boot, as these studs are like a hybrid of a running spike and a screw-in metal stud. If you’re not playing on really soft turf, you’re likely not to have the boot ‘sink in’ fully, as the studs are just that big.

All this means that if you’re not fully embedded in the turf, you can feel the boot flexing and bowing under your feet – it’s an odd sensation, and I didn’t feel like the boot was supporting me properly, which is exactly the opposite of what you want when you’re playing on soft ground.

One the upside; I do love what the rest of the boot has to offer. After the initial breaking in period, the heel holds your foot in place really well – which is massively impressive on a boot with such a low profile. Also, whilst the upper might not be what you’d expect from K-leather (it’s thinner, smoother and a bit more ‘papery’) it’s a snug fit to your foot, and provides a ‘grippy’ surface for contact with the ball.

Durability

The v1.08 is a boot that has gained no end of durability in its switch to a full leather upper. Firstly, all that synthetic material that weaves its way across the canvas upper of the standard v1.08 has been replaced with a single consistant piece of K-leather.

Having tested these boots across October and the start of November I can vouch that these boots are consistently waterproof, even on some of the most quagmire-like pitches across Yorkshire. In addition to the this, there’s no discernible points of potential weakness across the boot.

Stitching has been kept to a minimum, and even when PUMA have deemed it necessary, the seams are often hidden in the folds of the boot - for example, the stitching down one side of the PUMA ‘Cat’ is nigh-on invisible.

Feel

When it comes to contact with the ball, PUMA have done an excellent job with the lacing of the boot. The side offset lacing pulls the upper snug onto the top of your foot, which leaves an unparalleled area for getting your foot around a ball. With no gimmicks for more power or swerve the taught leather means this area is tailor-made if, like me, you like to really get your forefoot through a ball when crossing or taking a free kick.

The toe end of the boot is a little unusual. Personally, I found that the front end of the K-leather edition is a little too ‘roomy’. Considering that the boot is such a tight fit everywhere else it just seems a little odd that there’s so much room in this area of the boot. I didn’t mind it too much as I don’t tend to strike the ball with the tops of my toes too often, but I imagine that anyone who does might find it a little more difficult to get a proper contact.

Adding to this, the looser fit around the toe end makes playing the ball off the outside of the foot a little bit trickier, as the foot isn’t as close to the ball.

Dribbling with the ball is fantastic in the v1.08, their slightly ’scooped’ shape is perfect for close control, helping give you the truest possible touch when raiding on and knocking the ball forward with the top of your foot. As I mentioned before, the tight leather upper is awesome for receiving passes and taking the sting out of driven crosses. One complaint would, again, be the studs. Being so big and cumbersome you can’t really ‘roll’ your foot over the top of the ball. So if you like changing lanes and pulling the ball under your feet - you might find it a little more difficult in the SG model.

Conclusion

The v1.08 K-leather is a boot that does an enormous amount right. The leather upper, whilst not being ‘traditional’ K-leather, works fantastically - waterproofing the teabag-like v1.08 for the winter season and bending and twisting with the boot. The lightweight construction and glove-like upper is exactly the sort of characteristics you might expect for a boot prefered by wingers and strikers.

Much like the Mizuno Wave Shinken II, I’ll happily recommend this boot for anyone that’s perhaps tried a ’speed’ boot like Vapor V, or indeed the new v1.10 and found them a little too tight around the toes.

My real flaw with the v1.08’s is undoubtedly the massive studs - I think they’re a little bit intrusive when controlling or dribbling the ball with the underside of the boot, and when you’re standing still you can notice them ‘bowing’ in the centre of the boot.

But credit to PUMA, as the only issue I have is with the SG version. You shouldn’t have any such worries if you’re in a sunnier part of the world at the moment, or ply your trade on artificial turf. There will almost certainly be a price drop coming soon to the v1.08, so if you want a nearly weightless attackers boot that’s a little different (or a bit wider if you’ve got big feet) then you’ll definitely find something for your game in these boots.

It looks as if Concave may have signed up their first major name judging by the evidence on show in yesterday’s Premier League game between Chelsea and Manchester United.

United defender John O’Shea was spotted wearing the Concave PT+ as he played at right back in the champions 1 – 0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

John O’Shea, 2nd from left, in Concave PT+ football boots

Although the Concave hasn’t made a statement on contracting any ambassadors it’s been known that they’ve been looking to break in to the top flight with a well known and proven player for some time.

In O’Shea, Concave may well have hit pay dirt.

The Republic of Ireland international made his United debut in 1999 and became a regular in the side during the 2008 / 09 season. He was on the bench for last week’s Champions League game against CSKA Moscow having recently made his 350th appearance for the club against Stoke. The 28 year old was one of the goalscorers that day in United’s 2 - 0 win. Most recently, O’Shea has worn the adidas adiPure II.

Concave is a relative new-comer to the football boot world, having launched the 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, in-house tests have demonstrated a 15 percent increase in power and 30 percent greater accuracy when striking the ball, over traditionally designed football boots.

O’Shea becomes the second player in the English Premier League to wear Concave football boots following the lead of Portsmouth’s Danny Webber.

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If you are a fan of the new adidas Predator_X football boot, make sure you keep a close eye on ITV’s UK coverage of England’s friendly international against Brazil in Qatar this Saturday.

A brand new ad will get is premiere during the match and judging by this behind the scenes footage, it should create something of an impact.

Shot at a secret location it features Steven Gerrard and David Beckham, both of them getting soaked to the skin on a specially created, raised, artificial pitch Who says the life of a highly paid footballer is an easy one!

In the video, Beckham wears his personalised Red / White Predator_X boots while Gerrard goes for the traditional Black / White / Red colourway.

It’s probably slightly annoying for adidas that both players won’t feature in the game. Gerrard is injured while Beckham has pulled out of the squad after LA Galaxy beat Chivas USA to qualify for the MLS Western Conference final.

Even without two of his star names, coach Fabio Capello will be looking to improve upon England’s dismal record against Brazil. In 22 meetings, England have won just 3.

You can watch the behind the scenes video by clicking here.

It’s never easy asking people to predict how new products will perform in the future but that didn’t stop nearly 2000 of you registering a vote in the latest Footy Boots debate.

Asked which of the latest football boots from adidas, Nike and PUMA would have the biggest impact, both immediately and in the long term, the result was incredibly close with the adidas Predator_X just edging out the Nike CTR360.

In the end, the Predator_X received 48% of the vote, the CTR 45% with the v1.10 from PUMA coming in with 7%.

Short term, it could be argued that in fact, the CTR360 has made the biggest impact what with goals and assists from the likes of Fabregas and Aguero but it should also be remembered that it was released a month before the new adidas model.

Against that, there are still a number of players yet to debut the Predator_X such as Steven Gerrard and possibly a few more who may make the switch from their current boots.

The name most closely linked to such a move is Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema who is rumoured to be swapping over to the latest adidas boot from his trusty adiPure II’s.

Similarly, to be absolutely fair to the v1.10, it is by design a speed boot and therefore will appeal to a niche market, hence it’s lower rating.

In any event, having tested all 3 new boots (Predator_X, CTR360 and v1.10) Footy Boots can report that they all perform in their own unique way and it’s unlikely that anyone will disappointed after purchasing them. As for performance on professional pitches across the world, it could be argued that the jury is still out.

This season’s Champions League is turning out to be one of the best ever. Unfancied teams are beating or holding the big guns, a number of past winners are struggling and some new names have cropped up to give the tournament a much needed breath of fresh air.

So, as the competition starts to hot up, we’re giving you the chance to pick the best XI from all of the current squads.

Based on Matchday Four, Footy Boots editor Andy Kay has complied our fantasy side and to say it’s controversial is putting it mildly.

Players from Rubin Kazan and CSKA are in while plenty of big names such as Lampard, Essien, Rooney, Benzema, Pato, Hulk and Ronaldinho are not.

Do you agree with his selections or has he got it wildly wrong? And if so, what would be your best XI? Let us know by commenting below.

Goalkeeper

Victor Valdes – Barcelona

It can’t have been easy for the Spanish stopper, standing around watching his team mates in temperatures of around -7c. But the mark of a good goalkeeper is being able to pull out all the stops after long periods of inactivity. Valdes more than did this with a number of crucial saves which allowed his side to take a vital point from the game.

Victor Valdes wears Nike Tiempo Air Legend II football boots.

Defenders

Cesar Navas – Rubin Kazam

Like Valdes, Navas was another Spaniard to shine on a freezing cold night in Russia. The Rubin Kazam defender had to be on his game throughout as Barcelona mounted attack after attack. It’s been a good competition so far for Navas who, but for a foot injury, could have been playing with English Championship side Ipswich Town this season! Who said metatarsal injuries were always a bad thing?

Cesar Navas wears adidas adiPure II football boots.

Hilton - Marseille

The Brazilian didn’t have too much to do at the back as FC Zurich were a bit powder-puff but a central defender who scores goals is worth his weight in gold. Hilton did just that as the French team moved to within a point behind AC Milan and Real Madrid.

Hilton wears adidas Predator X football boots.

Ashley Cole - Chelsea

It wasn’t an entirely comfortable night for the Londoners in Spain but Cole put in another solid display at left back. He was blameless for the host’s two goals and did little to damage his reputation as one of the best left backs in the world. The simple fact is that Cole is capable of performing live week in, week out. Unlike his Mrs!

Ashley Cole wears Nike CTR360 football boots.

Dario Dainelli - Fiorentina

The Fiorentina captain was relatively solid at the back but gets the nod (excuse the upcoming pun) because of his incredibly brave header which gave the Viola a 2 – 1 lead which they eventually turned in to a 5 – 2 win. Despite getting a face full of the Debrecen goalkeeper’s fist, Dainelli still managed to guide his header in to the net as the home team went second in Group E, a point behind Lyon but more importantly, 5 in front of third placed Liverpool.

Dario Dainelli wears Bikkembergs Tirosegno football boots.

Midfield

Cesc Fabregas – Arsenal

Is there nothing this man can’t do at the moment? Fabregas is in the form of his life and he prompted his Arsenal side to a convincing 4 – 1 win over AZ Alkmaar at the Emirates Stadium which puts the English team on the brink of qualification. Not only that but he’s scoring goals for fun lately and added a couple more in this game. Just brilliant.

Cesc Fabregas wears Nike CTR360 football boots.

Kaka - Real Madrid

Kaka pulled all the strings as he return to his former club, a sure sign of his commanding display was how quickly his warm reception turned to jeers as Madrid dominated the early proceedings. And it was from Kaka’s shot that Madrid were to take the lead as Benzema knocked in the parry from Dida. Just the kind of performance required by the Spaniards on what could have been a difficult night at the San Siro.

Kaka wears adidas adiPure II football boots.

Milos Krasic - CSKA Moscow

He may also be in the running for worst haircut of the week, but the Serbian international more than showed off his footballing credentials against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Any thoughts that Krasic and his CSKA team mates were going to be overawed were laid to rest as they raced in to a 3 – 1 lead, Krasic scoring one of the goals. Although United pegged them back to 3 – 3, Krasic will have enjoyed his 25th birthday.

Milos Krasic wears PUMA v1.06 football boots.

Yoann Gourcuff - Bordeaux

As boos rang around the Allianz Arena, Bordeaux playmaker Yoann Gourcuff and his team mates walked off the pitch safe in the knowledge that they had booked a place in the last 16 whilst also leaving Bayern Munich four points off send place in Group A. Gourcuff scored his side’s opening goal, could have had another and ran a tight ship in midfield when the German’s looked to get forward. Another good night’s work by the current French player of the year.

Yoann Gourcuff wears adidas adiPure II football boots.

Forwards

Sergio Aguero - Atletico Madrid

You won’t see two better strikes from one player in a game for a long time. The second half substitute rammed home a superb volley to give Atletico Madrid the lead against Chelsea then stepped up to plant a late free kick past the despairing Petr Cech to earn the home team a 2 – 2 draw. That’s what you call making an impact from the bench and the volley was worth the entrance money alone.

Sergio Aguero wears Nike CTR360 football boots.

Didier Drogba - Chelsea

Mind you, Aguero didn’t have it all his own way at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Didier Drogba marked his return to European action with two goals of his own. The first, a pretty routine header and the second, a fantastic solo effort that perfectly demonstrated his pace and power. Will need to keep it up if Chelsea are to go all the way this year. Much more helpful to his team when standing up as opposed to writhing around on the deck for no apparent reason.

Didier Drogba wears Nike Vapor Superfly football boots.

Steven Gerrard is a man who eats, sleeps and breathes the adidas Predator. Cut him and he’d probably bleed three stripes.

The Liverpool and England star has been a Predator fan since he persuaded his father to cough up for a pair when he was just 14 years of age.

At the time, the price of a pair of Pred’s caused the family some hardship. Not so now. Gerrard is one of the biggest names in world football and has become the quintessential adidas ambassador.

Gerrard just adores the Predator. Indeed, he tends to fall in love with certain boots and it seems that sometimes it’s hard for the adidas hierarchy to get him to move on to the latest model.

But there should be no problem with the Predator_X. As you will see from this latest adidas video, Gerrard looks to be genuinely impressed with the 10th incarnation of the Predator with only injury keeping him away from debuting the boots along with the likes of Berbatov, Raul and Simao.

During the video, Gerrard looks back at some of the older Predator models that he’s worn during his career, describes the Predator_X as “light and comfortable” while admitting that he’s something of a boot traditionalist, which rather points to the fact that he’ll be wearing the Black / White / Red colourway when he’s fit and back in the Liverpool first team.

To watch the Steven Gerrard Predator_X video, click here.

As the adidas Predator_X got its on-pitch debut at the weekend in the two colourways we already knew about, David Beckham got in on the act with a bespoke pair in California.

Playing for LA Galaxy against Chivas USA in the MLS Western Conference play-off semi finals, Beckham turned out in a White / Red pair of the Predator_X football boots as he helped his side to a 2 – 2 draw.

It was an interesting pick by the former England captain as his previous adidas boots have normally included a fold over tongue, which of course, doesn’t appear on the Predator_X.

Additionally, the stud configuration on Beckham’s boot was changed from the norm, plus there seemed to be an element or two that had been kept from his old PowerSwerve footwear.

The general consensus however is that the England man has come up with a real winner on this occasion with the design and the colourway getting a resounding thumbs up from fans around the globe. Indded, they are so stylish, it’s possible he might even get a smile out of Posh!

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The new adidas Predator _X made its European debut last night in Matchday Four of the Champions League.

First off, it was clear that players had continued their preference of using the new boots in the White / Brown / Yellow colourway over the more traditional Black / White / Red by a majority of around 3 to 1.

But that said, it did seem that in total, the Predator_X boots were a little thin on the ground.

At Old Trafford, Wes Brown and Antonio Valencia wore the new boots for Manchester United versus CSKA Moscow as did Simao and Michaell Ballack in the match between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea (though it was the CTR’s and Superfly’s of Aguera and Drogba respectively that stole the show).

As far as we could make out, not one of the 22 starters at the San Siro wore the Predator_X though they did gain representation when Raul came on as a second half substitute for Real Madrid as they drew 1 – 1 with AC Milan. But adidas did get on the score sheet through the adiPure’s of Karim Benzema with Ronaldinho equalising for the home side in his own signature line.

Again, we struggled to see the Predator_X at the beginning of the match between Bayern Munich and Bordeaux though 76th minute sub Jussie wore them when he replaced Wendel whilst elsewhere, they were used by, amongst others, Helio Pinto of Apoel Nicosia, Sascha Riether of Wolfsburg and Hilton of Marseille.

Hilton scored in Marseille’s 6 - 1 demolition of FC Zurich

However, we should see some top adidas players in the new footwear in tonight’s Champions League encounters.

Dirk Kuyt could be a key player for Benitez and Liverpool tonight

In particular at the Stade Gerland in the game between Lyon and Liverpool with Ederson, Cissokho, Bastos, Kuyt and Voronin all having used the Predator_X last weekend.

Hilton image courtesy of uefa.com