After one of the most interesting weeks with regard to football boot releases, we are now down to the nitty gritty. Just who is going to wear a pair of the new Nike Mercurial Vapor IV Berry’s this weekend?

As it stands, Nike are only willing to confirm identity of two players who will be wearing the pink creation.

Arsenal’s Nicholas Bendtner will become the first player to sport the Berry in a Premier League game, when the Gunners face Manchester City at Eastlands tomorrow. Bendtner has been named in an 18 man Arsenal squad which sees Robin van Persie return after suspension. Cesc Fabregas though is banned while Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Eboue are both injured.

However, Bentdner will be beaten in terms of the boot’s European debut as that honour will go to Franck Ribery. The French international will turn out for Bayern Munich in his finest pink regalia at home to Energie Cottbus in a 1430 GMT kick off in the Bundesliga.

Outside of the UK and Germany, all Nike will say is that there are other players primed to wear the football boot in Spain, Italy, France, Holland, Russia and even South Africa but that fans will have to keep their eyes peeled if they want to find out which players in particular. However, names that have been bandied about include Andrei Arshavin, Marco Materazzi and Milan Baros.

The Nike Mercurial Vapor IV Berry was launched earlier this week and are available now at a price of £119.99.

So here it is. The 8th version of the Nike Mercurial Vapour IV – the Berry. And in shocking pink.

This limited edition football boot will be available from 24th November, retailing at £119.99. However, being a limited edition model you may want to pre-order the boot to avoid disappointment.

It’s certainly different but the usual Nike traits and technology are all there.

First off, the vibrant pink colour is coupled with cutting-edge aesthetics which portray speed and create a supersonic look.

Designed for quickness of foot and to help players be fastest to the ball, the Mercurial Vapor incorporates the patented Vapor Traction System which provides low-profile acceleration and multi-directional grip.

Stablising the foot, a form-fitting EVA insert cradles the heel, whilst a clear TPU/Glass Fiber heel wrap – visible from the outside – provides lightweight stability with minimal slippage. All together, the comfortable ride of this boot allows for sustained play at speed.

The football boot, which was made in Italy, should certainly stand out on the pitch, providing that is, some or any of Nike’s players will be brave enough to embrace it’s bold colour scheme not to mention the dressing room banter.

We are told that the likes of Andrei Arshavin, Marco Materazzi and Milan Baros, will debut the football boots in their respective league games next weekend.

There’s no doubt that the Mercurial Vapor has become one of the game’s most successful football boots since it was first launched 10 years ago, having originally been designed for Brazilian super star Ronaldo.

In the Premier League they have been worn to great effect by Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba of Chelsea and Manchester City’s Robinho.

Indeed, for the past seven years, the leading scorer in the Premier League has won the Mercurial Vapor.

Whether they’ll go for the Berry remains to be seen but you certainly won’t be able to miss them if they do.

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Tell us what you think of the Mercurial Vapor IV Berry football boots.

The pink Mercurial Vapor football boot story we ran seems to be gathering momentum……

Who said the football boot industry isn’t exciting?

Rumours were circulating that Nike were rolling out a Pink Mercurial Vapor IV colourway, so the team at Footy Boots HQ did a bit of investigating and were able to disclose that the Vapor IV has gone pink.

Subsequently, it turns out that the Mercurial Vapor Berry (that’s the name for this pink offering, not the Rosa) will be available to order as of Monday on a limited edition basis.

UPDATE: See picture’s of the new Mercurial Vapor IV Berry football boots and get the official lowdown. Right here - Mercurial Vapor IV Berry

Egg chasers amongst you (that’s rugby players for the uninitiated) will be aware of the worrying trend that Stade Francais seem to have for wearing dodgy coloured rugby shirts.

UPDATE: See picture’s of the new Mercurial Vapor IV Berry also known as the Mercurial Vapor Rosa football boots and get the official lowdown. Right here - Mercurial Vapor IV Berry

Mercurial Vapor Berry

Even though most of them are 6’ 8” and built like brick s**thouses, they’ve turned out for the past few seasons in shocking pink. Yes, we know they’re French and that excuses a lot….but pink!

Until now, football has been safe from such radical fashion statements, but from what we hear, perhaps not for much longer.

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Pink Vapor

Called the Mercurial Vapor Berry, expect to see the Mercurial Vapor IV help male footballers get in touch with their feminine side very soon.

We’ve seen the images of the Vapor Berry and are keen to learn whether you would feel comfortable gracing your local park in a pink football boot. Either send us a comment below, or use this email link to let us know.

Remember, you heard it here first. Pink football boots. Yes, pink. Next they’ll be telling us that Lindsay Lohan is gay. What? She’s dating who? B****r.

Cristiano Ronaldo is renowned for his trickery, but it looks like he has met his match in the Manchester United kit man Albert Morgan.

We all know that Manchester United and Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo is a bit special with a football, but we were pretty bemused at Footy Boots HQ, when we saw this footage featuring Manchester United’s kit man Albert Morgan.

Morgan is seen in the changing room after a game putting Ronaldo’s Nike Pro Ultimate shirt on. Not sure we’d want Ronaldo’s sweaty, tighlty fit gament on our back, but it seemed to transform the Manchester United kit man.

Morgan then took to the Old Trafford turf and demonstrated some fine skills, including the continuous volley off the cross bar skill that Ronaldinho was famous for in another video.

The film ends when Ronaldo reclaims the shirt. Go Albert……

One competition and 15,000 entries later, a few, select and lucky winners will be making their way to the Emirates Stadium this weekend to see the fruits of their labour.

As Footy Boots reported a few weeks back, Nike offered fans the chance to design a pair of boots for their favourite player ahead of the Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester United.

You’ve seen the mock up’s now you can cast your gaze on the finished articles.

As seen above, Wayne Rooney will be in his T90 Laser’s as designed by Phillip Mektiev and his United team mate Carlos Tevez will wear the Tiempo as designed by Joshua Rodger. Also, keep an eye out for Rio Ferdinand’s T90’s, the concept of Jonathan Bechthold.

Not to be out done, two Arsenal players will also be sporting brand new Nike footwear.

Cesc Fabregas, also in Tiempo’s will wear boots designed by Jan Szabala and if fit, Theo Walcott (who received more designs than any other player in the competition) will be seen in this brand new pair of Mercurial Vapor IV’s by Ben Pritchard.

All the winning designers, whether their man plays or not, will be enjoying a VIP day out at the Emirates.

Manchester City’s samba party has gone a bit flat of late.

After their 6 – 0 demolition of Portsmouth last month, Mark Hughes’ side endured something of a slump with league defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Wigan and just a draw away to lowly Newcastle.

But it all came right for them at the weekend with a 3 – 0 victory at home to Stoke City with Robinho, in his Nike Mercurial Vapor IV’s hitting a hat trick.

Robinho fired in the opener after being picked out by Ched Evans after 14 minutes.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart made a couple of decent saves to ensure City retained their lead going in to the break and they managed to double their advantage two minutes after the restart when Robinho slotted home his second of the game after fine work from substitute Danny Sturridge.

After Hart’s excellent work in the first period, it was his opposite number Thomas Sorensen who was now under pressure and he produced two outstanding stops to deny the Brazilian. But he was powerless to stop Robinho from completing his hat trick when on 72 minutes; he calmly finished after more good work from Sturridge.

Robinho’s performance and that of his team mates got this reaction from manager Mark Hughes:

I thought we were excellent, and not only in the attacking sense because defensively we were rock solid. We were prepared to stand up to the battle that Stoke will always give you.

When we got the ball back we broke with real purpose and could have won by an even bigger margin.

We need to win consistently and if we play like that, then it’s possible. We need to be solid defensively, which we were, and the way we play we will always create chances.

Robinho was named as man of the match and that’s now 6 goals for the Brazilian in his Mercurial Vapor IV’s since his move from Real Madrid.

Order the Mercurial Vapor IV football boot here

A few days ago on Footy Boots, we highlighted the new Nike Tiempo Super Ligera.

The boot didn’t have a huge launch in Europe and the America’s as it’s primarily aimed at the Asian market and in particular, the Japanese Bukatsu player.

Despite the lack of hype over the debut of the football boot, it has certainly raised a few questions from Footy Boots regulars who wanted to know more about the design process.

So, Footy Boots tracked down the main man, designer Doug Wilken, and found out just how the Super Ligera came about.

FB: How did you go about approaching the design of the Tiempo Super Ligera?

DW: We wanted to get feedback directly from the players on what they need.  As a design team, we are lucky to have a fellow designer, Tom Minami, who is a former Bukatsu boy. From his perspective, he gave us good feedback and direction in where to look for more. We also worked very closely with our Nike Japan team who collected surveys on wants and needs from key Bukatsu teams. And then we targeted three Bukatsu teams in Tokyo for their feedback to help us identify key features of a new boot.

FB: Why are these insights relevant to the Asian players?

DW: The insights were extracted directly from the Bukatsu players themselves. Past product was developed based on assumptions of what they might need as a result of playing on hard ground, which was a stout and sturdy boot. After speaking to the players, it was clear they wanted the opposite, something lightweight and flexible.

FB: The Tiempo SL was designed on a special last, how is the last different than other lasts?

DW: The last is designed specifically to the Asian consumer. This last offers more volume in the forefoot which better accommodates the shape of this consumer’s foot.

FB: What is the relationship between the last and fit and comfort?

DW: A last defines the shape and size of the internal volume of the boot. The construction defines fit. We achieved superior comfort by removing many reinforcements and allowing the material to stretch to this consumer’s foot. We also chose soft and smooth lining materials to prevent blisters and help the upper mold to the foot.

FB: What involvement did you have with the Tokyo Design Studio?

DW: Merc, a footwear designer from the Tokyo Design Studio, and I met in Beaverton for the first time while he was on campus working for the running group.  This was after we were quite a ways along on the project.  When we met we discussed key priorities for the shoe and I asked him his thoughts on the overall design aesthetic and functional elements.

Merc is a footwear designer like myself and has been in the industry for a quite some time.  His experience with the Japanese football consumer was something I lacked.  To have Merc as a sounding board and consultant helped us assure we had an amazing product in the end created specifically for the Asian consumer.

FB: What is the benefit to the player and consumer?

DW: In the end we were able to engineer a product that specifically met the needs of the Asian consumer. The Tiempo SL has a better fit more specific to this consumer’s foot shape and is one of the most comfortable boots. This is our lightest weight Tiempo product yet in a package that addresses key durability issues we’ve had in the past for the Bukatsu players.

With the Futsal World Cup in full swing, we thought we’d poll Footy Boots HQ on each employee’s favourite indoor training shoe.

Not overly scientific of course and indeed, one answer came back reading: “I like the orange one’s as they’ll look good on my Kevin.”

However, despite our somewhat limited knowledge and desperate fashion sense, here’s our Futsal Top 5.

Kelme Javi Rodriguez

The undoubted star of European Futsal is Spain’s Javi Rodriguez. Playing in his fourth World Cup the Futsal legend is looking to get his hands on the trophy for the third time!

For the past two seasons, Rodriguez has had his own make of indoor shoe, provided by sponsors Kelme who’ve been involved with the indoor game for many years.

The ‘Javi Rodriguez’ shoe is made from a combination of mesh and synthetic leather with a professional EVA and rubber wedge outsole and rotation point.

The perforated heat moulded insole also helps to prevent perspiration build up.

Footy Boots HQ Verdict: The ‘hard nut’ of indoor shoes.

Adidas Absolado Power Swerve 

To play like the worlds best, you must compete with confidence. This shoe features the look of the outdoor version with a playable design that is tuned for fast indoor play.

It’s main features include:- asymmetrical loop lacing for better ball contact, hidden laceloops for cleaner kicking area and less pressure and synthetic leather which reduces sweat absorption, increases durability and lightness.

There’s an adiprene insert in the heel for comfort and shock absorption and a pre-moulded EVA midsole for optimised comfort and cushioning. And just to keep your Mum happy if you happen to be playing in the living room, the shoe has an non-marking rubber outsole.

Footy Boots HQ Verdict: The wing wizard.

Nike5 Super Skill

The new Nike5 Super Skill is designed for players who have the ability to make the ball stick to their foot and speed to leave the marker with the blink of an eye. Nike5 Super Skill has everything a futsal player needs to control a game.

Nike5 Super Skill has a few technological innovations like the “turning points” on the sole designed to give more traction when the player is executing a move, the insole has a Zoom Air shock absorption system and a rubber upper to increase accuracy when shooting.

The Nike5 Super Skill was launched together with an amateur Futsal competition that will take place between the Brazilian states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro called The Battle of the Courts (A Batalha das Quadras).

The special thing about this competition is that will be held in public courts and use a 10 by 2 format. Not well known in Europe, the format sees each match last for 10 minutes or two goals. The team that scores two goals first stay on the court and another team comes on to challenge them.

Footy Boots HQ Verdict: The samba star.

Kelme Ruedo

These Kelme Ruedo Indoor Football Trainers are lightweight and have a non marking sole making them perfect for turf, artificial and indoor surfaces.

Ideal for the pro, talented amateur or raw beginner.

Footy Boots HQ Verdict: The midfield engine.

Adidas Telstar II

A pure and true indoor football shoe. Well suited to the competitive 5-side player the trainer aims to enhance control and performance.

The sole is made out of a non-marking full rubber shell with an indoor tread. Add this to the comfort of the trainer and you will soon see an improvement in performance.

Footy Boots HQ Verdict: The selfish leading goalscorer.

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Nike Tiempo Super Ligera Football Boots

Just how did the Nike Tiempo Super Ligera come about and, some might say, why did it come about?

As it happens, the football boot isn’t aimed at the European player, nor the American market. Instead, it’s been produced for the Asian market and in particular, the Japanese Bukatsu player.

Designed by Doug Wilken, the Tiempo Super Ligera brings two worlds of performance together in a lightweight yet durable football boot.

When it came to the design of the Tiempo Super Ligera, Wilken was keen to find out first hand about the needs of the player. So, through focus meetings conducted with Japanese Bukatsu groups, he learned that these players needed — and wanted — a boot that was lightweight and soft. However, by studying wear tests Wilken was able to assess something else that they needed — durability.

For the Japanese bukatsu player who plays from dawn to dusk, football is everything. And they play primarily on hard fields made of coarse, packed dirt, which is especially tough on their football boots.

Designed on a new, Asian-specific footwear last, the Tiempo Super Ligera is wider than the typical football boot, with an extended throat to give the boot more versatility and variation. By identifying high-wear areas on the football boots that the players used, Wilken targeted these areas and screen-printed a layer of Nike Grind on those spots in order to protect the foot and strengthen the boot without adding weight. A gusseted tongue helps prevent irritation by preventing dust and sand from getting into the boot during play. Reflective elements were added in the upper for those games that take place at dusk.

Translucent studs reveal an inner plate injected with a TPU that provides both strength and structure while imbuing the shoe with a lightweight aesthetic. Working with the Nike Sports Research Lab (NSRL), Wilken examined the motion of the players’ feet and incorporated a longitudinal flex groove. The flex groove allows the foot to flex from side to side, while isolating the fifth metatarsal head, where most of the foot’s power originates.

Tiempo Super Ligera

High -brasion screen printed reground rubber layer
Reflectivity
Longitudinal Flex Groove
Kangaroo leather upper
Translucent cleats reveal an inner plate injected with a strong TPU that provides structure.

Doug Wilken Designer

Doug graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in industrial design.
Has worked in the Nike model shop and cleated category, designing for American Football, Baseball, Softball and Lacrosse.
Has been designing for the football category for the past 2 years.

There are some Sunday traditions which are well worth upholding. First off, always try and avoid your parents gaze when they ask the question: “Right, which one of you is going to pick up Grandma?”

Secondly, at various stages of the morning, venture in to the kitchen to see just how your mother prepares enough food for you, and the entire Russian army should they happen to pop round (which unless you live in certain parts of Georgia is pretty unlikely).

And thirdly, always follow up Sunday lunch with a spell in front of the TV for a good belt of comedy. This weekend, there was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (for the kids) on ITV, some  timeless British classics on UK Gold and of course, Newcastle United on Sky Sports.

For half an hour or so away to Everton, United lived up to their billing as one of the funniest and bedraggled sides in the Premier League as they quickly went 2 down.

They couldn’t do much about the first goal with Mikel Arteta scoring from the spot but some comic defending was responsible for Everton’s second, neatly turned in by Marouane Fellaini.

But as half time approached, something changed, something happened. Newcastle scored. And it was our weekend star who got the goal and for a time, almost single handedly, dragged Newcastle back in to the match.

Take a bow United captain Steven Taylor.

In first half injury time, Taylor, in his Nike Total 90 Laser II football boots, rose like a salmon at the back post to head home a Newcastle lifeline and give them hope going in to the break.

Two minutes after the restart, it was Taylor again producing a fabulous run and cut back for Damien Duff to level the scores.

Indeed, United, with Joe Kinnear in charge for the first time, were unlucky not to take all three points with Leighton Baines responsible for a brilliant block to keep out Charles N’Zogbia.

Kinnear himself was delighted with the point and praised Taylor in particular saying:

Half-time was about lifting the players and getting ourselves back in the game.

Taylor’s goal was the crucial one, scored more-or-less on half-time, ‘Duffy’ then sticks another in.

We’re unfortunate because they kicked two off the line, but it’s a great start and stops the rot - we’ve lost five games out of the last seven and this will give us a boost.

It most certainly should. Kinnear will be made up that his skipper led from the front and Nike will doubtless be pleased too that Taylor’s Total 90 Laser II football boots have at last been shown in their true light.

Way back in April 2008, Footy Boots received a number of enquiries about the new Nike Super Ligera.

At the time, Nike was keeping quiet about the football boot and information was scarce bar a few unofficial pictures on the web.

Six months on, the good news is that the release of the Super Ligera is imminent, and you should be able to get your hands on them from the back end of October or certainly, early November.

Never backwards at coming forwards, Nike’s take on the new boot is “Light on touch, heavy in class.” And indeed, the Nike Super Ligera boots, with a kangaroo upper and TPU outsole, are 25% lighter than the Tiempo Legend football boots.

However, don’t think that the durability of the Nike Tiempo Super Ligera will be in any way affected by their lightness.

Nike say nothing will be compromised in that area and have even given the boot a rubberised coating around the toe area to emphasise the point.

Still relying on the classic styling of old, the football boot offers a comfortable fit and excellent touch and feel.

The Super Ligera will be available in both hard ground and soft ground versions and is expected to retail at around £90.

Order your Super Ligera’s

Nike Mercurial Vapor IV

In February 2008, Nike celebrated 10 years of its Mercurial football line with the release of its most innovative football boot to date: The Mercurial Vapor IV.

First designed specifically for Brazilian striker Ronaldo in 1998, the Mercurial was produced to meet the needs of the world’s fastest footballers and has been making an impact ever since. In the last six seasons, the top scorer in the English Premier League has worn Mercurial Vapor boots.

Order this football boot now - order

For the Mercurial Vapor IV, Nike called on Premier League forwards such as Didier Drogba, Cristiano Ronaldo and Theo Walcott for direct input into the design process. As a result, Nike has developed a series of technological innovations that maximize speed with and without the ball .

Speed Plate
The Mercurial Vapor IV features Nike’s innovative Speed Plate technology designed to give players instant acceleration and make them fastest to the ball. Additionally, a re-engineered upper has been crafted not just to make players faster, but faster while dribbling and shooting.

Tactile Coating
In order to aid dribbling with the ball at speed, just one seam exists in the shoe’s upper material, while a new stitched stretch lace cover creates a cleaner ball contact area. The football boot is also wrapped in a clear tactile coating that creates a gripped surface for all playing conditions.

Vapor Traction System
The Mercurial Vapor IV’s Vapor Traction System broadens the scope of player fit; heel pods have been expanded laterally for more cushioning and extra protection. Stabilizing the foot, a form-fitting insert cradles the heel, while a Glass Fiber heel wrap provides lightweight stability with minimal slippage. All told, the comfortable ride of the Mercurial Vapor allows for sustained play at speed, keeping the ball where it should be: on your feet or in the net.

Players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Theo Walcott
Price: Around £120
Sizes: 7-12

TOTAL 90 LASER II - Switched on football boot fans will have seen Wayne Rooney donning a new T90 Laser II colourway….

Rooney was instrumental in the development of the Total 90 Laser II football boot. During the research phase Nike arranged for Wozza to take a trip to their HQ in Oregon to gain his input.

It’s been on the shelves a while, but the Total 90 Laser II has had a repaint and in our opinion at Footy Boots HQ this is the pick of the colourways available to date.

TOTAL 90 LASER II Red/Metallic Silver/Team Red

Tech Spec:

Integrated offset lacing system provides increased football boot to ball contact surface, minimizing uneven ball strike and allowing greater ball control, accuracy and swerve

Revolutionary V-Twin lacing system maximizes strike zone and optimizes fit allowing the true fit of a traditional boot, without compromising the contact zone for ball strike

Improved Shotshield technology on front of foot provides cleaner ball contact and superior control to allow the athletes to place the ball more accurately. The technology continues to utilize the precision ring technology used in its predecessor, providing increased accuracy through refined placement and design

Teijin synthetic leather and engineered mesh work together to help protect the foot and maintain a constant temperature environment throughout a full 90 minutes

Water resistant eVENT membrane enhances breathability and keeps the foot dry

New high density outsole component supports and stabilizes the planted foot when striking the ball

Individually engineered hybrid studs are positioned for optimal traction and comfort, e distributing pressure evenly across the foot

An engineered sockliner provides improved arch and heel support whilst it’s unique anatomical design leverages multiple material densities to help distribute pressure and provide a tailored fit and feel from heel to toe.

Improved external heel counter cup provides added stability and works in combination with a molded foam package to create a superior feet and heel lockdown.

Players: Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres, William Gallas, Florent Malouda, Fabio Cannavaro, Gennaro Gattuso

Weight:  Approx 230g

Price: Around £120