Tango 12 Euro 2012 Ball Review

This ball is based on the ball used in the 1978 world cup, however it is an unbelievable improvement!

It's made of 32 plastic panels sealed together using heat, has a granular surface, a butyl rubber bladder with a woven carcass and it weighs 15oz. However all of these are just details.

This ball is truly beautiful to kick, its surface makes the ball brilliant in the air and emphasizes any shot that you take. Curve balls are made insane with this ball and knuckle balls are beautiful. The surface grips to the air to give it the needed curves and dips but it doesn't slow down the shot much. This means you can get a very low driven shot with inside or outside curve.

There isn't much more I can say in the way of positives, since it truly is the feel of it that makes the ball what it is, which is a majestic and deadly piece of equipment.

Now, the only downside is that the ball is quite expensive (($60)Depending on where you buy it from, it varies a lot, I bought mine for $20) I would not reccomend you to buy this ball for the general kick about, it is more suited to people who really want to practice their free kicks and do it on a daily basis.

All in all, a simply brilliant ball.

SG? FG? AG?

So this is just a brief description on the difference in studs for those of you who do not know, because they really do make a difference.The main 3 which are FG (Firm Ground), SG (Soft ground), AG (Astro Ground/Turf)

First up on the list is the famous FG boot. There is no doubt that this will have been the type of stud that you have had throughout a majority of your footballing life (it has certainly been for me) however are they the best? FG is for hard ground pitches such as turf or sand pitches. These boots have less studs then the SG and the AG versions of the boot and the studs are medium in length (generally pretty short)

Next on the list is my new favorite, SG! These studs are fantastic because they really do make a difference in the wet or on natural pitches, you would definetly be surprised if you haven't used them already. The difference here between FG and SG is that SG have both FG studs on them and metal studs, both are are longer then that of the FG cleats to help anchor your foot in the ground.

Finally, the AG. Now to be honest I have never had more then one pair because I hated them and they are pretty useless, however that's just me. The cleats aren't really cleats so much as rubber, the main difference though is that they are very short and it almost feels like there is no cleats under you at all. Now do not get me wrong, AG boots are brilliant on Astro turf but a majority of matches where I live are not on Astro, however if you do play on Astro 100% of the time I would definetly reccomend it, however you can survive on Astro with SG and FG, I personally have had no problems with it...

Well those are the boots, now it is important about what type of boot to wear because it does help to prevent injuries, it can be common for people to turn there ankle on a pitch if they are wearing cleats really not suited to that pitch. But don't let that off put you from playing on other pitches, just try to choose the best cleat for the pitch you are on a majority of the time!

This is the part where I give you another source but this is regularly a straight foward explanation and if you need any more technical information just www.Google.com for a specific cleat.

Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII (8)

The Nike Mercurial line has always been a line of shoe that has never been my strong suit so please bear with me.

The Nike Mercurial Vapor 8 is a fantastic boot do not get me wrong, however much like every boot on the market it is made for a specific type of player and is best suited to them, as always, lets start with the advantages!

• Weight - Wow, was the first thing that popped in my head when I held these boots, they are incredibly light, I believe they are the lightest currently on the market but don't get quote me on that! Seriously though the weight is fantastic, it is almost like playing in socks!
• ACC - All conditions control, it is a terrific feature! I would definetly reccomend it if you live in a country with rainy conditions such as UK.
• Material - You can feel by touching them that they are much softer then the super-fly series and you can definetly feel it in the first touch of the boot during a game, this really helps with control.
• Comfort - This shoe definetly feels good when you put them on and the break in time is almost non existent ( I can't be 100% because I had mine done by the new Nike Steamer! )

In all aspects it is the perfect shoe for a LM or RM or any player that likes to make runs and sprints down the pitch alot!

Now not every shoe is perfect, in this case, here is why;

• They have changed the material from the superfly line which personally upsets me because I liked the FEEL of the touch on the superfly's (Although the Mercurials is much better)
• Durability - These boots are not the best durability, I have played with these boots a lot and after around 2 months (2-3 sessions a week) I am already starting to see bits wearing down and without doubt there will be damage to the boot within the next few months
• The studs - On the FG version there is very little studs and there really is not alot to help you with grip for your quick turns and sprints in different directions (It reduces agility) I would highly reccomend the SG versions unless the FG is a MUST
• The weight - What? WHY! Well, here is why, personally I am a defender so if you are a Midfielder or a Striker completely disregard what I am about to say, the light weight makes the shoe prone to damage in defence when going in for tackles and it feels very weak and worrying to go into a tackle with these boots on.

All in all, another terrific boot, positions wise it is debatable and a matter of personality and playing style. For example the Right back and other CB on my team own Vapor 8's and love them however personally I do not enjoy them, for a LM/LW and RM/RW as well as ST (Any attacking position really...) there is not much argument in saying it is a fantastic boot, however the weight is something you may have to get used to so I would not reccomend ordering these boots online, make sure you try them first.

If you don't entirely trust my judgement and want a second opinion you can check out this youtube clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch2UXhecDfg

OR here is a test to see the damage that can be done!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh6o1om-RAA

Also I have reccomended not to buy online but either way you should check out www.Nike.com and find the boot because they have some helpful reviews!

Nike T90 IV Review

 The T90 Laser IV is quite simply the best shoe I have ever worn. HOWEVER there is something wrong with every shoe and this review will outline those and help you choose if this is the shoe for you!

I'll start with a few positives; Nike have had a dealership with players such as Rooney and Torres to wear this boot to help market it as the perfect boot for a striker and the boot that is supposed to give to give you the best accuracy. I know many people believe that all you need is a comfortable durable boot and none of the fancy paddings or such that are around these days, and I completely agree! However, I think you will be surprised.

• The most noticeable thing about this boot is the comfort, the middle of the boot is wide for those of you for wide feet but not too wide that it will leave your foot with that "Loose" feeling.
• Breaking in - This only took me around 1-2 weeks playing 5 times a week, personally this is better then most boots I have tried
• The strike pad - This is what most of you have been waiting for, I do not feel that this boot has a great deal of benefit based on the strike pad, however it is helpful in a free kick scenario
• The "Grill" on the boot - For me, this feature is fantastic, as I am a defender who enjoys free kicks curves are absolutely amazing, however if you are one of those people who likes a knuckle ball or a generally straight trajectory this boot makes it quite difficult to do, so again, it comes down to preference (Note: The curves that you are able to make with this ball are reliant on technique and this shoe requires a slightly different technique then usual to get the most out of the boot)
• Durability - As the main boot I use to play games etc. I have worn these for easily 4 months and they are still very good condition with noticeable sign of damage

Now that I have covered the advantages I think it may be beneficial to those of you who wish to buy it to cover some of the lesser impressive things I have found with the boot

• The heel, personally I find this a little two tight and for the first month I had blisters if the game went on for more then 100 minutes (ET +10)
• The grill - This was an advantage as well, however depending on your play style it can get very annoying if you don't enjoy curves and are not used to it
• The boot is quite light but not the lightest you can get, personally this doesn't make a difference but some people do mind.

Finally, this boot is great for almost any position, I am a defender and I can vouch this boot is solid in a tackle and very good for free kicks, however it does disturb passing if you hit the ball below the centre of mass.

All in all this boot is a fantastic piece of work and I reccomend this boot to anyone!

If you need a second opinion because you don't entirely trust my judgement here is a youtube clip you can check out:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR-TIwnCcg4

You can buy these boots and even customize them at Http://www.NikeID.com