Global Football Boots Spotting - 01/10/12
It was another action-packed weekend of European football as teams continue to find form at this early stage of the season. It's also that time of the year where new colourways are everywhere you look. See which boots and players have made our highlight reel this week.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) adidas Predator LZ |
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Steven Gerrard was on target for Liverpool wearing his adidas Predator LZ boots as his side secured an emphatic 5-2 win at Norwich City. Luis Suarez claimed his second hat-trick in the space on five months as Liverpool comfortably won their first league game of the season. The display was impressive, but we don't think we'll ever come to terms with Liverpool's purple third kit! |
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Stephen Dobbie (Brighton) Nike iD Mercurial Vapor VIII |
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We can't get enough of these! Brighton striker Stephen Dobbie gave his custom Nike iD Vapor VIII boots a run-out in his sides Championship match against Birmingham. We first saw them in pre-season when Dobbie was at Swansea City and the Scot brought them out again for his first start at his new club. It's always the most simple designs that look the best. |
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Jonatan Kotzke (Regensburg) adidas Prototype |
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After first being spotted on the feet of German international Lars Bender, adidas' mystery prototype boot has returned - this time in the Bundesliga second division. Regensburg midfielder Jonatan Kotzke is being used by adidas to give the unnamed boots a professional workout. Little is currently known about them, but immediate indications seem to show a rubberised band across the mid-foot. |
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Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) Puma PowerCat SL 1.12 |
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Marco Reus helped mastermind a 5-0 thrashing of his former club Monchengladbach wearing the Puma PowerCat 1.12 SL. After recently signing a contract extension with Puma, the Dortmund star is continuing to build his player profile with a series of impressive displays. Certainly one of Puma's most exciting young players and a great asset to have wearing the big cat! |
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Kevin Prince Boateng (AC Milan) Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII |
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The Retro/Orange/Red Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII colourway has been on show in serious numbers over the last two weeks. One man who's decided to make his different from the rest is AC Milan no.10 Kevin Prince Boateng. The flashy midfielder mixed his lace colours for Milan's 1-1 draw with Parma. |
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Ryo Miyaichi (Wigan Athletic) Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII |
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We don't know if this is a Japanese trend, but Ryo Miyaichi and Inter Milan full-back Yuto Nagatomo both choose to wear black laces with their Vapor boots. Like Nagatomo, Miyaichi has carried this customisation across to the Vapor VIII. The on-loan Arsenal winger was in Premier League action for Wigan against Sunderland. |
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Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan) Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII |
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Inter Milan moved up to third in Serie A thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 win over 10-man Fiorentina at the San Siro. Japanese full-back Yuto Nagatomo has retuned to wearing black laces with his personalised Mercurial Vapor boots - a trait he has become known for. We think Nagatomo and Miyaichi must get their boots from the same person! |
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Liam Palmer (Tranmere) miadidas Predator LZ |
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We've seen some unique Predator LZ designs over recent weeks. Tranmere Rovers midfielder Liam Palmer gave us a look at his custom colourway as his side took on Brentford. We've got to give it to him...these are some good looking boots! A simple blue and white combo never fails to impress. |
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Javier Pastore (PSG) Nike Tiempo Legend IV |
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None of Nike's new boots have received a better reaction than the Blue/White Tiempo Legend IV. Former Mercurial wearer Javier Pastore is now a recognised Tiempo player and was in Ligue 1 action wearing the latest colourways in PSG's 2-0 win over Sochaux. |
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Pepe Reina (Liverpool) adidas Predator LZ |
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Joma have probably hit the panic button after seeing lead asset Pepe Reina appear in Predator LZ football boots at the weekend. The Spanish stopper has been a lead icon for the Spanish brand, and even had a boot created with a portrait of himself for Christmas 2011. But with Reina also sporting adidas goalkeeper gloves, it's likely he might already have been tapped up by the Three Stripes, so we'll wait to see if there is an official announcement. |
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Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich) adidas adiPURE |
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On paper, Bastian Schweinsteiger is the ultimate poster boy for adidas and the adipure range. The German midfield dynamo, who plays for both Bayern Munich and the national team. In reality, he continues to defy the brand with his personal preferences. Schweinsteiger has taken his time to move into the 11Pro, and is now wearing an old-school Traxion sole-plate minus the miCoach chamber. |
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Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid) adidas Predator LZ |
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Ozil's relationship with Nike looks to have turned sour, after the player himself requested a period of trying new football boots. Ozil has play tested the adizero, but is seemingly favouring the Predator LZ, and being a German national player it's surely a given the forward will be signing for adidas. |
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If there are any players boots that you've spotted and think we should feature, mail us at: u2us@soccerbible.com putting 'Boot Spotting' in the subject field.