A soccer blog for soccer players, fans, parents and coaches.
Matthew Wall
I've played soccer since I could walk thanks to my father and love keeping up on all the latest gear and gab. I'm in my twenties, and I'm lucky enough to have found work in search marketing for a leading soccer retailer after completing my M.A. at Georgetown in 2008. My team is Liverpool, and national side is Ireland, but I've also got a passion for GAA and a number of sports. Feel free to give me a shout on Google+
Homepage: http://www.soccerprose.com
Posts by Matthew Wall
Nike Youth Mercurial Vapor VIII – White with Solar Red Review
Aug 6th
Well, its that time of year again where kids start a new season of soccer and many of them need new cleats. For the future top flight soccer star, the best bet for the coming season is the Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII. Designed for speed, these shoes will let any kids move faster onto the ball and won’t weight them down. These soccer cleats are also made with the best synthetic materials Nike has to offer and integrate some of the latest technology to aid ball control and durability.
The upper of these Nike soccer shoes is made from the latest synthetic Teijin leather and offers a great fit that stays true to size. Also, the upper gives you great support on along the arches of your foot and the heel to help protect you from injury and give you a cleaner surface for trapping the ball. The straight line lacing system with flat laces also gives you a another surface for striking the ball so you can hit the target. The heel cup is extremely comfortable and features a padded lining that will make sure blisters aren’t an issue. The heel cup is also important for protecting the Achilles tendons and no matter what shoe you decide to go with for your child, make sure you get a pair with a decent heel cup.
The sockliner inside these shoes is perforated to keep a players feet dry during a game, and when combines with a pair of Nike soccer socks really wicks the moisture away from the feet. Its also think enough to protect a player of any size from the impact of the cleats on the grass and will really lock the foot in place making sure your won;t have any blisters on the bottoms of the feet.
The cleat pattern on the bottom of these kids Nike vapors mirrors the adult version of these shoes. Its designed with bladed studs that are angles to give the best possible support and traction on any firm grass surface. They also feature a some extra teeth on the toe to prevent slippage when you take off running from a dead stop. They act like the front spike on a pair of pair of track spikes, but they aren’t sharp enough to due any damage it you happen to step on someones foot. The sole plate itself integrates a glass fiber weave to optimize strength and durability ensuring a great energy return and a nice rigid feel to it.
Overall, the shoes are a little pricey, but an excellent value for the money considering all of the technology they contain. These soccer boots aren’t for eveyday practices, but once you break them in they’ll make a great pair of game boots that are sure to give any player the edge they need to succeed.
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Arsenal Superstars Get Down in Malta Guinness Dancing Workout Video…(Video)
Jul 30th
Seems Mertesacker, Sagna, and Podolski put on their dancing shoes and broke it down for this workout video produced by Malta. TO be honest, I can’t really comment on the workout, it looks like good fun if you’re into that whole get fit by watching the telly thing, but they must have shelled out a fortune to secure the placement of three of the Gunner first team. But to be fair, it maybe sanctioned by the club if the Arsenal jerseys they’re wearing are anything to go by. Either way, it seems each of these player aren’t short of the dancing moves, and if this whole football thing doesn’t work out I’m sure they could get a gig dancing backup for Kanye.
Posted by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
SoccerPro.com Featured on NBC’s TODAY Show…(Video)
Jul 24th
Big congratulations are in order for our friends over at SoccerPro.com after getting a shout out from Mario Armstrong on the TODAY Show. Mario Armstrong is a Digital Life and Style Expert and has won an Emmy for his work over the years on various media outlets. He gave a pretty sweet run down of some the coolest products and gear coming out for this years Olympics in London, including osme soccer gear provide by SoccerPro.com. Check out the clip below.
Bring the Olympics home with toys, technology
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Revealed: The Nike 2012-13 Manchester United Away Jersey
Jul 20th
So they’re has been a lot of speculation around the web a to what the new Manchester United away kit will look like, but here at SoccerProse.com, we’re happy to put this to rest. Just released by our friends over at SoccerPro.com, the new away jersey is sharp with a traditional white on black with red look that’s sure to go down well with the Red Devil faithful. United under-performed last season loosing out to their “Noisy Neighbors” on the last day of the season. but with a new year comes new opportunities, and this jersey seems to personify the prestige of the clubs heritage of success.
The jersey itself is white, with red accents running around the collar and down the front part of the shirt. The same red accents run around the ends of the sleeves, and the splashes of color add some dimension to what would otherwise be a fairly boring shirt. The official club crest and Nike logo are both done in all black and look great. The crest being blacked out is something new and it looks sharp against the white background. The crest is embroidered as always, along with the Nike logo, and the jersey fabric is made with the latest recycled Considered Design materials. Basically, each jersey is made from 8-9 recycled plastic bottles.
Other than that, I like the look of this new kit, they run $85, and you can pick one up for 10% Off by clicking here with our affiliate partners, SoccerPro.com
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Soccer Boots and Sustainability: Why Nike GS Soccer Cleats are the Next Big Thing
Jul 10th
One of the major issues facing manufactures of soccer goods, and the business sector as whole, is the question of sustainability. Its an undeniable fact that as we consume more and more of the Earth’s dwindling resources we will inevitably reach an environmental tipping point. The realization of this fact, has meant environmental and labor organizations have put companies across the globe under pressure to be more socially responsible. The new Nike GS “Green Speed” soccer cleats represent their latest attempt to produce a product that’s environmentally responsible and produced without child labor, and to be honest, it doesn’t look to bad either.
But making a pretty pair of boots like the Nike CTR360 Maestri or Total90 Laser from beans or plastics isn’t enough in its own right to make these shoes the wave of the future, so lets dig a bit deeper. In the early 1990′s Nike, and other major brands, learned a very painful lesson. A global boycott campaign against Nike’s environmental and labor practices was so successful that it has now become an object lesson in how giant corporations can be brought to account by ordinary consumers.
“Nike was targeted by campaigners because it was the world’s best-selling brand and because initially it denied responsibility for any malpractice that may be taking place in its sub-contractor factories,” explains Rob Harrison, editor of Ethical Consumer.
The campaign seriously hurt Nike’s global sales, and as it result it was forced to take responsibility for the practices of the factories and 3rd party suppliers it uses to produce its soccer boots. Today, the Fair Labor Association website states it’s possible to read more than 150 reports of Nike factory inspections conducted by independent third parties. But the point is, if you make a sustainable product, people are more likely to buy it, and you won;t have to spend any money defending yourself from boycotts, and that’s why the Nike GS soccer cleat is the wave of the future.
By making a soccer shoe that’s sustainable, and ethically sound, Nike have left adidas, Puma, and every other soccer brand in their dust. “Green” products are something people want to buy, and ion order to make them you have to develop new materials and technology, which leads to cool new soccer boots like the GS. Nike have made this core part of their growth plans for the next 20 years on a global scale so we can expect to more sweet new boots in the future featuring recycled materials. Try to think of all Nike soccer boots, regardless of silo, in the same way you’d think of any Nike licensed jersey. All the licensed jerseys are made from recycled plastic bottles, and soon all the shoes will be made from recycled materials too. They even have a name, for the new unit that will be focusing on it; The Sustainable Business and Innovation unit.
Adidas and Puma are working on sustainability plans of their own, as you can read here in this adidas document released to their shareholders and obtained exclusively by SoccerProse.com, they are going to have some serious catching up to do to match Nike for one main reason. Adidas and Puma are looking to make their existing products and supply chain more socially responsible, Nike are putting social responsibility at the center of the development of all of their new products with their Considered Design initiative. This will ensure they’ll have the edge on “green” technology for the next few years at least, and I’d look for more product like the Nike GS in the coming year.
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Sources: http://nikeinc.com/news/nike-inc-introduces-new-targets-elevating-sustainable-innovation-within-business-strategy
http://www.adidas-group.com/en/investorrelations/targets/fyguidance/default.aspx
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/nike-sustainability-report-social-environmental-impact
Revealed: The Nike Green Speed Soccer Cleats
Jul 9th
Nike have just released their newest line of soccer cleats and they are sure to revolutionize the soccer boot market. The Nike Green Speed soccer cleats are designed to provide the best fit and touch possible in a speed boot paired with an environmentally conscious design. This pair of cleats, due to be worn at the start of the Olympics on the mystically fast feet of Neymar, are stripped down almost to the core. They include all the essential elements that a pair of soccer cleats needs to deliver lightweight performance and high speed control, but without any of the fuss and muss of gimmicky touch pads or strike zones. Every piece of these Nike GS cleats has been designed to reduce weight, making them Nike’s lightest football boot ever weighting in at 160 grams for a size 9. Less than a Puma evoSpeed or Adidas F50 Adizero.
These boots are also constructed using renewable and recycled materials and lower the impact of manufacturing on the planet. Designed at Nike labs in Montebelluna, Italy; the Nike GS features bio-based traction plate made primarily from castor beans, a crop that takes far less water than other natural material sources to grow, and ensures strength and flexibility on pitch. In addition, that anatomically engineered sole plate allows to shoe to move naturally with your body making you faster on the fly. Along with a sock liner made from 100% castor beans, the laces, lining, and tongue are made from 70%+ recycled materials. The toeboard, found under the sockliner near the front of the shoe, and the collar around the heel cup, feature at least 15% recycled materials.
According to Andy Caine, global design director for Nike Football, “The Nike GS is the lightest and fastest football boot we’ve ever made and really defines a new era in how we create, design and produce elite football boots. When you can deliver a boot that combines high end performance and a low environmental footprint that’s a winning proposition for players and planet.” I’ll be interested to get our hands on a pair of these, but for the time being, you can see the vital stats for this pair of cleats, direct from Nike.
Sole Plate and Studs:
Nike GS traction plate combines a high performance chassis with a strong responsive and agile form. The sole plate is made of 50% renewable Pebax® Renu (a plant derived material made with 97% castor beans) and 50% TPU, made from renewable materials. The plate is 15% lighter than a traditional plate composition.=
The traction plate includes a minimalist diamond-silhouette spine, which provides optimal flex and agility in plate performance.
Anatomically positioned studs maximize speed in multiple directions to ensure responsive and assured movement on pitch.
Touch & Control:
A solvent-free Kanga-Lite synthetic upper provides zonal reinforcement for exceptional touch and control. The synthetic upper also supports lockdown on midfoot and arch area.
The lightweight and chemical-free sock liner is made of 100% castor beans and eliminates any layers for a snug fit and enhanced touch on the ball.
Stability & Support:
Anatomical and asymmetrical heel counter and heel bucket locks the foot down for stability and support. The counter is made of Pebax® Renu, derived from castor bean oil.
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Revealed: The Nike 2012-13 Manchester United “Gingham” Home Jersey
Jul 6th
Nike have just released the new Manchester United home jersey for the upcoming 2012-13 season and its definitely something different. The traditional red color of the home jersey has been preserved, but the Gingham pattern that underlies it whats sure to define this jersey for many fans. But, whether you love it or hate it, this home kit is sure to be popular with Red Devils the world over. The pattern, which was invented in Manchester during its hey day as a textile manufacturing center, is synonymous with the city and its history. Now Manchester isn’t really known for manufacturing these days, but its nice to see Nike trying to pay homage to the history of the city and the supporters who truly build the team. You can see it for yourself in the video below.
You can pick your own Man Utd jersey up from our partners over at soccerpro.com.
Posted by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
8 Year Old Scores Beautiful Free Kick CR7 Style…(Video)
Jul 5th
What can you say about this one. Whoever this kid is, he’s got quite the foot one him as he powers the ball over the wall and down in the net just behind the keeper.
Cristiano Ronaldo eat your heart out…
Posted by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Revealed: The Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII FG – Seaweed with Volt
Jun 30th
Our friends over at SoccerPro.com have just unveiled the newest color of the widly popular Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII soccer cleats and they look sexy. The dark Seaweed green base color with a Volt swoosh really catch the eye, and the decal on the back looks even sharper. You can check them out for yourself in the video below, or just click the link to see more images of this sharp new color.
Posted by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
