FIFA 14 Xbox 360/PS3 Review: Revolution in Progress

A quick heads up before you begin reading, this is a very long review, feel free to read it all or you can take a look at the sections which interest you (the review is split up into chunks, each with a bolded title). At the end, I have a final "overall" section where I sum everything up if you're not interested in reading all the sections.

FIFA 14 has come around at a strange time in the videogame industry. While it was still released in the usual early fall, with this release there's the looming presence of next-gen consoles, something which has undoubtedly played a large role in the decisions EA has made with the newest edition of FIFA. The brand-new "Ignite" engine will be powering the next-generation version of FIFA, and the advancements on the current older engine sometimes seem like they're waiting for the next-gen step up in horsepower. However don't be scared, FIFA 14 on the current generation has made significant changes which have definitely improved the game. Having said this, it will be very interesting to see the difference between FIFA 14 on the current-generation systems, and what the next-generation looks like when it's powered by "Ignite".

Undoubtedly, many will wonder about how much the new engine will truly matter. After all, EA isn't boasting about any grandiose new features coming on the next-gen version, but rather seems to be emphasizing how much more noticeable a lot of  FIFA 14's current-gen improvements will be when running on the Playstation 4 or Xbox One. Crowds will be rendered even better (you'll see home and away sections of the crowd cheering when their side scores), headers will now consist of multiple players jostling and jumping (a prospect which could make corners much more realistic), and it seems like there's a general tighter feel when it comes to player momentum which on the current gen can sometimes seem unrealistic in the slowness of certain animations. Looking at the next-gen version, it's hard not to feel that perhaps many of FIFA 14's changes simply don't have the same impact without "Ignite" powering them. Having said this, the changes that EA have brought to the current generation of FIFA are very much appreciated, and are a significant step closer to achieving a more robust and realistic soccer/football experience.

First Impression

Over the past few years, picking up to play a brand new FIFA game has always required a bit of adaptive versatility, but never too much. We gamers have had to change our way of playing as EA has made changes to the game, but so many fundamental mechanics of FIFA are ingrained in every new edition. This year has been been the biggest test of our adaptability, as the changes made have forced a re-learning of FIFA and the way we play it.

Just about everyone's first impressions of FIFA 14 were quick to highlight that the game has become "slower". The days of sprinting through the midfield are definitively over, as the new first-touch system along with the larger roles that momentum and physicality play now have forced players to approach the game in a much more controlled way. It's not that FIFA 14 is too slow, it's that FIFA 13 was too fast. Last year's edition was dominated by speedy wingers which could shred through just about any defence when counter-attacking. Constantly knocking the ball out wide, to then sprint through the opposing back four wasn't a proper reflection of how actual soccer/football is played.

Now on FIFA 14, one of the first things you'll notice is that when the ball is knocked forward by your player, this immediately opens the opportunity for a defender to muscle their way in front of you. While when playing FIFA 13 my right trigger (the "run fast" button) was just about permanently depressed, FIFA 14 has become about lifting your right index finger off that trigger, and instead keeping tight close control of the ball. Shielding is paramount to keeping possession now, as is ensuring a clean first-touch when receiving passes.

A lot of FIFA players (including me) found their first attempts with FIFA 14 slightly jarring, and I had to lower the difficulty settings, take a deep breath, and consciously pay attention and learn how to use the new gameplay mechanics to their best.


Presentation

The folks at EA tend to do a pretty good job when it comes to presentation. Menus have been revamped making for an easier to navigate (and stylish) experience, but it seems like at certain points there's some problems with the speed and responsiveness. Sadly, this happens also when managing your team which can be fairly frustrating.

While the new menus are snazzy, there are occasional moments of framerate dips when managing your team.

As for things like matchday presentation, EA maintains their top quality from FIFA 13, but doesn't add too much to the formula. Stadiums have a better feel than FIFA 13 (which isn't hard now that the crowd looks a bit less like paper cutouts), and a lot of the top players are incredibly realistic, from their body type to the details on their face. However there's an immediate distinction between the immaculate crafting of top-level players and the players who haven't had the same attention placed upon them. You'll probably start to notice the same few facial models appearing on players, which can be a bit annoying depending on how much you see of the well-known players which EA could have invested a bit more time in.

If you have any worries about presentation, it seems like the next-gen versions are where EA have truly stepped it up when it comes to creating that elusive full stadium and match-day feel. The current-gen does its best with the usual solid commentary which while satisfies the basic needs, never strives to impress. Although in Career mode there's an attempt to have the pre-game talk be dynamic about how your team and players are doing in the season, after a few matches you can begin to anticipate what you're going to hear.


Gameplay

FIFA 14 has managed to really stir up the core gameplay elements in this release, and ultimately it's all for the better. The changes to first touch make changes of possession more frequent and realistic, and the slightly improved AI of your teammates provides more options when going forward. However with their increased attacking runs, your teammates sometimes get in the way of your goalbound shots, and can take up offside positions sometimes too early leading to some fairly frustrating moments.

Putting some frustrations aside, the improved and varied shooting types are interesting, yet you're never fully in control to decide what type of a shot you want to unleash. It's not quite "hit and hope", as you're often able to coax the game into shooting a specific way, although be prepared for moments when your player's shot isn't quite what you were expecting it to be. Dribbling is much harder considering that the days of sprinting past defenders are over, and because of this successful dribbling is much more satisfying. Maintaining tight control, shielding the ball from defenders, and making sure not to hold onto the ball too much are now the key mechanics which reign supreme. While they're definitely a lot to learn and perfect, they truly raise the level of similarity to real football/soccer while deepening the systems behind maintaining possession.

The passing sadly lags behind, as it doesn't see similar improvements and can often be difficult to fully manipulate as you intend. A large part of this seems to be affected by the first-touch system, which depends very much on the pace and angle of the pass coming towards the player. Although one can bump most of the settings to assisted and deal less with this unimproved (yet core) mechanic, when playing on semi-assisted or manual there are certain puzzling moments in which a pass is incredibly imprecise or underpowered.

Yet for all the annoyances, the gameplay has surely changed for the better. When playing in career mode and other single player modes, the new gameplay mechanics make for a well balanced and varied football/soccer simulation. Players have more freedom in the way they construct their attacks, there isn't a "right way" to go about playing the game, and this ultimately forces creativity in the way players breaking down defences.


Final thoughts/Overall

It's difficult to truly understand the changes made to FIFA 14 until you've actually played it. In terms of gameplay mechanics, EA has pushed its players to adapt as the switch to the next-generation looms. Although there are some changes to Career Mode which give things like scouting and searching for new transfer targets a fresh feel (for a while), there are many areas in which FIFA 14 is obviously waiting for the hardware power to catch up.

However don't let this dissuade you too much from FIFA 14 on the current generation of consoles. There are many improvements, refinements, and a lot of well-thought changes which make this the best version of FIFA available right now. If you're not going to be adopting the next-generation consoles anytime soon, then FIFA 14 will undoubtedly satisfy the cravings you have for a soccer/football gaming experience. Yet keep in mind that FIFA 14 will shine at its brightest on the next-gen consoles with the Ignite engine powering better presentation, more animations, and stronger mechanics.

I'll be reviewing the next-gen version of FIFA 14 as soon as I get a chance to pick up a new console and a copy of the game. Until then, I'll be more than happy to continue playing FIFA 14 on the current-generation.

Adidas F50 Adizero Synthetic Review

After getting the chance to test the Adidas F50 Adizero, it is apparent that the German boot-maker has created the ultimate speed cleats. While Nike and Puma have done their best to keep up, Adidas managed to come out on top with their release of the Adidas F50 Adizero Prime, which are currently the lightest cleats on the market. The long history of crafting Adidas soccer shoes has culminated in the production of the Adidas F50 Adizero. The synthetic Adidas F50 Adizero which I tested are just about 20 grams heavier than the Prime version, and they're the best pair of boots I've played in yet.


Breaking Them In


I was slightly apprehensive before using the cleats for the first time. While they are extremely light, often that comes with the disadvantage of discomfort or blisters while breaking them in. But my experience was wonderful with the cleats. While the synthetic material felt different (I often wear cleats with leather uppers), it didn't give me any discomfort or blisters.

For my first wear I decided to go with the "ultralight" insole instead of the "comfort" one. While I expected it to be tough on the bottom of my foot, I probably would have worn it for my entire practice if I didn't want to try the "comfort" insole. The comfort insole is notably more soft, but I prefer the "ultralight" insole because it provides enough comfort, and is a few grams lighter.

I initially feared the breaking in experience because of the lack of padding on the cleats, but it turned out to be a lovely and easy experience. The only complaint I have regarding breaking in is that the first couple of times I switched the insoles, they jiggled around a little when I turned sharply. With time this got better, and now that they're broken in I don't have this problem anymore.


On Field Performance

The first thing that strikes you when you start playing with these cleats is the astounding lightweight feel. My friend said that when he held them it felt like they were floating. Obviously they aren't weightless, but at 165 grams (5.8oz), they are incredibly light. While they probably don't make you much faster, they give a psychological advantage, along with the fact that it's much easier playing in these for 90 minutes instead of a heavy pair of T90 Laser III's.

The touch and control were better than what I expected, especially after I broke them in. Thanks to the thin single-layer Sprintskin upper, the ball is a lot closer to your foot. While there are internal TPU support bands which help support the cleat, there's basically only your socks and the upper between your foot and the ball. The leather version of the Adizeros provides better touch, but I was impressed by the feel and touch on the ball of the synthetic material.

Striking the ball is an equally pleasurable experience with theses boots. While I initially feared that it would be uncomfortable and not provide enough padding, the smooth upper gave me good contact when hitting the ball. While I can obviously hit it better when I'm wearing a pair of T90's or Concave's, taking shots with the Adizeros had a "clean" feel to it.

Regarding traction and the studs, I loved the Traxion stud system used by Adidas. It offered solid acceleration, and changing directions was easy to do as the triangular studs gripped well from whatever angle. While there have been lots of problems regarding studs falling off with the Traxion system, it hasn't happened to me yet.


Design


Before the final judgement, the visual design of these cleats has to be looked at a little. The main orange color which Adidas calls "Warning" is extremely bright and eye-catching. In fact, wearing the cleats really made me stand out from everyone else, and it almost put a sense of "having to perform well" in such a flashy pair of cleats.

Wearing these gives you a sense of speed. Everything about them emits a feeling of sleek rapidity, from the three signature Adidas black stripes on the inside and outside, to the design which goes from the laces to the toe of the boot. The three colors of Orange, black, and white all complement each other well and help give the cleat a vibrant look.

Regarding the actual physical design fo the boots, Adidas have crafted a great cleat. The heel tab makes it a lot easier to put them on, and the redesigned tongue helps tightening and adjusting the cleats. Luckily for me, these accommodate people with wide feet, and give a nice glove-like feel once laced up and tightened. Probably the greatest element of the cleats is the bottom frame band. It's a clear support band between the sole and the upper which gives the cleats a very solid feel.


Final Judgement


The Adidas F50 Adizero have truly defined the category of speed cleats. We've seen professionals like Manchester United's Nani and Barcelona's Dani Alves switch to Adidas is because of the lightweight, comfort, and solidity of the Adizero. Dribbling and running with these cleats is a easy and enjoyable because they're amazingly light. They also offer excellent comfort and traction which make these cleats a very complete package. If you're looking for a pair of top quality lightweight cleats, but you're not keen on spending 300$ for the Prime version, I suggest you to check out the Synthetic Adidas F50 Adizero at SoccerPro.com.

Thank you very much to Matt Wall and to SoccerPro for providing me with the cleats to review.

Nike Bomba Finale Review

After the preview of the Nike Bomba Finale which I put up just about a month ago, I've finally gotten around to posting the actual review of the boots. The Nike Bomba Finale's are the first pair of turf cleats I've ever used, and I'll certainly be using them for quite some time because they are fantastic.

Breaking them in


The Nike Bomba Finale's were comfortable right from the start. I had no problems at all the first time I wore them to practice, and I really like the feel of the Kanga-Lite upper. The cleats have a wonderful feeling all around; they are snug, and probably more comfortable than most cleats I've ever had. No problems at all breaking them in, and a couple days after my first practice with them, I used them in a game and scored. Always a good sign.

On field performance


Regarding the performance on the field, these cleats were impeccable. Playing on turf I had no trouble at all with these cleats, and I didn't have the feeling that I was sinking into the ground anymore. The circular studs at the bottom really help when you change directions, making it simple to accelerate past defenders without slipping.

I mentioned above that I really like the Kanga-Lite upper. While at first I found it a little unique and weird, it grew on me, and now I think that it's a genius idea by Nike. While you can feel that the material isn't thick, it is completely waterproof along with being lighter than traditional Kangaroo leather. It just took some time to get used to it, but now I really think that it is the best synthetic material on the market.

Finishing off the "On field performance" section, I was really impressed by how these performed. The "turf-guard" on the front is effective at stopping little turf bits from creeping between the outsole and the upper (eventually causing the boot to split apart), and the higher heel also keeps the turf bits out from getting inside your cleats. I'm going to say it again for any doubters that don't like synthetic materials instead of classic leather, the Kanga-Lite upper is fantastic. While it isn't Kangaroo leather, it doesn't suck up water, and it still provides a great feel on the ball.

Pass Pad and Shot Shield


In my preview I discussed that I wasn't sure if these two features were going to be as cool and useful as they looked. I always believe that what some call "gimmicks", even if they don't work, have a psychological effect (almost like a placebo effect) which still helps out.

In my opinion, the pass pad and the shot shield did make a difference. I found distributing the ball easier with the pass pad, along with receiving and controlling easier because the hexagonal pattern took off some of the spin from the ball. The shot shield was also useful in beating the keeper to score a goal, it helped keep my shot low and hard instead of flying over the bar. These two features are certainly awesome, but even without them these boots are fantastic.

Final Judgement


I decided to skip the section regarding negatives/cons, mainly because there are none for me. I've encountered no problems at all so far, and they're certainly my favorite pair of cleats right now. Everything about these boots is tailored for perfection. The Kanga-Lite upper keeps them light and waterproof while giving you control, the "turf guard on the front along with the raised heel were genius inovations for keeping turf bits out of your shoes, and the pass pad and shot shield were cherries on top of an already excellent cake.

I really recommend these boots if you're looking for a pair of turf cleats, and if you're looking to order online, I got mine from Kitbag. Excellent service from the UK company, I'll certainly be using them again.

Adidas F50 Adizero Review Coming Soon!

Leather Adidas F50 Adizero, Black/Sun colorway

Instead of writing about all the midweek action which took place today, I've decided to write about my next Product Review! I have managed to get my hands on a pair of "gently-used" leather Adidas F50 Adizero, yet I could only find them in a US size 12 (I'm a US size 10), but I went for them anyways.

I played around with them a little at the end of practice, and so far the results are wonderful! Although they're a little big, the feeling of lightness is astounding. But I'll tell you more in the review which will be posted sometime next week.

And while you're waiting for the review to be posted, be sure to visit the Product Reviews page, and read up on other awesome products I've already reviewed! Alternatively, if you're interested in soccer cleats, especially lightweight soccer cleats, I suggest you go over to read my review comparing lightweight soccer cleats, and how they compare in weight, price, and quality.

There will be better pictures (with better lighting) in the review!

Lightweight Soccer Cleats Review

Nike Mercurial Superfly II Pink Cherry

This is a full review regarding lightweight soccer cleats, in this review I'll be comparing the Nike Mercurial Superfly II, Adidas F50 Adizero,Puma V1.10 SL, along with the Umbro GT Pro. If you're interested in winning a free pair of Nike Mercurial Superfly II's, Soccer Cleats 101 is having a competition to win a pair of Nike Mercurial Cherry Superfly II's! And now, onto the review!

Nike Mercurial Superfly II

Nike have released probably the flashiest cleats I have ever seen, their Mercurial Superfly II's are designed to look like pure speed. Whether it's the Cactus Green, the Mach Purple, or the Pink Cherry, Nike always release some of the coolest colorways I've seen for cleats. 

Nike's state of the art Mercurial Superfly II cleats (priced around 400 dollars!) are what hundreds of professionals use because of their lightweight quality. They weigh an impressive 210 grams (or about 7.8 ounces) thanks to the FlyWire technology that runs along the inside and outside of the boot.

A picture of the Adaptive studs

The boot also features a Pressure-Activated Adaptive Traction System on the front two studs of the cleat. What all those big words mean is that the circular part in the middle of the stud actually extends when you put pressure on the cleat, allowing you to swivel/change direction quickly.

If you're interested in reading a great review of the cleats, you can visit this Nike Mercurial Cherry Superfly II's review over at Soccer Cleats 101.

Adidas F50 Adizero

The grip on the synthetic Adizero

Although Nike has included all these cool technologies, they still haven't managed to make the lightest cleat in the soccer boot market. Before the World Cup, Adidas released their lightweight cleat, the Adidas F50 Adizero which pushed the boundaries of lightweight. Messi, Forlan, and David Villa all wear this cleat, because of it's comfort and extremely light weight which is just 164 grams (or 5.8 ounces) for the synthetic version!

The Adidas F50 Adizero's come in two different formats, the leather version, and the synthetic version. The leather version is more comfortable, with a better touch on the ball as it moulds to your foot, while the synthetic version is for those who want pure speed. Although about 90% of the players who wear the Adizero opt for the leather version, the synthetic version has it's features. 

For example it has the grip on the upper, which is very similar to the Jabulani ball. It's not really grip, but it's more like bumps in a pattern which are supposed to help when hitting the ball. Although I'd certainly prefer the leather version, if you're looking for pure speed, go with the synthetic version.

Adidas's cleat right now costs about 150-200 dollars, much less compared to Nike's cleat, so if you're looking for a lighter, and cheaper cleat, you might want to think about the Adidas F50 Adizero.

The top stud fell off playing on an artificial surface

But there's a small thing I should mention, the Adizero's have a little bit of a stud problem. Many have reported that playing on artificial surfaces, their studs have fallen off, like in the link above. So if you're a big player on artificial/turf surfaces, be careful, because these might not be the right choice for you!

If you're interested in a review of the F50 Adizero's from Soccer Cleats 101, you can click here.

Puma V1.10 SL

And finally, when you speak of lightweight cleats, you have to mention the king of speed, the Puma V1.10 SL's. Puma recently surprised everyone releasing this cleat, right when everyone thought that Adidas had created the impossible, Puma took it a step further and made their cleat which weighs only 150 grams (or about 5.3 ounces)! 

Three wicked diamonds in the heel

There's two versions of this cleat, and while they both weigh and perform the same, they have different appearances. The first is the Yellow/Green version which Inter Milan's Samuel Eto'o wears, and then there's the less flashy white/blue version. Now the reason that the Yellow/Green version costs so much more than the white/blue version is because the Yellow/Green cleats have diamonds studded into the heel of the boot! Talk about flashy.

Now you might be asking, "How much will the lightest soccer cleat in the world cost? If the Nike's Superfly II's cost 400 dollars, then these must be 1000 dollars!" Well, no, Puma have made these super light, super comfortable cleats, and the white/blue version only costs about 200 dollars! While that's still quite a sum of money, it's a great deal compared to Nike's high priced cleats, and Adidas's which might have a stud fall off on you.

The white/blue version of the V1.10 SL

If you want to read a great review of the Puma V1.10 SL's at Soccer Cleats 101, click here.

Overall 

So if you're looking for a new pair of cleats, and you're interested in the lightweight options, please take into consideration what I've said above. Think about the surfaces you'll be playing on, whether you want to be flashy with the Pink Cherry, or whether you just want pure lightweight speed by Puma.

I found a couple of great comparison pictures from Soccerlens which compare's cleat weight (in grams), and then cleat price (in British pounds). Here they are below, they compare the Nike Mercurial Superfly II's, Adidas F50 Adizero's (synthetic version), Puma V1.10 SL's, and the Umbro GT Pro.

The top cleats ranked by weight

The top cleats ranked by cost

I hope you've enjoyed this overall review of lightweight cleats, and remember to enter in Soccer Cleats 101's Nike Mercurial Superfly II Cherry competition!

Review of the Concave PT+ Classic

After having used the Concave PT+ Classic football cleats for about two weeks now, I've truly enjoyed every moment of it. These cleats have just about all the features needed to accommodate any type of player, as long as you take time to adjust to them. If you're interested in reading about the features of the Concave PT+ Classic, check out my preview of the boot here, and if you want to visit the Concave website, visit it here.

Getting used to the cleats


The first thing that I need to mention about these cleats is something I noticed right away, it will take you some time to actually get your foot to enter the cleat. This is due to the large Concave Component on the top of the boot which covers the laces. That's why Concave gives you a handy shoe horn which you'll need to use to get your foot to enter the boot. But once your foot is inside, the comfort is extremely noticeable. The K-leather is what makes this boot so great, as it moulds to your foot, providing no discomfort or blisters. The boot was actually slightly roomy, and it certainly accommodates wide feet.

After you've got the boots on, you need to make sure you get used to shooting with these. At first I found it new, and I was blasting balls high over the crossbar with little accuracy. But my coach gave me the best advice as I was practicing free kicks, he simply said, "Just put your foot through it". With that mentality, I scored a rocket top-corner free kick (in practice), and I began to understand how I should use the boots to shoot, pass, and cross.

How they perform

After a few practices, I was able to take hard shots from farther out, and place long balls and crosses with more ease. The Concave Component truly does what Concave says, it reduces the amount of force that a player needs to use when kicking the ball. It enlarges your sweet spot, reducing the chance of bad connection between your foot and the ball. While I was obviously unable to prove the statistics that Concave reports, I saw a noticeable improvement in my shot power and shot accuracy.

In fact, I found out that these boots allow a player to use his "wrong" foot with much more ease. It was much easier to take shots with my left foot, mainly because I knew I was going to get a strong connection thanks to the Concave Compenent.

Concave Component close-up

Protection


I used the Concave boots in three games, and in all three I appreciated their durability and protection. The shoe truly offers protection like no other, it is unrivalled in this sector. The pain of a stomp on the foot didn't exist anymore for me thanks to the Metaguard on the front of the boot, and the shoe was durable as it gave overall solidity to my feet.

Negatives/Cons


Using the Concave PT+ Classic, I found few negatives. But to start with, these boots aren't for a speedy winger, they offer protection along with the Concave Component which weighs down the boot. If you're interested in being the fastest player on the field, then look at another type of boot, because these don't offer any advantage in that area. The other negative for me occurred just when I had to put them on. Some days when I wanted to just slip on my boots, I couldn't. I had to use the shoe horn, and really stuff my foot through the opening. But trust me, once the foot is inside the boot, you'll love the comfort.

The trusty shoe horn at the top-right

Final judgement


Here's my final word on the cleats, while they aren't flashy and colourful like some other cleats on the market, they're among the best I've used. They offer protection like no other, an increase in performance, and a high amount of comfort thanks to the K-leather. All this is also proved by the fact that Premier League players like John O'Shea and Wes Brown use the Concave PT+ Classic.


Share your thoughts regarding the Concave PT+ Classic below, and be sure to visit Concave's official site here. If you'd like more information on the features of the boot, click here.

Preview of the Concave PT+ Classic

Thanks to the people at Concave, I have the opportunity to review the Concave PT+ Classic soccer boots. These are Concave's top of the line soccer boot, and in this preview I'll talk about what you can expect from these boots, from the new protection technology, to the interesting enhancements it will have on your game. In a couple of weeks, I'll have reviewed the boots, and I'll let you know about how these really work, and in my opinion most importantly, how the boot feels.

I currently use a pair of Nike T90 Laser III's, and as an attacking midfielder/trequartista these are very useful because they provide some protection, along with some features to help you out with passing and shooting. But Concave's boots takes all of this to a whole new level, whether it be protection, shot accuracy, or shot power.

Concave's biggest technological advancement in these boots has to be the Concave Component, the front plate covering the laces. This component is part of the MetaGuard, which is made of a flexible layer of TPU and reinforced cushioning foam which protects against occurring metatarsal injuries. It certainly looks like if nasty defender stomps on your foot while you're wearing these boots, you won't feel much.

But the Concave Component also provides probably the coolest feature of these boots: as you can see, it's made with the impact of kicking a ball in mind. The concave upper "cups" the convex ball, giving you plenty of benefits, especially when taking shots. In fact, Concave have found out that in independent scientific testing, the concave component resulted in 30% improved accuracy! Independent player tests showed that it also provides a 15% increase in power! 

You'll probably be wondering how this is possible, it's because the Concave Component which increases the sweet spot of your foot by up to four times. As shown in the image on the right, your natural sweet spot is pretty limited, but with the Concave PT+ Classic, the sweet spot dramatically increases. The Concave Component also makes sure that you don't have laces in the way, which can disrupt your shot accuracy.

While I still have to find out whether this works as well as  is said, the prospect certainly seems really exciting.

As for the other technologies in this boot, there's also what Concave calls, the SBS, or Shank Balance Stabilizer. This is on the bottom of the boot, between the upper part of the studs, and the heel section of the studs (I'll be sure to get a picture of it in the review). What this aims to do, is to provides support and reinforcement to the mid-foot area, helping control balance between the front and rear of the foot. The SBS prevents an over extension of the middle of the boot, and if this occurs, it can lead to metatarsal bone damage.

Concave PT+ Classic cleats in black

It's quite obvious that Concave want to make the safest and most injury-proof boots on the market, and they haven't left out any important details. The PT+ offers probably one of the most important things for me in a soccer boot, good quality materials. For the upper, Concave have used K-leather, which is in my opinion the best type of material that a company can use for cleats. It should be comfortable, snug, and provide no irritation like blisters, so that's certainly an aspect I'm looking forward to.

I can't wait to test out these cleats and see how they work, expect a full review talking about all these things and more in the next few weeks. There'll be images and more which will help you understand how the cleat helps enhance your game. There's plenty of more information on Concave's site, so if you're interested in finding out more about Concave's cleats, check out their website here.

Book review: Top 10 of Football, 250 lists on the beautiful game

Top 10 of Football by Russell Ash and Ian Morrison

Whenever I enter a local bookstore, I always look if they have any books related to soccer; I just love reading a good book about the beautiful game. While I love biographies and autobiographies, what I especially love are the informational and statistic books, not only are these books a joy to read, but they always teach me something new.

It's hard to find books which carry in-depth information from leagues around the world, books that aren't completely focussed on the English Premiership, or just the World Cup. And when I read through "Top 10 of Football: 250 Lists on the beautiful game" I was amazed, not only did this cover the World Cup and other big tournaments like the European Championships in depth, but it also covered things like the top 10 goal-scorers of the Copa America! And that's just barely scratching the surface of the range and depth of information found in this great book.

I found out that the Belgian league was 4th in the top 10 oldest leagues in the World, behind England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. I learned about Josef Bican, a man only second to Pele having scored an astounding 537 goals in only 358 games! That's about 1.5 goals a game, having Bican on the field assured you at least a goal a game if not more! And that's just one man on one of these 250 fantastic lists!

The mighty Josef Bican

While at first you may think that a book comprised of just lists may be just a bunch of dates and numbers, it's much more than that. This book tells you an amazing statistic like that Arsenal went 49 consecutive games without defeat in the Premier League, then it'll go ahead and break down how the record started, what was going on with the team, with plenty of score-lines and information about the team, time-period, and league. The book also offers is a myriad of lists like the greatest World Cup goals, Champions League firsts, and worst disasters at football stadiums around the world. So it isn't a bunch of dry numbers and names.

There is plenty of information which never ends: from miscellaneous top tens, to historical top tens, this is one of the greatest books about soccer I've ever read. And it is most certainly the most informing book I've ever had, whether it be about the beautiful game's history or money, you're sure to find what you're looking for in this book. So next time you're browsing through bookstores, or you're online wanting to buy a book, be sure that you look for "Top 10 of Football: 250 Lists on the beautiful game" which you can buy here.

Product Review - Inter Milan Graphic Hoodie

When I look for a hoodie, I look for two main things, comfort and style. They may seem rather straight-forward, but it is hard to find a hoodie that fits both categories for you. The Inter Milan graphic hoodie fits both categories spot on with a fabulous design, while letting you support Italy's current champions, Inter Milan.

This hoodie is much different than any other hoodie I have had, the comfort and warmth is astounding, but what really surprised me was how thin the fabric was, and how light the overall hoodie was. No longer do I need to wear a heavy hoodie that is hard to store because of the thickness and space it took up, this hoodie keeps me warmer and dryer using better technologies. Imagine yourself running laps around the pitch, it starts to rain, your hoodie is thick and quickly sucks up all the water, weighing you down while letting the cold sink in to your lower layers. Now imagine the same scene, except you are wearing the Inter Milan graphic hoodie, it starts to rain, the rain drops don't penetrate through the hoodies fabric, and you stay light, warm, and insulated.  These two scenes are drastically different because of the detail and design of the Inter Milan graphic hoodie compared to a normal hoodie. The Inter Milan graphic hoodie insulates you from the outside cold and rain with elastic finishings on the waist and the wrists, the hood also has a string so you can tighten the hood, completely sealing you off from the cold. Few hoodies can boast this feature, and even less can say that their hoodies also prevent water from penetrating, these maybe small details make a world of difference in your speed, your stamina, and your health.

The hoodie also has style, the torso area is black, while the arms are blue, Inter Milan's famous colors, the hoodie also features INTER written in golden dots which clearly state who you support. Underneath is the Inter Milan crest woven in with the special edition tricolore outside finishing, and below that is the famous nike logo in striking blue. With a large ample pocket above the waist finishing, this hoodie allows you to carry a large range of items without any hassle.

The Inter Milan hoodie is the perfect item to wear over your favorite soccer jersey, keeping you dry and warm, this hoodie is perfect for any season. And if you aren't looking for an Inter Milan hoodie, you can find all the soccer gear you need at one of the best soccer shops around at www.soccerpro.com.

Courtesy of www.soccerpro.com for providing me with the items to review.