Liverpool FC Forum

by **73-1141222089** » Fri May 12, 2006 5:24 pm

I don't know bout you lot but I've been away from home so long that I've kinda lost touch with the papers back home....

Over here, the hot topic has been bout the new light (featherweight) boots with blades and the possibility of injuring oneself with them.

Now I'm an old git and kinda old school.... been using the 9 by 4 pumas for years and absolutely love them..... Recently a mate got me a new pair of Nike Vapour (Blades) as a prezzie....

Tried them once and in ONE game..... got me big toe stomped on and broke the nail and did my ankle on a quickish turn!!

I reckon these things are a hazard and maybe it's time the coaches took a long hard look at them......

I think theres not enough strength in the uppers for proper protection and way too much bite on the turf with the blades..... No wonder some coaches are thinking of banning these things.....

Did you see Xabi's ankle turn on his landing in the Pompey game and the soft Rooney fall?

Like I said.... I think that they're a hazard but then again it could just be me age showing.....

Opinions?

by **jonnymac1979** » Fri May 12, 2006 5:37 pm

Haven't had a pair of football boots since I was 16 mate, and I'm 27 this year.

I had three pairs of boots though when I was 16. The Adidas Predator Rapier, Adidas Questra and Mitre Pro Continental. Before them I had Nike Tiempo. All studs, no problems for me. Never had any broken toes or twisted ankes. Only injuries I ever got were studs down the shin or muscle pulls as I was a tall lad at a young age and a very fast sprinter.

I never used blades although I don't think they were even around at the time.

by **EddieC** » Fri May 12, 2006 5:48 pm

I think you could have a point. Up to a few years ago who can honestly say they new what a metatarsal was? These days players seem to be breaking them left right & centre. It must be something to do with the boots cos I can't think of anything else that's changed that could effect it.

by **73-1141222089** » Fri May 12, 2006 6:05 pm

EddieC wrote:I think you could have a point. Up to a few years ago who can honestly say they new what a metatarsal was? These days players seem to be breaking them left, right and center. It must be something to do with the boots cos I can't think of anything else that's changed that could effect it.

That's what I thought too......

For crying out loud..... I never knew you could break a metatarsal until Beckham did his...... Then the floodgates opened and everybody seems to be breaking them!

Amazing how this seems to coincide with the introduction of bladed boots don't you think?

Either our modern players are taxing their bodies so much (with the pace of the game being what it is today) that they're becoming fragile or something is going on with the new equipment.....

After all, one of the best methods for troubleshooting any problem is the old "What has changed?" technique....

In this case, with all the high profile metatarsal breaks I've heard of.... all the players involved wore blades on ultra light boots.

by **EddieC** » Fri May 12, 2006 6:19 pm

I don't think it's the blades so much, but I'm sure the lightweight boots don't give enough support. Someone in power needs to do some proper research on this, cos so far all I'm hearing is:

'We've spoken to Nike/Adidas and they confirm it's nothing to do with design'

They're hardly gonna say anything different, are they?

That said, it could be a good marketing ploy: 'These boots are dangerous, go out and buy our new, stronger boots'

Nike, Adidas, if you're reading this: Head of marketing, you've found your man.

by **jonnymac1979** » Fri May 12, 2006 6:21 pm

When Beckham done his though back in 2002, the Deportivo player (Duschler was it?) proper went in with his studs showing. He crushed Beckham's toe.

Don't know how Neville or Murphy did theirs around the same time. Training ground injuries but couldn't tell you whether they were contat or non-contact. Hopefully, Neville's was two footed full contact with studs showing.

Gerrard's foot was caught in the turf last season at Old Trafford. Very freakish injury. No player was even near him. You could argue the case there I suppose. I'll need reminding of how Owen damaged his playing for Newcastle? Accidental? Or was he fouled?

Wasn't Rooney accidentally stamped on by Andrade in a challenge in Euro 2004? It certainly wasn't on purpose. Saying that, I don't know the lengths players will go to in European Championship knockout ties to win competitions. Can't really blame that on the blades if you ask me.

I can't make out from his challenge with Ferreira though what was the cause, whether it was the defender's contact or the pitch or his boots.

I think it's just a freakish co-incidence and not really a sinister side-effect of the blades. That's just from my perspective and opinion though.

by **73-1141222089** » Fri May 12, 2006 6:28 pm

You have a point there Jonny.... Could be a case of over-reaction....

Having said that, in all the time I've been playing with studs, I never once did my ankle the way I did with the Nike Vapour.....
All said and done, I'm out 3 weeks from the the Sunday games......

Hell, could be I'm just getting old!!

Not wanting to admit it to me mates though!!! So I think I'm still gonna blame the boots....and going back to my trust old Puma's.....

by **A.B.** » Fri May 12, 2006 8:59 pm

Lightweight boots are worn by players who prefer speed over protection, i.e. Cisse. Because it's leightweight there is not as nearly enough protection to the foot as there is with a regular boot.

by **The Ace1983** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:25 pm

I've been using blades for years and find them much easier on the foot than studded boots, because the weight is spread over a larger area. But it's just a matter of personal choice, though I know some clubs have banned them. Surely, a couple of carbon fibre ribs down the middle of the boot would allow for flexability to the degree needed, yet would support the foot enough to reduce the likelyhood of injury (ala Rooney) and the weight wouldn't be effected. As for blades, I think they're fine.

by **AussieKopite** » Sat May 13, 2006 11:00 am

Maybe its a combination of a lightweight upper (not enough protection) up against blades (sharper surface [concentrates contact]).

by **48-1119859832** » Sat May 13, 2006 12:10 pm

I think most injuries are occuring to players who design their own boots, they go for nice flash boots and are neglegent of protection. Most footballers would rather have their wife's name on the side of the boot then consider protection.

by **lakes10** » Sat May 13, 2006 10:22 pm

Craig Johnston say its more to do with the stud and new or good football pitches, the better the pitch there is more chance that your stud will sink or your boot will dig in, he say thats why most metatarsal happen at the start of the season or just after a new pitch has just been put down.
i know he knows his stuff good old Craig, i loved him as a player.

by **adamnbarrett** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:39 pm

Just thought I'd bring this up again as Cisse's studs got caught in the turf.

It comes down to the argument about the modern boots again. The blades on them getting stuck in the turf. It may just be a coincedence but more injuries like broken legs and metertarsels are more common that they were before blades were invented.

On the protection of metertarsels I broke one myself, when wearing a pair of Total 90's I got stamped on by someone wearing studs.

It does seem that the players who wear the blades on pristine pitches end up getting their foot stuck in the turf and breaking something.

Personally I have had blades, metal and plastic before and the only problem I've had was a pulled hamstring. It could also be the fact that pitches in school are sh*te when compared to the stuff the professionals play on.

Look carefully at the photo at the type of boots cisse is wearing, they are the lightweight ones. The chances of him wearing blades is very high and look at his foot stuck in the turf, is this how he broke his leg perhaps?

by **RUSHIE#9** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:57 pm

Looking closely at the picture above of cisse it looks like he was wearing these boots:

adidas F50 6 Tunit - Collegiate Royal/Electricity

The new +F50 Tunit is football your way. It can be any boot you want it to be and then be a completely different boot the next time you play. Its a boot for all seasons. A boot for all conditions.

UPPER:
- Minimalist and extreme flexible upper construction.
- Innovative construction results in lightweight and glove like fit.
- Lace cover increases kick area
- Adihex/ specially developed micro fibre is extremely thin and soft contributing to a very lightweight boot that is high abrasive resistant and low maintenance.

CHASSIS
- Triple hardness/Density TPU
- Sockliner holds the receptacles for the studs
- Supports the upper with stability and distributes stud pressure

STUDS
- Traxion dual-density two piece studs
- 3 stud sets available for SS06:

1 soft ground
2 firm ground
3 hard ground

- Easy ground penetration for premium grip without locking into the ground
- Individual stud placement possible
- Integrated wear indicator on firm and hard ground studs to advise replacement

- Easy ground penetration for premium grip without locking into the ground
As you can see the promotional blurb for the boots claims that the studs are designed not to lock into the ground, so they either don't work in that sense or the problem with cisse is something else. As for the lightweight bladed boots I am convinced that they are the root cause of all these broken bones and damaged ligaments.
Modern football pitches are being designed to be longer lasting and from what i hear the technology that is used to achieve this results in the turf having to knit togther and i wouldn't be surprised if this is causing these blades to get caught up and tangled in the turf resulting in damaged ligaments and broken metatarsels(sp).
Bring back the old fashioned boots :

by **Lando_Griffin** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:27 am

With all the money these feckers at Adidas, etc get, they should be able to invent something that protects AND looks good.

I'm not expert, but would rubber studs help? They'd go deep enough into the ground to avoid slipping, but would have enough play in them to avoid locking.

Just a thought, but isn't it about time they brought out a calf protector? Had Cisse been kitted with pads around the entire lower leg, rather than just the shin, he wouldn't have had either injury.

There are ways to retain flexability, whilst preventing breaks.

It's got to be worth it, surely?

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Football Boots and Injuries - Studs or Blades?

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