Boot spotting: 23rd of August

With the season now in full swing (and just to think there’s an international break next week), there are plenty of spots that’ll excite you today.

Joey Barton (Newcastle) – Puma PowerCat prototype

Okay, so maybe we aren’t the first site to have this photo up, but it’s certainly caused a ruffle amongst boot connoisseurs. While we only know a little bit about the next PowerCat (we’re pretty sure it’s a PowerCat), we estimate that the newly formed upper will create a deadly mix of power enhancing capabilities as well as adding extra curve to your shots, proving this could be one of the year’s big releases.

Grant Holt (Norwich City) – Umbro Stealth Pro II

Okay, I had to include the messiah in at least one boot spotting this season! The sheriff of Norwich led his team out onto Carrow Road for their first Premier League game at home after nearly 6 years without Premier League football at Norwich. While Holt didn’t get on the scoresheet, he certainly threw himself about the pitch in his normal, bull dog like style in his rather old White/Bronze/Blue Umbro Stealth Pros.

Emile Heskey (Aston Villa) – Nike Tiempo Elite IV

Very few players have been seen wearing the Elite model of the Tiempo, with many discarding the supposedly rigid carbon fiber soleplate in favour for the new TPU bottom of the Legends. However, Heskey has opted for the Elite editions of the boot. Heskey has also customised his boots with SG studs, something that is only offered to professional footballers.

Ashley Cole (Chelsea) – Nike Tiempo Legend IV

At the other end of the scale, ‘Cashley’ has switched out of his CTR360 cleats in favour for the soft Tiempo Legends. However, Cole has also put orange laces onto his Tiempos. Perhaps this is done by Nike to make people think that Cole is actually wearing the Elite models, as they are the only ones that feature orange laces, very much like Drogba and his Superfly I soleplate on his Superfly III boots.

Etienne Esajas (Swindon Town) – Nike Mercurial Vapor VII

When the Superfly III was originally released, it was launched in a plum colourway as well as a blue colourway. Many players opted for the headline colourway, the plum version. It’s very rare to see a player wearing the blue editions and Esajas can count himself as part of a small group of players wearing this colourway.

Michael Vorm (Swansea) – Uhlsport Torkralle

What a week Vorm has had. After a brave display against Man City to ensure Swansea didn’t lose by a larger deficit, Vorm saved a penalty against Wigan to ensure Swansea got their first point of the new season. Kitted out in Uhlsport gear, Vorm’s Torkralle boots are seen as often as the US losing to Panama! Oh wait, that happened didn’t it?

Herita Ilunga (West Ham) – Adidas AdiPure SL

I don’t believe it. We’ve found a player in England wearing AdiPure SLs! A concept boot with the consumer in mind, many professionals opt for the traditional AdiPures, something that has left the staff here at Soccer Reviews scratching our heads over, especially Isaac, considering the AdiPure SL he is currently reviewing has become his new favourite boot.

Kevin Phillips (Blackpool) – Umbro Stealth Pro II (Leather)

Football journeyman Kevin Phillips has stayed loyal to perhaps the best British football boot manufacturer with his leather Umbro Stealth Pros after scoring two goals in Blackpool’s come from behind draw against Brighton.

Jon Walters (Stoke) – Puma v-Konstrukt II

Retro boot time! You’ll have to go a long way to see footballers who stay with their v-Konstrukt boots, the predecessor of the relatively succesful PowerCat series. Now Walters will have to find a pair of boots that will help him convert penalties…

Scott Sinclair (Swansea) – Nike Mercurial Superfly I

We always love colour co-ordinated football boots, and this one is no exception. We can see why Swansea winger Scott Sinclair hasn’t dumped his Superfly boots. They match perfectly with the Swansea kit, with the pink tick providing a nice contrast against the rest of his kit. Sinclair should probably think about some bigger shin pads too.

Youssouf Mulumbu (West Brom) – Nike CTR360 Maestri II

It’s hard to say whether Mulumbu’s colour co-ordination is better than Sinclair’s, we’ll let you decide! While the Red/White CTR 360s match beautifully with West Brom’s away kit, Mulumbu was spotted wearing the White/Volt Tiempo IIIs last week against Man United, so perhaps Mulumbu only wears the CTR on games where he’s in the away kit.

Neil Warnock (QPR) – Adidas Copa Mundials

After an unhappy return to the Premier League last week against Bolton (at least one of the other promoted teams scored last week!), Warnock would have been more than happy after his side bounced back with a shock 1-0 win over Everton. It’s fair to say that many managers won’t be spotted wearing AdiZeros or Mercurials, and Warnock is no exception in his old school Copa Mundials.

That’s it for this week’s boot spotting. Which one was your favourite spot this week?