January Transfer Market

With only a few days until the transfer window opens, many European teams are preparing for offers that could transfer the rest of their season. With so many new managers taking over in the Premier League, there is sure to be some hot action. In particular, Man City will be one of the more active teams, with Mark Hughes being given alot of cash and freedom to transform his inconsistent team. Other teams like West Ham and Tottenham are more likely to see some selling before they see any incoming players. So, who should you watch out for transfer wise?

Emile Heskey: The Wigan man has been a target of speculation, as the journey man is wanted by many Premier League teams wanting a consistent performer. Steve Bruce does want to hold onto his star striker, but with Amar Zaki also being a transfer target, maybe Bruce will let go of Heskey to keep the inform Zaki.

Andrei Arshavin: Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Real Madrid- Where will the Russian playmaker end up? The Zenit St Petersberg striker has been told he can leave during the January transfer. But which team will get him?

Roque Santa Cruz: Will Mark Hughes get his former striker? Blackburn will be reluctant to sell, and especially after Big Sam refused to give Man City approval to talk to the player. Big Hughes needs some more firepower, and with money to burn, Cruz could be a top target.

Get ready for some big transfer action!

Real Madrid get Diarra and his Nike Air Legend II

Real Madrid bagged their first big signing of the Winter transfer window. Lassana Diarra made the transfer from Portsmouth to Real Madrid for $27 million. After a short stint at Pompey, Real Madrid made the move to sign the French midfielder from uner the nose of Man City, who were offering a much larger salary to Diarra. In his time at Portsmoutn, Diarra wore Nike Air Legend II FG - Soft Pearl/Dark Cinder/Metallic Gold, and it looks like thats what he will be wearing at the Bernabeau. The Air Legend II has a unique combination of conical/bladed studs for optimal traction and pressure dispersion. Made with Kangaroo leather for comfort and ball feel. Made with a molded sockliner with heel Zoom air unit for in-boot comfort. Priced a very generous $102.99, these cleats offer extra comfort at a good price.

Charcoal Nike Mercurial Vapor's

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of a dozen European stars who have wore the new coveted version of the Nike Mercurial Vapor IV, Citron. Only several weeks after the release of the Berry cleats, the Citron has been the focus of International soccer cleat attention, with Ronaldo scoring in the FIFA Club World Cup and AC Milan's Pato scoring to ease the teams access to the last 16. Gabriel Agbonlahor has also made his mark for an England starting spot in recent weeks, scoring in last weekends win wearing the Citron's.

So, lets put the crazy colors (Berry and Citron) aside and talk about Nike's classic style release, the Nike Mercurial Vapor IV FG - Charcoal/Red. Actually, this cleat has been available in the US for a while, and is currently heavily desired in the UK where it won't be available until February. I have to be honest, I was not a fan of Nike's very colorful releases, but they have been extremely popular. It seems that Nike has benifited from an extremely well-marketed campaign, as the cleats have sold huge numbers and appear to have increased their stake in the soccer cleat realm.

Made in Italy and weighing a mere 8.1oz, the mercurial vapor IV are built for increased acceleration in and out of quick turns. Direct-injected heel studs impact weight reduction.

For more info on the Vapor Charcoal check out this article.

Citron flavored Nike Mercurial Vapor IV

Nike have released the latest color in their Mercurial Vapor IV collection. After having huge success with the Berry color, the new Citron color is sure to also be very popular. Looking like a neon green, the Citrus was given its debut by Pato of AC Milan in the Serie A. Last weekend, the Brazilian helped create the winning goal in AC's 1-0 win. The cleat was debut in the Champions League by none other than the Pink Panther, Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich. Although that title needs some tweaking now!

Ribery, who became center of attention with the Mercurial Vapor Berry, has been playing very well of late and that included a goal during the week in Bayern's 3-2 victory over Lyon. Inter Milan also had two players wearing the Citron Vapor in Adrianno and Swedish international Ibrahimovich.

Also during the week, Ballon D'or winner Cristiano Ronaldo wore the Citron's during practice, drawing a huge amount of attention. In this weekends game vs Tottenham, the Portugese winger wore the cleats, bringing out his usual array of tricks and step overs.

Scoring Defenders: Premier League weekend Dec 6th-8th

What were defenders doing in the Premier League last weekend?
Scoring goals that’s what!
There were 6 big goals scored in all, and each one had an implication on the result.

• Nemanja Vidic got one of the most important goals of the weekend. With Man Utd’s game vs. Sunderland heading to a stalemate, Vidic popped up in the box to knock the ball into the back of the net after it had cannoned off the post from Michael Carrick’s long range effort. The goal gave Man Utd a 1-0 win and kept them in touch with Liverpool and Chelsea. Vidic currently wears the New Puma v-Konstrukt III, which are set to be released in the US January 2009. To help with touch and control, Puma have created a new front design with padding around the shooting area. This is positioned to help with control and impact when striking the ball.
Check out PUMA v-Konstrukt II


• A double from Joleon Lescott did not help Everton beat Aston Villa, although they really should have snatched a point through Lescott’s second goal in added time. 60 seconds after he had tied the game at 2-2, Aston Villa had the ball in Everton’s net to win 3-2. Lescott wears Nike Total90 Laser II. Nike developed these cleats with swerve, power and precision in mind. Their focus was on developing a shooting sweet spot, and hence the front design of the cleat. Known as Shotshield technology, Nike placed rubber zonal rings on the strike zone with direct injected rubber.
More info on Nike Total90 Laser II


• Bernard Mendy helped Hull gain another 3 points. He scored the tying goal against Middlesbrough, getting lucky when his shot hit the post and then Ross Turnbull’s back before going into the net. Mendy, like Lescott, wears the Nike Total 90 Laser II.


• Abdoulaye Faye came back to haunt Newcastle by scoring for Stoke to snatch a point in their encounter. Faye has most recently been wearing Adidas adiPURE TRX in master blue/white. These cleats have an upper Kangaroo leather glove like fit. They are about as pure and simple as you can get cleat wise. At 9.6 ounces they are pretty light. Designed for the no-nonsense central midfielder who is not afraid to get stuck in on a tackle.
More Info Adidas adiPURE Indigo/Metallic Silver/Rave Green


• And finally, Ledley King did what Spurs strikers couldn’t do in their game against a poor West Ham -put the ball in the net! Spurs had several excellent chances to score before King popped up in the box for his first goal since 2005. King wears white Adidas Predator Powerswerve. Predators have been legendary since the Premier League’s creation in the 90’s. This version has two major advantages over other boots; Powerswerve impact and Powerpulse. Powerswerve allows a player to add swerve to the ball by using a rubber interface, allowing for extra control on contact with the ball. Powerpulse is the insole insert that has Tungsten powder filled elements. These shift as you swing into the ball adding extra power and increased flexibility. The newest version of the cleat comes in Dark Indigo/Metallic Silver/Pool.
  More Info Adidas Predator PowerSwerve White Metallic/Indiog/Rave Green

Alfonso Motagalvan: Adidas Predator and Adipure

Name: Alfonso Motagalvan

Team: UCSB Mens Soccer 2004-08
Cleat size: 8.5

Sneaker size: 10

Why the difference in sizes?

I like my shoe to be snug on my foot.

What cleats do you like to wear?

I wear the Adidas Predator and Adidas Adipure, simply because they are leather. My feet are very wide and those two types feel the best. I also find it easy to adjust when I have a new pair. I prefer wearing leather rather than plastic on my feet as it gives me a better feel of the ball.

What do you look for when choosing a cleat?
When it comes to cleats, I am kind of old school. I don't really like flashy colors, not my style! I play really simple, hence why I wear mostly all black cleats. My preferred cleats mostly come in that color. You have to know your feet and what you feel comfortable in. I personally think that leather is better than the synthetic material. You have to know also whether you want style points or comfort points.

Is there any additional advice you can give?
From my past experience, leather breaks in quickly but if it doesn't, I usually shower with my boots and they will mold to my foot. In order to maintain them in top form I use leather food before I wear them. Remember that the clears are your tools!

Alfonso had a very establisher career at UC Santa Barbara, winning a National Championship in 2006 and having the honor of captaining the team his senior year. In his Junior and Senior year, Alfonso scored 10 goals and had 4 assists from the Defensive midfield spot. Not a bad return! We want to thank Alfonso for his input, and wish him every success as he awaits this years MLS draft!

Christmas gift Ideas for the Soccer Enthusiasts

Its that time of year again...Christmas is fast approaching! So, we have put together a list of gift ideas to help you solve the age old question of what to buy! I hope they help, or give you some good ideas.

Gift Cards at Soccer.com
Soccer.com is a great place to get all the latest soccer gear, from cleats to jerseys. Their gift cards go a long way, with great deals and sales all year round. If you are really just not sure what to get this is a great option. The gift card can be sent via mail or vie email, both ways being nicely packaged!
Favorite team's Soccer Jersey
A great gift is simply a soccer jersey for your favorite team. Check out and compare the best prices on many jerseys at Shopzilla.
Nike Mercurial Vapor IV FG - Berry/White
If you know the right cleat size, these are the hottest soccer cleat out there right now! It has got mass publicity for its color, with many people deeming them to be more of a pink! Either way, their popularity will probably see them selling out before Christmas. So get them now while they are available!
Soccer goals and Equipment
I grew up in Ireland having my own back garden and a set of goal posts my Dad put together by cutting some pieces of Iron and welding them together! He then cemented them into the ground. With some brand new shiny white nets, they were the best gift ever!! No more encouragement needed, I was out there everyday playing, and personally I think that played a major role in me making it as a professional player. But now its even easier to get goals and nets. For a comparison of the best prices and places to buy just check out Shopzilla. If you have the backyard space, encourage your son or daughter to play!
Soccer BallsI had a fixation with soccer balls growing up, the more I had the better! It was probably because I hated kicking the ball wide and having to chase it to the end of the garden. A lot of people think that a ball is a ball. But that is the wrong attitude. Even when training, it is best to have a quality ball. A major problem with soccer balls is warping, and this occurs with frequently with most of the cheaper brands. From my experience let me recommend some balls.
Adidas TGII MLS Competition Ball This is one of the better balls on the market. It holds true shape and is used in the MLS. It is light and lasts. Nike T90 Strike EPL This is one of the best practice balls made by Nike, at it is a good price at only $20. It is a replica ball of that used in the English Premiership so it is good quality. Nike T90 Club Team Ball At a modest $10.99 this is probably one of the best balls for price balls out there. At a recent charity event, we gave these balls out to aspiring soccer players, and I got to keep one myself. PUMA Italia v1.08 A quality ball from Puma that is known for its quality. A popular ball used for practice by teams in the Italian Serie A, the ball has reputation for 'turning' in the air with hard shots!