I never thought I would be saying it, but we finally made it to the start of the Premier League season! Those 13 weeks without it seemed awfully long, and the Confeds Cup and MLS did not quite cut it. So while we finally had something football-related to fill our weekends besides playing FIFA, it means we also capitalise on the boot spotting front! As we do every Monday, we bring only the best boot spots from the week of football just past for our boot spotting articles. Take a look at what made the cut this week…

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) – adidas Predator LZ (Custom)

Steven Gerrard custom LZ edited

As exciting as the news of a potential boot switch for Steven Gerrard is, it was never really going to work out was it? After a summer flirting with the adidas adiPure 11Pro and CTR360 Maestri after experiencing a few blisters with the LZ, Liverpool’s talisman returned to status quo with the Predator LZ. But there is something that caught our eye with Gerrard’s boots. It seems Gerrard’s boots have been customised with a microfiber material running down the heel of the boot. This does not exist on the normal version of the boot, but it could perhaps be there to ensure Gerrard does not experience anymore blisters with the LZ.

*We know the same photo was not used for the zoomed in shot of the boots, but it gives us a better view of Gerrard’s customised boots by using different photos

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) – Nike Mercurial Vapor IX (Custom)

Didier Drogba Ivory Coast Vapor IX custom edited

It is not overly often that we see a player fiddling around with the stud configuration of the Nike Mercurial Vapor IX, yet it seems Didier Drogba is 100% satisfied with the studs on the normal Vapor IX. While the Vapor VIII and IX had stud configurations that were somewhat stripped back compared to the Superfly III, Drogba is sticking with a stud configuration that we have not seen since the Vapor VII. It seems the custom boot does have more of the plastic that holds together the studs and the glass fibre composite, which will make the soleplate feel a little more solid and responsive. It is certainly an interesting sole plate from the Ivorian…

Kenwyne Jones (Stoke City) – Puma evoSPEED 1.2

Kenwyne Jones Stoke evoSPEED edited

You would be forgiven for thinking Puma only released one colourway onto the Puma evoSPEED 1.2 for the new season. While nearly every single high profile Puma athlete has been seen in the Black/Yellow/Blue evoSPEED colourway, the clean White/Silver/Red colourway has received hardly any attention (or notice for that matter). Fortunately, Kenwyne Jones has not followed the masses by picking up the boot, but a quick look at what Jones has been wearing lately is rather interesting. The evoSPEED is the third boot Jones has worn this month, with the striker also flirting with the Vapor IX and the Lotto Solista.

Declan John (Cardiff City) – adidas Messi F50 adiZero TRX

Declan John Cardiff Messi adiZero edited

We have seen loads of colourways that have been released to the specifications of a blessed few, but it does not stop other footballers picking up the boots themselves. Quite a few footballers have been spotted in the past Messi signature adizero, but John is the first player we have seen in the new turbo purple colourway created for the apple of adidas’ eye. While the new Messi adiZero does stand out more on the pitch compared to it’s predecessor, the design of the next Messi adiZero series will certainly polarize boot fans around the world…

Paul Pogba (Juventus) – Nike CTR360 Maestri III

Paul Pogba Juventus CTR360 III edited

It has been an interesting summer for Paul Pogba. While winning the U20 World Cup with France is an obvious highlight, the midfielder has gone from the Nike CTR360 Maestri at the end of last season to the adidas Nitrocharge 1.0 whilst appearing for France and Juventus. Just when we thought it was all over, he has made a dash back into the CTR for Juventus’ crushing victory over Napoli. Having worn both boots myself, I know that it is certainly difficult to pick which boot is better, so I know what Pogba is going through! It is certainly something to keep an eye on before the start of the Serie A season.

Domenico Maietta (Hellas Verona) – Unknown

Domenico Maietta Hellas Verona unknown edited

While it is awesome when we see a player break away from your stock standard adidas, Nike or Puma boot, there are some boots that are so uncommon that we have never seen them before, and that is the case with Domineco Maietta’s boots. It seems that Maietta’s boots are a heritage boot (judging by the leather upper), but that is all we can work out with Maietta’s boots. Do you know what he is wearing?

Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) – adidas F50 adiZero TRX (Custom)

Cyril Rioli Hawthorn custom adiZero edited

We know it is not the same sport, but we are willing to go out of the way for Cyril Rioli’s special adiZeros. The Black/Yellow/Red adiZero that Rioli has designed does seem like your run of the mill custom adiZero, but they actually carry a deeper meaning than that. Rioli has customized his boots in the colors of the indigenous Australian flag, which is a nod to his aboriginal background. It is a nice little touch from the Hawthorn player.

Luke Varney (Leeds United) – Nike Hypervenom Phantom (Custom)

Luke Varney Leeds custom Hypervenom edited

Nike will not be dropping a white Hypervenom until the turn of the new year, but it seems Bowyer could not quite wait that long. Varney hit up NikeiD to create his own White/Volt Hypervenom, and they definitely give the Hypervenom a cleaner look compared to the predominantly black Hypervenom colourways Nike have released so far. If black boots are not your thing, Nike will be releasing a bright yellow and purple Hypervenom Phantom colourway in September as a part of their new High-Vis boot range, so keep an eye out for that.

That is it for our boot spotting today, what was your favourite spot this week? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

 

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