SPORT: The pursuit of perfect indoor football trainers

Back in this post I talked about the need for indoor football trainers that provided a decent level of cushioning from the hard impacts of indoor surfaces.
Since then I have tried a few different makes, more specifically Lotto, Uhlsport, Puma and Joma. The models I tried were all their indoor specific models. None of them enjoyed anything like the kind of shock absorption I have been used to in the Nike 'Nine Zero Max' (my two pairs of these now have split air cushions and they aren't available any more).
Which lead me to Asics, a brand famous for running/shock absorption shoes. Sadly, they don't yet produce a shoe for indoor football, a point I raised with them in an email. However, kudos to Asics UK as they replied within the day with the following information:

"Hi Ben

Thank you for your enquiry regarding Asics Footwear.

Unfortunately we do not stock an indoor football boot in the UK and as far
as I am aware there are no immediate plans to introduce a shoe of this
nature to the collection, however I have forwarded your enquiry to our
Product Manager for her information.

The Gel Sensei may prove suitable, these shoes are intended for use whilst
playing Squash/Badminton, however I cannot think of any reason why you
cannot use them for indoor football. The Sensei is designed for a multi
directional sport and therefore the support features should not cause a
problem, also the upper of this particular shoe is light weight and well
fitted, so it should not prove to bulky around the toe box, finally this
shoe should provide plenty of cushioning both in the heel and forefoot.

I hope this information proves helpful and if I can be of any further
assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Jamie Homer
Asics UK"

On their advice I tracked a pair down and I have to say they are superb. There are a few minor modifications that could be done to make them more suitable for football e.g. a fold over tongue to cover the laces or side mounted laces, lower grip at the inner toe box etc. but in terms of comfort and stability they are far better than any of the 'indoor football' specific models I tried from other manufacturers. Anyone looking for an indoor shoe that provides a little more comfort than the usual offerings might do well to consider a pair. They are bright blue though, so expect a ribbing when you first turn up in them...

RANT: Nike/Adidas - make some indoor football shoes for the 30+ players!

I love to play the beautiful game. Even at my own humble level (very humble according to some). As I entered my early thirties I noticed my recovery time after each game getting longer. Now, after a 60 minute 5-a-side game I have to steady myself down the stairs next morning. The knees are telling me to stop.
Now, most people in their twenties and older that I know play their football primarily at indoor sports halls, especially through the winter months. There just isn't time to play on grass in the week and many opt out of Sunday league football (a.k.a. Sunday League Punch-up) as they need to walk the following week. So, a nice cosy sports halls it is. Permanent light. No need to fetch the ball (never goes out of play). For all intents and purposes this is non-stop football nirvana. Well, yes, except for the rock hard floor that is...
Now, one thing that helps prevent CKS (Crap Knees Syndrome), besides better genetics, is a good pair of cushioned football trainers. Yet, for reasons I can't understand, the big sports companies just don't seem to understand this...
The best ones I have used so far are the Nike Air Nine Zero Max (pictured). These sport a nice cushion of air underneath the sole that really takes the shock out of all the impact, making the knees feel noticeably better post match. However, just like when you find a top ready meal, Nike have stopped making them and rivals Adidas don't make anything that even approaches a comfort cushioning football trainer.
Surely, the market, in Great Britain at least, for high end indoor football trainers perhaps outweighs traditional boots? I'd venture that more football is played in sports halls than on grass these days? Then again, one can only presume that Nike, Adidas et al have done the market research...
So, here, in essence is the problem; as you get older, you can actually afford some of the high end kit that sporting companies produce. The irony is that by the time you can afford it, the kit they make isn't suitable for you! It's geared to people in their prime (read, late teens, early twenties) and it makes no provision for those despertely getting in as many games as they possibly can before their knees give up completely. How long do you think we'll have to wait until bionic knees are available?

FOOTBALL: England - get some stability in the line up!

Having watched the Spain Vs England friendly last night (quite rightly won by Spain) it seems obvious to all but McClaren that there needs to be some stability in the squad. McClaren should decide on a formation (4 4 2 would be favourite but whatever), pick a core of 15-16 players and get them playing together consistently. Instead, every time we have a game there is a different formation, team, result. How does he hope to build any consistency and confidence in the players by this continual intervention and tweaking? You don't need a team of superstars. You just need a team; structured, cohesive and committed. To build such a team you must do exactly that. Choose the components that make up that team and then build it; structurally, emotionally and physically. I'm not surprised the players look lost, they probably have no sense of what the heart of this 'team' is, nor what it aims to be or how it hopes to achieve it. Injuries of key players aside, if McCLaren has a serious plan for this team, it's time he started to execute it and get some player confidence back in the squad and some wins under their belts.