definitely going to sell well to the kids. I can forsee this going on alot of Xmas lists. poor parents.
So, initial response to the Copa 19+, is that it has a really even tightness on all parts of my foot. Super pleasant feeling. Heel area is structured, but not too rigid, so hoping for minimal blisters (I always get blisters breaking in boots). Length and width seems pretty TTS for adidas. I’ll follow up when I actually get to play in them. My season just ended and idk if I’ll get to play over the winter this year.
Well one will have a firm ground stud configuration which is the common moulded boot. and the other will have an artificial ground configuration designed more for use on 3G/4G turf there are more studs and they tend to be shorter so the studs don't get caught in the turf. So depending on which surface you play on more will depend on which boots you need. I have to say I think I've probably been lucky but I always wear FG boots on turf. I have worn Nikes AG sole plate which was really nice your feet feel low to the ground and you do have a lot of grip. But I always go back to my FG boots. I do know a lot of people have had knee injuries from wearing FG boots on turf though. Like I said I think I've just been very lucky. Did that answer your question? appleCORR
think the layer close to the soleplate might be slightly more reinforced, but apart from that. nothing much. I've been grinding the studs on my boots to reduce the length, especially now that the Nike boots have such aggressive FG patterns. Works a charm and reduces the stress on the knees recently. phew. also partly as the AG in Singapore ain't great,
I have to say the chevrons on the Superfly really grip the turf. That was the only FG I didn’t feel too comfortable in wearing on turf. I was playing on a brand new 4G pitch and they were gripping so much could feel the sand layer right at the bottom. Everything else I’ve felt comfortable in though. I definitely prefer a conical stud though. Like I said I’ve worn AG other than feeling closer to the floor (if that makes sense?) And comfier at the end of a session my feet didn’t ache I’d still stick with FG studs. I gave my AG to a friend who was coming back from a serious ACL injury as I didn’t want him wearing studs that could possibl catch. appleCORR
I’ve been wearing my FG legend 7 on AG since I play on both types of field. It doesn’t seem to catch too bad but definitely more so then my futures or preds. I guess it ultimately depends on the quality of the turf though. It seems like more and more they are developing turf to work with more stud types. Even adidas now just labels their boots as FG but their website says they can be used on “soft turf”
I remember the only Adidas boot I did have a problem with was the original F50 the split sole on those was so weak that your back 4 blades would go one way and the front another. Really poor design floor. I did hurt my knee in those. Great boot concept but once again it was a case of Adidas not fully thinking it through. But now I'm happy to wear most FG studs on decent turf. appleCORR
It seems like I may have judged the Copa 19.1 prematurely. There's just something about how they fit in the heel that makes me unable to wear them. Two weeks ago during training, my achilles tendon started hurting. I figured I'd wear my Mizuno Morelia the training after, since I know they won't give me any problems at all. This stopped the problem from getting worse immediately, my heel area still feels a bit weird however. Yesterday I tried the Copa's on at home, and just moving my foot around, I could feel the pain in my achilles coming back. I don't know what it is, and I wish it wasn't the case- but it just seems these boots weren't made for me. Shame it took this long to notice, since I obviously can't return them now, and I've in no way gotten my £190 worth in wear time either... I really want to love these boots, because I think the fit and feel is absolutely amazing broken in. Ultimately though, they seem like such a missed opportunity. If Adidas had went with leather/primeknit all the way around (for a more consistent feel), fixed the heel and gone with a regular tongue, these would have been fantastic. I know that's a lot of 'ifs' but, with those changes in mind, this could have been my new favourite boot. I really think they're that good.
Yeah, it's bummed me out quite a bit actually. I think mixing primeknit with leather on top is genious, and it gives you a very special feel that I really love. It's the responsiveness that you'd normally get from synthetic, but with the padded feel of leather (still wish it would stretch all the way around though). I hope the Copa 20 will fix the issues I have with the 19.1, but until then I guess it's Morelia 2 and Premier for me.
That's why I always say that adidas is always trying to copy Nike who always comes up with some nonsense novelty for the sake of just change (i.e. marketing). And in this exact example, the boot being part knit and part leather. Copa took the Tiempo route with the upper being knit or some gimmicky unnecessary technology. Nike always innovates and gets hyped, it pays out good, but if we talk performance, I mean real football, it's totally gimmick and BS. Adidas are following Nike in all these "innovations" to keep sales going. Now in the future it seems that Nike are partially scrapping the two versions (low cut/high cut) release, as the PhantomVSN and PhantomVNM getting only one cut per silo. Adidas will do that again after two years max.
IMO the Phantom is a copy of the X17+ Nike copies other companies too. They're all guilty of it. But you're right. Nike is amazing at marketing but that's about it. Its a well known phrase among stores and the industry at large that Nike is marketing company that just happens to make product.
I don't think you can deny that the Copa is a really good idea though. It's very technologically advanced and I would say they didn't really copy Nike because they are not the first ones to mix leather with a synthetic. I wouldn't go as far as to say it is a nonsense novelty, it's known that a lot of traditionally styled leather boots aren't the most responsive and don't have the best lockdown, which synthetic+leather boots can solve. A lot of people really like the Copas so the technology isn't really unnecessary
I'm not denying that the Copa 19.1 is good. I'm just pointing out that adidas tries to follow Nike in its non-sense. I doubt adidas would ever think of that Knit&Leather mix if Nike didn't do it first. Nike as @derbyyank13 said, is a marketing company who happens to make products. A big part of their success is thinking and searching about what would make people crazy and they make it. They know exactly the market, the market demands being always renewing and revamping stuff. People nowadays get bored easily, plus, if you only produce Copa Mundial or Nike Premier who can last you two years of weekly games, then you'll lose soooooo much opportunity of millions of dollars, that's why all companies keep producing plastic boots with flashy colors every two months to make people buy the newest product available.
On a side note, because this is relevant to an article i was writing recently - what's everyone's number 1 wish in terms of football boots. Mine's for the Predator 20... to be a damn Predator. I can deal with no tongue and no leather. but seriously, give me back my predator elements. I find it ironic and slightly hilarious that Nike are the ones to introduce a Predator-esque element in 2019 on their boot before adidas lol.
"Alexa, show me the most delicious pair of football boots ever created." pic.twitter.com/PqYFCMuuSA— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 9, 2019
So after a couple sessions in the Copa 19+... I'm still impressed. They definitely take some break in time, but once the soleplate loosens up, it's a really nice ride, though I did switch out the insoles for some thicker ones I got with my purespeeds. The primeknit bits haven't stretched out at all, though the upper has started to mold to my foot nicely. Lockdown is surprisingly great (YMMV), touch is nice, and stud pattern has been good even on old garbage turf. My only issue, which I also had on the Superfly 360, is the taped seam on the heel that covers the stitching rubs the back of my achilles. Nothing some tape can't prevent, but it is annoying. They are probably (definitely) not for everyone, but I really like them.
So can anyone shed on light on the situation when it comes to that ridiculous bit of plastic on the heel of the 'new' Predators? Blisters waiting to happen! appleCORR
To be honest, I'm not sure if anyone here even has them. There's no good reason to buy them over the 18+
I have them (freebies) other than the bit on the heal its just a bit of a paint job. I think Adidas knew they had to add a new feature rather than just adding a few stripes on the toe box but didn't want to ruin a tried and tested design as though adding that bit of plastic would do the job! appleCORR
Yea, the whole yearly cycle refresh thing is dumb if all they do is add very minor elements to it. nice. tried em on with @derbyyank13 and the problem for me was how tight the midfoot was, while the forefoot was too wide for me.