...anyone want to start a pool on whether the keepers for the Finalists teams will be wearing Vapor-Grips? Actually, I wanted to throw this out -- (Tiempo, you're in good w/Nike background, I think?) : Tinker Hatfield was the guy who designed Air Jordans & has been universally recognized as "changing the game" in the athletic footwear industry. Does anyone know who designed the Nike Kraken gloves? That was the model that seemed to kick off Nike being a legitimate (after their initial offerings of their Gunn cuts) contender in the glove wars...and NOW look where they are...
I'd be surprised. I know Croatia beat Germany in the group stages, but it would be very surprising to me if they took out the Germans in a knockout game - assuming they get past Turkey, which I think they will. In the other pairings, Russia have impressed, but I can't see them getting past first Holland, and then either Spain or Italy to get to the final. So my prediction is, no Vapor Grips at all in the Final.
But to your main point, yes, Nike have done well to capture a large share of the professional market, in terms of endorsees.
But is it a case of money talking or that the pro keepers feel the Nike gloves are the best available? It's probably a combination of both, well at least I hope it is!
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It's certainly true that Nike are a huge multinational corporation with resources that no other glove company can touch, save perhaps adidas.
That said, pros wouldn't wear their gloves if they weren't top quality. That certainly doesn't mean they are better than any other available glove, though. All the top glove manufacturers have absolutely top notch latexes.
I can agree with that. I'd also like to add that in the past it was safe to say that Nike didn't put much R&D into their gloves and it definately showed. Once they devoted resources into the gloves improvements to the line were almost over night.
I'd agree with that last comment about improvements to the line almost overnight-to, me it all changed for Nike with the introduction of one of my favourite foams; 'Contact'.
I'm looking, for Nike, with their rescources, and their experiences in other sports to really push the boundries of what you can do with a goalie glove and excite me with groundbreaking new product the way other brands used to in the past. Just a thought!
Another thought: personal prediction time; the finals going to be between Nike and Puma( gloves, that is!!!!)
Does anyone remember when Reusch always seemed to have an endorsee that won the Euro final or the World Cup!!
Well it's good I don't bet on games! Turkey through, Russia through. It could still happen. I felt bad for VDS, but Russia were the better side in every way and deserved to win.
justin07: Well it's good I don't bet on games! Turkey through, Russia through. It could still happen. I felt bad for VDS, but Russia were the better side in every way and deserved to win.
Yeah i felt sorry for VDS (Even though i was supporting the Russians as i love the way they play football!), as he had another great game behind a lack luster team.
For me now he has been the best, most consistant goalkeeper in the Euro's so far.
UEFA 'B' Licence Goalkeeper Coach
Well Ive always felt it is no accident that the majority of national team No1's are endorsed by the big 2.
Not a bad thing though as I can honestly say that the Nike contact palm is very good imo. Just that alot of these keeper probably do have an smu and do not use an off the shelf glove. Still see alot of nike endorsee's wearing a full neg version of the vapor grip so why can nike not see that they need a neg cut glove in their range? They have got (a very good) roll finger glove now so why would we not want a neg glove if their endorsee's want one?
While I agree that Nike and Adidas make gloves that are as good as anything else, I think pro's
will wear whoever pays them the most to wear their stuff, also remember that most pro's have
SMU's which is not what you buy off the shelf anyway, they get the stuff made to their specifications.
It almost a case of the name on the glove not really making that much of a diff as it is so customised to
them. Obviously all pros don't have SMU's but a lot of the top keepers do.
pool, anyone...? c'mon. goalkeepers are known for their bravery, right?...Lehmann's done just enough to get to the final. let's see what CCCP can do against Iker.
and does anyone know who designed the Kraken? how did my question turn into a discussion about SMUs? crikey. thought you were a knowledgable lot, not prone to conjecture so much...
The Kraken was designed by a couple people.
Clanger00...I will take a lot of opinions, but one thing I will not take is the questioning of the knowledge on this board...There are two or three boards on the net for GK's worth mentioning, and I think TGB is the best. We will moderate the boards, no need for insults.
There will be one Vapor Grip keeper in the Final, with Jens Lehmann making it, although shakily against Turkey. I was very impressed with the Spanish performance today, but Casillas wears Reebok. Also, I'm not Russian, but I'm sure they much prefer being referred to as Russia these days, not CCCP.
Liviu Bird
apologies to Wookie & Seattle-ite...pool's toast now