Metutarsal bone injuries and modern boots

[BearcatSA]

In light of Rooney's injury I came across this interesting article discussing, among other things, the correlation between the rise in foot bone breaks and the new boots players are wearing:

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1765009,00.html

I think I'll stick with my Adidas Copa Mundial and World Cup boots for the time being.

[Soju]

Those nike mercurial vapors are just made of the thinnest plastic, and while I guess it's better than using kangaroo skin, it doesn't offer any protection if your foot is stomped on. I don't know the history of the all the injuries they listed, are they saying the boots break feet because they're too thin on top or because they can't absorb the player's pressure properly? According to press Rooney's foot wasn't touched during that tackle, the injury came from the way he fell.

[Cheeta]

Well Danny has another view. Not sure what he's refering to in the different way pitchs are being layed down, but here it is.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4966618.stm

The only thing that I can think of is that the base material may have changed the last few years. A lot of English pitchs use (used?) a pretty heavy mixture of sand, or did at one time. Great for drainage, grooming so-on and so-forth but crap for turf security. A big problem once winter got on and the grass stopped growing. Maybe this base has changed? Don't know. Guessing.

Got to get new boots (and soon! Like, right-now-today soon!). Couple of lads on the team are wearing those side-laced Nike boots. Look pretty flash but yeah, not a lot there. Side lacing looks more gimmick than anything but can't really get an educated opinion as those with the boots are pretty much punters anyway. But, yeah. Look pretty damn light compared to the ol' Umbros.

As to the quasi-tackle, haven't seen a replay but looked like there was nothing to talk about except the way Rooney went down at full speed. Seemed like the one foot went down plum with the turf and there wasn't enough strength left in the leg to carry his momentum at that point so over he goes. Honestly thought it was the knee but quite apparently not.

[BearcatSA]

Thanks for the Murphy article, Cheeta. Gives me more information upon which to draw.