SB Recap | October Launches



October was another hectic month that saw everything from premium updates and reflective technology, to out of this world designs and crazy collaborations. When news moves so fast it's easy to forget what's been going on so we've taken a quick look back to refresh your memory.

Kicking the month off was Mizuno who added four new boots to their 'Made in Japan' Collection. The hand-made premium series sits separately to their standard line and combines Mizuno's stunning looks with the quality of craftsmanship normally reserved for their professional players.



Among the updated pack was a brand new colourway for the Mizuno Morelia Neo, exclusive to the 'Made in Japan' collection. The brand from Japan turned on the style delivering a stunning Blue/White/Blue update to their popular Neo line. Combining premium craftsmanship with signature aesthetics, these were one of our favorite launches of the month.


Next up were adidas, updating their adiPURE 11Pro SL line with the pre-existing Black/White/Red colourway that had already made its way onto the standard edition adiPURE boots. We've previously seen exclusive colourways given to the 11Pro SL, but adidas chose to extend last season's release and you can understand why. A black, white and red adidas boots is always a winning formula.



Carrying on from their autumn collection released in September, Pantofola d'Oro gave their classic Piceno boot one more update with a great looking blackout version. The luxury Italian brand have been experimenting with brighter designs of late but this time around they went back to their black booted roots that we've all come to know and love.



Further into the month and adidas were back, this time with football's first reflective boot pack. The Enlightened Pack featured reflective exposure innovation on the stripes and laces creating a unique display of visuals when under floodlights or camera flashes. Worn in daylight they also double up as a decent looking set of black boots as demonstrated by many of adidas' pro players during the Champions League.


Prior to release we sat down with adidas Global Senior Product Manager Antoine Hadjimanolis to discuss the innovative new boots. "For each of these silos, we have reflective stripes and refelctive laces. It's the first time we're bringing a four-silo pack with reflective technology. It is a big story for us and there is a lot of excitement around this."



Nike may have only had one new release in October but it was a big one. The almighty Nike CR series made a welcome return with the release of the Nike CR Mercurial Galaxy football boots. The unique new design featured a deep blue and black galaxy print across the upper and a matte-silver Swoosh.

A signature boot is designed to capture the essence of what makes a player unique, and Nike and Cristiano have certainly showcased that with this latest release. Much like their inspiration, many of these designs split opinion. You either love them or hate them, but you certainly can’t ignore them.



Not to be out done, adidas reignited their long term relationship with the influential Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto, launching the adidas Yamamoto F50 adizero. Inspired by Japanese lion-dogs and with minimal branding and no three stripes, adidas gave Yamamoto full freedom in terms of the graphical execution. The crazy boots were limited to just 2000 pairs globally.


Talking about the boots, we spoke to adidas Global Senior Product Manager Antoine Hadjimanolis who explained; "The design inspiration comes from the ancient times in Japan where the Gods and Emperors used a lion as a guard. It's an outstanding design that we've never seen on an adidas football boot before. This is what we do, we want to be innovative, drive conversation and this boot is definitely going to bring it." 



Yamamoto's relationship with the adidas F50 dates back to 2006, when adidas released the Y-3 Yamamoto +F50 Tunit YY pack. We took a look back at that original football collaboration inspired by the Japanese artist Taishi Hayashi and released in four super exclusive designs; the Dragon, the Eagle, the Tiger and the Wolf.


Lastly we took five minutes to sit down with Sunderland Striker Steven Fletcher ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby (which Sunderland won thanks in part to Fletcher's early goal). The interview covered everything from crazy Italian teammates, footballing idols and how he’s finding his Umbro Geometra 2 boots after signing with the brand in the summer.

Tue 1st Oct 19.45 Emirates Stadium

THE OVERVIEW
Arsenal celebrated the 17th anniversary of Arsène Wenger’s appointment as manager by taking a giant stride towards the knockout stage of this season’s Champions League.

Their comfortable 2-0 win over Napoli at Emirates Stadium puts them in total control of Group F.
The Premier League leaders were irresistible in the opening 15 minutes. Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey combined wonderfully to set up Mesut Ozil’s first goal for the Club. Then the German set up the Frenchman for No 2.
Arsenal would never quite regain that intensity but they dominated for the rest of the first half and opted for content containment after the restart. They did more than enough to retain the victory.
Wenger’s men have a perfect six points from their opening two games but Dortmund’s comfortable victory over Marseille means last season’s runners-up are hot on their heels.
In their next two games Arsenal visit and then entertain the German side.
They are tough assignments but so far, Wenger’s men and thriving in the so-called Group of Death.
TEAM NEWS
Wenger’s team showed two changes from the one that had secured a ninth straight win at Swansea at the weekend.
Tomas Rosicky had recovered from his hamstring problem to start his first game since September 1. Mikel Arteta began only his second match of the season. Jack Wilshere and Serge Gnabry dropped to the bench.
Both of these two teams had won on matchday one. Therefore a victory would send them three points clear at the top of Group F and more than halfway to the double figure tally normally required to qualify.
FIRST HALF
Arsenal began at a gallop and were quickly a couple of furlongs ahead.
In the eighth minute, Giroud expertly controlled Bacary Sagna’s ball down the line on his chest. The Frenchman then flicked it on for the overlapping Ramsey down the right.
The Welshman pulled the ball back to the far right of the area where Ozil had found a pocket of space. With expert technique and control, the German allowed the ball to run across his body and generated enough power and pace to beat Pepe Reina.
It terms of teamwork and footwork it was Arsenal’s goal of the season so far.
And, of course, it was Ozil’s first for the Club.
Mathieu Flamini tested Reina before, in the 14th minute, Arsenal doubled their lead.
The Frenchman robbed the ball following a Napoli throw-in by their own corner flag. Giroud exchanged passes with Ozil and stabbed home his sixth goal of the season.
To this point, Napoli had barely foraged their way into the Arsenal half. Miguel Britos did plant a header narrowly wide from Lorenzo Insigne’s corner.
But, soon enough, the home side were back on the front foot. Ramsey strode forward on two occasions but his efforts were blocked both times.
The Welshman and Ozil were running the game, causing countless problems down Napoli’s left side.
Ramsey darted through again but his shot was smothered. Flamini also had a couple of dips from distance.
Given that Napoli had a Serie A record of P7 W6 D1 L0 this season, this was a very impressive first 45 minutes.

Olivier Giroud celebrates his goal

SECOND HALFHad Rosicky converted Giroud’s cut-back at the start of the second half then this game would have been over.
However, despite being under severe scrutiny, Napoli gradually found some confidence.
Arsenal had put their foot to the floor in the first 20 minutes and had barely eased off through the first half. Now it slipped off the pedal.
Wenger spotted the slide and introduced Wilshere for Rosicky on the hour.
Napoli pressed forward but Szczesny was rarely involved beyond caretaking and the Italians seemed more susceptible themselves.
In the 74th minute, Ozil’s ball was nodded on by Arteta for Laurent Koscielny at the far post. The defender made decent enough contact but Reina saved from point-blank range.
As the clock ticked away, Arsenal only tightened their grip on the game. Once again, the Mertesacker-Koscielny combination had stifled the opposition attack while Szczesny’s handling had been immaculate.
At the death, Giroud threw himself at an opportunity to score a third. But Arsenal had done enough.
This had been a tough assignment but Wenger’s men made it look easy.

Manchester United 4 Bayer Leverkusen 2: match report

Read a full match report of the Champions League Group A game between Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford on Tuesday Sept 17, 2013.

Double act: Wayne Rooney (right) scored twice while team-mate Robin van Persie (left) also got in on the act as Manchester United rolled over Bayer Leverkusen in their opening Champions League group game at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Wayne Rooney now seems intent on making history at Manchester United, rather than being history there. With all his summer travails behind him, Rooney looks fit, refreshed and focused on the future which could one day see him overtake Sir Bobby Charlton as the club’s all-time scorer.

On Tuesday night’s headline-stealing evidence spiced by two goals and a marvellous assist (and a spectacular miss), Rooney can set new records here.

Charlton watched this entertaining Champions League Group A defeat of Bayer Leverkusen, looking on admiringly as Rooney became only the fourth player in United’s illustrious history to reach 200 goals.

Rooney, 27, is now within touching distance of third-placed Jack Rowley’s 211 and could pass Denis Law’s 237 and Charlton’s 249 by the time he is 30. Rooney is walking with giants.

No wonder United’s new manager, David Moyes, worked so hard in the summer to persuade Rooney to stay, ignoring the flirtatious advances of Chelsea amongst other suitors.

Galatasaray 1 Real Madrid 6: Bale shines from the bench but Ronaldo steals the show with ANOTHER hat-trick

Gareth Bale had to wait an hour to make his Champions League debut for Real Madrid’s dream team but wasted no time in teeing up Cristiano Ronaldo as Galatasaray were thrashed in Istanbul.
Ronaldo, who went on to bag a hat-trick, scored twice in three minutes, either side of Bale — Real’s £86million world record signing — replacing Isco for the final 26 minutes.
Bale managed a stinging shot in the closing stages and Albert Reira was booked for a crude foul on him in an energetic cameo by the Welshman.

Match ball's mine: Cristiano Ronaldo put the ball inside his shirt after netting a hat-trick in Istanbul

Nice work: Cristiano Ronaldo hugs Gareth Bale after his second goal of the evening

World's most expensive... sub: Bale came off the bench to help Real Madrid cruise past Galatasaray

Expensive duo: Gareth Bale (right) walks alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as he celebrates his second goal
Bale had watched from the bench as veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas was forced off after 14 minutes — the result of a thump in the ribs from team-mate Sergio Ramos in the opening seconds.
Casillas’s replacement, Diego Lopez, made a fine sprawling save to block a header from Felipe Melo before Isco scored with Real’s first shot on target in the 33rd minute.
The midfielder, signed for £23m from Malaga, showed brilliant control with his left foot before finding the net with his right, via a post.
Galatasaray lost Didier Drogba to a shoulder injury at half-time and the match slipped away when Karim Benzema was allowed to run clear to score Real’s second.
Madrid’s speed on the break promised more goals and Cristiano Ronaldo scored the third after good work from Angel Di Maria down the right. 
Seconds later Bale entered the fray and, from his free-kick on the right, Ronaldo, unchallenged in the six-yard box, scored his second.

Flying high: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his first goal for Real Madrid

Nice work: Karim Benzema celebrates Real's second goal

Silenced: Isco popped up to open the scoring for Real Madrid, despite the din coming from Galatasaray's fans

Frustration: Cristiano Ronaldo gestures towards the referee after being brought down

Ronaldo then teed up Benzema for the fifth and Umut Bulut replied for Galatasaray in the 84th minute.
However, the best was still to come when Ronaldo, taking a pass from Benzema, baffled two defenders before hammering in Madrid’s sixth — his 21st hat-trick for Real.

Benched: Gareth Bale watched the first half of the match from the sidelines

Cambridge

This page is to show my works from Cambridge book Chapter 15.

Made by: Ignasius Adjie Santoso Hadisunarto (12G)

Assignment 1: Making table. This task is made on September 11th, 2013.

FIFA 14 Gameplay Trailers
 EA Sports release next-gen and standard console trailers.

EA Sports have released their FIFA 14 trailers ahead of the game coming out next month. With the Xbox One and Playstation 4 also scheduled to land later this year EA have produced the most graphically impressive game yet with a bundle of brand new features to bring the game to life...
The video above is the trailer for the next generation consoles (PS4 & Xbox One) where EA Sports bring the stadiums, players and crowds to life. Dramatic broadcast-inspired fly-overs, emotional pre-match ceremonies and true living and breathing sidelines. Every match in FIFA 14 will feel unlike anything ever experienced before.





3D crowds come alive with distinctive home and away supporters cheering their sides for the first time in a FIFA game. As the match flows, so will the intensity from those experiencing in the stands, just like a real football match. We've got plenty of time for that, the crowd can lack a bit of enthusiasm when you score a last minute winner, it's not quite pitch invasion material but the more passion the better. Bring it on.

Match Flow will deliver dynamic, continuous gameplay. Goal kicks, corners and free kicks will become more intense as the match progresses and pressure mounts. Players will interact with the sidelines and demand the ball from ball boys to continue play. Sounds good to us, unless one of the cheeky beggers holds on to the ball for too long then we'll be changing player to Eden Hazard and planting a big fat square on his sorry ass.





With In-Game Director, FIFA 14 features over a hundred different camera angles, both in and outside the stadium to follow every bit of the action on and off the pitch. FIFA 14 will deliver stunning new replay angles, compelling story-lines, and all the emotion that unfolds within a match.

All the above will only feature on next-gen consoles by using EA Sports Ignite, which delivers a new level of innovation, further blurring the line between the real-world and the virtual. Games powered by the new engine will be alive: players think, move and behave like real athletes, with environments as dynamic and ever-changing as real-world stadiums. You can check out the trailer for PS3 and Xbox 360 below.

http://www.soccerbible.com/news/general/archive/2013/08/21/fifa-14-gameplay-trailers.aspx

The haggling is done. The deal is complete. Now the question: is he really worth it?

Gareth Bale is finally the property of Real Madrid. The blockbuster transfer of 2013 makes him the costliest player in soccer history. The Spanish giants were determined to get their man Sunday but even by their exorbitant standards the young Welshman has cost an arm and a leg.

Clichéd though it sounds, it is nonetheless true: every player has his price. The valuation, in Bale's case reported to be 100 million euros ($132 million US), is the result of one reluctant vendor and one zealous purchaser settling on an acceptable number. Both walks away from the bargaining table believing he has the better part of the transaction.  

Whether you and I think this new world record transfer fee is insane is irrelevant. Madrid could have spent the cash paying off the national debt of a small third world country but this is the entertainment industry where box office is king.

Brazilian starlet Neymar is now wearing a Barcelona jersey. Madrid was forced to respond with a big money signing of its own. For Madrid, being the second best team in Spain is simply not an option. The ongoing game of One-upmanship between Spain's twin juggernauts will continue until Hell freezes over.