A Birmingham derby that was as tough and gritty as… well, Birmingham, really, and one that paired together the Boot Wars battlers of Ashley Young, wearing a pair of Adidas F50i boots, and Stuart Parnaby, parading his wares in the finest Nike Total 90 Laser IIs known to man.
Now in usual terms, the Boot Wars victor can be very easily picked out given that his contribution often has something to do with his side’s victory, though in the case of Young, who was using the Adidas F50i s moulded and streamlined versatility to outwit Brum defender Parnaby on the flank, his role was largely anonymous – indeed, on BBC Sport’s online match report his name appears not once!
Defences really ruled the roost in this clash up until Gabriel Agnonlahor’s late header which seemed to prompt all hell breaking lose at St Andrews, sparking into life an attacking finale that was completely out of sync with the 85 minutes of tawdriness that had gone before.
Of course, much of that must be attributed to the work of Parnaby, his sparring partners, and those in the opposition defence. The former Middlesbrough man’s Nike Total 90 Laser II boots were easily a match for anything that the Villa frontline could throw at him, with its passing, playmaking and strong tackling ability seemingly leading Alex McLeish’s side to a decent derby point.
That was, of course, until Ag’s late intervention, but as far as the clash of the cleats goes, this one was pretty even.
Ransacker Verdict: A point each… Blues fans will be wishing if only the result provided the same return!
Parnaby (Nike Total 90 Laser II) 1-1 Young (Adidas F50i )
Pos
Team
Pld
W
T
L
Pts
1
↑
Nike Total 90 Laser II & III
4
2
1
1
7
1
•
adidas Predator Powerswerve XTRX
4
2
1
1
7
1
•
Umbro Speciali Statement
3
2
1
0
7
4
↓
Nike CTR 360 Maestri
2
2
0
0
6
5
↓
Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly
3
1
1
1
4
5
↓
adidas F50i TUNiT
3
1
1
1
4
5
↓
Puma V1.08
2
1
1
0
4
8
•
adidas adiPURE II TRX
2
1
0
1
3
8
•
adidas Predator X
3
0
3
0
3
10
•
Nike Air Tiempo Legend III
3
0
2
1
2
11
•
Nike Mercurial Vapor V
2
0
1
1
1
12
•
Under Armour Dominate Pro
2
0
0
2
0
12
•
Puma King XL
1
0
0
1
0
12
•
Lotto Zhero Leggenda
1
0
0
1
0
12
•
Puma PowerCat 1.10
1
0
0
1
0
Other Recommended Reading
- BOOT WARS: Stuart Parnaby vs Ashley Young
- Boot Wars Result: Ashley Cole vs Bacary Sagna
- BOOT WARS RESULT: NO RESULT!
- Boot Wars Result: Agbonlahor vs Evra
- BOOT WARS RESULT: William Gallas v Robbie Keane
About the author
James is an experienced football journalist who edits two leading Premier League club mags. He has worked for Sky Sports and is endlessly complaining about shin splints. And Mark Lawrenson. His favourite boot is the Adidas Predator Powerswerve. Although it's rumored that he once owned a pair of Nicks boots!
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