Nikesoccer

Pro Combat Player Of The Week

DonJulio — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:27:42 GMT

The best come ready for battle. But who battled best this week?

It's not about scoring goals. It's about total match performance. It's about running all over the field, winning every 50/50 ball. It's all the intangibles that don't show up on the score sheet but in the end turn the game for your team.

That's a Pro Combat Player, and now it's your turn to tell us who is the first Pro Combat Player of the Week.

Each Monday we'll select three players who personified what it means to be a Pro Combat Player from the weekend, and then you tell us who you thought came best prepared for battle.

To vote, reply to @nikesoccer at Twitter with your vote and the hashtag filter #procombat. We'll announce the winner on Wednesday.

Mesut Ozil - Werder Bremen
The one they call Little Diego, because his feet are so fleet, made a difficult volley appear passe, netting Werder Bremen's only goal in a hard fought draw. But that's just the scoresheet. Mesut had more chances and nearly delivered a hat trick. He didn't fret when defenses rose up to turn him away; Ozil pushed on, fighting to the final whistle.

Wayne Rooney - Manchester United
His team lost, but he was everywhere, the immovable object in constant motion. He tracked back on defense and was a constant threat on attack. Wherever Rooney was on Sunday, he was causing problems. The pitbull of a striker isn't pushed around, even in a loss.

Clint Dempsey - Fulham FC
By drawing a penalty and slotting it home the from the mark, Clint Dempsey scored his third goal in as many weeks by displaying the hard edge and non-stop motor that helped him rise from a tiny town in Texas to the bright lights of London. His effort throughout propelled him to the highest match rating with 8.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.

A battle for first

DonJulio — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:44:07 GMT

Before you wade into combat, you must be prepared – mentally and physically.

Rooney is ready. Ready to take on the in-form blues and ready to take United to the top of the table.

Prepare for combat.

More Milestones for Rooney

crowlala — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:45:10 GMT

For all the luck that plays into the game of football, it won’t alone take you to a championship. So sure, Wayne Rooney’s 25th goal for England, capping their 5-1 victory over Croatia on Saturday, was due in large part to a goal keeper’s blundered clearance, but lesser players would be caught off guard by the mistake without the controlled reflexes to do something with the gift. Not Rooney, whose 76th minute point-blank bullet came with the precision of a man taking no prisoners. It was his ninth goal in this qualifying campaign, a new record for England.

With two games left to play, Rooney and co sit at the top of the group, and are already booked for South Africa.

Better than a Derby

DonJulio — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:49:21 GMT

Back and forth action featuring the precise passing of Arsenal and the muscled management of Manchester United. Fans got what they asked for in the first meeting of the season for two English powerhouses.

A 20-meter strike from Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal’s newest all star, finds the upper 90, powering through the keeper’s hand to start the scoring. A solid penalty from Wayne Rooney, Manchester’s now unquestioned offensive leader, brought the match even. It was edge of your seat madness for 90 minutes.

The red devils took the lead with their second goal in a 5-minute span, which sealed the home victory for Rooney and crew, and left Arsenal forced to look forward. The rematch in London, exactly 5 months from now, will again put the players in the pressure cooker, right where the fans want them, with a much better idea of how the league table is shaking out. January 30th can’t come soon enough.

Wayne Rooney’s 100th Goal for Manchester United

crowlala — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:35:54 GMT

Sometimes a team needs a savior, but they always need a difference maker. This year as Manchester United deals with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Spain and a heartbreaking early loss, Wayne Rooney is set to be both.

~~p-17343~~ the difference for him this year is scoring more goals. Rooney began his tally early this season and continued his strong start this past weekend, scoring his 100th and 101st goals for Manchester United.

No longer the teen phenom, the century mark launches the hulking striker, still just 23, into the record books along side the all time top 20 goal scorers for his historic club. By the end of the season, we could be talking top 15. Rooney needs 21 more goals to reach that mark, and in a season where he is expecting to carry the load, that’s a difference he very well could make.

Lay it on the line

crowlala — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:00:33 GMT

The pros have made their pledges on how they will Make the Difference. What are you saying?

This is your chance to lay down a marker for your season. Five more goals than last season, win every 50-50 ball, never lose your man.

Whatever your aim, make it public on Facebook.

Then get on the pitch and make it happen.

Make your pledge on Facebook

Feared Far and Wide

crowlala — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:38:44 GMT

Black, brooding and with a V for victory slashed across its chest, Man U’s new strip has been engineered to inspire the away win – before a ball’s even been kicked.

Like the home strip, this kit is rooted in a century of history, with elements taken from the very first Old Trafford season of 1909/1910. It’s been designed to intimidate, with a blue chevron; black shirt, shorts and socks; and ‘The Theatre of Dreams Since 1910’ woven onto the inside label. It’s dark, menacing, and readies the team for another electrifying season.

T-90 Ascente Testing – Man Utd

crowlala — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:18:07 GMT

Date: 05.02.09
Location: Carrington
Weather conditions: Very cold and windy. Conditions ranged between cloudy, snowing and sunny. Temperature range 0-1C without wind chill. Well below freezing with wind chill. 0-20 mph winds throughout.
Pitch conditions: Good, short grass.
Players and staff: Full first team, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Wes Brown, Edwin Van der Sar, Ben Foster, Rafael da Silva, Tomasz Kuszczak.

Tester’s notes:

Freezing cold. And more snow. Balls topped off to 12.5psi.

Team session: 15-mins shots on goal from 20 yards. 8 vs. 2 one-touch keep-ball drill. Fast, one-touch session.

Shooting session: Players hammer the ball, Rooney hits hardest – like a sledgehammer: “Feels nice to strike. Especially when you strike it true.” More finishing drills. Shooting from 3 different spots. Players love shooting with it. All-around accuracy improvements.

Get the T90 Ascente from NikeStore

CR7 in a league of his own

gabejazzy — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:03:11 GMT

How good?

A 40 yard free kick – again. Clinical finishing under pressure – again. Elite opposition taken down – again.

That’s how good.

Old rivals, new battle

gabejazzy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:57:12 GMT

When Man Utd meet Arsenal for the first time in Europe’s elite club competition, it’s down to one player to step up and take centre stage.

Who’s going to make a name for themselves?

Rooney Nutmeg

gabejazzy — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:32:38 GMT

The 5-a-side pitch is a place to express yourself, show off your skills and occasionally make a name for yourself with a truly killer move. Watch this outtake from Nike’s latest TV ad for the UK Show Your Five tournament and see what’s got Rio Ferdinand howling.

ManU vs. Chelsea: Wear Your Colors

Gronamo — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:35:41 GMT

Come game day, any true fan won't be caught dead in anything other than the colors of their favorite club. And, very few game days are bigger than this Sunday's match between bitter rivals Manchester United and Chelsea. So whether you're a Red Devil or a Blues supporter put on your team's top and watch what's sure to be one of the most exciting club matches played this season.

To up the ante even further, we'll be giving a free jersey away to the fan who correctly guesses who will score first and in what minute. You can guess any player from either side (only one guess per person) and only have to be within three minutes of the actual goal-scoring time; however, we will only be able to give out a ManU jersey. So make your way to the ~~m-5721~~ for a chance to win your free jersey.

Just so we're clear, if you say Rooney in the 83rd minute and he scores anywhere from the 80th to the 86th, you're a winner of a Man Utd jersey. Or if you say Anelka in the 20th minute and he scores anywhere from the 17th to the 23rd, you're a winner of a Man Utd jersey.

All guesses must be in by kick-off.

Good luck.

Rooney: 100 and Counting

Gronamo — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:48:08 GMT

Work harder. Run faster. Push yourself to make that final, 90th-minute run; to find that fleeting piece of real estate behind your mark; to think and to act when everyone else on the field is busy catching their breath.

Some people don’t know when to stop. Wayne Rooney is one of those people.

Here’s to 100. For every 99 times you question a professional footballer’s love for the game or dedication to the club, there’s #10 in the Manchester red. For every 99 strikers out there who dive when they shouldn’t and cheapen the struggle, there’s the tough kid from Crocky, grinding away, manning-up. For every 99 big-money stars who make you question their desire, there’s the indefatigable, unrelenting Rooney.

Here’s to 100, Wayne, and everything thereafter.

ManU vs. Arsenal: Wear your Colors

Gronamo — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:13:37 GMT

This November 8 one of the biggest rivalries in all of football will go down. The Red Devils of Man United versus the Gunners of Arsenal. It’s the type of match where heroes are born, and where fans live and die by their every touch.

Do you bleed the colors of your team? If so, tell us who’s going to score the first goal and in what minute it will occur. If you successfully predict the goal-scorer and are within three minutes of the actual time it happens, you’ll win that team’s Nike replica club jersey. Just so we’re crystal clear, if you say Rooney in the 83rd and he scores anywhere from the 80th to the 86th you’ve won yourself a ManU jersey. If you say Walcott and get the time right, you just got yourself an Arsenal top. And the same goes for all the players.

If you think you’ve got the answer than go to the ~~t-1910~~ and post your player and the time he’s going to score. Remember we need your response before kickoff on Saturday, November 8 (~~t-1910~~).

So now, the question you gotta ask yourself is do you feel lucky? Well do ya?

Rooney’s Renaissance

Gronamo — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:59:49 GMT

How good is Wayne Rooney playing right now? After losing to Man United 3-0 in Champions League on Tuesday, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said this:

“He is unplayable. We tried everything. When you see players like that, you’ve got to hold your hands up and say ‘I’ve just seen a world-class player.'”

23 years old. 99 goals. Rooney is already in the form of his life. What explains it? Difficult to say, although training with great managers and teammates for club and country surely couldn’t hurt. The tireless work rate and passion for the game have always been there, but now Rooney’s scoring goals and imposing his presence like never before. Heads up Cristiano, looks like this year you’ve got some award competition on your own team.

What else went down in European tournament action? Theo Walcott continues his rapid coming of age for Arsenal, which overpowered Fenerbahce; Barca trounced Basel in Switzerland and in probably the biggest match up for the week, Juventus versus Real Madrid, the Bianconeri came up huge.