New Ball for Tournament

[oakes12]

FIFA do this every time and it really annoys me. The new ball is bound to be lighter, swerve more etc than the one that's been used by everyone all season. It will be no surprise if the likes of Ronaldinho suddenly start ballooning freekicks 20 yards over the bar or if GK's spill easy saves.
The World Cup should about watching the greatest players playing to the best of their ability not about making a sports company profit.

[Jezybee]

Surely most teams will have been using the new ball in their warm up games and training sessions.
I don't think England players are using Mitre balls for training.

[Datchetbee]

...yep, they've been training with the new ball all week in training and used it in both the Jamaica and Hungary games. But still the change is annoying !!

[AlexBee]

Robinson obviously has his problems with it!! Not Good!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5054694.stm

[Ronan]

They said that about the FA Cup ball too... and the world cup ball of last year... seems every year they are getting lighter... I think this but I like it when playing both outfield and in goal....

[GP200]

...a ready made excuse for David James......................

[pandora]

They said that about the FA Cup ball too... and the world cup ball of last year.......


why would they have a world cup ball last year????????

[Luton Bee]

Like the idea I read on another board somewhere, simply use the old £1.99 lightweight plastic balls that Wollies used to sell! :sorted:

[1_J_TABB]

Robinson obviously has his problems with it!! Not Good!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5054694.stm

I'm suprised Crouch didn't blame his penalty miss on the new ball, I know I would.

[Greenholme Bee]

Surely most teams will have been using the new ball in their warm up games and training sessions.
I don't think England players are using Mitre balls for training.

I can comment 'Officially' on this!

Mitre have had the FA contract since 1966 to present day (although in the money mad World we live in we have lost this to Umbro from End of June as they have paid 'silly' money to have it).

We were approached by the FA to see whether the England team could play with the Adidas World Cup ball in the two warm ups against Hungary and Jamacia, obviously we are under contract but 'for the best interests of the team' gave them permission to play with the Adidas one against Jamacia.

In training, all press sessions prior to the last warm up game had to be with a Mitre Pro100T ball, although we gave permission for them to use Adidas balls behind closed doors..

I have to go a bit careful here (as I am on a work computer and in company time) so my PERSONAL view is that the FA have shafted my company after working with them (and bending over backwards to their every request) since 1966, but took the money and gave a contract to a competitor. In the same breath they then wanted 'favours' whilst we were still holding this deal...

For a company of our size to lose a contract such as this is a major blow.

To answer the question about the speed, lightness of the World Cup ball, balls are getting lighter, however this story always comes up..
I recall the stupid thing about when we changed the England 'Graphics' on the ball, all the players started saying 'Its diffeent, it flys different, its lighter...' IT WAS THE SAME BALL!

Exactly the same as the FA Cup Final ball.. new graphics and appearance agreed, but the same characteristics and make up as the ball used in every Football League, Carling Cup and Championship game in the Country during the same season!

[Jezybee]

Surely the way to go would be for Mitre to continue to make the ball, and another companies graphics be painted on it.
Mitre still retain the contract and make the balls (their area of expertise) and another company like Umbro (who I believe have little history in making footballs) have their logo put on it.
I know this happens regularly in cricket (eg Puma sponsoring wicket keepers). The equipment is made by "old" manufacturers and just painted with Puma logos.

[Greenholme Bee]

Surely the way to go would be for Mitre to continue to make the ball, and another companies graphics be painted on it.
Mitre still retain the contract and make the balls (their area of expertise) and another company like Umbro (who I believe have little history in making footballs) have their logo put on it.
I know this happens regularly in cricket (eg Puma sponsoring wicket keepers). The equipment is made by "old" manufacturers and just painted with Puma logos.

But the whole thing about having a contract is to 'increase brand awareness' which will in turn turn into sales on other products.. you rarely make a profit from the contract itself.

Why should we let Umbro/Nike/Adidas etc into knowing our 130 year secrets into making the 'Best' ball in the World?!

Money can't buy that!

[Jezybee]

Why should we let Umbro/Nike/Adidas etc into knowing our 130 year secrets into making the 'Best' ball in the World?!

You don't. You make the ball, including all the balls sold in shops etc. They pay only for the branding.
Surely it would earn the company more than the 0 you are receiving now?
Are Umbro actually going to go through the whole process of setting up the manufacturing and R&D for the ball or are they going to get another company to make the ball and just paint it in Umbro insignia?

Maybe I'm being naive (undoubtably you shall agree) but the Mitre-England ball, only being used approx 15 times a season, does not compete with the, supposedly sexier, Premier League-Nike ball, seen every day of the week, for brand exposure.

It may be time to realise what the company is good at; manufacturing fantastic balls for all sorts of sports, rather than being concerned with whose name appears on the ball.

[Greenholme Bee]

You don't. You make the ball, including all the balls sold in shops etc. They pay only for the branding.
Surely it would earn the company more than the 0 you are receiving now?
Are Umbro actually going to go through the whole process of setting up the manufacturing and R&D for the ball or are they going to get another company to make the ball and just paint it in Umbro insignia?

Maybe I'm being naive (undoubtably you shall agree) but the Mitre-England ball, only being used approx 15 times a season, does not compete with the, supposedly sexier, Premier League-Nike ball, seen every day of the week, for brand exposure.

It may be time to realise what the company is good at; manufacturing fantastic balls for all sorts of sports, rather than being concerned with whose name appears on the ball.

We had the Premier League ball until Nike took over three years ago since formation, but we remain and are still the second biggest seller of footballs Worldwide behind Adidas.
All the Brands have their own manufacturing plants, we believe ours is a little special and the Football League and our other 'Worldwide' contracts still benefit by playing with a superior product.

I'm not in Marketing but our sales are still massive (on balls).

Where as Nike is merely a fashion vehicle and has the money to superbly market the brand, they are not experts in any sport.
Adidas I would disagree, they are (in my opinion) a creditable 'Football' brand as well as being a fantastic fashion brand due to massive money and good endorsement and marketing.

Most Kids teams and park sides still train, play and have Mitre as their preferred ball of choice.

We would never sell our ball to others, in that case we might as well pack in as how would we survive on a small margin selling to 'other brands'.

[Alex]

Like the idea I read on another board somewhere, simply use the old £1.99 lightweight plastic balls that Wollies used to sell! :sorted:

That's exactly how it looks to be behaving.

[GABS]

Judging from the Germany game the new ball could make this World Cup either a joke or a goal fest, depending on your point of view. Me, thus far, I think :nono:

[Ronan]

Well if they will score like they did against Germany then I don't mind... entertainment this world cup for sure

[The Walrus]

Judging from the Germany game the new ball could make this World Cup either a joke or a goal fest, depending on your point of view. Me, thus far, I think :nono:

:imwith:

[West Ealing Bee]

Judging from the Germany game the new ball could make this World Cup either a joke or a goal fest, depending on your point of view. Me, thus far, I think :nono:

4 goals in three games today and nothing remotely funny suggests you might be wrong :sorted:

[Thorne In The Side]

Greenholme is talking shite about how unfair it is to shaft Mitre.
I remember Greenholme being bought a Mitre ball for his birthday (about 3 decades ago when leather balls were classed as a major present) and then trying to claim a new ball under warranty directly from Mitre about 16 months after purchase after it had gone flat or something had gone amiss with it - His claim was that it was only 8 months old and had gone pop.
Mitre wrote back to Greenholme saying that it wouldn't have been in that condition even if it had been used 25 hours a day, but to their credit they supplied Greenholme with a second hand ball as a replacement.
Rather suprisingly Greenholme ended up working for Mitre and is now spouting on about those who are fleecing the worlds greatest ball supplier.:nono: