Okay, here’s my blog post about whether wingers can wear Tiempos, written from a personal, practical perspective, just like the example:
Alright, so I’ve been playing winger for a while now, always sticking to my trusty Mercurials. You know, the usual – gotta have that speed, gotta have that lightweight feel. But I’ve always admired the classic look of the Tiempos. That leather, man. It just screams “quality.” So, I started wondering: can I actually pull these off as a winger?
I decided to do a little experiment. I’m no pro, just a regular dude playing local league games, so take this with a grain of salt. But I figured, who better to test this out than a real-life, average player?
The Experiment Begins
First things first, I borrowed a pair of Tiempos from a buddy. Couldn’t justify buying a new pair just for a hunch, you know? He’s a center back, so they were well broken-in, which I figured was a good thing.
First practice, I slipped them on. Immediately, the difference was noticeable. The leather felt… different. More substantial, for sure. My foot felt snug, almost like it was being hugged. Not in a bad way, just…secure.
- First Touch: Okay, this was surprising. The ball felt…softer. Like, I had more control right off the bat. Passing felt crisper, too.
- Sprinting: This is where I expected the Tiempos to fall short. And yeah, they felt a bit heavier than my Mercurials. Not like I was running in mud, but definitely not as…zippy.
- Cutting and Turning: Surprisingly good! I think the snug fit actually helped here. I felt more stable when changing direction quickly.
Game time
Two week of testing, then, it’s game day. I was actually feeling pretty confident and decided to go for it. Wearing my buddy’s Tiempos.
The game started,and I was actually shocked, my first touch was clean, passing on point. I even managed to whip in a couple of decent crosses that I usually struggle with.
But, and this is a big BUT, when I really needed to burn past a defender, I felt it. That little extra weight, that slight lack of…explosiveness. It wasn’t a huge difference, but it was there.
My Verdict
So, can a winger wear Tiempos? My answer, after this very unscientific experiment, is…maybe. It depends.
If your game is all about raw pace, and you rely on pure speed to beat your man every single time, then maybe stick with the Mercurials (or something similar). But, if you’re a winger who values touch, control, and accurate passing, and you’re not solely reliant on blistering speed, then the Tiempos could actually be a decent option.
For me? I’m still on the fence. I love the feel of the Tiempos, and the improved touch and passing were definitely a plus. But that little bit of lost speed…it’s a trade-off. I might keep experimenting, maybe even try a newer, lighter version of the Tiempos. But for now, I’m not completely * is just my thought, you can have a try!
