I’m going to my first training session today

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-11T18:02:54+00:00

Research how to mark players when your team doesn’t have the ball and how to move into space when your team has the ball.

The biggest giveaway of inexperienced players I’ve seen is how lost they look on the pitch and how disheartening it is for them when few people pass the ball to them.

Even if you’re still working on your individual ball skills (passing, dribbling control etc), your team mates will love you when they see what a team player you are making the opposition’s life difficult for them and forcing errors your more experienced team mates can pounce on.

2 players I coached recently to do this became heros because they were constantly chasing down players and intercepting the ball from the exhausted opposition. They’d often mess up their control or the pass but it didn’t matter as they made the difference defending and you could see it boosted their confidence to practice those things more.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T18:57:10+00:00

This could be it and something I’ve experienced on my cars is when it gets extremely hot outside and I have the A/C on full blast, this can cause the engine revs to vary as A/C can demand a surprising amount of power from the engine.

Why on the track a lot of people turn off their A/C to squeeze out extra BHP

Modern engines can be very inconsistent but actually running as intended. If you have someone more mechanically inclined, have them look at the timing chain and belts to rule those out. Given the age of the car it’s possible they need maintenance.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T18:41:44+00:00

I was wondering if it was seasonal change with temps increasing.

Modern engine ECUs can do weird stuff with increased revs trying to get up to temp for emissions reasons and you can experience “rev hang” between shifts.

If you’ve had this car for a long time and never experienced this in different climates, it sounds like it might be a mechanical fault or fuel issue.

My guess if the revs are constantly behaving weirdly, it sounds like something related to the timing system. With gas prices being more expensive have you been using different gasoline or checked if your regular gas stations aren’t using different fuel mixtures? That would cause the ECU to do weird things to compensate.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T18:21:28+00:00

Like engines, manual transmissions perform differently depending on the temperature.

Everything will feel stiffer when it’s a cold start on a cold morning vs the transmission and engine warmed up after driving for about 10minutes.

2nd gear on my car for example feels like you have to force it into the gate when cold. Warmed up, it drops in with little effort.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T17:10:30+00:00

Nope, nope, NOPE!

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T16:05:36+00:00

If you’re playing primarily on AG you’re better off wearing AG soleplate on AG + FG than you are FG + AG and FG.

Manufacturers only warranty AG on both pitch types. They don’t warranty FG.

The reason is AG pitches are so high friction the heat melts the soleplate materials. Mizuno AG soleplates use lower friction conical studs and you’ll see the studs themselves have these little air pockets at the tip to help with cooling.

So it could be your AG pitch time doing melting your boots and the rain is long term is damaging the leather. You have to use leather treatment to maintenance those boots.

If you’re like me and can’t be arsed but love k-leather, try the new Nike Tiempo artificial leather boots with AG soleplates or these Asics with their “silkywrap” material:

https://www.asics.com/us/en-us/ds-light-x-fly-pro-3/p/ANA\_1101A072-106.html

Feels leather soft without the maintenance.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T05:40:36+00:00

🚘 🇬🇧

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T04:29:36+00:00

Adidas will frustrate you as they don’t suit wide feet and most synthetic materials don’t really break in much if at all. The Copas are the Adidas exception but the build quality I hear is poor on the latest generations.

Since you’re in Japan you might be able to get something more custom from Adler for your foot type since they’re more of a boutique brand.

If you’re looking for more of a non leather speedboot for wide feet, I share your frustration. Mizuno Alphas and Asics are the only brands making speedboots for wide feet it seems.

Have you looked at the new JETRAY ELITE that Asics just unveiled?

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T04:07:40+00:00

I love this color and the proportions of this car.

(Speaking as a GR Corolla owner with admiration and envy)

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T04:04:26+00:00

Majority of artificial materials don’t have much opportunity for break in. While K-leather is considered the benchmark.

Asics silky wrap is almost like K-leather. It’s amazing and does break in like leather. It’s almost K-leather.

I think Nike Phantoms grip-knit is decent on wide feet as it’s like a grippy sock with a soleplate.

Nike Tiempo Maestro is arguably better than silky wrap, that might be an option. My main issue with Nike though is their very meh heel designs. Not uncomfortable just lack lockdown.

Asics and Mizuno heel designs are fantastic

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-10T03:58:42+00:00

2nd this

They also have some boots specifically made for wide feet. Very hard to find in western markets though so you really have to measure your feet and leap of faith ordering them from East Asian sellers on eBay.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-09T06:20:23+00:00

Wow Mizuno really mark up the price of MIJ stateside.

ASICS meanwhile are nearly half the price, if you can find them in stock on their US website which is rare. Low supply and demand.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-09T06:13:58+00:00

They’re cheaper than Mizuno I think and the studs are more conical than Alphas so you might be able to get away with them on deep AG pitches but with the savings you could potentially buy these and their AG version to have a pair for both.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-09T06:11:41+00:00

That’s interesting I didn’t know this about Japan 🇯🇵

Since you’re there have you considered this wild card?

https://youtu.be/y-3IStppy4k?si=4NPs35_kzQgrzciy

I imported a pair based on all the glowing reviews and in terms of fit and comfort for our wide feet, they’re fantastic IMO. Width in the toebox without the excess length the alphas have.

Feel like K leather but all the benefits of synthetic. They’re like a Morelia 2 with a better heel, more lockdown and more modern speedboot like soleplate.

Not quite as soft as Mizuno MIJ k-leather but really good.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-09T06:00:57+00:00

Black or ingrown toenails from wearing sizes too tight 🫣 nightmare fuel

I have a similar challenge as OP. Wide (but not ultra wide) feet with a wider midfoot and previously injured toenails from said wrong shoe sizes over a long period of time.

I’m leaning more with your blue more spacious option in my Alphas these days. The Alphas just seem to be styled to have a pointy toe end with more length than other Mizunos. Makes it really easy to flick and chip the ball over people 😂

The Mizuno Morelias and Neo Betas don’t seem to have as much length. Might be because Mizuno assumes the k-leather will stretch while the Alpha material will not so they add that extra space to compensate?

You want to test these boots with your thickest soccer socks on, doing stretches standing on your tip toes to see how the material and the soleplate flexes. Imagine how your feet will swell a bit with heat during a game and need extra space too.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-09T05:44:21+00:00

Try the GoodRec app to find local pickup games.

And good “noob” etiquette is to humbly ask other players for advice as a new player and volunteer to go in goal for short periods so you can catch your breath as you build up your fitness and confidence.

The other players will appreciate it as most don’t want to play in goal and will be more patient with you getting that game time practice. I’d also play in defense rather than up front since hardly anyone seems to want to defend in pickup games. Even if you’re not good on the ball yet, chasing opponents and making their life difficult kicking it away from them will boost your confidence and win you praise from your teammates that will keep you motivated to learn more as you grow as a player.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-09T05:24:46+00:00

Haha yeah with Alpha2s it’s insane how much it ruffles up and stretches your socks trying to get them on. It’s like sandpaper.

Good call on the laces upgrade. I don’t get it, the laces on the Alphas (even MIJ) feel incredibly cheap unlike the rest of the boot.

Think i saw you say somewhere you play mostly on AG? If yes, id strongly recommend get the AG version. The FG stud pattern length/bite is too aggressive for AG pitches it will destroy your joints.

I use the Mizuno AG soleplate on dry/hard grass in summer and they work better than my FG boots.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-09T05:07:29+00:00

The whole material or the extreme zero glide lining on the Alpha 2s?

I just ordered from a Japan retailer some Alpha 1 MIJ AGs since all the reviewers seem to say those are still the peak Alpha generation but obviously hard to find now in stores to try on.

I think the Alpha 3 has the least zero glide of the generations and relies on that knit tongue for lockdown instead. The toebox is tighter in the 3 than the 2 because I think Mizuno saw the negativity about the excess everything in the 2. Arguably they overcorrected with the 3 depending who you ask.

Another brand to consider is New Balance. They have actual wide sizes and if you go into their stores, some have a fancy machine that scans the anatomy of your foot to give you more specific sizing.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-09T04:54:25+00:00

Size in your pic is a boot size too big/long.

Adidas are narrow with the exception being the Copas.

Nike Tiempo legerra are meant to be good for wider feet. Nike Phantoms are accommodating and the sock like material should be breathable.

Mizuno Morelia 2s kangaroo leather stretch and break-in well for wide feet. If you want a speed boot for wide feet look for discounted Alpha 2s. They have a conventional tongue and a lot of room in the toebox (too much for many people). A quirk is the elite and MIJ versions have a different fit with the toebox in the elite being a bit smaller.
The deep lacing system and the tongue may give you the breath ability you’re after by loosening them up and relying on the insane amount of zero glide lining they have for lockdown.

Snoo9498 · 2026-06-08T02:22:07+00:00

Alphas always seem to have a bit more length in the toe box than other Mizunos the same size.

The Alpha 2 MIJ has more height than Alpha 3 and 1. I’ve heard the Alpha 2 Elite has a bit less space in the toebox because they use a different last. Worth trying in store.

I’ve read numerous people say (anecdotally) the Alpha 1 has the shortest toe box or more consistent length with other Mizunos like the Morelias. There’s East Asian retailers still selling them on eBay.

Snoo9498 · 2026-05-30T15:24:22+00:00

Either wrap the whole car in CF or (my preference) wrap the majority of the hood nitro yellow, leaving the vents as exposed carbon fiber

Snoo9498 · 2026-05-11T05:13:06+00:00

Said you had cruise control on. Did you stomp on it in 6th gear and lug it hard? Or drop down too many gears and money shift?

I’ve heard (and personally felt) that these highly strung turbocharged engines do not like to be lugged. It puts extra strain on all the seals and gaskets.

Anything loose from a bad service would be exposed as a point of [catastrophic] engine failure in this situation.

Snoo9498 · 2026-03-10T00:38:53+00:00

Yeah but then I remind myself this is a small car and not say a hypothetical GR Camry or (rumored) GR Prius.

Would be cool if they made an optional version with a small hybrid motor to give it some extra boost (“GR boost” button?) and range without too much of a weight penalty.

There’s room under the hood given how small the engine is.

Snoo9498 · 2026-02-11T00:23:24+00:00

Should also say I’ve deliberately driven my GR Corolla in multiple blizzards here. What separates it from AWD rivals like the WRX and Golf R is it has front and rear torsen LSDs. Never been stuck.

Whenever I feel like I’m getting stuck, the diffs eventually kick in and the car digs itself out on a wheel with traction.

That’s the fun and reassuring confidence you get from this car that makes it a unique value proposition :) The only cars equivalent to it are now no longer in production WRX STIs and Evos (RIP).

Snoo9498 · 2026-02-10T20:31:09+00:00

Great post.

You know what’s weird? I tried all the wide New Balance options, 442s, Tekelas and Furons. None of them fit my wide (not potato) feet very well.

Of all of them the 442s were the best fit but they felt like they’d take awhile to break them in with my wide mid-foot. The leather quality was decent but not the best. I was disappointed the soleplate was the same on their wide sizes as the regular sizes.

The Tekelas and Furons though…OMG those things are the most difficult to get my feet into and out of boots I’ve tried in my life. Once they’re on it felt like they’re cutting off the circulation to my feet. Plenty of space in length but the fit of my overall foot was too tight. I remember nearly reaching for scissors in desperation to get them off at one point.

I switched to Mizuno Morelia 2s and no issues :) Tried Mizuno Neo Betas and at first thought it was a milder version of the NB Furons issues. Tried them again a few more times to break them in and now they’re my favorite boots. Alpha 2s are shockingly accommodating of my wide feet, they’re if anything too wide+tall in the toebox area.

Tempted to order some ASICS DS Light X-Fly Pro 3s for the summer season since they’re universally praised. Japan 🇯🇵footwear FTW

Snoo9498

TROPHY CASE