calls it an 'unmitigated disaster' on SBS about 5 minutes ago.

He basically explained what is wrong with the ball, not using matchday complaints... but the laws of physics. Well done

He's spot on with his assessment. The 'grips' on the ball are making it act like a golf ball. Whomever has designed it has made some massive mistakes.

Good on him. He's not wrong...

I totally agree with him, this ball has, without doubt, robbed fans all over the world of the many spectacular goals. Too many shots going over the crossbar, into the crowd.
It's a balls up.

Craig Johnston you bloody legend...

i watched the docu on how they make the ball, adidas planned to sell 50 mil balls worldwide.

lol they are fuked. whos going to buy that POS now?

My daughter has a $2 Strawberry Shortcake ball. I reckon the Socceroos should have used it for practice. :lol:

Seriously, you give it a straight whack and it's very hard to keep down. You neeed to put a lot of topspin, as Messi was doing a bit against Greece, and then you can get some awesome dips.

he stated it took the soul out of the game

](*,) things like henry's handball take the spirit out of the game, not a ball. i couldn't care less if they played with a bunch of old socks rapped into a ball, get on and just fucking play some football

So why hasn't the Bundesliga suffered as a result of using this ball? Oh that's right, because it is easier to blame the ball than the federations that have exclusive ball deals with rival manufacturers that prevent them using the balls with their national teams except during the World Cup. That is the single reason for the 'issues' that teams are having with the ball (bar Germany as there deal requires them to use the Jabulani).

Right to the heart of the point!!! well in general!!

=d>

In private training though away from media and hangers-on surely the coaching staff could say "right we are playing with this ball at the Cup, pracitce heer with it, or take a ball home and practice with it there."

I dont think it was just the Bundesliga that used the ball last season. From memory, the MLS and a Sth American league (I think) also used it.

Didnt Johno work for Addidas?? Didnt he develop the Predator boots for them??

Yes he did.

Also Johnson made a point about the design intent of the Jabulani being for it to reduce overall drag when in flight. What is so bad about that? It is different to what has been used before but less drag isn't a bad thing at all. It results in the ball being more predictable in flight, rather than the tumbling effect of the more un-aerodynamic balls in flight. The worst thing you could honestly say about the Jabulani is that it bounces a bit too much. I enjoy kicking my Jabulani around in the same way I enjoy kicking my Teamgeist, which also got bagged roundly before '06.