THRILLHO wrote:
It is highly likely the deal between us and castors was struck very last minute whereas other clubs will have had a head start. I was under the impression until very recently we were due to continue our partnership with erred into the coming season, correct me if I’m wrong or a case of the Mandela effect.
I also get the indifference people are feeling towards the new outfield shirts and perhaps castors misjudged our fan base, being as it’s new, could be considered different to the more old school fan bases that are rooted in tradition. Most clubs have a very clear ridged structure to their kits and tend not to step outside the norm. Whereas we have had a number of bespoke kits. Whilst I get the landing could be perceived as executed poorly I admire the creativity, the bravery and the freedom to sign off on these kits. Whatever people think of the outfield kits, personally I believe there’s something for everyone with the inclusion of the goalkeeper shirts. Personally I’ll be getting the home shirt and most likely all 3 goalkeeper kits as well I’m almost all certainty the third kit as I always like the third kit the most!
The club would do well to release the goalkeeper kits for sale in short sleeves to appease those that prefer the cleaner, smart, sharp look.
I get there’s been teething issues but all things considered I think we should count ourselves lucky we get the creative license to have bespoke kits rather than a year on year template. I wouldn’t kick up too much of a fuss.
As for the price, for the quality of the material and the comfort of castors sportswear I think £50 is fair, particularly considering how much other well constructed designer clothes would cost. The fact that it’s a sports shirt shouldn’t limit the profitability on a well made product and use of good fabric and manufacturing processes.
I’m still very much in favour of the design of the kits this year, I actually love the home kit. Not as sold on the away kit but the outstanding goalkeeper kits make up for that. Having said that I wouldn’t want the goalkeeper kits in place of the outfield kits I feel both serve their purpose and I think long term we should keep the goalie shirts smart, not too busy but vibrant with a unique colour palette and then that outfield shirts to have full creative freedom with zero template use.
Hopefully the teething issues are ironed out but on a final note who actually brought half the trash that was on the old store? I mean come on! At most you would want to buy a replica shirt, a branded garden gnome, a club crest beach towel and a greetings card. Surely no one still buys a coat with an mk dons badge on like Ty from aftv? Maybe some training wear but I would imagine the online store has or will be streamlined for a more modern and grown up interface and stock list.
Got to disagree with you on a lot of this
The kit design is nothing about being traditional. We are a young club with very little tradition, so I'm happy in all sorts of creativity and varied designs for the home kit, but kits which look like they are covered in oil and bird shit do not look good regardless of anything else. I don't think it was brave or creative, so many brands do embossed style patterns like Castore, they just do it better.
We've had bespoke kits every season under Errea, ISC and Sondico for the past decade, so I'm in no way just happy with having shit bespoke designs because they are bespoke. Our last template was in 2009/10. (Admittedly our 2016/17 design was used for a random Grimsby shirt a few seasons later though, as was our 2015/16 for a random team too)
If you look at the range of training wear the bigger teams get it is insane, Villa have pages of the stuff online for £40+ a pop. And I am fully aware we shouldn't get the same treatment, range etc. but to fail to provide a training kit that even features a badge on the week before a season starts is shocking.
The fact they aren't even pushing the club store reopening yet makes me think they are a bit of a shit show really.