Blue is not always the colour for Chelsea
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PREMIER LEAGUE NEW KIT SPECIAL: The strips your team will be wearing in 2011-12
Forget about London Fashion Week and ignore what's happening on the catwalks of New York and Milan.
The smartest gear for next season will soon hit the shops and you can get a first look right here as the Premier League teams unveil their home, away and third kits for the new campaign.
Some supporters will be desperate to pull on their their new strip while some will be thinking 'it's just not me' but will wear it anyway.
How many bigger-built fans have their fingers crossed their club doesn't go down the skinny-fit route Spurs went down a few seasons ago?
And before the official release there's bound to be some dodgy fakes doing the rounds on the internet.
So with a whole host of new strips hitting the stores in the coming weeks - Sportsmail brings you the best - and worst - of what's on offer throughout the summer.
ARSENAL
A fading title challenge aside, Arsenal don't have much to cheer these days (just take a look at the Emirates trophy cabinet) so to make up for it, the kit next season is set to celebrate their 125th anniversary.
This is the unofficial version doing the rounds on the worldwide web and it looks a little lost without a white collar.
The away number looks to be a mock-up but carries the same detail around the badge as seen on the home kit. Possibly worse than the wine effort from 2005-06.
Fans will hope the official kit is a bit more exciting. Sportsmail verdict 6/10
CHELSEA
They may be slightly off the pace with a handful of games to go in the Premier League but Chelsea have stolen a march on their rivals by bursting out of the traps in the fashion race.
The new home kit takes inspiration from Chelsea strips of the early 1980s with the shadow striped design on the front while the white shoulder pad has been added to make adidas' iconic three stripes stand out.
Could you carry this off on the King's Road? We think so. Sportsmail verdict 8/10
The new home kit will be available from May 12 but can be pre-ordered by visiting Chelsea's website.
Blues brothers: (from left) How Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Fernando Torres will look
Is that a good idea? Petr Cech models the new ALL-WHITE keeper's kit while Lampard does a catalogue pose
SUNDERLAND
Judging by the presence of the Premier League badge on the sleeve, the home kit was designed before Sunderland started their alarming slide down the table.
But ignoring the fact that relegation is still a possibility, this is a smart effort from Umbro, who have kept a simple design with the stripes but included a black trim around the collar and sleeves that looks neat and tidy.
Old Trafford or Oakwell - Black Cats fans will certainly look the part. Sportsmail verdict 8/10
The new kit will be available from May 12 but can be pre-ordered by visiting Sunderland's website.
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Found all these at www.footballshirtculture.com, they are unofficial though.
Newcastle (Unofficial)
Manchester United (Unofficial)
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LIVERPOOL
If the Liverpool players aren't careful they'll fade into the background during their midweek matches in the winter next season with this new strip.
But then again, maybe that's what the club want, in case they have another disastrous start to the season and find themselves in the bottom half of the table once again.
Joking aside, the Anfield club have chosen a smart number for their new campaign, a top that could even look classy on the right person. They say that grown men shouldn't wear replica tops outside the ground, but that could all be about to change.
Sportsmail verdict 8.5/10
Black is back: Liverpool have chosen a sleek new design for next season's away kit
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i realised liverpool always reuse chelsea's old kit design
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Originally posted by Y_Shun:
i realised liverpool always reuse chelsea's old kit design
Adidas ran out of ideas man. This season they swoop Chelsea and Liverpool's home kits' designs for last season's.
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Apparently someone has either got access to the new stocks of jerseys or the jerseys were made to look like the real thing. I've found some 11-12 jerseys that were not even unveiled yet on sale on EBay:
Manchester United Home 11-12
Barcelona 11-12 Home
If you're kiasu, buy it first lor.
p.s. the seller nick is the watermark on the photo. Go figure.
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pool -> new balance?? no??
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New Gunners shirt is leaked
KIT OF ALRIGHT ... Jack Wilshere models the new Arsenal home stripHERE'S a sneak peek of Arsenal's new home kit for the forthcoming 2011/12 season.The Gunners are set to officially unveil their new strip on Monday — but SunSport has obtained a leaked image ahead of the launch.
Arsenal's new outfit commemorates the club's 125th anniversary and is modelled by England midfielder Jack Wilshere.
The shirt is a simpler designer than the current jersey, with no trim on the collar of the shirt or sleeves this time around.
The club crest is emblazoned on the front of the top as usual but this time features a white wreath surrounding it.
It is a nod to the first badge the team used when they were formed in 1886 as Dial Square FC which included three cannons on a shield and a wreath around the edges.
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I saw the man utd away leak
black with red collar.
sweeeeeeeeeee la.
I like the gunner's away kit also.
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Black and blue: Chelsea launch their new away kit, with Torres' goal drought in mind...
At the double: Lampard and Kalou sport the new away kit
The new Chelsea away kit comes with the standard gubbins on technology but the bottom line, however, is that it looks decidedly average.
The socks are revolutionary chimes the press release, apparently the design features anatomically placed cushioning and an achilles protector. And there’s more.
The shirt features the adidas TechFit technology which will help improve speed, increased endurance capabilities and enhanced awareness. A miracle? No.
It works by stabilising and focusing the muscles' energy to generate explosive acceleration and deliver maximum power output, of course.
Clearly the jersey contains more technology than the shuttle which launched into orbit last week, but that’s not what the fans will notice.
The first thing they will see are turquoise squares set on a black background. As Sportsmail’s Des Kelly said in his column on Saturday, the theory is, it is to remind Fernando Torres what a net looks like.
The new kit will be worn for the first time when Chelsea play Hong Kong champions Kitchee in their opening game of the Barclays Asia Trophy on July 27.
The shirt can be pre-ordered online at the club's official website for delivery on launch day, July 7, and will cost £45 for adults, £35 for kids' sizes. -
Blues idea was this? Liverpool unveil new 2011/12 away kit...with Everton colours
Are you sure about this? Steven Gerrard poses in Liverpool's third shirt for the 2011/12 season
For football supporters one of the worst nightmares is finding out your club has released a strip with colours from bitter rivals.
Liverpool fans probably thought they would never see the day but after the Merseyside club unveiled a new third kit, they will see their team play in the blue of local rivals Everton next season.
The strip for the 2011/12 campaign is mainly white but shows enough blue trim to probably cause enough Reds followers to face an identity crisis on away days from Anfield next term.
Fear not though Liverpool fans as the ‘cyan’ colour choice from Adidas is in fact a nod towards the club's first home kit from almost 120 years ago which incorporated white and blue halves. It wasn’t until Bill Shankly became manager that the home kit became completely red, in 1964.
The new design takes its inspiration from the classic tracksuit tops of the 1980s, incorporating the diagonal stripe across the front of the shirt.
It’s Liverpool’s second new strip revealed this summer after releasing a black away kit last month, but it will still cost fans a wallet-hitting £50 for an adult replica which can be pre-ordered before it goes on sale on July 14.
Either way it’s the closest you will get to seeing any blue in the Kop end next season.
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not bad leh the liverpool away/
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PREMIER LEAGUE NEW KIT SPECIAL: The strips your team will be wearing in 2011-12
Forget about London Fashion Week and ignore what's happening on the catwalks of New York and Milan.
The smartest gear for next season will soon hit the shops and you can get a first look right here as the Premier League teams unveil their home, away and third kits for the new campaign.
Some supporters will be desperate to pull on their their new strip while some will be thinking 'it's just not me' but will wear it anyway.
How many bigger-built fans have their fingers crossed their club doesn't go down the skinny-fit route Spurs went down a few seasons ago?
And before the official release there's bound to be some dodgy fakes doing the rounds on the internet.
So with a whole host of new strips hitting the stores in the coming weeks - Sportsmail brings you the best - and worst - of what's on offer throughout the summer.
ARSENAL
A fading title challenge aside, Arsenal don't have much to cheer these days (just take a look at the Emirates trophy cabinet) so to make up for it, the kit next season is set to celebrate their 125th anniversary.
This is the official version of the new kit, sported by defender Gael Clichy, and it looks a little lost without a white collar.
Top gun: Gael Clichy sports Arsenal's 125 year anniversary home strip for next season
There also looks to be two away numbers on the way. After getting over the initial shock of what looks like a cut-and-shut kit, fans may take to the blue Monacoesque style shirt that takes the same colour scheme as the club's mid 90s away kit.
Second take: Internet images of what the Arsenal away and third strip could look like next season
The white shirt looks to be a mock-up and Gunners fans will hope so as they won't want to be seen in a colour associated with rivals Tottenham.
The away strips are unconfirmed but fans will be hoping they are more exciting that the home number Sportsmail verdict 6/10
ASTON VILLA
Following the arrival of £24million Darren Bent in January, Aston Villa fans probably had something else in mind when they heard they would be seeing more cheques in the summer.
Sadly for them it may turn out the ‘checks’ are for their new home strip – with this latest rumoured kit from Nike not stretching too far into innovation.
In fact take away the claret checks and you just have Villa’s home shirt from the 2008/09 season with a slight change to the collar.
In truth it doesn’t look that bad but you just think Nike are scraping the barrel for trying to think of ways to design a Villa kit.
With the existing home strip being sold at a reduced price on the club website, a new home kit looks to be on the horizon – but best leave the checks to the Croatians.
Sportsmail Verdict 7/10
Checkmate: Fans will note the similarity to the home shirt from 2008/09
Leave it to Croatia: Villa's away kit also looks like it will be chequered
And you don't have to look too far to see where the inspiration is behind the away strip - which is also yet to be confirmed by the club.
Checks can look good but on this away strip it looks dull and resembles a Boavista strip that has been through the was a fair few times.
It's hard to even see a sponsor's logo bringing it to life but if all else fails...have a game of chess. Sportsmail verdict 6/10
BOLTON
Rumours that Bolton’s new home strip was designed by a five-year-old dizzy on lemonade are yet to be founded, either way this is enough to give you a migraine.
The only credit to Reebok is that they have been ambitious with their latest attempt and no fan can complain that it looks remotely similar to any other strip in seasons gone by.
But judging by the look on Kevin Davies’ face, he doesn’t seem overjoyed with the latest design and it's hard to imagine where you can wear this anywhere outside the Reebok Stadium without being laughed at...and that's before you get to the netting/see-through material on the front of the shirt.
Bolton may have got away with this in the fashion-challenged early 90s, but it’s hard to see this being looked back on as being innovative or classic a few years down the line. Sportsmail Verdict 3/10
What do you think lads? Bolton players Chung-yong Lee (left) and Kevin Davies try to keep a straight face modelling the new Bolton home strip
CHELSEA
They may be slightly off the pace with a handful of games to go in the Premier League but Chelsea have stolen a march on their rivals by bursting out of the traps in the fashion race.
The new home kit takes inspiration from Chelsea strips of the early 1980s with the shadow striped design on the front while the white shoulder pad has been added to make adidas' iconic three stripes stand out.
Could you carry this off on the King's Road? We think so. Sportsmail verdict 8/10
Blues brothers: (from left) How Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Fernando Torres will look
Is that a good idea? Petr Cech models the new ALL-WHITE keeper's kit while Lampard does a catalogue pose
And below is the design of the Blues new away kit for next season. The change strip takes on a unique patch-work look which the likes Lampard and Torres will hope to stun their opponents.
Or the club might just be using it to demonstrate to £50m flop Fernando Torres what a goal actually looks like?
It's a black and blue nightmare: Sportsmail's verdict 4/10
To be Frank: Lampard doesn't look that chuffed to be wearing the new away kit
EVERTON
New shirt or new signing? Everton's Tim Cahill (left) stands with Real Madrid's Kaka
No cooling/performance aiding stuff here. Le Coq Sportif look like they have gone back to basics with a simple blue shirt complimented by golden brown trim and a smart collar to match.
The same amount of thought looks to have gone into the away strip, but looks much less classy. How long does it take to think of sticking three logos on to a standard T-shirt?
Both shirts lack all the usual scientific nonsense that come with your standard football kit, but don’t expect a price drop because of that.
The home shirt is yet to be confirmed by the club but despite its simplicity, does look the part.
We may have to wait until later this summer thought to find out if Tim Cahill's modelling skills have been enough to convince Kaka of a move to Goodison Park. Sportsmail home verdict 7/10.
The yellow strip is not going to be remembered for years to come but Toffees fans will be pleased to see the back of that garish pink strip. Sportsmail away verdict 6/10
FULHAM
There just seems to be no middle ground with Kappa.
After graphite/red and green/gold away kits from this season were considered a step too far in design by some supporters, the Italian company for 2011/12 have opted for a plain black shirt with just their own logos in red to break it up.
Fans once again will be disappointed with a skin-tight design but can take consolation that the strip will contain 'underwiring' technology...or maybe not.
In fairness it's close to being a neat classy number, but the huge and high sponsor logo in the centre spoils the overall look. Sportsmail verdict 5/10
Fans looking to wear something a bit brighter at Craven Cottage next term may prefer to purchase the luminous green goalkeeper kit which is also new for next season.
LIVERPOOL
Feeling blue: Dirk Kuyt models the new Liverpool third strip
Good news Liverpool fans. Your team‘s new third strip (right) for the 2011/12 season will be one of the classiest looking in the Premier League.
Bad news is it will share the colours of local rivals Everton!
Adidas have tried to side-step the issue by calling it cyan, but the colour choice is in fact a nod to the club’s first home kit worn almost 120 years ago which incorporated blue and white halves.
There is more positives though as this kit is soaked in technology including Techfit and Climacool, which somehow increase speed, endurance and awareness….no we don’t know how a football kit can do this either but it is still going to cost you £50
On design alone it looks excellent, but points are deducted for putting blue on a Liverpool kit which is sure to split fans.
Sportsmail verdict 8/10
If the Liverpool players aren't careful they'll fade into the background during their midweek matches in the winter next season with this new strip.
But then again, maybe that's what the club want, in case they have another disastrous start to the season and find themselves in the bottom half of the table once again.
Joking aside, the Anfield club have chosen a smart number for their new campaign, a top that could even look classy on the right person.
They say that grown men shouldn't wear replica tops outside the ground, but that could all be about to change.
Sportsmail verdict 8/10
Black is back: Liverpool have chosen a sleek new design for next season's away kit
MANCHESTER CITY
Plain: Manchester City's home shirt could continue with the simple design seen over the last few seasons
The future is bright for Manchester City but they are certainly not leading the way in kit designs.
Umbro's idea of a new home strip seems to be just change to a v-neck collar and switch the sponsor colour.
This is only a rumoured effort but fans will be hoping for something a little more adventurous ahead of their first season in the Champions League. Sportsmail verdict 6/10
A red and black striped away shirt is certainly not new to fans with the inspiration taken from the most famous shirt in the club’s history – the black and red shirt worn in 1969 and 1970 during which time City won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup.
Indeed it is a smart design with its simplistic stripes and we think the gold marking on the sponsor and logos are pulled off well.
'The shirt is designed so that when a player celebrates a goal or links arms with team mates, the black and red stripe remains consistent.
For this reason, there is no seam on the underarm as traditionally stitching can distort the shape and flow of a stripe.' according to designers Umbro.
City will look good trying to overshadow AC Milan in the Champions League but fans will only have to ask Tottenham and Blackburn supporters about having skin-tight shirts. Sportsmail verdict 8/10
City slickers: Dedryck Boyata, Edin Dzeko and Pablo Zabaleta (l-r) proudly show off Man City's new away kit
MANCHESTER UNITED
Ready to go: Patrice Evra poses in the new Manchester United home strip
Unlike the team, Manchester United kits have been uninspiring in recent years but despite winning a record 19th league title next season will be no different.
After an experiment with the black rugby league-style 'v' last season and a tacky retro number for this campaign, Nike have lost all creativity and plumped for a plain red shirt with a weird black and white collar.
It looks like it was designed in no more than five minutes and for an extra £10 on top of the already pricey £44.99, fans can choose to customise their kit with the lettering 'champions' and No.19 in gold on the reverse.
It probably wasn't the golden touch that fans were hoping for.
Sportsmail home verdict 5/10
The away kit, an unofficial picture, looks a lot like a T-shirt with its round collar. Not bad but if you're going for blue and black stripes, do it right like Inter Milan. Sportsmail away verdict 5/10
NEWCASTLE
Home or away? Newcastle's third strip shares the same colours as the home kit
And now for something completely different. Full marks to Puma for trying to give Newcastle's black and white stripes a new twist.
An interesting addition is the 'go faster' stripes down the front - which neatly incorporates the sponsor's logo - but there is still no hard evidence these work on cars... or footballers.
Newcastle's loyal fans won't be too bothered what it looks like as long as they can easily whip it off to reveal a bare chest on a freezing cold evening at a ground near you.
The most original Toon kit in a long time, a lot better than the cream-cracker effort from two seasons back. Sportsmail verdict 8/10
And speaking of change strips, the Toon have released a new third kit too.
We are a bit puzzled by this one. Yes it looks very stylish with its different shade diagonal lines and white stripes going across the front of the chest. And even the gold Puma logo and badge look decent.
But the point of a change strip is so that there is no clash of colours, and here we have a home strip that is black and white and a third strip that is...well...black and white.
We await an away kit that is white with black trim, but as a stand alone strip this is a solid effort by Puma, even if those shady lines are just recycled from Tottenham's 2009/10 yellow kit.
Sportsmail verdict 8/10
Norwich
Norwich are the first of the Premier League's promoted sides to release a new kit but this effort is hardly going to get Canary supporters chirping with excitement.
Fans looking for some Italian flare from designers Errea will be left disappointed with the basic looking shirt which hardly captures a smile from Grant Holt and Co modelling the kit.
They will also have to deal with the white trim that has appeared on the sleeves and the collar for the first time, but sponsors Aviva will not be complaining about under exposure.
Fabrizio Taddei, Errea Sales Director however was more optimistic, he said: 'Once the fans see the new 'Creato in Italia' range we are sure they will be delighted not only with the styling and quality, but also with the fact that the clothing is produced in the EU and carries the unique Oeko-Tex non-toxic textiles guarantee.'
We are sure they will agree...
An away kit will be revealed later in the summer. Sportsmail verdict 5/10
Italian inspiration: Errea are Norwich's kit suppliers for their return to the Premier League
STOKE
Stripes are in: Fans will be pleased to see stripes feature on the front and back of the new home shirt
Stoke fans have already been through an identity crisis this season when the traditional stripes were removed from the back of the club's home strip.
But they will be pleased to hear that although they will have to shell out another £45 on a new home shirt, the stripes look set return to the back of the strip.
The club website is taking pre-orders on the kit but has not yet released an official picture.
Adidas have taken things to a new level for the away kit, unveiling a kit that the club believes makes them resemble Inter Milan.
With the club in Europe next term, even captain Ryan Shawcross couldn’t help but notice the obvious link with the Italian giants.
‘Let’s hope we can play like Inter Milan too,' he said. 'It looks very impressive and I am sure it will be a winner with our fans.’
It’s a neat enough effort from Adidas, even with that slightly annoying collar. But despite the optimism of Shawcross, don’t expect the Potters to be challenging for a Champions League place just yet.
Sportsmail verdict 7/10
SUNDERLAND
Judging by the presence of the Premier League badge on the sleeve, the home kit was designed before Sunderland started their alarming slide down the table.
But ignoring the fact that relegation was still a possibility late in the season, this is a smart effort from Umbro, who have kept a simple design with the stripes but included a black trim around the collar and sleeves that looks neat and tidy.
Black Cats fans will certainly look the part. Sportsmail verdict 8/10
For the new away kit there is a simple but effective blue and white design, however Umbro are slightly tempting fate with this.
The last time the Black Cats had these colours as their away strip, they were relegated from the Premier League with a then record low total of 19 points and 21 goals in 2003.
After the slump towards the end of last season fans won't want another reminder of how bad things can really get. On the positive side a chirpy looking Titus Bramble and Co don't look like they will be feeling the blues anytime soon. Sportsmail verdict: 9/10
WOLVES
Wolves have been hot under the collar trying to beat relegation for much of the season so to combat any future problems, designers Burrda have opted for a simple round neck on a new home shirt – the club’s fifth in as many years.
Much of the heavy black trim has gone from the previous design replaced with faint black lines which look fine until you notice the front of the shirt.
The line going across the chest looks like somebody has made a mistake with a ballpoint pen on the design template and is going to take some getting used to.
However it is a subtle attempt to be unique from the designers which fans could grow to like. Sportsmail verdict 6/10
Better news for supporters (and their purse strings) is that the club have decided to retain this year’s black away kit for next season.
Going for gold: Wolves' George Elokobi, Matt Jarvis and Adlene Guedioura (l-r) show off the new home shirt
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Liverpool fans see red over new blue kit
Are you sure about this? Liverpool fans see red over new blue kit... and even Everton are stunned
Merseyside may be neatly divided into red and blue, but someone forgot to tell the designers of the new Liverpool third strip.
Fans are calling for the kit, modelled by Steven Gerrard, to be scrapped because it features the colours of rivals Everton.
Duncan Oldham, editor of fans forum KopTalk, said: ‘This kit should be torched.’Everton striker Louis Saha wrote on Twitter: ‘Blue away kit for Liverpool? Can’t find anything more strange than that.’ -
United wore blue away kits too so why kick up such a big fuss?
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Originally posted by CKeer:
United wore blue away kits too so why kick up such a big fuss?
maturity of some fans.
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pool's original color....blue/white...so y soo noisy?think wat??pool original reds??its nottingham forest,damn it
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Blue is not always the colour for Chelsea
WHITE IS THE COLOUR ... Frank Lampard models Chelsea's new third kit for the 2011/12 seasonFORGET blue is the colour — white, yellow and navy will be on display whenever Chelsea don their third kit this season.
Sports firm adidas describe the shirt as "sleek and stylish, with bold colour blocking on the upper chest".
But the new design may take some time for the Chelsea faithful to get used to as Frank Lampard and Co bid for honours at home and abroad.
Check out the kit for yourself and let us know what you think by posting your comments at the bottom of the page.
IF THE SHIRT FITS ... Chelsea's latest jersey -
They linked the Chelsea 3rd kit as some Russian Revolution thingy...
