Absolutely no surprises as to the new Saints kits unveiled this morning as both home and away were exactly what had been doing the rounds on the internet.

For a Club who made a big thing of the secrecy and unveiling of the new home and away kits, there is an almighty leak somewhere as both have been doing the rounds on internet sites for the past month and there cant be a Saints fan on line who hasnt seen the home shirt in its entirety prior to 9am today.

Im not going to get into the "stripes" debate, thats for another day, but I will comment on the kit, initially I thought that at least it was a refreshing change from the Liverpool look of last season, but a look around a few other teams reveals that this is not an original or exclusive shirt and that the design is being used by at least two other clubs, Hearts in Scotland have it although their version is in their dark Claret colours, but shockingly a visit to the Bristol City web site shows that they will be wearing the exact same shirt as their home strip this season, the shorts and socks will be different, but as for the shirt the only difference for Bristol City will be sponsor and badge.

As a football kit its not a bad design and if it was exclusive to us it would have its merits, but sadly it isnt and when people see us they will think of Bristol City and probably some other clubs who will have this design, it was bad enough looking like Liverpool circa 1982 last season, but at least you could associate that with success, something you cant do with the 2013 Bristol City team in League 1.

Again the away kit is exactly as shown on the internet for the past weeks, however the distinctive white V neck looks familiar and so it should, last season we headed to Merseyside for the home kit, this one we cross Stanley Park to copy the design for the Everton home kit of 1983-85 albeit in Blue for them, which was reprised for their home shirt four years ago in 2009/10.

I actually quite like this away kit for us, it is distinctive, but its not exactly original and people will again think we are following where Everton lead.

Im pleased that we have gone to Adidas, again another worst ket secret, however as mentioned Im sad that we seem to have merely accepted their off the peg designs and havent insisted on something a little more exclusive, especially as in the case of the away shirt, they have merely copied a design by Le Coq Sportif from 30 years ago.  

Im sure it will sell in droves, thats the nature of the modern game, kids have to have a new shirt each year and its a big money spinner as many will buy it no matter what it looks like, but I pray that next year whoever is responsible for selecting the design will not only have a bigger input into the design rather than merely choosing it from the Adidas catalogue, but will pay heed to our traditions.  

Photo: Action Images

slynch added 09:43 - Jun 28 The new shirt is a representation of the modernist, forward thinking investments of the owners; the new ambition abounding in the club; the resources put into training; the young and aggressive footballers coming through who wish a fresh start to create their own traditions. Or is it from the 3rd rack in JW Sports with an iron-on sticker?
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SirMatt7 added 09:45 - Jun 28 I like it, reminds me of the Draper Tools days
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LostBoys added 09:46 - Jun 28 I did not like and did not buy the red shirt last season which was a first and so I bought the white away one because I felt 'guilty'. I think this season's red Arsenal shirt is terrible and so it is the away shirt again which would have been better in blue and yellow. All very disappointing after the superb white and red sash shirt -one off or not.
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SaintNick added 09:47 - Jun 28 Why ???? Its nothing like any of the kits back then apart from the one that was all red
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SirMatt7 added 09:54 - Jun 28 1985-86
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SaintNick added 10:13 - Jun 28 totally different, only real similarity is that the torso of the shirt is all red
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SaintDavo added 10:25 - Jun 28 Agree with lost boys comment, totally loved the sash shirt and it did have the element of tradition, but why the hell have we gone from retro liverpool to an aresenal/bristol city lookalike ? Seems to me the club is being run much like the government, they dont listen to the majority opinions of the public and dont give a stuff about the culture/history and traditions and pander to the jcl's. Nothing could stop me supporting the saints but i wont be shelling out £50 on a shirt that is mass produced for a quid with no originality, ohh sorry, yes there is, a gold saints badge !

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Santos added 11:39 - Jun 28 Was hoping for a twist on the Ajax shirt to be honest, not keen on this one dissapointed. Away kits these days seem to be a license to do anything for all clubs! looks ok, maybe home kit will grow on me???. Sidetracking from this noticed on wiki today that we have supposedly signed Miroslav Stoch yesterday 4 year deal. probably a typo but here's the link under the early years section. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miroslav_Stoch

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jdsaint added 11:44 - Jun 28 You have to play spot the difference but it is not quite Bristol City. We don't have the white darts under the arms on our home shirt! Also has anyone else noticed that our logo seems to be loosing its colours. I just received my season ticket pack this morning... its beautifully produced and presented but the club logo appears everywhere in monotone like on our new shirts.

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Rednose added 11:48 - Jun 28 All an all very underwhelmed. I fear this could be the thin end of the wedge where our history and tradition is blurred in order for a new era to take over. My biggest annoyance with this is the de-construction of colour from our badge. Don’t normally fear change, but is this the first steps to a badge change? I hope not, I feel violated now with the lack of stripes.

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bstokesaint added 12:32 - Jun 28 I have to admit my first feelings towards the kit were of shock and disappointment. Having had some more time to think about it I just plain hate it now. This is the first time I won't be buying a shirt home or away in many a season. I'd be paying £50 for a shirt which represents none of our identity. I can't think of a kit that I detested more, with the exception of that Pony monstrosity that we once had. I'm just wondering how many people will purchase the indentikit online (less the sponsor and team crest) for £17 instead.. Let's face it that is what you ask for when you market a kit for mass global sales. Huge disappointment.

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ItchenNorth added 12:44 - Jun 28 I like both kits. I'm glade we are staying away from stripes; can't stand the look and all red if far smarter. I would have like the badge to have been color though. Personally I would have liked the home kit to be the same template as the black away kit. The design on this is excellent imo. Bottom line is you will never keep everyone happy, its all personal preference.

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geezershoong added 12:51 - Jun 28 It's worth remembering that when you go in with Adidas, Puma etc you only get templates to choose from.
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REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 16:04 - Jun 28 http://www.kitking.co.uk/product/adidas-tiro-short-sleeve-shirt/9598 Not impressed. £50 is a rip off. What are Saints doing changing kits every season for the last four years? Kits should only be changed every other season or it simply isn't worth buying it.
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undertoomers added 18:36 - Jun 28 Cortese cares very little about our (saints) traditions before he came here. We`re losing our identity, and turning into the Swiss National Team. No more white stripes, more likly a white cross!. At least Cardiff supporters can buy their away shirt to keep with tradition.
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texas added 19:04 - Jun 28 I'm glad the home and away are actually different templates, and honestly, they are quality jerseys. Look at L'pool. That said, ghost stripes or a sash would have gone a long way for the fans. West Brom's away, swapping the black for white, would have been perfect and it uses the same template and the home jersey.
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texas added 19:05 - Jun 28 *as the home jersey. oops
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ExiledSupporter added 22:52 - Jun 28 Am I the only person who wished we still played in a red and white shirt and black shorts - okay with the occasional update for the sake of fashion and revenue? "Yes, probably..." is the answer
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richardmdcooper added 03:35 - Jun 29 I'm with you exiled.. Nick- not sure why this wasn't the article to get into the stripes debate!- seems like the ideal time. I guess there's not muh debate though- we all agree we should play in stripes!
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Boris1977 added 11:36 - Jun 29 Cortese is a clot
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Boris1977 added 11:42 - Jun 29 I've heard that Cortese and the Comittee are going to ban the singing of WTSGMI at St Mary's. From now on offcial songs that the customers at St Mary's will be allowed to sing, with the express permisson of Cortese and the Committee, will be announced ahead of the game in the matchday perspectus.
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SaintDownUnder added 02:39 - Jun 30 The thing that I can't get past is the lack of care, time or pride that's gone into this. If you look at The link in Reedys post you can see you can buy the same shirt off the peg from Adidas for £11, so stick a gold badge on it and we're supposed to pay £50+ for it? The shirt is just a generic template which, as Nick points out, other clubs are using, no imagination, no time taken to design something unique, no pride about the end result whatsoever. I assume the motivations here are financial, off the peg is cheaper than bespoke but (being a fan Cortese) i think this is one of the rare occasions where the management of the club have got something completely wrong and perhaps misjudge the importance the fans place on the identity of their club.

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saintmark1976 added 10:54 - Jun 30 In my opinion football like most of our modern day life is now run by the banks and money men. The truly awful new shirts are just another example of the above, i e buy them cheap stick on a badge which looks even cheaper and sell them to a captive audience at a vast profit.Tradition and history and the fact that the Saints play in red and white stripes at home and yellow away,nah that no longer matters just as long as they make more money. My only suggestion is simple. Do not buy the shirts. Simply wear your old ones with a proper badge. Any true fan will not think any the less of you.Then possibly next time around the fans may get listened to, although somehow I doubt it.

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simmo400 added 04:35 - Jul 1 Total con. £50. Made for 50p. Make a stand don't buy it. Wear a old one or retro.
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jonrog added 08:50 - Jul 2 Hey it's simple just don't buy them. I'm happy to wear a 5 year old shirt. All my normal ones are that old.
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