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Now the dust has settled on this season's shirt releases & final 3rd shirts have been trickling out (I'm looking at you, Nike), I've decided to grade every major manufacturer on their releases
Let me know if you agree/disagree!
#ThreadsManufacturerGrading
Let me know if you agree/disagree!
#ThreadsManufacturerGrading
JOMA = Grade F
When you see your club announce 'our new technical partner is Joma', that is the shirt manufacturer equivalent of a lengthy jail sentence. Something to be endured.
This year's shirts largely fit into the category 'cheap looking', 'disjointed', 'dull' or all 3
When you see your club announce 'our new technical partner is Joma', that is the shirt manufacturer equivalent of a lengthy jail sentence. Something to be endured.
This year's shirts largely fit into the category 'cheap looking', 'disjointed', 'dull' or all 3
Best Joma Shirts
Worst Joma Shirts
LE COQ SPORTIF = Grade D
'What? They're still making shirts?' I hear you say. Yes, but they're wholly forgettable.
Besides a very basic half and half template, they tend to stick to solid colour
not good, not horrible, not anything really.
Verdict - must try harder
'What? They're still making shirts?' I hear you say. Yes, but they're wholly forgettable.
Besides a very basic half and half template, they tend to stick to solid colour
not good, not horrible, not anything really. Verdict - must try harder
Best Le Coq Sportif Shirts
Worst Le Coq Sportif Shirts
UNDER ARMOUR = Grade D+
Too out there, too busy, too much going on. Long gone are the Under Armour days of the clean new kid on the manufacturer block.
Some flashes of brilliance, but some unforgivable misses.
Spurs moved on, Southampton would be wise to follow suit
Too out there, too busy, too much going on. Long gone are the Under Armour days of the clean new kid on the manufacturer block.
Some flashes of brilliance, but some unforgivable misses.
Spurs moved on, Southampton would be wise to follow suit
Best Under Armour Shirts
Worst Under Armour Shirts
HUMMEL = Grade C-
Let's be absolutely clear - Hummel's work the Cambridge away and Coventry home designs is sublime, but again these are largely playing on nostalgia for success rather than cutting edge design. The rest of the repertoire is below average
Let's be absolutely clear - Hummel's work the Cambridge away and Coventry home designs is sublime, but again these are largely playing on nostalgia for success rather than cutting edge design. The rest of the repertoire is below average
Best Hummel Shirts
Worst Hummel Shirts
NEW BALANCE = Grade C
Pre sponsor, the Lille home shirt had potential to be one of the shirts of the season, showing NB aren't prepared to sit back & produce pH7 shirts
Their desire to think outside the box is admirable, unless that process leads to a grey & pink Celtic shirt
Pre sponsor, the Lille home shirt had potential to be one of the shirts of the season, showing NB aren't prepared to sit back & produce pH7 shirts
Their desire to think outside the box is admirable, unless that process leads to a grey & pink Celtic shirt
Best New Balance Shirts
Worst New Balance Shirts
LOTTO = C+
That Italian manufacturer you remember from your favourite mid 90s shirts are still going & they've got some solid new releases but without ever blowing you away
They have taken the mottled effect and made it their own to jazz up otherwise solid colour shirts
That Italian manufacturer you remember from your favourite mid 90s shirts are still going & they've got some solid new releases but without ever blowing you away
They have taken the mottled effect and made it their own to jazz up otherwise solid colour shirts
Best Lotto Shirts
Worst Lotto Shirts
PUMA = C+
Mixed results.
The NUFC home shirt was apparently inspired by their Inter-Cities Fairs Cup victory but delivery was sloppy. Also the oversized cuff template was scruffy.
That said, the City away, Palace away & Marseille third were each a masterclass in black shirts
Mixed results.
The NUFC home shirt was apparently inspired by their Inter-Cities Fairs Cup victory but delivery was sloppy. Also the oversized cuff template was scruffy.
That said, the City away, Palace away & Marseille third were each a masterclass in black shirts
Best Puma Shirts
Worst Puma Shirts
ADIDAS = B-
This really is a 'what if' review.
What if Adidas put as much thought into every release as they did Arsenal's?
What if they didn't stamp all over Juve's B&W striped tradition?
What if Tiro didn't exist? *sigh*...
This really is a 'what if' review.
What if Adidas put as much thought into every release as they did Arsenal's?
What if they didn't stamp all over Juve's B&W striped tradition?
What if Tiro didn't exist? *sigh*...
Best Adidas Shirts
Worst Adidas Shirts
NIKE = Grade B
Some great shirts produced for Europe's heavy hitters but none are better than those in the Roma range, with the lightning away
& blue classic third 
simply stunning
But a propensity to meddle with home shirts continues to hamper with Inter & Barça suffering
Some great shirts produced for Europe's heavy hitters but none are better than those in the Roma range, with the lightning away
& blue classic third simply stunningBut a propensity to meddle with home shirts continues to hamper with Inter & Barça suffering
Best Nike Shirts
Worst Nike Shirts
JAKO = Grade B+
Leverkusen's 40th anniversary shirt is special, as is the Barnet range cracking too.
A manufacturer who deserves more recognition and a greater number of notable teams. That said, there is the occasional clanger
Leverkusen's 40th anniversary shirt is special, as is the Barnet range cracking too.
A manufacturer who deserves more recognition and a greater number of notable teams. That said, there is the occasional clanger
Jako Best Shirts
Jako Worst Shirts
Errea = Grade B+
The work with the Italian clientele is right up in the upper echelons; the Parma and Pescara ranges are nothing short of stunning.
But slightly more care could've been applied with some of their UK clubs. Majority falls into the category of 'Dull' or 'Horrid'
The work with the Italian clientele is right up in the upper echelons; the Parma and Pescara ranges are nothing short of stunning.
But slightly more care could've been applied with some of their UK clubs. Majority falls into the category of 'Dull' or 'Horrid'
Best Errea Shirts
Worst Errea Shirts
KAPPA = Grade A-
Enter the geometric wizards, with some spectacular and unique shirts using a plethora of interlocking shapes.
Far from one trick ponies though, they have shown an ability to produce great shirts beyond geometric designs
Napoli an unfortunate miss, however
Enter the geometric wizards, with some spectacular and unique shirts using a plethora of interlocking shapes.
Far from one trick ponies though, they have shown an ability to produce great shirts beyond geometric designs
Napoli an unfortunate miss, however
Best Kappa Shirts
Worst Kappa Shirts
CHARLY = Grade A-
I'm going to need you to work with me here. The market within which Charly live (central America) mean sponsors & lots of them.
The shirts themselves are, on the whole, stunning & inventive. They are operating far above the level of the majority of templaters
I'm going to need you to work with me here. The market within which Charly live (central America) mean sponsors & lots of them.
The shirts themselves are, on the whole, stunning & inventive. They are operating far above the level of the majority of templaters
Best Charly Shirts
Worst Charly Shirts
Umbro = Grade A
Top of the template tree. Umbro have been riding high in the last few years since their Renaissance. No longer living in the shadow of Nike/Adidas.
They provide the perfect blend of simplicity and tradition whilst maintaining a strong level of interest/intrigue
Top of the template tree. Umbro have been riding high in the last few years since their Renaissance. No longer living in the shadow of Nike/Adidas.
They provide the perfect blend of simplicity and tradition whilst maintaining a strong level of interest/intrigue
Best Umbro Shirts
Worst Umbro Shirts
MACRON = Grade A*
We are in bespoke kit heaven, free reign to design shirts beyond rigid, overused templates. And haven't Macron excelled?!
Enjoy the work of masters of their craft (except if you're a Stevenage fan, sorry @StevenageFC)
We are in bespoke kit heaven, free reign to design shirts beyond rigid, overused templates. And haven't Macron excelled?!
Enjoy the work of masters of their craft (except if you're a Stevenage fan, sorry @StevenageFC)
Best Macron Shirts
Worst Macron Shirts
