Aston Villa players complain Castore shirts negatively impact performance

[chrisw1]

The timelines for producing kits is very long, next season's kits will already be agreed and in the works, so even if we ditch Castore I presume we'll still have their shirts next season.

As for replacing this season's players kits, Rob Warner (kit designer and Villa fan) said it would be very difficult to even do that this season let alone within a few weeks, although I suspect Castore are under huge pressure as it must be damaging their brand.

It's disappointing Newcastle have beaten us to the punch on Adidas.

[London Villan]

With the amount they get through they probably don't have player-only shirts any more - just use the"pro shirt"  that's available in the shop.

[Brend'Watkins]

What's so difficult about making 200 shirts in a breathable fabric to the same design for the playing staff to use?  Problem solved in the short term surely?

[chrisw1]

What's so difficult about making 200 shirts in a breathable fabric to the same design for the playing staff to use?  Problem solved in the short term surely?

You would think so but Rob Warner said it was not that simple.

[AV84]

The real question is are the other team's shirts having the same problem?
I've said repeatedly that it's more visually obvious on ours because of the colour, but there's no reason that it should be only our kits that are actually having the problem. Have Castore shafted us with lower quality material? If they've managed to produce fit for purpose kits for Newcastle, Wolves, Rangers, Rep of Ireland etc. etc. then they should be able to do the same for us.

[LeeB]

What's so difficult about making 200 shirts in a breathable fabric to the same design for the playing staff to use?  Problem solved in the short term surely?

Would take about 5 minutes on Alibaba to resolve.

[DB]

The women's team have to play in same kit/fabric???

[AV84]

The women's team have to play in same kit/fabric???

Presumably it would be a different production run as the fit is different, but unless there was a faulty batch used to make the mens, you'd assume it's the same material.

We'll see this weekend if they look as bad.

[Brend'Watkins]

What's so difficult about making 200 shirts in a breathable fabric to the same design for the playing staff to use?  Problem solved in the short term surely?

You would think so but Rob Warner said it was not that simple.

The simple solutions are usually the best solutions and Rob Warner should inform us as to why it isn't that simple.  I get there may be contractual issues involved but if the item isn't fit for it's intended use then they need to sort it and pronto.

[Risso]

I would guess that changing them now would be an admission that the fabric is faulty/not of the required standard and then they'd possibly face the issue of fans demanding they refund the current kit en masse.

[chrisw1]

What's so difficult about making 200 shirts in a breathable fabric to the same design for the playing staff to use?  Problem solved in the short term surely?

You would think so but Rob Warner said it was not that simple.

The simple solutions are usually the best solutions and Rob Warner should inform us as to why it isn't that simple.  I get there may be contractual issues involved but if the item isn't fit for it's intended use then they need to sort it and pronto.

Rob Warner is just a Villa fan who works in the kit industry, he has nothing to do with our kits.  He was just giving a bit of insight into how these things work.

[Drummond]

Perfect get out for the club this. Heck should be all over it and bringing in a different supplier.

It's a shocker that's for sure.

[Clive W]

Perfect get out for the club this. Heck should be all over it and bringing in a different supplier.

It's a shocker that's for sure.

But presumably someone at the club must have signed off a sealed sample

And if the manufacturer delivers in accordance with that sealed sample then it’s down to the club

[Aldridge Villa]

Trust Heck and a few others are a bit hot under the collar about this one.

[ChicagoLion]

Perfect get out for the club this. Heck should be all over it and bringing in a different supplier.

It's a shocker that's for sure.

But presumably someone at the club must have signed off a sealed sample

And if the manufacturer delivers in accordance with that sealed sample then it’s down to the club

No it isn't.

 If they are not fit for purpose they are not fit for purpose and that is down to the supplier.