Aston Villa players complain Castore shirts negatively impact performance

[trinityoap]

Were the shirts not tried out in full on training sessions before the deal was signed off and if not why not?

[Brend'Watkins]

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.

Absolutely this.

[chrisw1]

Were the shirts not tried out in full on training sessions before the deal was signed off and if not why not?

Probably because they've been supplying kits for years and nobody foresaw them deciding to make this seasons out of loft insulation.

[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

No it isn't.

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

I think it’s more complicated than that if you read the act

Point 3 below is very subjective
Points 4 and 5 would suggest that it is the club’s fault

Key rights about the goods, under the Act

3. The  goods must be of satisfactory quality;
4. The goods must be fit for a particular purpose the consumer has made known
5. The goods should match any description, sample or model by reference to which
they were supplied

[chrisw1]

I don't think it's that subjective at all.  It's clear they're not of satisfactory quality and it's clear they are not fit for the purpose of elite sport.

[VILLA MOLE]

I don't think it's that subjective at all.  It's clear they're not of satisfactory quality and it's clear they are not fit for the purpose of elite sport.

Yes they will have bench mark comparisons and no other shirts seem to do this

[Clive W]

I don't think it's that subjective at all.  It's clear they're not of satisfactory quality and it's clear they are not fit for the purpose of elite sport.

Yes they will have bench mark comparisons and no other shirts seem to do this

If, as seems possible, this ends in a contractual dispute, then it will not be as clear cut as some here like to think

[Chris Smith]

I don't think it's that subjective at all.  It's clear they're not of satisfactory quality and it's clear they are not fit for the purpose of elite sport.

Yes they will have bench mark comparisons and no other shirts seem to do this

If, as seems possible, this ends in a contractual dispute, then it will not be as clear cut as some here like to think

I would expect the suppliers will want to resolve this to avoid gaining a reputation for providing kit that is unfit for purpose. Otherwise they may find it difficult convincing other clubs to take their brand in a very competitive market.

[Ads]

Working out in a very wet top because of sweat really impacts my breathing (general gasping of breath!) can only imagine how dire it would be in heat and at an elite level.

Interesting to speculate on the contract (if you say so) but futile, because we cannot see it.

[London Villan]

As a top-level sport, where everything is measured, tracked and reported on, to try and find the incremental advantages, the kit issue seems to be a massive oversight.

A Sunday league team would reject shirts with a performance like that, let alone a £200m turnover premier league team.

[Dante Lavelli]

Heck can’t do much if badges/kit deals are already fixed in stone for X years, so he may be looking at ways to re-open deals.

[pablo_picasso]

Well, that Heck chap is happy to hike prices, change the crest, ignore the fans & lie to us with PR garbage, so he should be able to get rid of a supplier that is shit & move to someone decent.

I know Sawiris has a 6% investment in adidas, so hopefully we can get a good deal with them & out this sorry situation in our rear view mirror...

[chrisw1]

Re competitive advantage.  This is the Rob Warner referred to above (ex-Puma).  The Cameroon all in one kit is horrific, but the 2006 WC kits offering a 0.8m aerodynamic advantage over a 30m sprint is crazy when you think about marginal gains.  The converse of this is a heavy, sopping wet kit slowing players down.

[paul_e]

To go back a little bit for the discussion around time lines, etc I think there has bene a bit of duff info in here earlier. Getting rid of Castore for next season is definitely possible. We didn't have the badge on the current shirts until the middle of November last year so there would easily be time, especially if we switched and went for a very simple design for this year (which is exactly the right approach for the 150th).

[chrisw1]

To go back a little bit for the discussion around time lines, etc I think there has bene a bit of duff info in here earlier. Getting rid of Castore for next season is definitely possible. We didn't have the badge on the current shirts until the middle of November last year so there would easily be time, especially if we switched and went for a very simple design for this year (which is exactly the right approach for the 150th).

I don't think you're right Paul.  I'm sure kits are sorted over a year in advance.  Adding a changed badge isn't the same as a complete kit redesign and lining up factory time etc.