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expatimes · 4 years ago

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Is Mesut Ozil’s ‘dream’ move to Fenerbahce a gamble?

Fenerbahce’s signing of Mesut Ozil from Arsenal has generated huge excitement among fans of the Turkish football club that has had little to cheer about in recent years.

The Istanbul-based giants – one of Turkish football’s ‘big three’ clubs – have not won the Turkish Super League since 2014, an eternity for a club of its stature.

The signing of 32-year-old Ozil, an attacking midfielder of Turkish origin and a World Cup winner with Germany, became the biggest signing in Turkish football for many years.

So much was the excitement that, according to Flightradar24, at one point more than 300,000 people were tracking his flight from London to Istanbul on January 18.

Yesterday, over 1 million @Fenerbahce fans followed @MesutOzil1088’s flight from London to Istanbul. At peak, over 300,000 people were following the flight at the same time. https://t.co/O2XjKDO5MT pic.twitter.com/WlQvFeZkx4

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 18, 2021

But amid the fanfare, Ozil arrives in Istanbul with footballing and political baggage and raises the stakes this season for Fenerbahce and its beleaguered club president Ali Koc.

‘Very excited’

From a financial point of view, the transfer is – ostensibly, at least – astonishing.

Turkish football is mired in debt, partly from years of chronic overspending on players and little financial accountability.

Although Ozil joined as a free agent, Fenerbahce – whose estimated debt stands at more than $500m – had to launch a fundraising campaign to finance his wages, asking fans for donations.

His three-and-a-half-years contract will land Ozil at least nine million euros ($10.9m) as well as a signing bonus of 550,000 euros ($667,340).

While Fenerbahce are banking on selling Ozil merchandise and hoping he leads the club to the league title that would land a hefty dividend with Champions League qualification, his arrival could further limit the club’s ability to meet its obligations under UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules which dictate that clubs have to break even.

It will add more foreign currency debt to a club at a time when the Turkish lira is notably weak.

📹 Şimdi Fenerbahçe YouTube'da!

👉 https://t.co/y42eTn85zP pic.twitter.com/jxlrppt9Zh

— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) January 26, 2021

Ozil took a huge pay cut to terminate the remaining six months of his contract at Arsenal, which was thought to have been worth up to 350,000 pounds ($480,100) a week.

He could have also earned significantly more money by signing with a club in the United States or Qatar.

But after earning reportedly close to 100 million pounds ($137.4m) during his time at Arsenal, Ozil perhaps did not need the money so much as he needs love and respect after a difficult few years.

Fenerbahce and Turkey seem to hold a strong emotional pull for him.

Born and raised in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, Ozil says he supported Fenerbahce since childhood and that joining this club was a “dream” move.

“I’m very excited. God gave me the chance to wear this jersey as a Fenerbahce fan. God willing, I will carry it with honour and do everything I can for the team,” he said on Wednesday at his unveiling.

I grew up as a @Fenerbahce fan as a kid in Germany – every German-Turkish person supports a Turkish team when they grow up in Germany. And mine was Fenerbahce. Fenerbahce is like Real Madrid in Spain. The biggest club in the country 🇹🇷 https://t.co/Y3hEba79IO

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) January 11, 2021

In Turkey, Ozil is a hero for some.

Part of the excitement is down to his star quality, but it is also seen by some as a kind of ‘homecoming’ for a player who has always been proud of his Turkish heritage.

He will wear the number 67 – the first two digits of the post code and license plate number of his family’s native Zonguldak province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

It seems likely that Ozil is craving adulation after allegedly facing racism during his international career and becoming an increasingly divisive and forlorn figure at Arsenal over the past few seasons.

Some even joked that the number of people tracking his flight to Istanbul included many Arsenal fans who wanted to be sure he had really gone.

Arriving with baggage

Ozil was Arsenal’s record signing when former manager Arsene Wenger brought him from Real Madrid in 2013.

During his first few seasons in the Premier League, he dazzled with his flair and creativity, and ended up with 44 goals and 77 assists in 254 appearances.

But he also became a lightning rod for criticism and controversy.

While he made 92 international appearances and was a key part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning side, he ended his international career in 2018 after what he called racist criticism and scapegoating following Germany’s first-round exit at the 2018 tournament.

“I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,” he said.

Ozil was also heavily criticised in Germany when he posed for a photo with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Erdogan was the best man at Ozil’s wedding the following year.

Ozil’s performances and returns on the pitch for Arsenal declined over time and he was increasing out of favour – especially after Wenger departed in 2018.

He became deeply unpopular among many Arsenal fans. Detractors questioned his commitment to the club while receiving one of the highest salaries in the league.

More sympathetic fans pointed to his languid playing style that belied the significant distance that he used to cover on the pitch and bemoaned the lack of playing time he was given amid his stated desire to break back into the Arsenal team.

He also found himself at odds with the club in December 2019 after his comments regarding China’s persecution of its Turkic and Muslim Uighur minority, which the club distanced itself from.

Ozil took more flak after rejecting a pay cut during the COVID lockdown last year.

His last competitive appearance for Arsenal was in March 2020 but he insists he is in good shape and Koc said he should be ready to make his debut in the Istanbul derby against Galatasaray on February 6, if not sooner.

Looming election

His transfer is still a gamble for Fenerbahce.

Perhaps Ozil will settle down quickly and excel in a league that has a lower standard than the Premier League.

But he has not played for almost a year – it’s not clear how good he is now – and he may struggle to adapt to a more rudimentary style, in a physical and volatile league, alongside some teammates that may be nowhere near his level.

It is a lot to expect one player to transform a team which Fenerbahce, despite being second in the table, has long struggled for consistent form.

Ozil with Fenerbahce president Ali Koc during official signing

Koc – an urbane scion of one of Turkey’s richest families – was elected president in 2018 after pledging to reverse the club’s fortunes, repair its dire finances, and develop young players while ending excessive transfers that were often burdens and flops.

But with a new election due at some point later this year, the club has yet to win a trophy under his stewardship.

Turkish football is notoriously impatient, the pressure is immense, and disgruntled fans and members need appeasing. Signing Ozil could be a useful and popular gambit ahead of the looming election, but it is also risky.

Koc has delivered Ozil, and now Ozil will be expected to deliver this season’s title.

Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=17382&feed_id=30964

#football #MiddleEast #News #Sports #Turkey

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torentialtribute · 5 years ago

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Premier League kits 2019-20: Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and the rest

Every Premier League club has now unveiled their 2019/20 home and away kits for the new season with Third kits still revealed

They can range from bizarre to beautiful and from basic to innovative, but it's never boring to wait for the latest Premier League kit releases. ]

Admittedly, it feels like every year they are all trying to buy one team to pay the bank credit, but what are the costs worth and which should be avoided?

Sportsmail will keep you up to date on all releases of the third kit from each side of the Premier League during the summer, and give you our opinion on the design of each strip …

ARSENAL

Home kit

It's a new era in Arsenal in the front kit because Puma is out and Adidas is back for the first time in 25 years.

Judging from their first comic for the Gunners on their return, supporters are unlikely to want to leave because they have produced an excellent kit, even by keeping it simple.

The three stripes have been tastefully added and the piping around the neck and sleeves both serves as a tribute to earlier adidas Arsenal sets, but is also a perfect addition to the design. However, can it help to bring the good times back to the Emirates Stadium?

HOME KIT VERDICT: 9/10

Arsenal officially launched their new adidas home kit prior to the campaign 2019-20

Arsenal & # 39; s deadly striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang poses in the new adidas set

Off-kit

The off-set of Arsenal from the early 1990s has always been a favorite with fans, but simply bringing it back almost 30 years later, as tempting as it is, it would ultimately be there worry that loses its allure.

So Adidas did the following best and produced a new comic with a modern look and yet features the famous comic worn by Ian Wright, who was also part of the new kit disclosure

yellow shirt contains vague naval lines across the strip, which is enough to stand out, but not enough to otherwise take on a navy yellow number. It is hard to see how it can be improved considerably.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 9/10

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang helped unveil the new Arsenal off-set for the 2019-20 season

Ian Wright modeled after the early shirt 1990s on which the new comic is based on

It's retro, remastered

Introducing our 2019/20 @adidasfootball out kit – inspired by one of our most iconic jerseys of all time

– Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 16, 2019

ASTON VILLA

Home kit

Aston Villa are back in the Premier League and back in traditional equipment for their return from the top flight.

Their traditional claret tops and blue sleeves are the first for the new kit supplier Kappa, who also sees them as the sponsor that local competitor Wolverhampton Wanderers used last year

decent sensation set, if you can look at the dodgy uneven sleeves.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Tyrone Mings unveiled the new kit from Aston Villa for the 2018-19 season on their top return

Kappa becomes the kit supplier for the West Midlands side for the first time

Mings unveiled the kit after confirming his permanent move from Bournemouth

Out of kit

It's all going pretty well in Aston Villa. There is usually a disaster around the corner. But besides the promotion to the Premier League and the unveiling of a smart new home kit, they also have a decent lane in their hands.

For the first time in a decade, they will predominantly have a sky-blue set, which will look even better when combined with the claret shorts and socks.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 8/10

Aston Villa has unveiled their first predominantly sky blue kit in more than 10 years

BOURNEMOUTH

Home kit

Good use of Umbro. They have not only succeeded in keeping the tradition of a Bournemouth package with black and red stripes, but they have also succeeded in making it fresh.

The recent offer of the Cherries had become a little musty, but with red sleeves and a faded red stripe going through the kit, this should keep the fans content for a fifth consecutive Premier League campaign .

HOME KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Bournemouth has come closer to a more home-based kit for the 2019-20 campaign

Off-kit

Bournemouth fans had to wait long in the summer before they saw their new off-kit but it was worth the wait?

That is indeed it. This term is offered a stylish navy number, with a detailed detail on the shoulders to give it a function.

The shorts have a hint of random pink decoration, but this kit doesn't ruin that.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 7/10 [1945903]

] Summer signing Philip Billing models of the new Bournemouth out-kit for the 2019-2019 season

Third kit

The third kits go, this is about as close as you can be lively and neat.

And if it were another club, we would give it a good score, but the cherries lose points by releasing a green third-party kit that somehow lacks originality.

Why? Because this effort from Umbro is almost like-for-like, exactly the same change strip that the Cherries wore in the 2016-17 campaign.

THIRD KIT VERDICT: 5/10

New Bournemouth signing Jack Stacey , models the new third strip of the club

The green kit has similarities with The Third Strip of the Cherries from the 2016-17 campaign

BRIGHTO N & HOVE ALBION

Home-kit and out-kit

Brighton only just nicely turned away Premier League relegation last term but before May a few brand new kits were ready for 2019 -20 revealed.

The home lane closed the thick stripes of 2018-19 – opting for a more contemporary design with some neat details applied within the blue stripes – perhaps their best home kit since promotion.

Unfortunately, the absence kit does not have the same excitement. It is a standard black strip with very little else to continue and is therefore quite forgettable.

HOME KIT: 8/10

AWAY KIT: 5/10

Brighton & # 39; s new home kit (center) and strip away (left) ) were revealed before 2019-20

The green strip from the 2018-19 season becomes the d the strip of seagull this period

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BURNLEY

Home kit

If you are neutral, you may think that this is just another standard Burnley set, but the devil is in the details for what is actually a smart design.

To begin with, the strip boasts the classic traditional features of a Burnley home shirt – a fully burgundy front with light blue sleeves and subtle neck finish.

It doesn't happen as much as you think, and to conclude it is made by Umbro, who returns as a supplier for the first time since 1981.

Unfortunately, the great traditional look is somewhat spoiled by the very modern and sloppy gambling sponsor logo.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 7/10

For this season, Umbro delivers Burnley put on their match kits for the first time since 1980

Uit-kit

Burnley recently produced some faint comics – last season they had a completely black and completely white design.

But this is much more like that of Umbro, because they have revealed an attractive blue number with subtle design patterns on the chest.

The patterns are based on the graphics of the shirt for home clothing 1991-1993 and it is not surprising that the modern twist triumphed again over the fashion standards of the 90s.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 8/10

Burnley & # 39 ; s new out kit is inspired by the home strips played between 1991 and 1993

CHELSEA

Home kit

Swing and a lady. There is a fine line to step on when trying to design a kit with a crazy pattern in the shade.

An example of how to do it right with Mexico & 1998's World Cup kit, and even they had the benefit of the fashion crime amnesty that has been in force for much of the years. 1990.

However, the Blues have no such defense and even Eden Hazard looks like he thinks he would rather be somewhere else judging it by promoting club photos.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 4/10

Eden Hazard stood at the front and center of the new kit unveiling of Chelsea, the model of next season's shirt

The new kit has a crazy pattern within the stitching in Nike's latest range

]

Hazard, pictured in the Kit 2019-20, has since signed for Real Madrid since the launch of the comic

Away kit

Nothing unusual at first glance on the Chelsea strip – much of it is fairly standard for the west side of London, with a white kit complimented with red and blue piping

But look at that collar. It's been a while since we saw one of those on a Chelsea strip – complete with smart buttons too.

It looks like a top pole and diminishes its influence from the Mod scene of the 1960s. Anyway, it is a legacy that we can leave behind.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 8/10

Chelsea has released a new equipment set that affects the 1960s Mod scene

Cesar Azpilicueta, Ethan Ampadu and K & K # 39; Kolo unveiled the new Chelsea strip

CRYSTAL PALACE

Home kit

No tension, right? For the neutral, it's a standard Crystal Palace set with red and blue stripes – but Eagles supporters may have noticed a subtle difference somewhere.

The yellow piping that has been on their shirts since they were promoted to the top flight for the 2013-14 season is now over and has been replaced by white, which is included as a stylish stripe over blue parts of the shirt.

Otherwise, it's just your standard Crystal Palace shirt. Yet Puma has tried to do something else and they come from you, you don't have to be radical to make remarkable changes.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Crystal Palace bore their 2019-2020 home lane on the last day of the previous season

The Eagles ran 5-3 winners on Bou New in their new comic in Selhurst Park

Out of kit

Credit where it is due to Crystal Palace. In an era where most clubs use road kits to come up with any color they can come up with to promote originality, they have maintained a rotation of white, yellow and black and have often made it work.

A Good Example – This season's away game. The black strip has the red and blue Palace colors on the front and on the shoulders, with the look interrupted by wavy black lines.

It sounds terrible, but the final look is anything but. It's a Puma cracker and even the messy sponsor can't ruin it.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 9/10

Christian Benteke shows off the new Crystal Palace off-set for the 2019-20

Stylish new out-set from Palace goes down with supporters

EVERTON

Home kit

For years, kit designers have been telling us about a brand new strip with a kind of technical innovation that improves performance.

But recently, the most modern way of marketing is a kit to base a design on an inspiration, however weak the link may be.

Some are more ridiculous than others and Everton is certainly entering a fine line with a new home kit with criss-cross patterns based on the design aspects seen in their home area Goodison Park.

Total bullshit? Yes, but is the kit good? It's excellent, and you don't have to know anything about Archibald Leitch to appreciate it.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 9/10

Everton debuted with their new home package during a friendly about Kenyan silk Kariobangi Sharks

The shirt was inspired by Goodis Park-designed architecture by Archibald Le itch

Off Kit

When titles appear far away, perhaps the only thing left is to stick to memories of past success.

Except that Everton fans can't agree with their new out kit, which is based on the top flight winners from the 1890-91 season – almost a good 100 years before & # 39; soccer was invented & # 39;

Coral and navy blue are the official colors, if salmon is too low an eyebrow and it has been used twice as an equipment set between 1992 and 1994 and, with black trim instead of blue, 2001-02 . Yet it is quite a brush-up for an out-kit for the Toffees.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Theo Walcott (center) helped unveil Everton & # 39; s coral and navy-blue strip for the season

LEICESTER CITY

Home kit

In terms of replica tops, there is not much else for Leicester City, apart from a switch back to gold finishing after a season with white to complement their blue tops. In reality it feels like the shirts have not changed for almost half a decade, but there are small details in the fabric.

The biggest change is with the shorts that have returned from white to blue for blue the first time since the days of Nigel Pearson as boss in 2015. The Foxes fought against degradation in those days, but the future sees a bit more rosy under Brendan Rodgers.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 6/10

Leicester City wore their 2019-2020 home lane on the last day of last season against Chelsea

Away Kit

It's hard to get a pink strip wro ng. Everton did it almost ten years ago when they made the color too strong, but this one from Leicester is fantastic.

Admittedly, a template is needed from a strip of the German World Cup from 2018 – meaning that it makes little sense for the kit, given that design has symbolic significance for the success of the country World Cup .

Still, football is fun, and it's really not worth arguing and sending in the extensive resources of the football fashion police. ]

But with a black third strip with black shorts, why does the strip also have black shorts?

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 8/10 [1945903]

Hamza Choudhury shows off the Leicester City kit for the 2019-20 season

Third kit

Leicester City is on strangers for black kits, with the foxes … what do you mean, it's not black?!

Apparently the color is & # 39; dark gray heather & # 39 ;. The only thing we know is that it looks neat enough and has a navy pattern on the front, it's hardly one to remember and it doesn't look good like the pink strip.

It also means that a new goalkeeper kit is in the way, that is also black … or dark gray heather.

THIRD VERDICT KIT: 6/10 [1945903]

Jamie Vardy poses against a graffiti background with the new Leicester third shirt

LIVERPOOL

Home kit

]

Liverpool hebben hun nieuwe thuispakket voor 2019-20 uitgebracht en hoewel er weinig verrassing is dat het rood is, t hier is een terugkeer naar de strip die sinds 1984 niet meer wordt gezien.

Pinstrepen zijn weer in zwang in Anfield nadat ze voor het laatst op de thuiskit waren verschenen toen ze hun vierde Europese beker optrokken.

Het zou leuker zijn geweest als de strepen helemaal in de set waren verwerkt, maar misschien hielp het idee om tekort te schieten het oude ontwerp te combineren met een modern concept.

Alle grapjes opzij, dit is een slimme strip en een goede aanbieden van New Balance in het laatste jaar van hun Reds-deal.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 8/10

Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Alisson en Naby Keita werden afgebeeld met de kit

Sadio Mane wees naar het insigne terwijl hij pronkte met de laatste strip ontworpen door New Balance

Uit kit

Als je Europees kampioen bent, kun je doen wat je wilt, maar de uit-kit Jurgen Klopp's mannen spelen op bepaalde gronden weg op bepaalde gronden. De volgende termijn zal waarschijnlijk niet lang in de herinnering blijven leven. ze gaan en winnen met 5-0 natuurlijk in Manchester United, maar vanuit esthetisch oogpunt heeft het niet echt veel zin.

Het witte shirt, de marine shorts en het witte sokkenontwerp hebben niets mis with it as such… just it does not really stand out. Neat and tidy and looks ok but otherwise it's just a white shirt.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 6/10

(Left-to-right) Naby Keita, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah model the new Liverpool away kit

Andy Robertson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Xherdan Shaqiri strike a pos e at Anfield

Third kit

There's always a danger when releasing a black kit that it could just end up being a boring after thought – especially if the colour is used often on a change strip.

In the case of the latter, Liverpool fall into that category. But New Balance look like they may have just done enough to make their third kit slightly more distinctive.

The cyan trim is a nice touch, and while the front of the shirt makes it look like they are playing in kits made of carbon fibre, you will see far worse patterned displays.

THIRD KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Liverpool have revealed their striking new 'Phantom Black' third strip for the upcoming season

It is unclear when they will wear it for the first time but they still have a number of friendlies

MANCHESTER CITY

Home kit

When you are England's first champions to defend their title in ten years you have earned the right to produce something a bit leftfield, and Manchester City have certainly done that!

The new home strip looks simple enough, even with the trim but on closer inspection (and in the cold light of day outside of fancy PR pictures) the trim for the first time ever i s a purple colour.

It's based on the city's industrial heritage, but it is going to take some getting used to. Once we do, it will of course be time to release another round of new kits…

HOME KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Manchester City stars (left to right) Raheem Sterling, Caroline Weir, Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne model the home strip, which draws inspiration from Manchester's industrial heritage

David Silva, entering his final season as a City player, models the new City home strip

Away kit

Black kits have become a bit cliched over the years but City might have done just enough here to keep the concept interesting.

Their strip is based on the famous Manchester nightclub, The Hacienda, which throughout the 1980s and 1990s helped produce the 'Madchester' scene.

Blue and peach help add some additional colour to the yellow trim complete with a badge that this season celebrates 125 years of the club.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 7/10

The black away kit pays tribute to the city's 'Madchester' years and The Hacienda nightclub

Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane, David Silva and Bernard Mendy (left to right) show off Manchester City's new away kit, while Ederson sports his pink goalkeeper strip

Third kit

Here it is, the most lazy use of the word 'inspired' yet. City's new third strip for next season is apparently a reflection of the team's style of football that saw them retain the Premier League title.

It also means they will tour parts of the country dressed like a pack of Barratt's Fruit Salads – which to be fair is arguably the confectionery sweet of champions.

It serves a purpose in being distinctly different to the away kit and home kit but it looks a bit too garish and is going to look a little ridiculous on a bitterly cold winter's day on the road.

THIRD KIT VERDICT: 6/10

Man City trio Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling (M) and Leroy Sane (R) launched the third kit

MANCHESTER UNITED

Home kit

W hen you have just endured a horror campaign, there's only one thing you can do when you're a fallen giant. Look back on the good old days!

And of course for Manchester United that means partying like it's 1999 and releasing a strip based on the treble year.

United fans will recognise that shield crest from their Champions League winning kit from anywhere, and just in case there was any doubt of it's homage to that 'one night in Barcelona' – the kit even has the date on it.

But while the strip is a smoke and mirrors distraction to the carnage at Old Trafford in the present day, it looks great – especially as the traditional white shorts have returned too.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 8/10

Alex Greenwood, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard helped reveal the new Manchester United kit

The strip pays homage to the kit Manchester United used to win the treble in 1999

Away kit

With all the carnage on the pitch in recent times, Manchester United supporters can at least take some comfort that off the pitch at least some things are going to plan.

In addition to their new and improved home kit, they also have a striking new away design, with a savannah coloured inspired strip nicely complimented by clean black trim.

It features a unique patterned design within its fabric, and has a few shades of the gold coloured strip from 2001-02. It's a win at Anfield away from becoming a firm favourite.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 8/10

Wantaway star Paul Pogba was one of the Red Devil players modelling the new strip

The adidas away strip for the 2019-20 season features a unique styling pattern within its fabric

Club captain of the women's team Alex Greenwood was also photographed wearing the strip

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Home kit

Here we are then, quite possibly the laziest attempt at producing a tribute kit to past glories ever seen.

Newcastle's latest home kit is nod towards the team that 50 years ago won the Fairs Cup – the predecessor to the UEFA Cup/Europa League and not even recognised by UEFA.

Except it contains very little features that distinguish it to any other Newcastle kit before and since that season, barring the collar black and white collar.

The good news is though that the reduced amount of stripes and tonal badge actually give the home design a fresh look. So in summary, nothing wrong with the kit – just a bit needless to bring in a long dead tournament to promote it.

HOME KIT: 7/10

Newcastle United have revealed their new home kit for the 2019-20 Premier League campaign

A tonal crest is striking on the black stripe as the club look to mirr or a side from yesteryear

The kit pays tribute to the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup champions on the 50th anniversary

Away kit

There won't be many supporters that are green with envy at the situation playing out off the pitch at Newcastle United.

But a few of them may wish they had an away kit similar to the one the Toon will be playing in this term.

Granted, it's not a massive head turner. But the mixture of dark greens is a fresh look offered and is one of the smarter away kits on offer this term.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Newcastle United wore their new away kit for the first time in a friendly at Preston North End

Third kit

You would have thought football clubs would be running out of inspiration to base their new football kits on, but Newcastle have found a new direction with their third strip.

Of course the first thing to note is that there will be no danger of the Toon players struggling to pick out a team-mate – with their kit a bright orange. Just their second in history after the rarely used strip during 2011-12.

But those random patterns on the shirt are not random at all, as it is based on the club's St James's Park roof… of course it is.

THIRD KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Newcastle United's third kit featured detail from the St James's Park roof

NORWICH CITY

Home kit

Thinking of a design for the new Norwich City home kit obviously was not too taxing for the folks over at Errea.

It really could not have drifted that much further aw ay from 'do what Tottenham and M anchester United did for 2018-19.'

Regardless of how they decided Norwich's first new Premier League kit for four years, Errea have produced a catchy number. The neck is a little busy, but that is not enough to ruin a decent kit.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 8/10

Norwich City have released their first new Premier League kit since 2015

The yellow shirts gradually fade into green at the bottom before merging with the shorts

Away kit

It's a thumbs up from the Norwich City players for the new away kit, with the Canaries going on the road with an unfamiliar red strip next term.

Unfamiliar but not unprecedented as the club did go red alert on their travels during the 2007-8 season.

It's a thumbs up too from us, with Errea producing a bold fresh design for fans with the red kit well complimented by yellow trim.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 8/10

Norwich City will play in a predominately red kit for the first time since the 2007-08 season

Third kit

Black and grey. Hardly the most inspiring of colours are they. Yet somehow, Errea have made a damn good third kit out of the combo.

They have even done it by making the dullest of colours, pencil grey, the primary colour, complimenting it with black trim on the sleeves and buttoned collar.

The woven in pattern on the bottom left of the strip that fades as it creeps up is also a nice touch. Perhaps most importantly, Norwich now have three strips of completely different colour. No kit clash dangers for the Canaries this term.

THIRD KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Norwich City released their third strip just a week before the start of the season

SHEFFIELD UNITED

Home and away kit

No thrills added from Sheffield United on the kit stakes as they return to the Premier League for the first time in 12 years.

And in fairness none are needed in a home strip which for the most part has a similar template to the kit that won promotion from the Championship. Aside from a new sponsor the main difference is the reversal of the red and white colouring.

Likewise the white away kit also offers little to take notice of, but it's smart enough and Blades fans will agree it will look even better with Premier League badges on the side.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 7/10

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 6/10

Sheffield United have revealed the kit that will feature in the Premier League this term

The Blades also unveiled a traditional white away kit on their return to the top flight

The Blades will hope they can avoid Premier League relegation for the first time since 1993

SOUTHAMPTON

Home, away and third kit

Swing and a miss. Southampton launched their new kits with a 'mockumentry' which like the kits, seemed to have been a good idea that has lost its way.

The home kit retains the Saints stripes, but the black shoulder panel makes the kit rather too busy – and it's not helped by a new sponsor failing to blend with the design.

The away kit of black and yellow is the best of a bad bunch and makes best use of the shoulder panel template, while the white based third strip suffers from the same problems as the home kit albeit to a lesser extent

HOME KIT VERDICT: 4/10

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 7/10

THIRD KIT VERDICT: 6/10

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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Home kit

Superb strategy from those fo lks at Nike. In the previous year's home strip they added a nonsensical blue fade to the bottom of the shirt and ruined what otherwise would have been an acceptable Spurs kit.

Little did we know they were just playing the long game. For this year they have removed the fade added some trim on the bottom of the sleeves and got a brand new kit out of it.

That's certainly one way of refreshing a new kit every year. Spurs fans though have a problem, for the sixth consecutive season, in that there is still a big red sponsor logo accompanying their primary colours.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Nike have tweaked last season's home strip, removing the unpopular blue fade

Eric Dier (left) and Son-Heung Min helped unveil the new Tottenham home kit for this season

Away kit

You can't really go wrong with a navy away shirt around White Hart Lane, yet somehow Nike fudged last year's attempt with the addition of a lighter blue that made it look like a pajama top.

But this is much more like a traditional Spurs away kit, with the navy tone perfect and the additional pattern on the chest adding some detail while not being all that intrusive either.

The bad news for the shirt is that it has a good chance of being better than the yet to be released third shirt, which by Tottenham's logic means they will probably only wear ever it twice.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 8/10

For the fourth consecutive season Tottenham Hotspur have revealed a navy blue away kit

Striker Harry Kane models the new away strip to be worn throughout the 2019-20 season

WATFORD

Home kit

Perhaps in an era when many teams slightly alter their home shirts each year and then charge supporters £60 for the privilege of owning it, it is refreshing to see Watford year-on-year drastically alter the arrangement of the ir home colours.

Yes, yes, it shows a lack of tradition in a club's shirt identity but given tradition has been collapsing in all corners of football over the years, there are far worse crimes in the game than drastically altering home strips.

Unprecedented yellow and black stripes have been replaced by an unprecedented half-half shirt and it works well enough for us with the red adidas trim also a nice compliment.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Troy Deeney shows off Watford's new home shirt for the upcoming season

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Away kit

It was always going to be difficult to replace the popular green away strip from last season (at least if you want to keep cashing in commercially), but adidas may have just done that.

Their patterned navy blue away strip looks superb – and that's even taking into account the rather ugly betting sponsor on the front.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 9/10

Watford have unveiled a smart navy blue away kit ahead of the 2019-20 season

WEST HAM UNITED

Home and Away kit

Everyone loves a throwback and that's exactly the r oute West Ham United have gone down for their hom e and away kits heading into next season.

The 2019-20 will mark 40 years since the club's famous FA Cup win over Arsenal at Wembley which remains their last major trophy.

So it's a return to the strips from the era, with the home kit featuring a blue chest panel which was a constant feature from the mid-1970s until 1980.

The away kit borrows claret and blue elements from the Cup winning strip on the sleeves and neck, and is the pick of the two, with the home design perhaps a strip only a mother… or a fan could love.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 6/10

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 7/10

West Ham's new strips have been inspired by the 1980 FA Cup-winning team

West Ham midfielder Felipe Anderson models new home (left) and away kits for 2019-20

Third kit

Nothing too thrilling from Umbro here, but at the very least it is not going to be a strip that divides opinion between supporters too much.

The navy colours are well complimented by the pink trim, with a woven pattern weaved into the front of the kit to give it some sort of character.

It's unlikely to become a favourite in years to come (unless they win a Wembley final in it) but it has just enough going on to keep fans satisfied.

THIRD KIT VERDICT: 7/10

New West Ham signing Sebastien Haller models the third strip for the 2019-20 campaign

The Hammers wore the strip for their Asia Trophy clash with Manchester City

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Home kit

Wolves' first season back in the top flight saw adidas give them a classy home kit even if it was a little brighter than fans were perhaps used to.

So for this season the tone has darkened slightly, and if that still is not enough, the home strip features pop art like darker splashes of gold to compliment a very attractive kit (if you can see past the sponsor.)

The socks are black for the first time since 2008 as Nuno Santos' side play in major European competition for the first time since 1980.

HOME KIT VERDICT: 8/10

Raul Jimenez shows off the Wolves home kit to be used for the 2019-20 season

Black socks return to the home kit for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign

Away kit

If there is one side in the Premier League that does not really need use of an away kit, it is Wolves.

As such there is not much fanfare for a change kit around Molineux, but there still has to be one for the clash with Norwich City… and of course for commercial reasons too.

Last season it was predominately white, this term it's back to black (it normally is every other year at least) and although you may not see much of it, it's quite a tidy strip well complimented by golden socks.

AWAY KIT VERDICT: 7/10

Wolverhampton Wanderers pose for the launch of their new away kit for the 2019-20 season

SHANGHAI, CHINA – 15th July 2019: Players reveal the new away shirt during the opening of the Wolverhampton Wanderer s Megastore in Shanghai during their pre-season tour of China

The black shirts are complimented by golden trim in a departure from a white away strip

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