Southampton: Opinion – this year’s ‘leaked’ kits really aren’t pretty

Over the past week or so, all three of Southampton’s potential kits for the 2018/19 campaign have been ‘leaked’ online.

Obviously, we won’t know 100% whether these designs are genuine until next Saturday, when the club have revealed they will officially announce the side’s new strips.

However through a leak a week or so ago and through an apparent Under Armour site operating out of Hong Kong selling the jerseys, Southampton supporters have a rough idea what their side’s kits are going to be this season.

This year it seems like the Saints will also be making an alternative strip available for purchase – in the previous two seasons the fan-favourite white strip has only been brought out for the away game against Bournemouth and has never been on general sale.

However whilst we’re yet to see the kit in person, the first reactions haven’t been positive and I agree fully – the only saving grace may be the away kit. The only issue is, it’s the only one we haven’t properly seen.

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The home kit’s design is extremely similar to UA’s first home strip for the Saints back in 2016/17, albeit with the top of the kit being red as opposed to white. The main issue however is the ugly back stripes with outline the red and white areas, in particular the way the lines contort around the Under Armour logo which look frankly cheap and poorly thought out.

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The reported alternate kit follows the exact same style with the red top and red stripes, however the traditional white stripes are replaced by darker red ones with white lines separating them.

The only issue with this is that this clashes greatly with the home strip, meaning logical this one would clash with any that the home kit do.

The site that listed the ‘new home strip’ for sale also put up some blue shorts which has led fans to suspect that the classic yellow kit may be making a return.

Whilst this has been praised by some supporters it does also scream ‘lazy’ by those responsible for designing the kits, with the potential colourway simply recycled from classic strips.

The kits last year were also leaked early with rumoured designs of an Air Florida remake and a green and black away kit being true. As a result some supporters have even called for the club to drop Under Armour as their kit manufacturer, especially if the company have accidentally released the kits a week before the club meant to.