djg145":1kfhcohf said:
Why oh why do we have this every year?
It is becoming very tiresome.
*IF* this is indeed some genuine fan consultation and engagement in the process (at a stage prior to 'here are three naff, off the peg kits to choose from) then this is new. So no, we don't have this every year...and thus it's not the least bit tiresome, it's actually very welcome :clap:
I lose track of where we are on the current Puma contract, is it still one more year of pain? Either way the fact it's being discussed in early October shows the club is on the front foot for a change. I never ever want my club again finding itself 'surprised' by a deadline to submit design choices and thus 'having no option but' to sign another three year contract with an 'abusive' partner. So, timings wise, there are signs of organisation and planning at the club this time, this is also welcome :clap:
'If' though is a very big word. It needs to be a genuine exercise and the club needs to 'hear' what is being said and not just 'listen' to it. Basically the process must be meaningful and not just a window dressing exercise in engagement.
Before I continue with my two penneth I would like to make it clear that I writing whilst trying desperately not to rant, and trying to keep it brief. I have a team of Indian head massage experts in full flow and can barely see the screen for the fog of calming incense...."wooosaar".
Issues around tradition and identity are however close to my heart, so if I slip, then apologies in advance.
Which green?
The use of 'Argyle green' is mentioned in the AFT titbit but that needs clarification. Argyle green to me is the 2001 - present day green, to Ian it's the Emerald green from 'days of yore'. Which is it?
I don't, until clarified, know if a colour change is on the table or not. They did say previously it would be 'Argyle' (darker) green until such time as the 'colour branding' across the club/ground was up for change too. Makes sense, uniformity and consistency is very important.
The darker green is my personal favourite, no surprise to anyone there. However as I have consistently said, when change is an option to the club then they need to consult the fanbase about it's preference (darker v emerald say) and then agree to stick to the result for a long time, maybe even forever. Put the issue to bed once and for all. Even if my preference loses, so be it, it's called democracy. As above, uniformity and consistency are of greater importance. We need to define/refine our identity and then damn well stick to it.
Talking of sticking to it....
Home Kit
Get a format and but for minor changes, bleddy well stick to it, make it ours.
For me personally the shirt should primarily be solid green with whatever MINOR variation each year to suit (spit) the commercial requirement for constant change. So you could have black pinstripes, white pinstripes, black sleeve stripe, white sleeve stripe, black side panels, white side panels, black collar, white collar, etc etc...but the shirt is, broadly, solid green.
Likewise with the many available minor variations on the shirt you can mix/match shorts and socks between white and black, you can stripe the sides or colour the hems of the shorts, you can stripe the socks, give then different coloured tops.
I hate the way commercial interests dictate constant change but I am prepared to give a bit. In there there's many many different options whilst retaining a constant identity. We should have a format around which we tinker, not a constantly tinkering format.
Talking of constantly tinkering formats....
Away kit
(
deep breath, furious head massaging, more incense...and break out the 'suspicious' roll-ups)
The 'cigarette' has actually done it's trick, it's called to mind dear old Bob's Argyle theme tune, three little birds? melds into 'three little words'...
Reverse the above.
That's it, that's all Argyle need to do :shock:
We are green, black and white. In order to comply with the Football League requirement for a change kit for clashes there just needs to be a contrast and within our acceptable, historic, traditional colours we have the darkest of colours and the lightest of colours. It's that easy.
We should never need an away kit but again I'm giving a bit to (spit) commercial interests here. If the away kit incorporates exclusively Argyle colours then, despite it being completely unnecessary, I wouldn't object to always using the away kit. Argyle's widespread diaspora would again be able to see Plymouth Argyle in Plymouth Argyle's colours.
Summary (to aid quoting if required)
Thank you Argyle for engaging, thank you for engaging early enough for us to have the possibility of a meaningful input.
But please ACTUALLY listen. Please then agree a consensus on our green. Please then choose a format that will be stuck to, preferably solid green shirts then tinker all you like around that. But above all else, please ditch these awful awful alien away colours, all you need to do is reverse the home kit each year. They will sell because they're Plymouth Argyle's colours and we're the fans of Plymouth Argyle....the GREEN army :scarf: