Sport
‘Leaked’ Manchester United home kit for the 2023/24 season splits opinion
As always, fans have called it everything from 'beautiful' and 'the best in years' to 'plain, boring' and 'like quilted toilet paper'.
The first images of what looks to be Manchester United’s new home kit for the 2023/24 season have been leaked online and, as always when it comes to footy shirts, it’s divided opinion.
As any lover of the beautiful game knows, footy kits aren’t just whatever the team wears over the course of a year: they often go down as season, sometimes era-defining bits of fashion infused with footballing memories of childhood, going to the games with your mates, seeing your favourite players and so on.
With that being said, like any group of supporters, Man United fans are always eager to see what the Red Devils will be wearing the following year and if these images are to be believed, this is what the 23/24 home kit looks like.
It isn’t often that we get a full video glimpse of leaked kits either, but you’re in luck this time:
As you can see, Adidas looked to have ditched the popular, retro-looking addition of a proper collar seen on the current shirt for a black and white V-neck design in line with the club’s regular secondary colours.
The same colours can be seen on the cuffs as well and they have also got rid of the blocky, pentagonal crest shape around the badge that features on United’s 22/23 home shirt.
As for the exact shade of red and whether it differs at all, it’s rather hard to tell, but if you look closely you can see that there is a distinct texture.
This static image gives a better idea of the faint pattern that the stitching creates.
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Naturally, the verdict is pretty split as always, with fans dubbing it everything from “plain” or “a grower” to “beautiful” or maybe “the best shirt in years”.
There are also plenty that aren’t giving it the time of day and praying that it’s simply a fake, commenting, “disgusting”, “horrific” and “I’ll cry if this is it”; we even saw one person comparing it to “quilted toilet paper”. Ouch.
While many are dubious as to whether this ‘leak’ can be trusted or not given that it still has TeamViewer as the sponsor, with their front-of-the-shirt contract ending this season, it is worth noting that the club stated they will remain there until a new main sponsor is found, which doesn’t look to have happened yet.
All that being said (and if this is indeed the genuine article), what do we think, Reds — is it a winner or simply another templated design from Adidas?
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Featured Image — @nabysport (via TikTok)/@UtdChronicle (via Twitter)
Sport
Tragedy as two superbike riders die in ‘catastrophic accident’ at Cheshire event
Daisy Jackson
Two riders have tragically died in a ‘chain reaction’ accident at a superbike race in Cheshire.
Owen Jenner, 21, and Shane Richardson, 29, both died of their injuries following a crash involving 11 riders.
The ‘catastrophic accident’ occurred yesterday at the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship superbike race at Oulton Park in Cheshire.
The race was immediately stopped so that trackside medical services could attend to the 11 riders who had fallen.
Due to the ‘extreme severity’ of the incident, the rest of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled.
Two riders lost their lives and another has sustained significant injuries and remains in hospital.
Owen Jenner, 21 years old, was treated trackside and taken to the circuit medical centre , but died from a catastrophic head injury.
Meanwhile Shane Richardson was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with severe chest injuries, but died prior to arrival.
Another rider, 47-year-old Tom Tunstall, has also been transferred to hospital with significant back and abdominal injuries.
Five further riders were transferred to the circuit medical centre with minor injuries – the remaining involved riders were uninjured.
The Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board and MotorSport Vision Racing are investigating the full circumstances of the incident in conjunction with the Coroner and Cheshire Constabulary.
Cheshire Police said in a statement: “Police are investigating two deaths on behalf of the coroner following a multiple collision at Oulton Park this afternoon (Monday 5 May).
“Emergency services were called to the scene following the collision which resulted in two riders being fatally injured and another with serious injuries.
“Due to the severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention, the remainder of the event was cancelled.
“The two riders who sadly died have been named as Owen Jenner (21) and Shane Richardson (29).”
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Featured image: British Superbikes
Sport
Ole Gunnar Solskjær says just three players have spoken to him since leaving Manchester United
Danny Jones
Club legend and ex-Manchester United player turned manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, has revealed that just three of his former players have been in touch since leaving Old Trafford.
Solskjær was sacked from the role as Man United head coach back in November 2021 after having been given the job permanently following an impressive winning run as interim manager.
The practically perfect start back at the helm of the club – where he starred as the ‘super sub’ during his playing days – was followed by a big slump, and the final decision was ultimately made in the wake of a 4-1 loss to Watford.
However, the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’s’ popularity among the players and the fans alike was never in question, so it’s come as somewhat of a surprise to many fans that Solskjær has said only a specific trio of United players have got in touch with him since his dream job came to an end.
At least two of the names read out might not surprise fans, as not only was then-club captain Harry Maguire one of his first statement signings, but so was Bruno Fernandes, who now has the armband, and both have remained key players and leadership figures pretty much ever since.
Speaking to BBC Sport on the senior duo, Ole said, “For me, Harry has always been a leader and a fighter”, and never had any doubts about him deputising for him on the pitch, before going on to label both the centre-back and Bruno as “top human beings.”
As for the third, although Victor Lindelöf looks set to leave the club this summer, he’s actually been a long-serving squad member, having joined back in 2017 and been a seemingly popular figure around the dressing room, even if injury problems have sometimes hampered his minutes.
He also went on to discuss other matters regarding the club, including confessing that it’s “hard to watch” United amidst their present struggles, both under previous manager Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim – even with a potential Europa League trophy consolation on the cards.
The retired striker also stated that he found the decision to let midfielder Scott McTominay go more than surprising, especially given the incredible performances he’s put on display since moving to Serie A.
Now the boss at Besiktas, the 52-year-old has won 50% of his games so far, with the Turkish side on course for a third-place finish.
For context, he only took the job back in January.
What did you make of Ole’s revelations then, Reds? And, more importantly, how do you look back on his time in charge at the Theatre of Dreams?
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Featured Images — soccer.ru (via Wikimedia Commons)/BBC Sport
