2017 MLS Kit Matchups

[upperV03]

Here's how the Timbers looked with the white shorts and socks:

I still think it's a really nice and refreshing alternative in case of clashes. I wouldn't wanna see it more than a handful of times during the season but luckily there should only be a few instances where they're necessary in place of the green shorts and socks.

 

And while I'm at it here's how all of the already completed matches from this weekend have looked:

I'll post pics of today's remaining games once they're completed and once I can find quality images.

[aawagner011]

MLS has really got a good thing going with a lot of quality and distinctly unique kits. However, Columbus really needs to emphasize their yellow. This is at least the second game I can recall this season where they've needlessly worn black (when there isn't a color contrast). They really should only wear black a handful of times over the course of the year, if that. They have a great look. Wear it!

[aawagner011]

Last thing on Atlanta since I just noticed- the MLS league graphic was wrong. It showed the kit as a gray jersey, white shorts, and white socks.

 

Incorrect. They wore gray socks.

[upperV03]

In other Timbers related news, their USL affiliate has an updated version of the popular green and white hooped kits that they unveiled last season. I'm starting to think there's a real possibility of the parent club following suit next season, especially since the possible clash with the Sounders' primary kits seems to be a non-issue. If they're gonna go away from the Rose City red theme, this is the direction I'd like to see them take.

[upperV03]

Here's how today's last two games looked:

Nice to see another snow game this season after Minnesota's home opener a few weeks ago. Overall I'd say all of this weekend's games thus far have been pretty decent-to-good in terms of aesthetics.

[4_tattoos]

Not sure why Colorado is wearing their alt kits in KC tonight. No risk of clash with their primary burgundy jerseys against KC's powder blue.

[upperV03]

39 minutes ago, 4_tattoos said:

Not sure why Colorado is wearing their alt kits in KC tonight. No risk of clash with their primary burgundy jerseys against KC's powder blue.

Since debuting the first flag-themed kits several years ago they've generally tried to wear their secondaries on the road as much as possible. Unless there's an obvious need for them to wear their primaries they usually stick to that nowadays.

[upperV03]

The last of this weekend's matches both featured interesting color matchups. SKC/Colorado especially so since light blue and yellow are generally not paired against one another all that often (in any sport, for that matter).

[OlavoP]

9 minutes ago, upperV03 said:

SKC/Colorado especially so since light blue and yellow are generally not paired against one another all that often (in any sport, for that matter).

Brazil v Uruguay is a pretty classic yellow vs light blue pairing.

But I get your point. It was a nice clash, even tought I'm not a fan of Colorado's kit

[4_tattoos]

Outside of soccer, the only yellow vs powder blue matchups I can think of is Nuggets at Lakers. Unless one team wears an alternate.

 

 

 

[upperV03]

Light blue vs. yellow has actually happened twice (maybe more?) this season in the Premier League with games involving Man City. Arsenal inexplicably decided to wear their away kits when they visited Man City in December, and Watford vs. Man City resulted in a similar color matchup. It happened two seasons ago with Arsenal and Man City as well, and it's even happened between Columbus and NYCFC in recent years in MLS. Perhaps it's not as rare a color matchup as it initially seemed to me, but it's still visually interesting nonetheless.

[BlazerBlaze]

On 4/8/2017 at 11:31 PM, aawagner011 said:

Last thing on Atlanta since I just noticed- the MLS league graphic was wrong. It showed the kit as a gray jersey, white shorts, and white socks.

 

Incorrect. They wore gray socks.

Huh, I don't remember them saying there was a pair of white shorts available. Seems kinda silly truthfully. I think it would look better with the Red and Black Stripes shirt.

[DTConcepts]

God, I hate those Rapids alternates. I understand the references to the Colorado flag, but it just looks bad to me. The Rapids should use burgundy and blue as primary colors, not yellow. If the alternate was blue with yellow and red accents, it'd be so much better.

 

But then again, I'm a person who has never really been into soccer. I've seen a few Rapids games but that was about it.

[OlavoP]

42 minutes ago, Zeus89725 said:

God, I hate those Rapids alternates. I understand the references to the Colorado flag, but it just looks bad to me. The Rapids should use burgundy and blue as primary colors, not yellow. If the alternate was blue with yellow and red accents, it'd be so much better.

 

But then again, I'm a person who has never really been into soccer. I've seen a few Rapids games but that was about it.

It would make sense to a third kit to be yellow.

[Digby]

I'm half-convinced that Colorado has stuck with this state flag motif on the aways because it ensures the entire kit set mirrors Arsenal (red with white sleeves at home, yellow and blue away). Obviously the home red is darker, but considering the two clubs share an owner and cosplaying a famous international team is not unheard of in MLS, this is my conspiracy theory.

 

I didn't mind the yellow vs. light blue matchup, even though I usually prefer more drastic tonal contrasts between two teams. My complaint is that I saw highlights on my phone, and sincerely though the Rapids were playing NYCFC this weekend until the camera zoomed in. I know MLS is at a point where 100% unique kits are no longer tenable, but I still really hate the sudden emergence of white as SKC's secondary color.

[upperV03]

7 minutes ago, Digby said:

I'm half-convinced that Colorado has stuck with this state flag motif on the aways because it ensures the entire kit set mirrors Arsenal (red with white sleeves at home, yellow and blue away). Obviously the home red is darker, but considering the two clubs share an owner and cosplaying a famous international team is not unheard of in MLS, this is my conspiracy theory.

This is my theory as well. I pointed that out when they unveiled this new secondary kit, and it seems to have a fair amount of merit considering the direction they've taken with their kits in the last 5-7 years. They went from solid burgundy shirts to burgundy shirts with white sleeves, just as Arsenal's primary look (aside from the shades of red, obviously), and then they introduced the state flag theme for the secondary kit. The first state-flag kit was blue but the second iteration introduced the yellow shirts and blue shorts that has been so common in Arsenal's history, and now this new 2017 version has stuck with that look. Surely it's not a coincidence that both of their kits now bear a resemblance to Arsenal's traditional strips. 

[Digby]

AND on top of it all, their stadium is built on old Rocky Mountain Arsenal land. Makes u think.

[Gothamite]

And, if anyone is unaware, they planned at one point to rename the club "Arsenal Colorado", for all the reasons listed above. 

 

 

Although we've been told that the Rapids are no longer playing up the Arsenal connection as they once did, so if the away colors were originally chosen for that purpose it may be tradition and the Colorado flag keeping them around. 

[jr79]

On 4/10/2017 at 9:53 AM, 4_tattoos said:

Not sure why Colorado is wearing their alt kits in KC tonight. No risk of clash with their primary burgundy jerseys against KC's powder blue.

 

Colorado probably wore the yellow kit to avoid the white shorts/(partly) powder blue socks clash. Clashes aren't only about the shirt. 

[aawagner011]

AJC is reporting Atlanta will wear gray shirts and red shorts on Saturday at Montreal. Doesn't specify whether red or gray socks.

 

Was hoping to see red and black stripes vs blue and black stripes but I can see the league's concern for a clash. Both clubs wear black shorts and half of their shirts are both black. It's not as if one club wears white and blue stripes vs another club orange and black stripes.

 

http://www.ajc.com/sports/about-atlanta-united-white-shorts/d2mpH08xWxx0qyUWYiMDnL/

 

To my knowledge, Atlanta does not have clash shorts for the primary kit, nor do I think any color other than black would look good. Gold would be bad and white would look terrible with no other white on the kit. Maybe red if anything, but that wouldn't be as good as black.