Window pain. The panels on the shirt leave a lot to be desired

Kit manufacturers Adidas had a window of opportunity when designing the new Chelsea away strip but it does not look like they cracked it with the design for the 2011/12 jersey.

The Blues have never been one for snazzy away strips, I once owned the famous orange and grey of the mid-90s (with Stein on the back), but now a little older and wiser I certainly will not be buying the new black top with turquoise panels that remind me of an advertisement for a certain computer software company.

The kit, which is available to pre-order now ahead of its official launch next month, has these odd turquoise squares on the chest area in front of a black background, with turquoise trim also on the shorts.

There is also the usual talk that the v-neck shirt contains technology to keep the players cool and maximise fitness, while the socks are also playing their part with an Achilles protector.

While the turquoise on black is a striking colour scheme the squares just look, well, odd and you are left scratching your head at why they are there.

There have been worse Chelsea kits in recent years, such as the high visibility number in 2007, where people could not distinguish between fans and stewards in the crowd, but after a couple of years of calm and traditional designs, Adidas have gone all out again but it just does not work for me.

What do you think?