Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v The Slow Readers Club bassist James Ryan
Slow Readers Club is currently touring the UK and Ireland.
They played a sold-out hometown show at Manchester’s O2 Ritz on Thursday, and played shows in Glasgow (Friday) and Leeds (Saturday)
Ryan was born in Manchester and grew up in Ancoats, close to the city centre, so he needed to decide whether to join the red team or the blue team.
He told BBC Sport: “My dad was a Manchester City fan and my mum told me a story that when I was born he took me to the hospital window and told me where Maine Road was.
“But he never pushed Manchester City down my throat and he let me decide who to follow.
“My uncle was a huge Manchester United fan and he used to have a season ticket at Old Trafford. He just knocked on our door one Saturday afternoon and said to my mum he had a spare ticket so yours Jim wants to come?
“I was about six years old at the time, so I went with him…and that was it, and I’ve been fascinated my whole life.
“My favorite players as a kid were Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes, although my love for Hughes was tempered a bit by him becoming Manchester City manager – especially that game We beat them 4-3 Michael Owen’s late goal saw Hughes fuming next to Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) as the final whistle blew.
“Paul Scholes is my ultimate Manchester United hero, though. As far as I’m concerned, Scholes and Diego Maradona are top of the pile as football players.”
“In the current squad, there’s no one who compares to Scholes. Maybe it’s because I’m a little older – it’s not that we’re not winning as much anymore – but there’s no one that’s that likable.”
“Bruno Fernandes is a very good player but he also has moments where he complains. I look around at the other players in the team and think they are all overpaid, self-righteous people, a lot of them.
“As I have done with our players in the past, it’s difficult to like them as individuals and I look at Manchester City and even though I don’t like them, I like Bernardo Silva.
“He’s what we need. A pure footballer, not for fame or ego. He’s like Paul Scholes, he shows up every week and gives everything for the team. Complain or blame everything on him. “
Chris Sutton and James Ryan are interviewed by BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
