Editor-In-Chief with 20 years experience covering the betting angles to breaking news stories. Daily slots player, Portsmouth fan and League Snooker Player
- Players going on strike is 'absolute nonsense and won't happen.
- Why it will be ‘difficult for Norwich to get promoted
- Why Enzo Maresca will be delighted with Nicholas Jackson so far
- His time at Celtic, why Celtic-Rangers are ‘the biggest derby in world football’ and why Celtic can ‘qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds,
- His thoughts on Blackburn so far.
October '24
Q: Do you look back at your time at Norwich with fondness
Absolutely! My Norwich days were unforgettable. 🌟 We nearly won the Premier League and even knocked out Bayern Munich in Europe. Grateful to be part of such a strong team in that era. ⚽️✨
CS: “Absolutely, my time at Norwich was a while ago now. I was part of the Norwich City team in the inaugural Premier League season, which nearly won the Premier League.
“The club are in a totally different situation now, but in the early 90s, we had a really strong team and competed in Europe, knocked Bayern Munich out of the old UEFA Cup. That result was regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest performance in Norwich City's history.
“I was lucky, I was a young player coming through at that particular time and very lucky to be part of the team in that whole era”.
Q: What do you make of Norwich's start to the season so far?
Norwich's season start is a slow burn. 🔥 New manager Thorup's 'Hofball' showed promise against Watford. ⚽️ With player turnover and youth focus, it's a work in progress. Promotion this season will be challenging. 🚧
CS: “They've had an alright start to the season.
“I think it's a bit of a slow burner, new manager in place, Johannes Hoff Thorup. “Hofball”, as it is known in and around Norwich, really came to fruition at the weekend against Watford. I don't think it's been an easy start for the manager, just based on the turnover of players.
“They lost Gabriel Sara, who was regarded as their best player - sold him to Galatasaray. Jonathan Rowe refused to play down tools and ended up getting his wish to move to Marseille. Adam Idah moved to Celtic.
“What they're trying to do behind the scenes is lower the average age and try and develop from within - I get that, but it takes time.
“There are new players being blooded at this moment in time.
“The last couple of performances, there have been signs of improvement, however, they’re slightly inconsistent at this moment in time.
“They've beaten Coventry away and you're thinking, ‘blimey, here we go’, Norwich City are getting started, but then they went and lost at Swansea. The win at the weekend and the manner of the win against Watford showed that the club are moving in the right direction.
“I still think it will be difficult for this Norwich team to get promoted this season”.
Q: What do you make of the new ownership at Norwich?
New Norwich ownership under Mark Attanasio needs patience. 🕰️ With Ben Knapper managing behind the scenes, fans hope for a larger investment and playoff ambitions. The Championship's tough, and consistency is key. ⚽️🔧
CS: “It remains to be seen whether there's going to be a larger investment.
“There's Mark Attanasio who's taken over now and it's not an easy position to be in - hence Norwich has their model now. They have a sporting director Ben Knapper in place who's running everything behind the scenes and I think patience is required at this moment in time at the club.
“I think the supporters are patient and they see what the club are trying to do, but of course there is that ambition and probably the expectation that Norwich should be in and around the playoff positions.
“A club like Norwich should have a possibility of being promoted, but The Championship is a bit of a stinker of a league; week in and week out, there are similar tests and it's just striving for that consistency on the pitch and off the pitch where Norwich have come up a little bit short in recent times”.
Q: Blackburn have had a great start to the season - what are your thoughts on their performances so far?
Blackburn's strong start is pleasantly surprising. 🌟 John Eustace's leadership boosts confidence, though replacing Szmodics’ goals remains key. Their fluid, expansive play is a joy, but squad depth may challenge promotion hopes. ⚽️🔥
CS: “I’m really pleasantly surprised. I think John Eustace did well keeping the team up last season and so did Sammie Szmodics, because without his goals I think Blackburn would have been relegated.
“Going into this season I think the truth is the ambition within the club was just to stay in the championship. For John Eustace to start the season and the team to start the season as they have done I think it's given them great confidence.
“The issue is always going to be how do you replace Szmodics’ goals and get goals from different areas of the team. They've signed a couple of strikers, but the early signs are that the team is playing really nicely, nice and fluid and quite an expansive game.
“They're good to watch, so at the start of the season, I'm thinking just stay in the Championship, but I suppose the confidence is growing, that's credit to John Eustace because I thought that this could be a difficult season for Blackburn Rovers.
“I think it will be difficult for them to go up. It's about squad strength and depth and I just wonder whether Blackburn Rovers have that depth; but you don't know from the start and momentum and the confidence within the group now.”
“It's such a strange league, the Championship and I think the start was really important for Blackburn. I know they got a draw at Preston at the weekend, one where they probably feel it got away from them a bit because Preston had a player sent off in the first half. Then there was Bite-gate at the end of the game where one of the Preston players I think gnawed into the back of Owen Beck's neck, which will be interesting to see what happens there, but it would have been one where I think at the end of the game, John Eustace would have felt that was a couple of points dropped.
“All in all, being balanced, it's been an excellent start for Blackburn Rovers.
EFL Championship Betting Odds
The current betting sites odds for the Championship
Selection | Probability | Odds | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Leeds | 50% | 2 |
2 | Sheff Utd | 16.7% | 6 |
3 | Sunderland | 12.5% | 8 |
4 | Middlesbrough | 11.1% | 9 |
5 | Burnley | 7.7% | 13 |
Q: Why was your strike partnership with Alan Shearer so successful?
Our success with Alan Shearer at Blackburn came from a street-wise team. 🏆 Strong wingers, a solid defense, and Shearer's ruthless finishing were key. We knew how to win matches, and each player understood their role. ⚽️👏
CS: “We had a really street-wise team, we weren't a particularly experienced team, but the season before I signed for Blackburn Rovers, they had really pushed Manchester United close for the Premier League title, so I moved to Blackburn from Norwich City and going into the team with Alan Shearer we scored a lot of goals, but a lot of that was down to our two wingers, our wide players were quite a direct team.
“You wouldn't say that Blackburn Rovers were the finest footballing team in terms of the way that we played, but we were streetwise. We knew how to win games. Our wingers Stuart Ripley and Jason Wilcox were key to that and everybody understood their particular role and responsibility.
“Shearer was absolutely ruthless as a finisher, that particular season, the 94-95 season, I can't remember him really missing a chance. He had that low back lift, right-footed shot, he was so powerful as a striker. Excellent in the air and we sort of hit it off straight away in terms of our goals and what have you.
“We were good all round, had an excellent goalkeeper in Tim Flowers, a very solid back four, a clever captain in Tim Sherwood, who was very underrated as a player and a local guy, Mark Atkins; David Batty, who was a signing from Leeds, was injured for most of that season; Mark Atkins came up with a lot of crucial goals and Kenny Dalglish is on record as saying that he was a better finisher than Alan Shearer. I'm not so sure I agree with Kenny on that, but he scored some some very valuable goals.”
Q: Do you still keep in touch with Alan Shearer?
I see Alan Shearer in media circles. It's always great to catch up with Blackburn teammates and reminisce about the good old days. 🌟 Jack Walker did wonders for the club with his investments. ⚽️🏟️
CS: “I see him through media circles which we work in. So it's always nice to see him and other guys at Blackburn. We don't see each other enough really. I suppose it's all the clubs which I play at. You're in large squads and what have you. It's always nice to catch up all these years later with all the players I played with and just chat about the good old days and they were certainly good old days at Blackburn.
“The club now has what it was, you know, totally changed. Jack Walker, the owner, put money into the club, built the stadium, built the training ground and gave the people of Blackburn something really to cheer about. you know, we're talking about this, the best part, 30 years on. So he did plenty of things right, Jack Walker”.
Q: What’s your favourite memory of your time at Blackburn?
Winning the Premier League with Blackburn is my favorite memory. 🏆 The last-day drama, our victory at Anfield, and Manchester United's match made it unforgettable. Special times, with cherished memories and family ties to Blackburn. ⚽️❤️
CS: “Blackburn was the only Premier League title which I won throughout my career. I won titles at Celtic North of the border, but you know, for Blackburn, that's the obvious memory. The way we did it last game of the season, us going to Anfield, Manchester United going to West Ham, the drama being decided on the last day, that was the last of the 42 game season.
“We had a little wobble towards the end, but getting over the line was really, really special and to be a part of that whole era.
“I was back at the club a few weeks ago covering a game, but I still have so many lovely memories going back to Blackburn. A couple of my children were born there - they haven't got the accent, but I've got lovely memories of that whole particular era”.
Q: What’s your take on the ownership situation at Chelsea?
Chelsea's ownership drama affects the club, but Enzo Maresca is managing well. ⚽️ Despite Raheem Sterling's early exclusion, they've had a promising start. Chelsea's short-term focus remains, but Nicholas Jackson's potential shines. 🌟
CS: “There's always drama at Chelsea and there seems to be a bit of unrest in terms of what's going on with the ownership.
“I think it's very unfortunate for the Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, who has taken over this season, but what I would say is on the pitch, Chelsea have started pretty well.
“There was all the drama at the start of the season with Raheem Sterling, Maresca leaving him out of the squad; I felt sorry for Maresca in that situation because Chelsea had a top heavy squad. He could only pick a certain amount of players. you know, he didn't fancy Raheem Sterling. That's what happens in football.
“We know that Chelsea are short term thinkers and they want instant success and that's always been the way. At this moment in time, I actually think that they've started the season better than a lot of a lot of people thought and Nicholas Jackson, you know, there's all this talk about Chelsea needing a striker, I don't think that he is the most rounded striker - I still think there's a lot of improvements which he can make in his game, but he's a real handful and I suspect that Enzo Maresca will be delighted with him and delighted with the whole start to the season”.
Q: Would you support players striking due to playing too many games as Rodri suggested last week?
Elite players are bound to play often, part of success. ⚽️ The idea of a strike is unfeasible; it won't work in football. Clubs like City should manage depth. Rodri's issue should be addressed internally. 🤷♂️
CS: “We're talking about elite players here, this isn't the whole cross-section of the Premier League we're talking about Manchester City players, Chelsea players, Liverpool players, Arsenal players who are playing at the top level. They play in European competition and I can understand from their perspective that they play a lot of football, but that's part and parcel of being successful as a player. That's where you want to be as a player. The notion of going on strike, I don’t understand how that would actually work.
“What are they going to do? Take a wage cut? If people in everyday jobs turned around and said, well, I'm going to go on strike, I don't want to work in this for a couple of weeks, then you'd be docked wages. I don't think it's feasible. I don't think it's going to work. These elite teams - Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal - they have the financial power where they should be strong enough and have squads with great strength in depth where they can cover players.
“Clubs at the bottom end of the Premier League don't live like that and can't live like that. As I say, there are a lot of players in the Premier League from sort of mid-table downwards who aren't getting enough game time, so I understand from Rodri's perspective, he's a brilliant footballer, probably the best holding central midfielder in the world and he plays a lot of football, but this whole talk of going on strike, I think is absolute nonsense. It's not going to happen and if he's that annoyed about it, take it up with the club, with Manchester City, because essentially that's the only way they can deal with it”.
Q: Celtic have had a fantastic start in the Champions League - how far can they go?
Celtic's strong start in the Champions League is promising. 🌟 Despite losing Matt O'Riley, new signings like Arne Engels show potential. Challenging matches await, but they could reach the playoff rounds. Financially, it's tough against Premier League wealth. ⚽️
CS: “Well, they have had a brilliant start. I know that was against Slovan Bratislava, who are the lowest ranked team in the competition, but it’s more the manner in which Celtic won and they've had a brilliant start to the season. And actually, they sold their best player Matt O'Riley to Brighton, who was unfortunately injured in his first game, I think in the Carabao Cup against Crawley.
“From a Celtic perspective, they had an excellent preseason, went to the US, beat Manchester City and Chelsea, and started the season really strongly. I think the important thing from Celtic's perspective is that they did some hard work in the transfer market. They've signed some decent players. Arne Engels, who was a club record signing, £11 million, has come in into that midfield area and the question was, could anybody replace O 'Riley’s quality?
“I don't want to get carried away, it is early days, but Engels looks to be a real player, he's got an old head on young shoulders, not phased, looks extremely composed and the early signs are very good in terms of how Celtic will get on in the Champions League. Celtic have had quite a gentle Champions League draw really.
“Albeit, the next couple of games, Dortmund away and Atalanta away are tricky games on the face of things. I think Celtic will try and impose themselves on both sides, but they've given themselves a decent chance. They've got Zagreb and Club Bruges to come, and Leipzig at home, which won't be an easy game, but Celtic have beaten Leipzig at home before, then it could go to the last game against Aston Villa.
“Celtic aren't going to qualify automatically, but they could certainly, with the start they've had, get into the playoff rounds. It's really difficult for Celtic and Rangers to compete financially in European competition with the might of the wealth which there is in the Premier League.
“Brendan Rodgers is now in his second season back for Celtic. It took a while to get going in his first season. The last three months of the season, Celtic were excellent. Now that's carried on into the start of this season, so there's a lot of positive signs for Celtic”.
Champions League Betting Odds
Here are the current outright betting odds for this seasons Champions League with online bookmakers.
Selection | Probability | Odds | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Man City | 20% | 5 |
2 | Real Madrid | 16.7% | 6 |
3 | Liverpool | 14.3% | 7 |
4 | Barcelona | 14.3% | 7 |
5 | Bayern Munich | 10% | 10 |
Q: Let's look back at your playing days at Celtic. What was your favourite moment from your time with them at the club?
Beating Rangers 6-2 in my first Glasgow Derby was unforgettable. 🎉 Rangers were strong, but that victory, especially Larsson's incredible goal, gave us belief to win the title. Celtic Park's atmosphere is truly special. 🏟️⚽️
CS: “Probably beating Rangers 6-2, my first Glasgow Derby game. Rangers had a good team back then. Going into those games, that's the biggest Derby in world football as far as I can see.
“Celtic and Rangers do not like each other. Going into that particular game, that was an understatement, and beating them in the manner which we did was special. It was special because I think Rangers had won the league. Martin O 'Neil had just gone up, they’d signed another couple of players, Neil Lennon signed in the Christmas period, but Rangers had won the league comfortably the previous season. So to go up and beat Rangers as we did early on 6-2; Henrik Larsson's goal that day, incredible chip and run from him, he was an unbelievable footballer. To beat them 6-2 gave us the belief that we could go on and take the title off them, and we did.
“So in terms of atmosphere, walking out onto a football pitch, that game, I've got a hairy neck, but that still makes the heads on my neck stand up. So yeah, that would be my outstanding memory, but I had five and a half lovely years up there and that's a special place to play.”
The Best Football Betting Sites
Q: Have you been impressed with Robbie Savage’s start to his managerial career at Macclesfield? What’s his ceiling as a manager?
I used to find Robbie Savage annoying on the pitch, but now I enjoy working with him. 😄 As Macclesfield's manager, he's doing well and has a good football brain. His potential could lead to managing in the league. 🏃♂️⚽️
CS: “I used to play against Rob and he used to really annoy me as he annoyed everybody. I would not have signed for Birmingham had Robbie Savage been there as a player. I couldn't think of anything worse!
“I work with him on Radio 5 and as a matter of fact, I love Robbie. We've worked with each other for a number of years on the 606 football phone and so we have a lot of fun every Saturday.
“But my honest opinion of Rob, I used to admire him as a player. He did used to get under people's skin, but he was a good footballer.
“You know, there's this notion that he was just a player who ran around a bit like a headless chicken, but Robbie could play, you know, he could play and he had an excellent footballing career and now he's gone into management because he was director of football at Macclesfield, he sacked so many managers and on the football phone-in that we do, he always says, “I don't like to hear about managers losing their jobs”.
“He sacked enough managers at Macclesfield, I mean, one every couple of weeks at one stage last season. And now he's actually stepped up and taken the job himself and he's doing very well, which is good for him. He's got a good football brain. Eventually, we may see him managing in the football league, but I won't be going in as his assistant!
Q: What does the future hold for Chris Sutton and what do you hope to achieve going forward?
I love my job and enjoy spending time with my daughter watching her sports. 🏇⚾ Living in Norfolk with horses keeps me busy too. Looking forward, I cherish these simple joys and moments. 🌿😊
CS: “Blimey, what I hope to achieve going forward. I enjoy what I do. So, you know, outside of the football, I've got my daughter now who's 12, so I love watching her play sports. She likes horse riding. She likes cricket and she's doing pretty well with that.
“I mean, that's the way I like to spend my time and I've got plenty of animals, got horses and i'm a stable hand and I love the horses which we have. They're lovely animals, but they do frighten me a little bit. They're big animals, but I'll get them out of the field and what have you. I know all our ones pretty well and they're all slightly different. I enjoy where I live, I live in Norfolk in the wilds in the country. As I say, I enjoy my job.
Q: How about your dancing shoes? Would we fancy a stint on Strictly if you were asked?
Strictly would be a challenge! 💃🤣 I've got two left feet, so I'd likely be out the first week. I'd love to dance, sing, or act, but I know my limits. 🎤🎭
My wife and my daughter would be so embarrassed because I've got two left feet, some people can't move and I would be out in the first week. In many ways, I'd give anything a go, but some people just, you know, you have to leave certain things alone.
“I'd love to be able to dance. I'd love to be able to sing.
“I'd love to be able to act, but I don't think I'd be very good at anything like that”.
Q: Did you watch Paul Merson on Strictly? Can he go all the way?
CS: “Yeah, my wife Sam watched him and my daughter. I don't think that they were overly impressed. He doesn't sort of strike you like looking at him as if he's a good mover, but he'd say the same about me!”.