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No messing... a TV pundit who tells it like it is
during lockdown. There’s old teammate Alan Shearer at the BBC and Ally McCoist on BT.
It’s a laugh at times and a battle in others, but he loves it. He said: “You meet some wonderful people. Some guys you played against you thought would be horrible but turned out to be lovely fellas. I can’t say names.
“Ian is one who you can bounce off. The great thing about him is that you never know what is coming next.
“Ally is brilliant to work with. He just livens up any show that he takes part in and I love the fact he gets asked a question and gives six different answers in the same response.
“It’s tremendous. You are bamboozled by the end. Some might be good at some things, others better in other aspects. It’s not easy, especially phone-ins. You can be caught off-guard at any time by a question.”
Sutton’s views can lead to confrontation. Managers have had a go at his opinions and players and fellow pundits can disagree with his views.
He has to call out individuals whom he played alongside and classes as friends. Celtic manager Neil Lennon, for example, was a team-mate, but that doesn’t exclude him from criticism if it was warranted.
Sutton said: “Anything else would be disrespectful bordering on abusive to an employer. If you don’t tell the truth, you shouldn’t be in the job.
“For example, people say I’m tough on Rangers but if they win a league or a trophy, I’ll be the first one to dish out praise. I might have played for Celtic, but that doesn’t mean anything.
“There was a period when Ronny Deila was manager there and I thought it was being run badly, so I said so in no uncertain terms. Same as I criticised Brendan Rodgers for things during his time. I felt strongly.
“I would go to Celtic games for the TV and get absolute pelters from their supporters. I might have played for the club but that means nothing when it comes to punditry.
“I like to think I’m very balanced. You can’t be anything else. Anyone who is a cheerleader gets found out.” ●You’re Better Than That! How to Fix Modern Football by Chris Sutton, Published by Monoray, £14.99, www.octopusbooks.co.uk
I like to think I’m balanced. You can’t be anything else. Anyone who is a cheerleader gets found out