Friday, December 2, 2016

'Ian Wright smashed the falsetto and Yannick Bolasie's bars are better than his corners!' Arsenal and Crystal Palace fans The Manor take our quiz

Each week, leading musicians take our Starting XI Q&A. This week it's The Manor, who, between them, support Arsenal and Crystal Palace...

1. You’re on a desert island and can __have one album with you and one item of football memorabilia – what do you take?
Gazza's waterbottle from Euro 1996 to stay hydrated, and Artful Dodger - All About The Stragglers to keep the vibes up.

2. Number one song or your club top of the league?
Number one song to get us on the map, then make a load of money, buy the club and get it back to the top of the Premier League ourselves!

3. Which football manager do you think would make the best music artist?
Harry Redknapp. Music doesn't pay well and on a shoestring budget he'd blag a good studio and featuring artist to get himself to the top.

4. Would you rather record a Bond theme or the World Cup’s official song?
We tried a World Cup song and England went out the day we released it, when we lost to Uruguay in 2014, which I think is a world record for quickest exit after a release. So, James Bond.

5. Which footballer would you record a song with?
Yannick Bolasie, his bars are better than his corners, according to diehard Crystal Palace boy Scotty.

6. What was the first single you bought?
Arsenal FA Cup song, during the double year of 1998. It was a remix of the Donna Summer classic 'Hot Stuff', and if I remember rightly, Wrighty smashed a falsetto!!

7. And what was the first football match you went to?
First match was Wimbledon v Arsenal at Selhurst Park in 1997. I went with my mate from school, but the floodlights went out and the match got abandoned; I lost my ticket and couldn't go to the rematch. And to make things even worse, my mate – who was a Manchester United fan – kept his, went to the rematch and got to throw the ball back to Marc Overmars!

8. Who is your music idol?
Music idols would be Mike Skinner, Jamiroquai, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Lauryn Hill, Lou Reed, Styles P, Bob Marley, Paul Weller, Damon Albarn, Armand Van Helden, MJ Cole, and Amy Winehouse, to name a few.

9. And who’s your all-time favourite footballer?
Ian Wright, one of the greatest finishers of all time, could score every type of goal and had bags of self belief and swagger. Travesty he wasn't an England regular, but he's an Arsenal legend nonetheless.

10. You’re in charge of your club’s match day music: what song is a must-have on the stadium playlist?
SL2 - On A Ragga Tip. It's our pre-show anthem, a favourite at our house parties and is guaranteed to get everyone on their toes and kill any pre-match nerves.

11. What’s the greatest moment you’ve experienced as a football fan?
The FA Cup comeback against Hull City. We were 2-0 down when we got to the pub and our Spurs-supporting mate Lager Lou was giving it, but it made the win all the sweeter. Also it was the first time we'd waited that long for a trophy after being spoilt for so long. Got a taste of how my old man felt when we won at Anfield in 1989 after the rough years of the 1970s/80s.

12. If your club could sign any player in the world TODAY, who would you want that to be? (Please be realistic!!)
Giggsy, 'til end of season! 

Check out The Manor's EP ‘Weak Days, Strong Nights’ here