Taking part in our Five A-Side feature on Matchweek 8 of the 2026/27 Premier League season is Glenn Smyth of Solar Eyes.
Five A-Side sees us put five questions to our artists ahead of the upcoming Premier League round of games. Four questions relate to the games taking place in the top flight that weekend, with the fifth centred around the team they support, whatever league they happen to be in. They’ll earn points for each correct answer, and we’ll keep track of every artist’s progress. Matchweek 7 of the season saw PG Ciarletta score 4 points out of a possible 15 points.
Solar Eyes is the cosmic creation of Midlands duo Glenn Smyth and Sebastian Maynard Francis. Formed in 2021, the duo have steadily been amassing a devoted fanbase. After releasing a slew of warmly received singles and three EP releases, the band released their acid-dipped self-titled debut album in 2024, quickly followed up by 2025’s Live Freaky! Die Freaky!. This month, the duo returned with their latest single, ‘Different Cloud’, taking in elements of Spiritualized and XTRMNTR-era Primal Scream. You can listen to the track on our New Releases playlist.
Frontman Glenn Smyth is a lifelong fan of his hometown Bluenoses, with the band having collaborated with Birmingham City on numerous occasions. The local identity is a key part of why Glenn is a City fan
“I was brought up close to the ground when I was born, being a Bordesley Green native. I was indoctrinated from an early age.. Like most Blues fans, I’ve probably spent more time suffering than celebrating, but that’s part of the deal.
“What keeps me coming back is that sense of identity. Birmingham City has always felt like a proper football club with proper supporters. We’ve had plenty of ups and downs over the years, but that’s what makes the good times mean more. Right now there’s a genuine buzz around the place that I’ve not felt for a long time, and it finally feels like the club is heading where it should be.”
Five A-Side: Premier League Matchweek 8: Glenn Smyth (Solar Eyes)
- Nailed on win this weekend (1 point): Arsenal to beat Everton.
Glenn – “I know football can make fools of all of us, but this feels as close to a banker as you’ll get this weekend. Arsenal have got too much quality all over the pitch and, at home especially, they tend to find a way of wearing teams down. Everton will make it awkward because that’s what they do, but I can see Arsenal pulling away in the end.”
- Shock win of the weekend (2 points): Hull to beat Brentford at home.
Glenn – “There’s always one result every weekend that nobody sees coming, so I’ll go with Hull. They’re one of those sides that can make games scrappy and uncomfortable, and if they can keep it tight for long enough I can see them nicking it. Seem like they’re tough to beat at home. That said, Brentford beat us [Birmingham] 6-1 in the Carabao Cup.“
- Most likely game to see a red card given in (3 points – bonus point for correct player sent off): Chelsea v Tottenham.
Glenn – “That fixture always seems to have a bit of chaos in it. It doesn’t really matter where the two teams are in the table, someone always looks like they’re one tackle away from losing their head. If I’m putting a completely unscientific bet on it, I’d say a Tottenham defender gets caught out and ends up making a desperate challenge.“
- Wildcard prediction for the weekend (4pts)
Glenn – “I think a goalkeeper will get an assist – old school big kick down field for a striker to run onto it and score.”
- Prediction for Birmingham City’s EFL Championship game at Cardiff (3pts for correct result, 2pts for correct scoreline): Birmingham to win 2-1.
Glenn – “I’m feeling pretty good about this one. That’s not something I’ve said that often over the years as a Blues fan, but there seems to be a real momentum around the club at the moment. We’ve got quality throughout the squad and, just as importantly, there looks to be a proper plan in place.“Cardiff away is never straightforward and they’ll make it difficult, but I think we’ve got enough to edge it. I can see it being one of those games that’s scrappy for long spells before Birmingham’s quality tells. I’ll go 2-1 Blues, with a few nervous moments along the way because we never seem to do things the easy way.”
Solar Eyes
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