Hail GFOP!

I write with fingers in mourning. Everton FC are entering RIP territory after being Callum Wilsoned to death 4-1 last night by Newcastle. Just count the number of careers Alexander Isak ends right here. A day that began with delirious mobbed Everton fans welcoming the team bus with flare-smoke and passion, ended in limp, feckless performance of broken surender. Goodison Park, a fortress when needed down the stretch of last year’s wretched season was empty by the final whistle. Those who stayed behind did so just to fume, spew and vent. A hopelessness has taken grip. Last season we had Richarlison. This year, it feels as if we have nothing to believe in.

Desperate times, desperate measures. In a pitiful attempt to change the team’s luck, I did not watch the game – in the hope that I would discover that I was the single human being cursing Everton by watching, in the same way as Jonah’s presence on the boat causes a storm in the Biblical story. Breaking my streak of watching Everton games was painful, but it felt like a small personal price to pay if we won three precious points. It was not to be. As I walked around New York City, attempting to ignore the game my phone pinged with incoming texts of derision and mockery. The funny thing is, I watched the game back on my DVR as soon as I was home. Even though I knew the score before replaying it, I still watched along with sheer and utter hope, which is wholly irrational and a testament to the emotional dissonance of football fandom.

b. This has been a magical week at MiB. We unleashed a storm of content. My interview with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin (LISTEN, WATCH) triggered global news. On Wednesday morning we taped with Matt Crocker, US Soccer’s new Sporting Director for a really fascinating interview which drops tomorrow. The 48-year-old Welshman is a youth development obsessive. He struck me as a leader unafraid to admit what he does not know, which was a refreshing approach, and could be key, as more than anyone, Crocker could define the next decade of growth on both the Men’s and Women’s side of the game.

🚨 TED LASSO FANS ALERT: Jason Sudeikis and my great mate Brendan Hunt filmed with us yesterday. We talked Lasso, Arsenal, and whether Zava is based on Zlatan or Lalas. It is a pretty incredible show, even though I am in it. CANNOT WAIT FOR YOU TO LISTEN. Drops Wednesday. 💎🐶 

2. To the Football

i. Fulham vs. Manchester City, Big Game Preview, Presented by Bud Light (Sunday, 9 AM ET, USA)

A team now seemingly on an unstoppable coronation march – coronation stomp? – towards a fifth title in six years. A remarkable feat. Of athletic, tactical and mental peerlessness. A battle against complacency as much as against actual footballing opponents. In the last month Bayern Munich, Arsenal (and quite possible Real Madrid next?) buzzsawed and obliterated. Barney Ronay analyzes the surreal mood surrounding the team in this piece: “Here is something engineered for the benefit of a dictatorial regime, an entity that is luminous, beautiful, chilly, politically controlled and shrouded also in a trapped sense of rage.”

This weekend’s game is the first in which Pep has explicitly acknowledged the title is now “in our hands.” Victory against Fulham will send City top with a game in hand in all the initiative, obliterating any notion that there is a title race. Only Tim Ream once again showing Pep what 35-year-old elite looks like can save the world and shut down Erling.

Arsenal fans. You get the weekend off. No games until “a different kind of sad’s” Chelsea on Tuesday.

ii. Bournemouth vs. Leeds (Sunday, 9 AM ET, P’Cock)

Back-to-back six-pointers for both Michael B. Jordan’s Fightin’ Cherries and flailing Major Leeds Soccer. Gary O’Neil has quietly won the games that matter. Leeds have leaked goals in industrial quantities, but you feel with a modicum of calm they can summon the six points which can conjure safety in this surreal season of self-sabotaging relegation chaos.

iii. Manchester United vs. Aston Villa (Sunday, 9 AM ET, P’Cock)

The two most sensible new managerial additions to this season’s Premier League collapse. United appeared deeply fatigued in their second-half collapse against Tottenham, their season an ultramarathon extended by extra-time and FA Cup semi-final penalties against Brighton last Sunday. The highlight of that game retrospectively may have been their fans singing “We'll see you in June, we’ll see you in Juuuune. Harry Kane, we’ll see you in June.” Ultimately, file that one under “Songs that preceded unfortunate events.” Expect the Unai Emery relegation-to-European places revolution to roll on here. Aston Villa have scored in every game under Unai, and are unbeaten in their last 10. Stealth manager of the season.

More: United buyers instructed to submit third bids

iv. Liverpool vs. Tottenham (Sunday, 11.30 AM ET, USA)

Ryan Mason just proved there is such a thing as a “New Interim to the Interim Manager Bounce” after that delirious two-goal comeback to drag a draw from last night’s seesaw tilt against United. They will seek to show that in the same way as the Kane to Son connection rolled back the years to 2021-2022, they can now return to a hostile away cauldron, face three-wins in a row Liverpool, not wilt 6-1 and have to reimburse their traveling faithful.

v. Leicester vs. Everton (Monday, 3.00 PM ET, USA)

The Johnny Cash Hurt Derby. Can there really be any winners here? Only sadness. There is no doubt Leicester have a talented squad. Dean Smith’s missionary position football has coaxed seven points from a possible nine since his baptism by fire of a first game against Manchester City. His team have a pulse which will put them well clear of Sean Dyche’s voyage of the doomed Blues. A six-pointer in name only. When I watch them I keep thinking of Edgar Allan Poe’s quote “Even in the grave, all is not lost.”

More: Everton’s board did not hear the alarm bells ringing.

vi. Complete Premier League Broadcast Schedule here 🍻

3. MiB this week adding to the World’s Darkness

MiB x Here We Go - The first edition of our monthly crossover Pod with Fabrizio Romano in which we check in on all of the comings and goings of global football. In this episode: when will Chelsea announce Poch? Plus, a new home for Tim Weah? LISTEN HERE. Plus, WATCH Fab describe what it feels like when he hits send on a massive Here We Go.

City vs. Arsenal Instant Reaction Pod - “We were watching two things, split screen. At the same time, we were watching a Coronation: Manchester City’s. And a funeral: Arsenal’s.” 👑☠️👑☠️ LISTEN HERE

VAMOS with Herc Gomez, Presented by Bud Light - Breaking down explosive comments by Chicharito, why USMNT fans should let Matt Crocker cook, and Liga MX playoffs. We are so proud to work with Herc and his producer Juan Castro on this Podcast. LISTEN HERE

The Men in Blazers TV Show with Pep Guardiola, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka - If this guest lineup doesn't get you to watch this beauty, we might as well back up the lemonade stand and head on home. WATCH IT HERE along with every episode of our TV Show from the last two seasons.

4. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. Napoli could clinch the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years on Sunday if Lazio fail to beat Inter and then Osimhen and Co. beat Salernitana. That game has been moved to Sunday at 9 a.m. ET and will be on Paramount+. If this all goes down, the party of parties will kick off across Naples. A celebration that will feel like Diego Maradona’s bar mitzvah. 🇮🇹

More: Naples, City on the brink as Napoli chase first title in 33 Years

b. In related news: Deep dive into shocking Decline of Juventus

ii. Fantastic piece on how audience for Women’s Game is surging by Rachel Bachman

b. I loved this thread on the singular journey of English pioneer Rachel Yankey

iii. Wrexham have had a week. This story is so rich and layered. A fifth tier title campaign heard, and beloved, around the world. There is so much more to this than just a Hollywood fish out of water story. Make no mistake: Wrexham are now a massive global brand. An enormous live entertainment company fused onto a tiny football team. But still, very much a football team. Authentically local. Proudly surging amidst a North Wales setting which has been economically and politically devastated in the post-industrial age, and is now joyously, and wonderfully savoring every second in the spotlight. This piece by Mark Ogden scene sets this incredibly magical moment.  

iv. Japan has an over-80 football league and it is elite 🇯🇵

5. And coming up on The Men in Blazers Weekend Edition:

• Tomorrow, we drop a Pod Special with Matt Crocker, the new USMNT Sporting Director. An hour-long sit down in which Rog and Matt talk the future of the men's and women's programs, youth development and what US Soccer will look like in 10 years. 🇺🇸

• Sunday, from Rog's HBO "Succession" Podcast, a conversation with Jeremy Strong aka Kendall Roy. Succession obsessives, this is not to be missed.

• And Sunday, we're back on television with a special storytellers episode. Premier League Poet Laureate Peter Drury and one half of The Lumineers Jeremiah Fraites. Peacock TV. Sunday.

6. Two Incredible Events I am honored to be part of:

i. Rog Goes Full Bob Hope. Next Thursday, May 4 at Noon ET I will join the USO to host a live discussion and Q&A for service members and their families around the globe. A wonderful chance to commune and talk football with an incredible group of human beings. REGISTER HERE. 🇺🇸

Ii. VERMONT WE COMING FOR YOU!!! My goal this year was to travel to some of gems at the grassroots of American football and hear their stories. Cannot wait to start in the Green Mountain State on June 1st with this incredible team driven by passionate community and goals that reach far beyond the football pitch. More here

7. I Love this Newsletter: Axios Sports

I read a lot of newsletters. If you are this deep into the Raven, odds are you do too. We all have our favorites we open on sight. We also all have newsletters that sounded like a good idea when we subscribed but that slowly find their way into spam and are forgotten. The single newsletter I adore, and have learned so much from watching it evolve, is Axios Sports which is exquisitely taste-filtered by Kendall Baker, an astute analyst. Despite the fact that he is a Liverpool fan after being introduced to the stylings of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen as a kid. I admire Kendall so much. His newsletter hits your inbox at 7.30 AM ET, and within five minutes, the reader can download an entire world of sports thanks to Kendall’s taut analysis. Gent has a Black Belt in richly-informed brevity. Sign up for his work. It is free and honestly life-changing.

8. Not Football, and all the Better for It

i. Molly Ringwald interview is a harder read than you would think. So much darkness cloaks the popcorn joy of the movies of the 80s.

ii. Mac DeMarco is such a boss. A singular creative mind. I am blown away by this human being.

iii.Helpful for Evertonians and Woody Allen aficionados alike: How to Love the Art, Hate the Artist, and Still Sleep At Night

iv. Useful guide to America's 18 best State Parks. My goal this year is to go to Zion. That has also been my failed goal for the last decade.

v. Weird Al guests on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. Other than Jack Grealish, I can’t think of a more perfect guest.

vi. Food storage brand Tupperware warns it could go out of business. (I've been #TeamPyrex myself ever since this beef)

vii. This might be my favorite piece of the year: A gallery of Japanese buildings shaped like the things they sell. The world would be a happier place if there was more dachshund-shaped buildings. 🐶

viii. GFOPs in the New York Area can check out a collection of historic menus at the Grolier Club. Incredible resource for Tumms-challenged time travelers with ordering anxiety.

ix. Fantastic (and not behind a paywall): These 4 free apps can help you identify every flower, plant and tree around you. Peak Rog has been achieved.

x. World needs more of this kind of real life-grounded in movies kindness: ‘Babe’ Star James Cromwell Helps Save a Real Baby Pig from Slaughter and of course he names Abandoned Piglet Babe.

xi. I love this sad song: I’m Told by the immensely talented Maia Toakley

xii. This book is hefty but brilliant: The Soviet Century: Archeology of a Lost World by Karl Schlögel. Regular readers know I have long been fascinated by the former-Soviet Union. This enormous tome asks the question, what did life behind the Iron Curtain look, feel and smell like. It is an encyclopedic masterwork.

That is it for today. I was rocked yesterday by the passing of legend Harry Belafonte, an icon of stage and screen and a bastion of decency and bravery. A gent whose humanity elevated us all. The good people at NPR put together Three Harry Belafonte performances you won't want to miss. Never forget his truth that, “You can cage the singer but not the song.”

To better days ahead for all.

Let’s make great memories together by watching football, and not take a second for granted.

Big Love.

Courage.

ROG