^{Hail GFOP!}

I type with fingers aching for a weekend which will witness Sam Allardyce, that 68-year-old missionary-position Winston Wolf of coaching, return to our loving arms. The Premier League writers had been on strike for just one day and he back. Can't be coincidence right? No new scripts by the Premier League writers, so we just have old classic episodes served to us like reruns of Cheers on network TV.

The undoubted highlight of my week was to work with the United Service Organizations (USO) to talk about football with US Military service men and women across the globe. I know from listening to my producer JW, an American who grew up an air force kid, (stationed in Suffolk, where he developed a lifelong Ipswich Town fandom) just how vital the USO is for the sense of emotional connection it provides to home, so it was an honor and a joy to work with the organization. To beam live into military bases from Norfolk, VA to Kuwait, all of which were packed with US military wearing Premier League football jerseys was the single greatest feeling I could imagine. A reminder of just how popular football has become in this nation, and also, that when we become overwhelmed by the narrative of football – relegation, blown title races or how many goals Spurs will concede in the first ten minutes of their next game – the courage and sacrifice of those in the military, keeps all of that in perspective.

One content note: I am incredibly moved by your feedback to our Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt-Ted Lasso show. It was a total blast to tape, and I hope – as it seems it has – that the conversation fills you with uplift and joy.

2. 🗣️ YOUR HELP NEEDED: MiB Annual GFOP User Passion and Interest Survey 🙌🙌🙌

We know. We know questionnaires are as agonizing to fill in as watching your team cough up a 2-0 lead and limp out with a draw that feels like a loss. BUT from the very beginning, MiB has been about serving the conversation we have with you GFOPs. It is your passion, your interests, and your needs that inspire and direct us. The more we know, the more we can connect to you like a through ball from KDB to Erling, but more human. This set of questions will take 5 minutes to answer. We promise they will allow us to improve the quality of our crap more than we can say. Big Love.

There is a short window to complete this beauty: The survey is only open from the time of Raven publishing to 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, May 7th.

🎁 As an extra special thank you, we have a few Men in Blazers prize packs to give out to some lucky GFOPs. Shirts, mugs, books, and more: it's all a possibility. It's the least we can do for helping us shape the future of Men in Blazers. Again: Survey is here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

3. To the Football

i. Manchester City vs. Leeds United, Bud Light Big Game Preview (Saturday 10 AM ET, USA)

Sam Allardyce’s first press conference was pure Big Sam. Like witnessing Aerosmith open a final reunion tour with an explosion of dry ice and launching straight into Dude (Looks Like a Lady). With his old signature blag-and-swag confidence, he blurted “Not Pep, not Klopp, not Arteta” were ahead of him in terms of football bonafides and experience. A bold move for a man inheriting a team who conceded a Premier League record 23 goals last month before this weekend’s tête-à-tête with record-breaker Erling Haaland and Guardiola’s league-leading killing machine.

The truth is, Allardyce is a man with a reported $3.75M bonus to win, and nothing to lose. Leeds freefall is not on him. He has admitted even he was “shocked” the club turned to him. Visits to Manchester City (who won this game 7-0 last season) and West Ham, and home games against Newcastle and Tottenham lie between him and Salvation. He will shout and curse at players he will never need to forge true relationships with as he attempts to tighten the back. His life, no better, no worse, if the club does not win another point.

It is Leeds United fans I feel for. To go from Marcelo Bielsa to his antonym Sam Allardyce in the space of 430 days and three managers. This is a move of desperation. The footballing equivalent of a priest being invited into a hospital room to give last rites to a club which have feebly lost four of their last five games, leaking 18 goals in the process. Leeds is a proud, historic club with a passionate fanbase who have been left feverish in their fury amidst the chaos. This moment is an existential one with the 49ers enterprises ownership group poised to activate their option to become majority owners if they can stay up. A gauntlet of games now awaits.

More: With Big Sam Allardyce returning to the Premier League, he has reclaimed his top spot on the list of “Premier League managers ranked on how likely they are to eat a packet of crisps whilst on the toilet.”

Deeper: On Haaland and his record season which feels like the apogee of everything.

ii. Bournemouth vs. Chelsea (Saturday, 10 AM ET, P’Cock)

Six defeats on the run for Frank Lampard. His Chelsea. Now less a football team, more a moral reckoning. An Aesop’s fable like the boy with the wax wings flying too close to the sun or that dog with a bone falling in love with its own reflection. Chelsea Football Club transformed into an Army of the Dead by Todd Boehly’s Interim Sporting Director bombast and hubris. Boehly spoke earlier this week, turning up to the Milken Institute Global Conference and muttering, "We want to win... Long term project... We will figure it out..." still sounding like a Mad King who took his own once-feared force and buried it alive in an avalanche of money.

More: What is next for Pulisic? Three London writers have their say about a player they claim remains an “enigma” after battling to impress four managers at Chelsea.

iii. Liverpool vs. Brentford (Saturday, 12.30 PM ET USA)

Come for the most booed version of “God Save the King” you might ever hear, stick around to see if five wins on the spin Liverpool can continue their late, outside dreams of a Champions League place alive. Klopp’s mob are four points behind United, who have a game in hand, but I have learned from brutal personal life experience: never, ever, write off, nor laugh at, Liverpool Football Club. Just don’t.

iv. West Ham vs. Manchester United (Sunday 2 PM ET, P’Cock)

Yesterday’s last gasp defeat at Brighton left United reeling, giving Brighton sweet revenge for their FA Cup semi final defeat, leaving Ten Hag seething and Roberto De Zerbri proclaiming that “There is a God of Football.” United do not need to panic, but defeat here to flailing West Ham will make Liverpool fans snap to life like an Undertaker meme.

West Ham’s one big win of the season: Declan Rice song big in Nigeria.

More: The protracted uncertainty of the Glazer sale process means Erik Ten Hag is in the dark about resources he has to plan for summer transfers.

v. Newcastle vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 11.30 AM ET, USA)

Arsenal head way up North, knowing they have to be perfect and that local nemesis Spurs returned from there, barely intact, after a six-goal beatdown. The reverse fixture was a hardfought goalless draw. Newcastle have discovered new levels of belief and swagger since then. GFOP George Marshall wrote a Raven: “Long-time listener, first time Gmailer, huge GFOP. I’ve been finding myself staring at the table and as an Arsenal supporter from Philadelphia, wonder why I can’t help but feel like I’m watching the last sunset before the asteroid hits earth in a disaster movie?” George, you are a poet. Courage.

vi. Brighton vs. Everton (Monday, 12.30 PM ET, USA)

After that last, magical gasp win over Manchester United, Brighton, annoyingly, still have so much still to play for which should be enough to annihilate fragile, feeble Everton, whom I fear, may never win another Premier League point again in my lifetime. It was beautiful in the wake of the 2-2 draw at Leicester to hear DCL, that wonderful, sensitive bloke who has suffered, really suffered, with injury talk about what it feels like to score and celebrate with the fans again. He is pretty much our only hope. We will need more.

I read a poem that had a lovely line which gave me an eerie sense of resigned contentment: Naomi Shihab Nye’s Kindness in which she says: “Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.”

More: Entire Premier League broadcast schedule.

4. Men in Blazers. Where Fixture Congestion is Always a Problem.

i. So much happening at Men in Blazers World Headquarters this week, highlighted by one of our favorite interviews of this Premier League season. With none other than Ted Lasso stars and creators Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt. A conversation in which Jason and Brendan discuss their tonal inspiration for the Emmy-winning series, which real-life footballer Zava is based on, and what it is like to meet fans of the show, aka Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta. If you want to feel a little better about life, LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST HERE and WATCH ON YOUTUBE. It's a conversation that's humor and humanity in equal measure. Not to be missed.

ii. Talking of our YouTube Channel, we are putting so much content on that beauty these days, including every Men in Blazers Video Podcast, Presented by the GFOPs at Camarena Tequila. From "From the Men in Blazers Studios..." all the way to, "Love ya, Davo." WATCH THE ENTIRE THING HERE.

iii. Does your life need more CONCACAF? Can we interest you in VAMOS with Herc Gomez, Presented by Bud Light, our Podcast covering all the biggest stories in our region. And this week's episode is one of our favorites of this new Pod series as Herc goes deep on the relationship between Spain's La Liga and players from our shores and how the current crop of CONCACAF players are faring from Valencia's Yunus Musah, to Celta's Luca de la Torre to Español's César Montes. LISTEN HERE.

iv. I am so proud of American States United, our weekly newsletter that tells you everything you need to know about our men and women playing in the biggest leagues around the globe. It flies every Wednesday. In next week's issue, the USMNT prospect who’s not being released for the U-20 World Cup by his European Club because of the important matches they have down the home stretch. SUBSCRIBE HERE. 🇺🇸

v. Next week on Men in Blazers, the return of the Champions League means the return of European Nights, Presented by Paramount Plus with Rory Smith. It's semi finals time. And we’re going deep on Pep's quest for that elusive Champions League with Manchester City. USWNT sensation Naomi Girma also joins me. Send questions for her here.

5. More Football, Did Ya Say?

a. All Hail Napoli Champions of Italy 🇮🇹🏆

For the first time since the almost mythical days of Maradona in 1990, Napoli lifted the Scudetto. The club has been a revelation. A fast-charging collective, punctuated by the exclamation point duo of Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen. Yet the club’s journey has been even more impressive. They have survived bankruptcy and relegation to the 3rd tier, only to rise again to buccaneer way to glory, delivering the kind of party to that proud, defiant city of the type known only to Philadelphia sports fans. The scenes out of Naples last night were singular. A bacchanale of 10,000 drunk Vespa rides and the tripling of the value of the global firework industry.

More: Nicky Bandini was in Udinese to file this moving report.

b. What next for Messi who has become a Gulf State Political Pawn, suspended from Qatar-owned PSG for promoting Saudi Arabia?

c. Magnificent piece on Wrexham from Financial Times and how a fifth tier team is now doing elite powerhouse commercial numbers. Ends with a great quote, “As I’ve told the guys from the start — there will come a time where we’re in the Championship and we draw three games in a row, and one of you will get called a c*nt in Manchester Airport by a Wrexham fan.”

d. Alex Morgan talks to the quite excellent Meg Swanick: “You learn so much more from losing than winning.”

e. Spanish Cup Final: Godspeed Osasuna and their delirious fans against Real Madrid, Saturday 4 PM ET on ESPN+ 🇪🇸

6. Not Football, and All the Better for It

i. As someone who has long been an advocate of Cardigans, it both thrills me they are blowing up, but also saddens me, in the same way as when I was a kid and an Indie Band I revered went mainstream.

ii. The legendary creative who designed the iconic Hartford Whalers logo has passed away. That moment when you first spot the “Hidden H” is one of the most satisfying you will ever have.

iii. The Women’s Prize for Fiction has announced their shortlist for this year's award. Do yourself a favor and read all these books. And don’t stop till you’ve read all of Barbara Kingsolver's other books.

iv. Huge respect for the Toronto Recursive History Project's commemoration of its own commemoration. "By reading this plaque, you have made a valuable addition to the number of people who have read this plaque." Wheels within Wheels heritage-style.

v. Thread on the dystopian majesty of oil rigs. (The Norway one!!!) Could solar panels be this hauntingly beautiful? I don't think so!

vi. The New Yorker ranks The Greatest Independent Films of the Twentieth Century. I respect Richard Brody very much, but Blood Simple not making this list is a crime.

vii. A great explainer on the Writer's Strike by the quite terrific Josh Gondelman, a gent for whom I could be his stunt double.

viii. Cannot wait to watch this. Filmmaking-genius Anton Corbijn explores the creative minds behind some of the most recognizable album covers of all time. Legends on legends on legends here, like hats on hats.

xii. If you only look at one story this week: The only coronation news worth reading: Shocked locals spot '30 foot' phallus mown into Bath's Royal Crescent days before coronation.

x. Star Wars gets the Wes Anderson treatment. May the fifth be with you.

xi. Really thoughtful piece on GFOPs The National. Aaron Dessner is a massive Liverpool fan. Being called a "Sad Dad" is my new life goal.

xii. Blown away by this gent: Former NPR correspondent Tim Mak continues to report on Ukraine despite being part of the NPR layoffs. Support his work here.

xiii. A beekeeper reconnects with the natural world in an apiary. Beekeeping, definitely a Rog activity.

xiv. Gallery of Mid-century American airline logos. Designed less for airlines of the past, and more for quite decent preset-day t-shirts.

xv. The 15 Levels of Turntable Scratching: From Easy to Compex. A must-read for all aspiring DJ Grealos.

xvi. This Song has propelled me through this week: Girl and Girl – All I See

xvii. A Book: MY WIFE (Cue Borat Voice) Vanessa has a book coming out and I could not be prouder: Ness has a podcast called The Puberty Podcast which is just like Men In Blazers but diving into the experience of Puberty (So, just like Men In Blazers) which is something that every human experiences but almost no one talks about. The pod is with an incredible doctor, Cara Natterson. The duo are essentially the Hall & Oates of Puberty, and their book THIS IS SO AWKWARD is an essential guide for caring for kids eight to 18 during that roller coaster of emotion.

It comes out in October but is available for pre-order now. You know how much pre-orders help a book and I would be so bloody grateful to all who support her. Hold onto your receipt for a special thing happening this Fall. I am so bloody proud of Vanessa and grateful to all of you.

I want to finish by raising a glass to GFOP Simon Hallett of Bucks County, Penn. who, seven years ago, was inspired by listening to Men In Blazers to invest in the club he used to watch, Plymouth Argyle, then languishing in League 2, England's Fourth Tier. Last weekend, they were promoted to the Championship and might well play Everton next season. Simon will join me next week to talk about his remarkable journey. (Send me your questions for him here). He emailed me to say “It’s not all about the Premier League.” As an Everton fan, but also as a human being, I will say, Lord I hope you are right. Godspeed to the Pilgrims.

Let’s make great memories through football together,

And not take a second for granted.

Big Love

Courage,

ROG