20230922 Raven Newsletter

Hail GFOP!

I type with fatigued fingers filled with excitement and joy. As avid readers will know, we launched Men In Blazers: Early Kick Off this week, our new 10-ish minute a morning micro-pod designed to brief you on all that has happened overnight in the football world, so that you can keep up with the information overload that just don’t sleep. You all identified this problem as one you most wanted us to tackle in our last survey and we live to listen to you. This resulting series we have unleashed, helmed by the mighty Sammy from Surrey, has been an enormous lift, as we have begun to set up production teams who are able to create content on the ground across Europe for your listening and viewing delight. More to come on that. But I wanted to thank you all for a phenomenal first week which has been propelled by so many of you sharing it with your “Soccer-Curious Friends.” Please keep spreading by word of mouth. This is my favorite review on our Apple podcast page from j.heritage: “Another Banger. Rog and Co. have done it again. When it comes to pod creation and content, they subscribe to Kendall Roy’s philosophy of Bangers Only.” Courage.

This has been a week of conflicting emotions however. My Dad, Judge Ivor, who is an avid reader of this newsletter, has been my hero this week as he experienced a spot of hospital action. Dad, I send you my love, and know that in the best of times, and the worst of times, you are still much healthier than Everton Football Club.

Lots of football to discuss: Premier League, USWNT, AC Milan, Wrexham and more. Let’s dive in and explore the weekend to come.

Watch: Puskas Goal of Year Award Nominees unleashed here. 🚀

2. To the Football

i. Arsenal vs. Tottenham (Sunday, 9 a.m. EST, P’Cock)

That noise heard faintly all around the world is of Arsenal fans and Tottenham Hotspur supporters salivating at the prospect of this weekend’s epic North London derby. One in which both teams enter undefeated in the league, capable of collectively joyous football and clashing in a game in which all of the good vibes are up for grabs. Arsenal swagger in after savoring their first Champions League night in seven years. The Quarterback Controversy Arteta has self-inflicted in goal is fascinating to witness. Is this really a job share or has David Raya stealthily supplanted Aaron Ramsdale and all the intangibles he brings? Interesting to hear Matt Turner talk this morning about how Mikel Arteta’s goalkeeping tactics may be the future.

Tottenham may be Kane-less – without that one of their own who scored a record 14 goals in 19 North London derbies, but the fascinating storyline of their first five games is, they might be better off as a collective without him. I spoke to Spurs Whisperer Alasdair Gold for a YouTube preview which launches today, and he talked about how that demigod Ange Postecoglou has empowered his players to enjoy their football, and made them feel free to make mistakes. This ebullient collective, tenacious style has been the result. Alasdair predicted a 2-2 draw in which fearless football was unfurled by both sides.

More: Lovely piece on Pastor Postecoglou and a profile of captain Odegaard who has just signed a new contract at Arsenal.

ii. Manchester City vs. Nottingham Forest, (Saturday 10 a.m. EST USA)

What can stop Perfect Manchester City? Matty Turner you are our only hope. Pep’s goal this season: To invent football without jeopardy.

iii. Burnley vs. Manchester United (Saturday, 3 p.m. EST, P’Cock)

JJ Watt’s Burnley™ may be winless but they will fancy something out of this game as they face a United in freefall. Their 4-3 loss in Champions League action at Bayern was the least close 4-3 you will ever witness. Yet again, United opened with a flourish only to lose their confidence around the 20th minute, leaving the team reeling from their fourth loss in five games. Andre Onana is the latest player to arrive at United and have his reputation flung into the teeth of the tabloid buzzsaw. The goalkeeper has become shoot-on-sight vulnerable for opponents. The team’s extensive injury list dents Ten Hag’s tactical options as the ideas he is working to inculcate appear to be melting. The only happy United “fans” this season must be potential buyers Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim who must believe their gap between their last bids, and United’s values is not growing.

iv. Chelsea vs. Aston Villa (Sunday, 9 a.m. EST, P’Cock)

Depressing stat from @FelixJohnston_: If you look at the Premier League table starting from 2023, Chelsea are second bottom, two points ahead of Everton, who have two games in hand.

v. Liverpool vs. West Ham (Sunday, 9 a.m. EST, P’Cock)

The prospect of an epic midfield battle. Liverpool Reloaded appear to have re-summoned the tenacity of Klopp’s best teams. In six games - five in the Premier League and one in the Europa League - they have gone 1-0 down four times. They have won five and drawn once, even extracting three points twice when going down to 10 men. For West Ham, James Ward-Prowse has played like the son of Iniesta since arriving this summer. David Moyes will be sweating the fitness of Jarrod Bowen who has a virus and will be well aware that in his 87-year-long career, he has never won at Anfield.  

vi. Brentford vs. Everton (Saturday, 12.30 p.m. EST, NBC)

Watch our one-point from five games Blues crap the bed on network television. Sean Dyche has spent the week dropping hints about a DCL-Beto striker partnership, probs so that both men can disappoint us simultaneously and save time. Watching Everton, I now constantly remind myself of David Hume’s words: “The life of man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.”

3. Lionel Messi’s American Dream Charm Tour meets Reality of Injury 🇦🇷🐐

After two months of casually dropping one godly highlight clip after another, Lionel Messi limped off injured in the 37th minute of Miami’s midweek clash against Toronto. That injury came after our hero had not played against Atlanta, nor for Argentina in Bolivia. Jordi Alba also came off minutes before Messi. They will not play this weekend against Orlando and ticket prices have PLUMMETED. The US Open Cup Final against Houston Wednesday night is lingering and both are doubtful. The needle falling off the record could be a true body blow for league and team. Let’s pray.

4. Farewell to Two Great Americans: Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe 🇺🇸🙌

A pair of interim-coached games against South Africa. The Saddest victory tour ever. Designed above all, to give curtain calls to two iconic stars of World Cup wins past. Last night it was Julie Ertz’s turn to take a curtain call. On Sunday it will be Megan Rapinoe. Ertz was a Velvet Hammer who embodied the intensity and competitive fire which propelled this team to glory – both features they will have to fight to re-summon in her absence. I spent some time with Julie on Tuesday to review her career journey and the lessons she learned throughout. What struck me is the depth of her love for the game which has not changed since she was a kid. I loved her story about how she loved to train with the ferocity of real-game experience throwing herself into tackles against an equally fierce Lindsey Horan. Both teammates would fly into the other, and then, while on the floor, check each other’s health, “I ain’t broke. Are you broke?” LISTEN TO OUR JULIE ERTZ PODCAST HERE AND WATCH ON YOUTUBE HERE.

b. As for Megan Rapinoe, she is one of the few American footballers who transcended football, breaking out of our bubble to find a place in popular culture and the culture wars. A two-time World Cup winner, she will be remembered for her joyful, maverick play on the field, and the changes she fought for off it. I once asked her how she wanted to be remembered. I hoped she would say, “The only Golden Boot Winner to also earn a Golden Blazer” but these were her words: “A strong, fierce, badass.” Sunday’s game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. EST on TNT.

Listen: Megan has been on our show a lot. This is my favorite interview with her.

5. Brendan Hunt takes New York City 🍻

Our great friend Brendan Hunt, Coach Beard of Ted Lasso fame, is bringing his hit one-man show, "The Movement You Need'' to the Soho Playhouse Nov. 1 - 7. I can’t wait to witness Brendan explore life and loss through his discovery of The Beatles' music, all done without incurring the wrath of their legal representatives. Tickets here.

6. Wrexham keep on keeping on whilst delivering MUST-WATCH television 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

After a stumbling start to League Two life, Wrexham have resummoned their swagger, fourth in League Two, three points behind leaders Gillingham, unbeaten in seven games after losing their opening game at home to MK Dons. This week manager Phil Parkinson talked about the pride Wrexham feel in matching Manchester City's feat of most league wins in 2023 – both teams have won 22 games so far this calendar year. This weekend, Wrexham travel to 13th place Stockport, 22 miles outside of Manchester. Live broadcast is available by subscription here

🗣️ Let me just say this: Welcome to Wrexham Season 2: Episode 2 is one of the best pieces of television I have seen in a long, long time.

7. AC Milan and Christian Pulisic attempt to resummon that loving feeling 🇮🇹

Still stung by last week’s derby beatdown, and the inability to kill off Newcastle in Champions League play, the Italian media is reporting both Pulisic and Musah will start tomorrow’s game against Verona (9 a.m. EST.) Godspeed to both, as Christian and a spritely Yunus only entered the Toon game off the bench.

Men in Blazers x Bud Light Sweepstakes - Exclusive Prizes for GFOPs 🍺

You’ve long known about the GFOPs at Bud Light’s support of the game we all love. Now, they’re giving us the chance to give away some exclusive prizes only to those of you reading this newsletter. Entering is easy: just head to budlight.com/MIB to enter for your chance to win signed gear, exclusive Bud Light merch, and more.*

8. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. Saudi League crowds and business model. So far, not so great…

iii. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban uses football to extend geopolitical reach across border to make TSC a sporting symbol of ‘Serbia-Hungary.’ Terrifying.

iv. Incredible Game Changing Data news this week. FIFA gave greenlight for players to start wearing lower limb tracking devices during official football matches. AI boot straps by Playermaker have been certified which will take monitoring of individual performance data to a new level. I spent some time at Playermaker’s headquarters this summer and was blown away by the product and the possibility it can bring to players at every level – it essentially allows both kids and professionals to track their every step, pass – even down to the pace and spin of each shot. I tweeted Billy Beane is about to have a field day. I spoke at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference right before the pandemic and Daryl Morey told me that Soccer is 10 years behind the NBA in data analysis and the NBA is 10 years behind MLB. As Billy Beane himself said to us when he last came on, “Crossing the Rubicon is when people execute on the data, which is baseball’s biggest advantage.”

9. THIS WEEK AT MEN IN BLAZERS WORLD HEADQUARTERS 🍻🍻🍻

What. A. Week. One that has been exhilarating here at MiB HQ. When you launch a new show, it’s a bit like dropping your child off at school on the first day. Your cocktail of excitement, relief and nausea as they run into school (or onto your Pod feed), not looking back as you choke back tears. And so it’s been an emotional week as we released Men in Blazers Early Kickoff out into the World. If you’ve read the newsletter to this point, you know what it is. So we have only one ask: SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE. And, if you have a football-curious friend in your life, please forward it to them. And, if you’re feeling truly benevolent, please leave a five-star rating and review. It helps more than we can say.

Other content we’re proud of this week:

This week in the Messiverse. On this week’s episode of our digital series involving all things Leo, we go deep on a gent having one of the greatest season’s in global football. Tactically astute, fleet of foot and hand-picked by David Beckham himself to lead Inter Miami. That’s right: we’re talking Lionel Messi’s Bodyguard. WATCH THIS EPISODE HERE.

ii. Talking of Lionel Messi, one gent who has benefited from his arrival is none other than young USMNT prospect Benjamin Cremaschi. This week, the Coral Gables Grealish guested on The American Dream and told hosts Tim Ream and Steve Schlanger that after assisting that sublime Messi winner against New York Red Bulls, “I didn’t want to let him go.” LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE.

iii. Coming up next week: A cannot miss Podcast with Bournemouth and Las Vegas Golden Knights Owner Bill Foley. A gent who rose from the ranks of the American Air Force to develop a data-driven approach he believes can lead the Cherries into Europe. It drops Monday, which also marks Yom Kippur. Rog and Davo will be back for a full Premier League Pod Tuesday.

10 . A fascinating lost chapter of American Footballing History in Europe

On European Nights, which returned with Rory Smith this week, we told the story of Breiðablik, the first Icelandic team to qualify for European club competition. They made their debut last night at Maccabi Tel Aviv and almost made a brave comeback from three goals down, to lose 3-2 at the last. We received a fantastic raven from GFOP Noah Lewkowitz who told us this: “I was so excited to hear about Breiðablik FC on the pod today. Few have probably ever heard of the team, and even fewer would know that several American players signed contracts there in the early 2000s. In 2000, I played at Duke University along with an Icelandic player, Atli Knuttson. Atli spent the summers playing for Breiðablik, his home club. He invited myself and Robbie Russell (all of us played for Duke at the time) to spend the summer playing for the club. We signed contracts and were given a car, housing, and day jobs as maintenance workers for the team. I never managed to get any playing time, and did not become a professional player. Robbie Russell, however, was a proper footballer, and went on to play in Europe and the MLS”.

Thank you, Noah. I love this lost chapter of American players storming Europe where they used to have to play only on the fringes. This story is a reminder of how far we have come and so fast.

11. Not Football and All the Better for It

ii. Jackson Wald explores the rise of Sumo Wrestling in America for GQ: “I Shall Not Be Moved”. Quite moving, actually.

iii. After incandescent lightbulbs were banned, a 25-year-old spent $1,700 to stockpile them. I don't understand you, Kevin Szmyd, but I am happy for you.

iv. The Squelchy, Messy Art of Video Game Sound Effects. I used to live next door to a Foley Artist, at least that's what he told us....

v. Three friends take over a Nashville La Quinta, check in guests after no employees are found. Representatives from La Quinta have not publicly commented on the incident. They've taken the fifth you could say. That is bilingual comedy genius.

vi. "Florida Man is in everybody.” Even you, voyeur of headlines and the internet. Welcome. We’re glad you’re here. Let’s get weird. “Florida Man,” explained.

vii. This is the most insane thing I've read in ages: The Wild Quest to Create a Fake Indian Cricket League ... That Was Just the Beginning. Solid artwork too!

ix. A Boat Brings Books and Comfort to Isolated Villages Along Norway’s Coast. A reminder that there are still good things in the world, or in Scandinavia at least.

x. Entertainment Weekly answers the question: How do I get on Survivor? The more important question: how does Jeff Probst defy the aging process???

xii. No you couldn't land a passenger plane but bite yer arm off for a tenth of the self belief of anyone who thinks they could.

xiii. I Love this Song: Up and Away – Stella

xiv. I adored this Book: After the Funeral by Tessa Hadley. A book of masterfully crafted short stories obsessed with the inner-lives of the characters, most of whom are trapped, all of whom yearn for freedom. Perfect read for all Everton fans.

That is it for today. I joked on the podcast with Davo last week that I long to live in a footballing monastery in which we all just studied the love, empathy and kindness of the Book of Ange. I was very touched then, to receive a Raven from a long-time GFOP Andrew O’Connor, who is both an Episcopal priest and a Liverpool fan in Wichita, KS. Andrew sent me this truly lovely devotional he wrote for his community. I was truly touched and love his call to, “help others to discover their own inner reserves of strength and to face their challenges with courage they never knew they could muster.” In that Spirit, Pray for Everton. Let’s savor every second of watching football together.

Big Love

Courage

ROG

Early Kickoff: 9/22/23 ‎

Julie Ertz's swan song, Europa and Conference League, LA's 2026 doubts

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