20231006 Raven Newsletter

Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers filled with anticipation for the epic civilization-ending clash which is to come: Arsenal vs. Manchester City. A seismic title-defining slap fight between Arteta and Pep. One that, yes, by the numbers – City’s 12 straight Premier League wins – may have been football’s equivalent of Dwight Schrute’s rivalry with Jim Halpert. But as we now know. All it needs is one man Pep disparages by failing to remember his name to down City. This weekend is rife with games of wonder (minus Everton casually gifting Bournemouth their first win of the season) which we will break down below, along with news of the 2030 World Cup, Gio Reyna returning as the US Men Avenger Assemble, Wrexham, Milan, and the NWSL playoff race climax.

It has been a wonderfully overwhelming week at Men In Blazers as we filmed an Arsenal-tinged preview with the mighty Arseblog (live on our YouTube at 12 PM ET today) and filmed with Premier League Kelce and Mahomes: Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland. We also began to plan, suboptimally of course, for 2024, an upcoming trip to Nashville to spend some time with the United States gents, and an afternoon in the company of the genuinely remarkable JJ Watt, talking about Burnley, the rise of the Premier League in the United States, and the right amount of Liqueur in Benny & Hots.

My biggest news is personal: My wife’s book comes out this week. She has long had a parenting podcast centering on the adolescent experience. This week, her book This is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained is released. It has been a remarkable experience witnessing her build this project and will it to life. It was even more remarkable reading and learning so much that I def wish that I had read when I was 12, but also probs should have read as a parent before my kids hit that age. Ness will be on Morning Joe, Drew Barrymore, and CBS Morning amongst others – so incredibly proud watching her fly. She is going on tour across the nation. You can read more here in the Times. All you parents reading this — it would be very meaningful to me if you supported her.

🚨🇺🇸 THE MEN IN BLAZERS TV SHOW IS BACK THIS SUNDAY. And we return with a trinity of American Premier League characters. Matt Turner. Antonee Robinson. And Bournemouth/Las Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley. This is a collection of conversations that provides insight into the grind of a Premier League season, missing home, and how it feels to hear “U-S-A… U-S-A… U-S-A…” ring out at Premier League grounds. The show will be available Sunday morning and will serve as the perfect aperitif or amuse bouche to your Premier League Weekend. WATCH EVERY SHOW FROM THE LAST TWO SEASONS OF MEN IN BLAZERS HERE. Enjoy! 🇺🇸🚨

2. To the Football 🍻

i. Arsenal vs Manchester City (Sunday, 11.30 a.m. ET, P’Cock)

A civilization ending rumble. Can Fredo Corleone finally overcome Michael? This game may be tinged by those not there: City lack the control of that footballing Ark of the Covenant, Rodri. Mikel Arteta is yet to rule out Bukayo Saka despite the starboy limping off in the 34th minute midweek. This result will ultimately revolve around squad depth. A battle in which Manchester City always seem to have the upper hand. Eighteen-year-old Rico Lewis stepped up to deliver a transcendent Champions League jazz solo midweek, leaving Pep to marvel “I’ve been a manager for 15 years, training unbelievable players, to find a player like him in the pockets, moving into the spaces… He’s one of the best I ever trained, by far.”

More: Are Arsenal moving closer towards City?

ii. Luton Town vs. Tottenham (Saturday, 7.30 a.m. ET, USA)

Postecoglou takes his AngeBall and Goodvibes to The Kenny. Will we see the Spurs who thrashed Burnley 5-2 (Burnley who this week beat Luton for their very first win of the season), or the Spurs who barely scraped past Sheffield United? Sad news for Luton Town: They can’t play Everton every week.

iii. Manchester United vs. Brentford (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, USA)

After six defeats in 10 games, the once stoic Erik Ten Hag is developing the pallor of a dead United manager walking. After the self-soiling of a midweek Champions League implosion against Galatasaray, the Dutch bald faces a difficult decision: Are the woefully underperforming Marcus Rashford (one goal all season) and Bruno Fernandes undroppable ahead of this must-win to staunch the bleeding? United, unable to maintain leads, are sloppy in so many areas of the field. André Onana flailing as if performing under the Curse of David De Gea. They are dictionary-definition mid-table mediocrity. Nine points off the top and seven points adrift from fourth place. Win or the crisis klaxon will be turned up to 11.

More: What stage are we at in Manchester United’s endless theater of pain?

iv. Burnley vs. Chelsea (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, P’Cock)

JJ Watt vs Todd Boehly. Vincent Kompany vs Poch. Two teams looking to build on the modicum of momentum created by big midweek wins. That is pretty much all they have in common. Chelsea are one of the most expensively assembled squads in the galaxy. Burnley will aspire to buccaneer on their authentic, austerity budget. If I ran US Soccer, I would have Gregg Berhalter go and court 19-year-old Luca Koleosho in person. The Norwalk-born, United States, Canada, Nigeria, and Italy-eligible winger will look like the one 100-million dollar-worthy player on the field.

More: Chelsea continue to shuffle their front office with appointments of new American executives.

v. Everton vs. Bournemouth (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, P’Cock)

Everton continue to make a mockery of the pain-pleasure principle. The Vincibles are in the midst of their darkest home run to start a season in 65 years. Everton fans, the club’s greatest asset, have been forced to witness just a single goal scored during slapstick impotent, self-sabotaging defeats to Fulham, Wolves and Luton. Second to bottom Bournemouth have not won all season. That should read “have not won… yet… all season.” Dear reader. You know me. You know Everton. You know so well, so painfully, just how this one ends…

Worse: Leeds, Leicester and Burnley have written a joint letter to Everton's prospective new owners, 777 Partners, that they intend to sue the club for $366m if they are found guilty of breaking Premier League spending rules. Let's hope they will settle for $366 each, as it is about all we have.

vi. West Ham vs. Newcastle (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, USA)

I am old enough to remember when we all wanted Eddie Howe fired after the 3-1 defeat to Brighton at the beginning of September. Now they are living their dreams. Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff, two local lads, amongst the goals as the Toon downed PSG 4-1 in a delirious night seemingly ripped from a Goal movie. Only it was real. Saudi nation-state funding will do that to a club. Give you the power and the motivation to down your Qatari rival in a game filled with Gulf State geo-politcal power balance optics. Here he faces a team owned not by a nation state, but by a good old-fashioned pornographer. David Moyes will relish the opportunity to make this a bar fight.

More: The same week as the fifth anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, PIF’s Newcastle hosted Qatar’s PSG in the Champions League. Modern football. Miguel Delaney on how Qatar was on the brink of leaving football, before Saudi Arabia jumped in, leading to a Gulf State Space Race.

vii. Brighton vs. Liverpool (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, P’Cock)

A pair of Thursday-night football fatigued Europa Twins take the field in a collision between two managers who are different forces of nature in their own right. Roberto De Zerbi has faced Jurgen Klopp three times in the last year and is yet to lose, winning twice. Yet his team are adapting to twice a week European football, reeling in form after the 6-1 beatdown against Villa, and self-admittedly way off form. Jurgen Klopp has also spent the week bewildered by the nature of defeat. In his case, the VAR meltdown which buckled the sporting nature of defeat at Spurs. Can Liverpool regain their focus, seize the moment, and take advantage of the prospect of one of City and Arsenal dropping points?

More: Full Premier League Schedule here.

AND THIS: WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR MATT TURNER? WE ARE LOOKING FOR AMERICA’S BEST QUESTIONS TO ASK THAT GREAT GENT. SEND US YOURS AND WE WILL ASK HIM AS MANY AS WE CAN 🇺🇸🧤🐶

3. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. Lionel Messi was nominated as “MLS Player of the Year” despite only playing four games in the league. Cue global scorn. Inter Miami’s season could end like a needle falling off a record as the GOAT has played a mere 37 minutes in the past 27 days, leaving his team looking like the Colorado Buffaloes without Coach Prime. Messi’s arrival has brought such joy to everyone that loves the rise of the game in the United States. His absence and the surreal lack of information about it from the club is leaving fans in limbo and is hard to watch. 🇦🇷🐐

More: Inter Miami test fan loyalty amid Lionel Messi injury saga.

ii. NWSL Playoff Musical Chairs rumble on with Megan Rapinoe’s final home club game tonight. End of an era.

iii. Arsenal and Australia star defender Steph Catley being anonymously caught up in a daytime TV interview about people wanting to win a cash prize at a local St. Albans Cafe is immense. A couple of weeks ago she was scoring massive goals in the World Cup with millions watching.

4. AC Milan: America’s Team face 777’s Genoa (Saturday, 2.45 p.m. ET) 🇺🇸🇮🇹🤌

With just one full training session since Wednesday's Champions League stalemate with Dortmund, Christian Pulisic's ragazzi head down to 14th placed Genoa to play the 777-owned side that hasn't registered a home victory against The Rossemori since 2016. Milan continue to soar in Serie A, coming into Saturday's match 2nd in the league behind local rivals Inter on goal difference. Former Rossemori striker Alberto Gilardino will hope to add AC Milan to his side's upsets this season, having already registered victories against Lazio and Roma. With Ruben Loftus-Cheek injured, Milan are likely to field both Pulisic and stealth-impressive Yunus Musah in their starting lineup. Coraggio.

5. USMNT Avenger Assemble for 2 Massive Games 🇺🇸🦅

The big news: Gio Reyna is back for the first time since family feuding with Gregg Berhalter. Reyna is yet to play a moment for Dortmund this season but the 20-year-old wonder will be in the spotlight during games against Germany (next Saturday, 3PM ET) and Ghana (the following Tuesday night, 8.30 PM ET). Can the healing begin? So much depends on Gregg Berhalter’s ability to lead the team through this complex emotional trauma that he regrettably was very much part of.

The squad is strong: Antonee Robinson and the mighty Tyler Adams miss out with injury, John Brooks still in exile, but Celtic’s Big Unit Cameron Carter-Vickers is back and will be joined by 23-year-old German-American Bundesliga defensive midfielder Lennard Maloney, who plays for newly promoted Heidenheim, and could make his debut against Germany. The son of an Air Force veteran and German mother has reportedly only been on American soil twice before in his life, but has a U.S. jersey signed by Bobby Wood and John Brooks hanging above his bed.

More: Gio and the questions facing Berhalter.

6. FIFA Fixing World Cup hosts in such a dodgy FIFA way 🤮🤮🤮🤑🤑

Out of the blue, FIFA announced a jerry-rigged plan to play the 2030 World Cup on three continents, with Morocco, Portugal and Spain chosen to host the bulk of the 48-team tournament, and Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay handed the opening three matches. This dog’s dinner of a World Cup — six countries, five time zones, three continents, two seasons – is a madness for the fans and for the environment.

An incredibly dark side effect of this surprise announcement: FIFA has a rule declaring that a continent cannot host consecutive world cups… so it was no surprise after Europe, Africa and South America were handed this 2030 joint bid, eliminating their continents from 2034 contention, that Saudi Arabia stepped in that very same day to announce a solo bid to host the 2034 World Cup. FIFA proceeded to announce that other Asian countries had just 25 days to announce their rival bids. Australian football authorities are said to be reeling at this brazen, craven, finger-on-the-scale move by FIFA, for whom the only value is money, and morality, shame and spine evidently do not exist.

More: If you want to understand the power at play here, watch this Jordan Henderson hostage video. Hendo was, until last year, seen as the moral center of English football. Now he is doing this.

7. This Week at Men in Blazers World Headquarters

Tons of content we’re proud of this week: If you have not already subscribed to Men in Blazers Early Kick Off, our new daily news Pod, what in the Steve Bruce are you doing?!? This Podcast is designed to bring you all of the big footballing stories of the day in right around 10 minutes. Support and Subscribe HERE. And even if you’re already subscribed, leave us a wee rating and review. It helps more than we can say.

ii. European Nights with Rory Smith returned this week, and it is an extra special episode because it chronicles the rise of Jude Bellingham. And no more than six hours after we released this Pod, Jude only went and scored one of the goals of the competition so far this season. We can only take partial credit. 😉 

iii. VAMOS with Herc Gomez, Presented by Bud Light. This week, that man bun who’s stingy in defense, but generous of spirit… Walker Zimmerman. LISTEN HERE. Listen to him talk about what it’s like to defend Lionel Messi.

Coming up next week on Men in Blazers… Haaland/Grealish and some very special USMNT content ahead of the international window. Watch this space.

8. Marching like a mighty army WREXHAM IS THE NAME 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Wrexham head 230 miles southwest to the magical kingdom of Crawley Town on Saturday (10 a.m. ET), where they'll face a Red Devils side looking to return to winning ways after a shock loss to Doncaster. The North Walians may be winless in three in League 2, but showed a dogged determination in their 1-1 draw with promotion hopeful heavyweight Mansfield Town on Tuesday night. Starman Paul Mullin is back for his sixth match after returning early from a collapsed lung injury and will look to add to the two goals he's scored already this season, including this bicycle magic. The top of the table is TIGHT. A win in West Sussex would take the Dragons above Crawley on goal difference and into the Promised Land of one of four playoff positions.

9. Not Football, and All the Better for It

i. An appreciation of Martin Scorsese’s (film director, not my dog) Mean Streets as it hits 50 years of age. “It's all bullshit except the pain. The pain of hell. The burn from a lighted match increased a million times. Infinite.”

ii. Hollywood Reporter 50 Best Television Shows of the century. Men in Blazers SNUBBED AGAIN.

iii. Giving Dennis Lehane a run for his money: The Karen Read Case in Canton. Cops, blackmail, murder, a lady named Karen. What more could you want?

iv. "Naked Attraction" producer explains the controversial all-nude dating show. Somehow still less revealing than Villa's Castore kits.

v. Equal parts frustrating and hilarious, Devin Friedman recounts his Great Zelle Pool Scam for Insider. Beware the Cheryls.

vi. 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time. Just in time for Spooky Szn!

viii. Vox attempts to explain why your $7 latte is $7. Still doesn't explain why Kai Havertz was $82M...

ix. Collar size: 17½. Daiquiri record: 16. David Coggins explores the "mostly true" story of Hemingway and Esquire Magazine: Don't Meet Your Heroes, Especially the Dead Ones.

x. This person clearly does not live in my old neighbourhood in NYC: In Defense of the Rat. The cute illustrations almost swayed me, but then I remembered the size 8 rats who run this town.

xi. This week's moment of wonder: watch Penn Professor Dr. Drew Weissman tell his parents he just won a Nobel Prize.

xii. Happy Sufjan Release Day. Should be a National Holiday. 👑

That is it for today. I was deeply saddened when news broke that Hall of Fame Chicago Bear Dick Butkus died yesterday aged 80. Butkus was one of the greatest linebackers ever and was widely considered to be a man who changed the game. Yet, it was his spirit and tenacity which truly defined him. There was part of him that felt as soaring as the skyscrapers to the city of Chicago. I feel blessed now to have been at Soldier Field on opening day this season, when the Bears decided to interview the great man on the field before kick off against Green Bay. They asked him innocently what he was looking forward to, and Butkus seized on the question to scream into the microphone "kicking the Packers’ asses." Aged 80, that giant still showed more fight than any Bears player on the field that day. Will never see his like again.

Savor every moment to make memories while watching football.

Big Love,

Courage.

ROG