20231117 Raven Newsletter

Author

Evan Raimist
November 17, 2023

Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers filled with International Break-ache. These International interruptions feel that they are happening with a regularity so fast and furious that the Premier League weeks seem like they are actually the rare interlude in international play. There was one moment last night however, which made it all worth it. Liverpool’s Luis Diaz took the field in Barranquilla, just days after his father Luis Manuel Díaz Jiménez had been freed after a 13-day kidnapping. Father was in the stadium to watch son score twice amidst the most emotionally riveting scenes to deliver a stunning come-from behind-victory, Colombia’s first ever World Cup qualifying win over Brazil. Take a moment to savor Luis Manuel’s reaction in the stands. It is impossible to imagine the powerful, complex set of emotions that must have surged through his body in this moment. We are living in dark days of chaos, fear, and pain. (And I don’t just mean Everton’s 10-point deduction). Hang on to moments of light like this. Savor them. And thank football for giving them to us. 

We are about to enter Thanksgiving week. We have so much to be thankful for. It is an incredible time to be covering football in this nation with the World Cup coming and the tectonic plates shifting below the surging sport we love in this nation. I am grateful to my team at MiB Media Network who work with such passion and creativity to build these connections through football with you. We have a massive week coming up with a huge new series dropping on Tuesday (more on this below.) Above all, I am thankful to all of you in this joyous MiB community for your love this week especially. As my old man, Judge Ivor, continues his fight, I have found your messages and insights so unbelievably moving. I am back to England this week to spend more time with my family in Liverpool. Enjoy your Thanksgiving, wherever it may land you. No matter how rote it can feel, let us not take a second of any of it for granted. Tell me what you are thankful for if you want to take a moment.

2. 🚨 BREAKING: Everton handed a 10-Point Deduction 💙

“Biggest points deduction in Premier League history, you'll never sing that.” It is with a mix of true horror and some pride that we wake up to news that Everton have been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial fair play rules. The team drop to 19th place as they appeal the punishment. The 10 points they have had prised from Sean Dyche’s sweaty, meaty fingers are the biggest points deduction in the competition’s history. Burnley, Leeds, and Leicester have announced their intent to sue Everton. This should feel like a death sentence. That it does not is both a relief, and a testament to how many truly terrible teams there are at the bottom of the table this season. 

However, that is small solace. The Premier League has created an enormous optics problem for itself. Everton faced one FFP charge. Manchester City currently have been grappling with a whopping 115. The silence on that admittedly more complex case will now speak volumes until the Premier League announces how it intends to proceed. Everton do not have the power to tie their case up with expensive super lawyers who can bog the charges down and strangle them in a legal quagmire. They also are not a nation state who, I crap you not, have the power to kick the case into the diplomatic governmental level. Even Jamie Carragher cannot believe the decision and its severity.

The rest of the season will feel like this: Evertonians versus the world. And I fancy our chances. PS. Michigan fans who support Everton, I especially send you my deepest love. Up the Blues. 

Connected: Chelsea’s shocking Abramovich-era off the book payments uncovered. Different regime yet no statute of limitations. Could they come back to haunt the club? 

3. Go, Go, USA! Nations League Threepeat Lives after a 3-0 Win that felt… like a 0-0 Draw 🇺🇸🦅

What if I told you that the US Men won 3-0 with a fine Pepi finish, a Robinson Rocket, and Gio Reyna dummy and finish to boot?

What if I told you we struggled mightily against a 99th ranked team playing with 10-men for 53 minutes, and fittingly for Austin, looked tactically Dazed and Confused?

What if I told you those two descriptions were of the same match? That’s where we find ourselves after last night’s Toupee of a win courtesy of three late, late goals jammed into the last eight minutes. As one Chelsea supporter said when he called into our post-game YouTube, “I thought the 4-1 win over Tottenham would be the worst-win-feeling I would have this season.” Last night, the United States said, “hold my beer.”

🚨 WATCH LAST NIGHT’S DO IT LIVE PRESENTED BY CASH APP ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. SUBSCRIBE AND COME JOIN US AFTER MONDAY NIGHT’S GAME. 🚨

Some quick overnight takeaways – and I will tape more with Herc Gomez on Monday, ahead of the second leg:

i. We are a young squad, and last night was all about our inexperience. In the final third, we lacked tactical guile and leadership, especially after the 37th minute, when the Soca Warriors were stripped down to 10-men. From that moment on, we should have had the nose to stretch the field and pick the moment. Instead, precision, patience, experience and know-how seemed lost. Instead of emphasizing width, switching the ball, making the opponent chase, the United States did the opposite. We played narrow, and central, like an NFL offense hellbent on running the ball up the gut every time. T&T, with their defiant squad heavy on domestic league, USL and Canadian League players, were there to stack the line every time.

ii. Reality Check: This squad has barely practiced together.

How do you conjure zero shots in 55 minutes with 75% possession especially once we faced just 10 men? How do you get so little out of young Malik Tillman and 20-year-old Kevin Paredes, both of whom underwhelmed despite soaring in European club play? In the United States defense I would say this: this squad had almost no time to train. Especially those players who arrived on Monday, would have had, at most, one recovery session and one training session. A quick peek at game film, then onto the field. If it looked at times like a team that has not trained together – that is because, in these packed modern football international windows, it is exactly that: A team that has not spent much time at all developing chemistry. 

iii. Huge respect to 99th in the world ranked T&T. Their game plan and execution was ferocious and impressive. Their goalkeeper Denzil Smith, had a night that even Nicki Minaj would admire. 🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹

iv. All Hail Ricardo Pepi. Whenever Gregg Holds Out for a Hero like Bonnie Tyler, The Pepi Train is there 🚂

All of that sterile possession was hard to watch at times, à la Manchester United. Craving an American McTominay, we found one exactly where we had left him in the 66th minute. Ricardo Pepi, who summoned a fine acute, improvised clip to make the fear go away. That goal broke a record as the 20-year-old’s fifth US goal as a substitute this year – the most in team history. That statistic gives you a glimpse into this kid’s mindset: humility to come off the bench in the shadow of Balo, and the self-confidence to use his scant minutes to deliver again and again. Make no mistake: Gregg snubbing him for the 2022 World Cup squad aches for this kid. But no player has bailed the United States out more than Pepi, and I admire him so greatly. 

v. What now? Our boys need just a draw or defeat by fewer than three goals on the road in T&T on Monday night (7 PM ET on TNT) to advance to the March final four in Texas where they will attempt to 3-peat the Nations League. Qualifying for next summer’s Copa, is all that matters. Our kids need to sharpen themselves against teams who will truly challenge them. Yet, I never tire of watching these boys celebrate their goals. Let’s savor every second. 🏆🏆🏆

Programming Note: We will be back Monday with a preview of the second leg. And we’re going again with VAMOS host Herc Gomez to talk about what we learned from the first leg and what we can expect from the return leg. And Rog will be back Monday Night immediately after the game at 9 p.m. ET on our YouTube channel for another Do it Live! Presented by Cash App, to whom we are so bloody grateful for making all of this possible. 

3. Incredible scenes across CONMEBOL. Same Madness as CONCACAF but with added Good Football 🇦🇷🇧🇷🇺🇾🇨🇴

I mentioned Colombia’s historic win over Brazil above, but Uruguay also had themselves a night. They handed Argentina a 2-0 loss in the historic Bombonera – a game that was moved to that legendary chocolate box of a stadium because Estadio Mas Monumental, where the Messi and Co. regularly play their home games, has recently been used for three Taylor Swift shows. If that is not a testament to Taylor’s unmatched power, I don't know what is. The game was skill-soaked, passionate, and simmering insane. Darwin Nunez’s breakaway goal was one highlight. Ugarte pretending to fellate Rodrigo de Paul was another. I don't know either. 🤷‍♂️

4. EMMA HAYES IS THE NEXT US WOMEN’S MANAGER 🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿💪

After winning six titles in 12 seasons at Chelsea, during which she has grown the program from a chronically underfunded afterthought for whom she washed the players shirts post-game, to a cutting-edge continental powerhouse, the mighty Emma Hayes was announced as the US Women’s National Team’s future manager. The deal will make her the highest paid women’s manager in the game in a deal which will give her “Berhalter Money” at a reported $1.6M.

One wrinkle: The timing of the appointment. Hayes will remain as Chelsea’s manager until the end of the club season in May 2024. You will notice, there was no press conference accompanying the United States announcement so there could be no blurring of the lines from the club’s perspective. She will have just four games in charge to make her assessments, define a tactical plan and begin to culture build before the 2024 Olympics.

This is an unusual arrangement, but I believe it is a great one built for the long term. We needed an elite manager to transform a program which cries out for massive change. Credit US Soccer for going out and landing one. Brace yourself though. We are going to get a LOT of this: Emma Hayes admits she hasn't given USWNT appointment 'much thought' with focus still on Chelsea ahead of top-five matchup against Liverpool.

🗣️ The Men in Blazers Women’s American Football Awards, Presented by Bud Light  

It's voting SZN. I am so thrilled about the response to the women’s part of our American Football Awards: As you may have heard on the Pod or seen on our social, we are launching three awards to celebrate what has been an incredible year in the women’s game. And we are asking you, dear GFOPs, to select the winner.

The nominees for International Player of the Year are:

• AITANA BONMATI 🇪🇸

• SAM KERR 🇦🇺

• LINDA CAICEDO 🇨🇴

• RACHEL DALY 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The nominees for NWSL Player of the Year are:

• SOPHIA SMITH 🌹

• KEROLIN 🔵

• LYNN WILLIAMS 🗽

• SAM COFFEY 🌹

And the nominees for American Player of the Year aka The Golden Eagle are:

• NAOMI GIRMA 🇺🇸

• SOPHIA SMITH 🇺🇸

• TRINITY RODMAN 🇺🇸

• LINDSEY HORAN 🇺🇸

Voting ENDS TONIGHT at 11:59 p.m. EST. The winners will be revealed in a special YouTube Live Night of Nights. It has been a magical year for the women’s game. A truly incredible World Cup, a hyper-competitive NWSL season and the inexorable growth of the game we love around the world.

ONE REQUEST: Please share this newsletter with as many of your football-curious friends as possible, and encourage them to vote. We want this award to be as true a reflection of the United States fan base and their passion as is possible.

5. THIS TUESDAY: We are about to unleash something Special: THIS WEEK IN WREXHAM 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Like many of you, I am utterly fascinated by Wrexham and their rise, and the complex set of factors that have combined to turn the League 2 team into the world’s biggest smallest micropower. For the past few months, we have been working on a new project that will bring Wrexham, the town, and the team, into your lives on an ongoing basis. More to come in pod and on YouTube on Tuesday, after Wrexham travel to Accrington Stanley (Saturday, 10 AM ET, iFollow.) All I can say for now is – it was magical to spend some time with Paul Mullin who is as incredible a lifeforce off the field as he is on it. My Dad’s favorite player for a reason.

6. This Week at Men in Blazers World Headquarters

What a week it has been at Men in Blazers World Headquarters. It is always slightly disorienting when we finish this independent clause of the Premier League season and encounter the International Break, the football calendar’s Oxford Comma. But one reason we do love it is because it allows us to produce a grab bag of football content. 

i. Rog and Davo went DEEP on one of the best games in modern Premier League history. Chelsea 4 - 4 Manchester City. LISTEN HERE. 

ii. Wednesday, Rog and VAMOS host Herc Gomez previewed all of the big storylines heading into this International Break. WATCH HERE. Also, a must listen to Herc’s conversation with LAFC’s Ilie Sánchez, which includes a really lovely human moment in which the Spanish-born, naturalized American talks about why he never takes this nation for granted. LISTEN HERE. 

iii. And, as we mentioned last night, last night’s Do it Live! which despite that “worst winning feeling” was made magical by you, Dear GFOPS. WATCH IT HERE. And we’ll be back Monday after that game for another Do it Live. Subscribe to our YouTube, so you don’t miss a moment. 

iv. And a reminder that if you like the biggest football news delivered directly into your Pod Feed every morning, check out our Early Kickoff Podcast. It is everything you need to know about the day’s football unpacked in 10 minutes by the one and only man with two first names… Sammy James. SUPPORT AND SUBSCRIBE. 

7. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. Lovely piece on USMNT’s charming, shambolic, historic World Cup 1990 journey: Bags of urine, cans of Bud and a groundbreaking campaign.

ii. Must-Read by the great Daniel Storey on the The Swedish Allsvenskan which he calls “European football’s rebel alliance.” “I went to Sweden to find out about a culture of anti-VAR, anti-rampant capitalism and the preservation of "football, for real".”

iii. Lovely piece on the magic of James-Ward Prowse: Everyone knows what he does from set pieces. No one is sure how he does it.

8. INGERLANDDDD 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

You can still catch all your Premier League's stars in action this week in the Euro Qualifying Group Stage. England are already guaranteed to finish top of group of Group C after taking 16 points from six games, but will look to get at least one win in their matches with Malta (Today, 2.45 PM ET) and North Macedonia (Monday 2.45pmET) to secure their spot in Pot 1 for next year's Euro group-stage draw. The Three Lions are in pole position to qualify as one of six seeded teams at next year's competition in Germany, with a hand in hand against three of the seven nations competing (Belgium, Austria and Turkey).

Tiny Malta will be playing for pride at Wembley, as they currently sit bottom of Group C, one of five teams without a single point. A loss against England Friday would mean the 171st-ranked nation will have lost every one of their Euro qualifying matches for only the 2nd time in half a century. The two sides last met in Ta' Qali last June, with England taking all three points with a 4-0 win.

More: Haaland injury? Liverpool clash upcoming. 

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.*

9. Not Football, and all the better for it

i. Eater Mag explores how 1,200 calories of edible brick became the most ubiquitous Mexican meal in America: There Is Only One Burrito in America Now, and That Burrito, Unfortunately, Is Chipotle.

iii. An incredible piece of reporting: The Botched Hunt for the Gilgo Beach Killer. You can also listen to this Sunday episode of The Daily for an audio version. 

iv. How to turn yourself into a lucky person. Warning: Will not work if you were born an Evertonian.

v. "Mary Haley has the perfect party trick: a barcode-like tattoo of nearly two dozen fine lines that, when scanned with a Spotify music app, prompts a phone to play “Mambo No. 5” by Lou Bega." That Scannable Spotify Tattoo Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time. Mary Haley, do you want to be friends?

vi. It's a cat eat cat world out there: Domestic Cats Could Breed Scottish Wildcats Out of Existence.

vii. Top 10 greatest profile of all time? Syndicated by GQ to commemorate Bobby Knight's passing last week: Bonefishing Off Bimini With Bobby Knight. Enjoy.

viii. Pairs well with any MiB merch: The McDonald’s x Crocs Collab Is Real & It’s Here.

ix. The Laundromat has never looked cooler: André 3000 on His New Album and Life After Outkast.

xiii. Happy Thanksgiving Friends! How to deep fry a turkey. Step 1) get your affairs in order. 

xiv. This song made my week: I had a sizable dental procedure yesterday morning. My dentist is amazing and plays tracks from his massive Blues collection while doing his thing. Thus, I discovered the work of the late great Champion Jack Dupree and I cannot stop playing this track now. What a life. What sound. America.

xv. I LOVE THIS BOOK: The City of the Living by Nicola Lagioia. Like so many of you, I adore Italy in general, Rome in particular. This book dives into the deeply unsettling murder and in so doing, paints a startling portrait of the dark heart of a city you think you know, but come to realize, you have no idea about at all. By the way… Suburra fans… there is a new sequel to that brilliant Netflix show o’ wonder.

That is it for this week. I am going to leave you with this beautiful first world war poem, sent to me by GFOP @bnschwartz. Savor your football. Savor life. Let’s bring love to the world this weekend in ways big and small. 

To better days ahead for all.

Courage.

ROG

‎Listen to Men in Blazers Early Kick Off: 11/17/23

‎USMNT beat T&T, Everton points deduction, Luis Diaz's emotional brace - Nov 17, 2023

*BUD LIGHT® “MEN IN BLAZERS” SWEEPSTAKES. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21+. Begins 4/4/23 and ends 12/31/23. Multiple entry periods. See Official Rules at https://budlight.com/MIBSweeps for entry deadlines, prizes and details. Message and data rates may apply. Void where prohibited. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. © 2023 Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light® Beer, Light Beer, St. Louis, MO