Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers basking in the warmth of an Everton win, and the Bears getting our coach. I do not type this very often: All I know is Victory. In truth, I am buzzing after Tuesday night’s live show in New York City in which we celebrated the 500 day until World Cup 2026 mark, with GFOPs who came together on the coldest of nights from all points in the USA. I really enjoyed the conversation with Herc. Our US Men are very much in off-Broadway dark mode as they prepare for the hope and hype to come, so to break them down was really energizing.

The magic of the night was the company. To raise a beer in the presence of so many of you who adore this game and dream similar, big crazy dreams about our Men achieving like our USWNT. A passion exemplified by one GFOP, Jason Weigand, whose flight out of snow-battered New Orleans was cancelled, so he drove 10 hours to Atlanta to catch a flight and be with us. It is that kind of passion which sustains us.

ii. I have had a couple of conversations this week which have really inspired me: Last night, Bill Foley, owner of Bournemouth and the Las Vegas Golden Knights, returned to our show as part of our Running The Game series, which takes you inside the boardroom and technical areas with some of football's sharpest minds. He is a remarkable character. A former military man who has become a polymath entrepreneur. Winning at whatever he turns his hand to – financial services, fast food, wineries, sports ownership, and re-imagining Bournemouth AFC. The interview will come out next week and I urge you to give him a listen. I asked him to define his ownership style and he said, “I am a ‘macro-micro’ leader” – which is so self-aware. I also chatted with Kiwi scoring sensation Chris Wood who was so modest about his late-career potency – that comes out next week and I hope will be a boon for any 30-something who dreams of something more in their career than they have.

Ruben Amorim is coming on this week. What serious question would you ask him? Tell me: [email protected]

iii. I want to spend a second basking in a truly lovely moment which moved me in the Premier League last week. There are eight more games left of Goodison Park, and to watch Richarlison, a man who played so passionately for Everton for four years, walk the turf one last time, saying goodbye to the Grand Old Home, the scene of his finest moments in club football was humanly poetic. We always like to project that footballers have the same passion as fans. They generally don’t. Richarlison is the rare footballer who loved the club as much as it once loved him. Beautiful.

This Week at MiB HQ 🍻

We announced some news this week. It has been so much work to get to this point. We are a small but fast-growing and mighty group of football fans who have dedicated our lives to reveling in the conversation we have with you, our fellow-football lovers in community. All we want to do is nurture that conversation and put more joy, empathy, and sense of wonder into the world, which is what football is all about: feeling emotions and experiencing a sense of connection. Our goal has always been to do good things with good people. To be able to do this all the more with the Men’s World Cup coming is a thing of wonder. I feel like we have climbed a mountain but have so many more peaks to summit together. Thank you for joining us on this journey. Now, let’s go and win the World Cup together. 

ii. This Ryan Reynolds conversation is really beautiful, even though I am in it. He is a truly magical bloke. One thing pisses me off though: the way I accidentally ended up on the wrong end of the most-one-sided “Who Wore It Better?” in human history. Our chat is airing on Peacock this Sunday and you’ll be able to find it here.

iii. I love Emma Hayes so much. She is inspiration incarnate. Listen to her talk about her love of America. I bet it is the energy you need in your life right now.

iv. With reports that USWNT superstar Naomi Girma will be moving to Chelsea, all eyes are on the English Women's Super League. WSL returned with a BANG last week and this weekend is sure to bring even more drama. Sam Mewis at The Women's Game has everything you need to know, including a clash between top of the table teams, Arsenal and Chelsea, in front of 34,000 fans. You can gear up for the new season of Good Vibes FC with our new collab with the incredible brand HOMAGE.

v. This Los Angeles fire reflection by producer JW is very beautiful and moving. A reminder of the community football can bring in times of darkness.

HELP US: We Want to Hear From You 🙏

The reality of this Raven was born out of those dark pandemic times in which we were all desperate to connect about anything football related or not. We try to pour ourselves into this and have developed a really dedicated readership and are now relying on you to help us steer this newsletter into the future. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and help us make The Raven even better (or at least slightly less awful). One lucky respondent will receive a personal video from me. Click here.

To the Football 🙌🏻

Manchester City vs. Chelsea AKA The Cole Palmer Memorial Derby (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, Peacock)

What did Mark Twain say about Manchester City? Rumors of their resurgence were greatly exaggerated? A humiliating Champions League group stage exit remains possible after PSG’s storming second half rebound from 2-0 down to 4-2 victors on Wednesday which revealed that Pep’s team remain ridden with a fragile vulnerability. Enter former apprentice Enzo Maresca for this Battle of the Balds. His Chelsea have also appeared hysterically insecure since Christmas. Injuries and flat form have seen a fast start fizzle. Watching Cole Palmer attack will be a humanly remarkable spectacle to witness. Grealish talked midweek about a desire to resummon swagger. All we see is a sense of vulnerability patched up. Seams frayed like nerves, to the point of bursting. Whereas the City project was once pointed only to inevitable glory, it is now gripped by a sense of human frailty, mortality, and doom. 

More: Who is City’s new wonder boy Omar Marmoush?

Rogstradamus: 2-2. Both teams leave relieved and with a sense of points dropped, and statements not made. 

Liverpool vs. Ipswich (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Liverpool’s Champions League campaign has been DJ Khaled-esque. Seven wins in Seven. Ipswich wobble in off a 6-0 loss against Manchester City last week. What could possibly go wrong? 

Rogstradamus: Moral victory for the Tractor Boys. They lose a heartbreaker 2-1 to a late, late Darwin goal.  

Wolves vs. Arsenal (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Arsenal visit a team where the doubt, panic, and sense of freefall outstrips their own. Vítor Pereira’s new manager bounce has pumpkined away, and Wolves are on a run of three straight Ls in the league with a captain hellbent on a move to Saudi, and talisman Matheus Cunha mentally elsewhere – a magical place – that could actually end up being the Gunners. Mikel Arteta has said Myles Lewis-Skelly and William Saliba are “touch and go” for this game. He also put Tuesday’s comprehensive Champions League win down to him playing Sérgio Mendes’s “Mas Que Nada” on large speakers during training. That’s management.  

Rogstradamus: Trossard. Havertz. 2-0.

Bournemouth Golden War Cherries vs. Nottingham Forest (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, USA)

The featherweight clash that suddenly feels super heavyweight with Champions League, yes, Champions League ramifications. Third-place Forest travel to injury-ravaged Bournemouth who are on a club-record 10-game Premier League unbeaten run and are a point back from Manchester City. I spoke to Chris Wood this week, and Bournemouth owner Bill Foley, and both men talked about how there is nothing shocking about their respective teams’ rise inside the camp. Everyone doubts them, but the collective confidence they share could power a small, fast-growing town in Arizona, and as a neutral, it is the greatest storyline in this season of wonder. A symbol of the gesture towards financial fair play making everything feel possible.

More: Wonderful interview with manager Andoni Iraola. I learned a lot.

Rogstradamus: Bournemouth to nick this late amidst scenes of cherry euphoria. 

Tottenham vs. Leicester (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, USA)

Or as the tabloids delight in telling us, a relegation six-pointer. Spurs have not won in six league matches. Leicester have seen that and raised that to seven in a row. Big Ange is not for changing. Nor is Ruud. Can both sides lose a game? 

Rogstradamus: Richarlison double will hold off Leicester. Just.

Fulham vs.The Worst Team in Manchester United history™ (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, USA)

After another self-soiling struggle of a dramatic United Europa League performance that saw an 88th-minute equalizer conceded, followed by a 92nd-minute Bruno stunner (that Lisandro pass!) to win against Scottish second-place team Rangers. A moment that ultimately meant something. Of a human heart still beating. Faintly. And with erratic rhythm. But a tenacity still alive. 

Rogstradamus: Fulham have lost just once in the Premier League since the start of December. Marco Silva will relish the opportunity to face a United who are 13th in the Premier League with 26 points and a minus-five goal difference. 2-1. 

Brighton vs. Everton (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Peacock)

David Moyes bounces in after the first win of his “Grandpa is Back”-era. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is scoring again/has used up his goal allotment for the season. We have hope. Which the Seagulls live to dash. Danny Welbeck’s return has transformed Brighton back to “On Setting.” Even though they have not beaten us at home since October 2019, I see a Darkness. 

Rogstradamus: Brighton are everything I admire in a club as an Everton fan. The game will be tied before Yankuba Minteh blows it open second half to end 3-1. Did I say, I see a Darkness?

Finally: Entire Premier League broadcast slate here. 📺

📧 Enjoying The Raven? Check out our other Men in Blazers newsletters.

More Football, Did Ya Say?

• Lovely piece on the incredible mind of Gasperini, criminally underrated Atalanta coach, and where he ranks in all-time pantheon of Italian tactical brains. 🧠

• Sad to see Le Coq Sportif go bankrupt. Some of the most iconic jerseys in the 1980s came from this brand who truly fused fashion and performance. Not to get too Chalamet on your ass, but Saint Etienne’s 1980s shirts were one of one. 🇫🇷

• MLS caught up in an antitrust trial. It is quite enormous and should be getting more press. ⚖️

• Beautiful read: How Nigerian Londoners found their identity through football. ⚽️

PrizePicks: Best PP Since Paul Parker

Charlie Kipp writes: If this is a newsletter about football and includes a section called “not football,” then I feel we are able to keep taking advantage of the wide array of options that PrizePicks offers and pick a player who will be taking the gridiron, and not the pitch, this Sunday. (Plus, going 2-0 in our last two football picks isn’t a bad omen, either.) Let’s be honest, sometimes you only do yourself a disservice by overthinking things, and in the spirit of obviousness, join me in grabbing Patrick Mahomes MORE than 251.1 Passing Yards when the Chiefs host the Bills in the AFC Championship game.

The Bills, aka the NFL’s answer to Charlie Brown whiffing at the football that Lucy pulls away at the last moment, and the Chiefs - doing their best (successfully, might I add) to emulate Man City-like dominance over the League - meet in a game where we already know what the outcome will be, right? Mahomes has exceeded 251 passing yards 12 times in the playoffs alone in his illustrious career. We could get cute and zig when the world is telling us to zag, but the game is at Arrowhead, and sometimes overthinking only leads to turmoil. Find a Premier League pick of your choice, and throw in Patrick Mahomes MORE than 251.1 Passing Yards to bring home a winner on this cold, winter weekend.

If you haven’t joined PrizePicks, CLICK HERE and use code “MiB” for a first deposit match up to $100.

More Football, Beautiful Football to Watch this Weekend

Wrexham vs. Stevenage (Tuesday, 2.45 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Back-to-back midweek games for the Red Dragons, as they host Stevenage five days out from yesterday’s scrappy 1-1 draw with Tom Brady’s Birmingham that featured two early goals and a pre-match light show. Hertfordshire-based side Stevenage have even less of a turnaround: they play fifth-placed Barnsley Saturday before making the 200 mile trip northwest to the Stok Cae Ras. 

Rob and Ryan, fight back! Is this English soccer club the next Wrexham story?

Also: Big Up to my friend JJ Watt whose Burnley are as good as him at Defense! The Clarets just matched the English football record of least goals conceded in history after 28 league games with just nine conceded. If they can keep a clean sheet in their next two matches, they will officially beat the record currently held by the 2004-5 Chelsea team. Their defensive core of James Trafford, CJ Egan-Riley, and Maxime Esteve are all just 22 years old. It is magical to witness.

AC Milan vs. Parma (Sunday, 6.30 a.m. ET, Paramount+) 🇮🇹

A 1-0 win against Girona in the Champions League Wednesday leaves the Rossoneri in pole position to advance automatically to the round of 16. Back in Serie A they host a struggling Parma side who have just one win in their last seven. One player who WON’T be featuring in Tuesday’s game is (yet-to-be officially confirmed but has been given the Here We Go treatment) Man City loanee Kyle Walker, who arrives in Milan today without his completed EU paperwork. Thanks Brexit.

WSL Arsenal vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 7.30 a.m. ET, ESPN+/WSL Youtube) 🏆

Victory for United in last week’s derby means Arsenal are left as the closest challengers to Sunday’s opponents Chelsea. A win for new permanent Arsenal manager Renée Slegers would close the gap between the two sides to just four points. Head’s up for USWNT fans: soon-to-be record signing Naomi Girma will not be available just yet to debut in Sonia Bompastor’s defense. 

Big News: Naomi Girma is on the move. Massive money for US captain in waiting. Huge loss for NWSL in the battle for power with WSL.

Keep Your Head Warm + Your Dreams Warmer 🔥

JORGE CAMPOS 🧤

DIEGO MARADONA 🇦🇷

STRIKER THE WORLD CUP PUP 🐶

AKA ALL THE GREATS

All designs are a part of the retro-inspired line on the MiB Shop of one of our favorite brands — the Dutch COPAfootball.

👀 See the collection (that’s on sale) here.

PS: The great folks at WorldSoccerShop are letting us invite you to their Friends & Family Sale. Use code “FNFSALE” for 20% off through 1/24 😄

MiB Mad Libs

This week’s phrase is: “The one thing that would make me feel more confident about the US Men’s National Team is ______________” 🇺🇸

Email me your entries. Winner gets a coveted MiB Patch. 

Last Week’s Winner: Brett Eby

“After eight goals and six assists in his last 16 games, Manchester United without Amad are like Simon and Garfunkel without Simon.”

Savor the patch Brett. Even though that is “Waters of March”-erasure.

Not Football, and All the Better for It

• Opens with a train shootout and somehow goes up from there: The Fugitive Prince. 

• Loved this from The Guardian: It was a town’s only Black-owned bookstore. It is now a refuge for those displaced by the California fires.

• John Lennon came to my school when I was 8... or did he? Now I'm starting to doubt that I saw Alberto Aquilani at Starbucks. 

• ‘Piss On History’ At Skylark, Home Of Chicago’s Oldest-Known Urinals. I'm sure this will be part of FIFA's marketing come 2026. 

• Wild-but-plausible theory that Back to the Future and The Goonies took place on the same day. Odd that neither film mentions Everton's 1-1 draw against City that day.

• 40 of the most exciting books that are coming out in 2025. Somehow I have already read 37 of these. 

• This Song Helped Me Through The Week: “Golden Days” by Chris Brain. 

• I am reading this book: Muse of Fire: World War I as Seen Through the Lives of the Soldier Poets by Michael Korda. This was a GFOP recommendation. And it is a stunning piece of work, taking you back to a time when journalism and photography were so restricted, that poems had the power of blockbuster movies. The agony, the humanity, the human inspiration.

Dear Rog... GFOPs Write ✍️

Closing with a letter entitled “GFOP Needs Help.” It is from Dawn Birkett who writes: 

“Rog, This is super random. But I won (Yay! I never win) an autographed jersey from US Soccer during fan appreciation week. It showed up today and my daughter and I were hoping it would be the USWNT. It’s a lovely kit but it’s the men’s team. Yay men! But we support Bay FC and the USWNT hard. I would love to trade someone that might not appreciate their USWNT signed jersey as much as I may not appreciate this lovely kit and we could swap 🤝. I feel so silly asking for help; we love our national teams but I want my daughter to have something so special like this with women on it.”

Rog writes: Dawn! This email moved me. I am here for you and your daughter and even though it is a long shot – knowing the excitement turned to disappointment you have just been through together – sending out the bat signal to all GFOPs… email me if you have something to trade with mighty Dawn.

Keep sending your stories and questions to [email protected].

To Better Days Ahead for All.

Let’s not take a moment of watching football together for granted and make great memories,

Big Love,

Courage.

ROG