Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers riddled with Merseyside Derby Day anxiety, which is the very worst kind of footballing anxiety. Yes, Everton just smashed Wolverhampton 4-0. But:

1. Wolves are the footballing version of Hawk Tuah's Cryptocurrency.

2. I am now afraid Everton just used up the entirety of December’s goal allotment (and probs half of January’s) in one game.

I hate Derby day. It matters too much. And I have experienced far too little joy in my lifetime. Three wins in the last 24 years. Even Sisyphus would look at those statistics and think – that is a lot of pushing a boulder up a mountainside and failing.  

More than that. It is the last ever Derby at Goodison Park before the historic stadium closes its doors at the end of this season after 132 years. I taped an episode with that great Liverpool fan podcast The Anfield Wrap yesterday, and the host Neil talked beautifully about how he thought tomorrow’s game would be a heartfelt, stirring “first of the lasts,” and I think he is right.  

That grand old stadium is a symbol of so many things: a connection to a less commercial time when football was more inherently local. But above everything, it is a place where thousands of Scousers – mostly Blue, but so many Reds – have experienced so many profound emotions. I know I have. It is impossible for me to think about my Dad without our experiences at Goodison. Watching us win things. Yes! That happened. Watching us flail and drown. The result matters less than the sense of shared communion. And that is what Goodison Park is – a vessel of shared memory which we should never take for granted.  

Think about that at kickoff, with a heavy heart, and true gratitude, whatever the result.  

ii. Come and join us at MiB and help grow our newsletters! We are searching for an Editor-In-Chief for our newsletter community. If you know of anyone who has a black belt in newsletters and loves football, I would love to hear from you. 

iii. PS. We are now on Bluesky. Please follow me there, and Men In Blazers HERE. 

📫 If you like this newsletter, and it brings you joy and sets you up for all you need to know about the weekend ahead, please share it with your friends and ask them to subscribe here.

This Week at MiB World HQ 💙

• This has been a week of miracle and wonder. I am filming with a hero of mine, Magnus Carlsen ♟️this morning. We dropped a slew of interviews including Tottenham’s Sweet Assassin, Brennan Johnson and the man of the moment, Chelsea’s transcendent Cole Palmer, who by just being himself has become one of the greatest characters in English football. My favorite comment underneath is: @jelly_fischer asking Cole: Are you just a natural Buddhist Zen master or something dude??

• Today, a conversation I taped with Kai Havertz at 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning has hit our page today. He is an enigmatic gent and his answer about his love of donkeys is a life truth.

• This week’s podcast with Rory was barnstorming. The reader letters are at all-time levels. Send your insights and questions to us [email protected]. I love them so much. 

• Bournemouth Manager Adoni Iraola was my latest guest on our Running the Game series, going deeper into the minds who are transforming our game. I admire what Bournemouth are building so very deeply, and it was a real thrill for me to listen to Iraola talk about his tactical preparation, and in-game adjustments – he essentially delivered a masterclass in how he experiences and watches football. And to talk about his love of the NFL at the end, was just a bonus W. What a mind he is.  

• New York. Dec. 16 is going to go down in January. If you know what I mean! Unhold! Unhold!

To the Football 🍻

Everton vs. Liverpool (Saturday, 7.30 a.m. ET, USA)

I was speaking to someone connected to Liverpool this week. I asked them honestly, what they thought the score would be in this one. They said 2-0 Liverpool, and I was just about able to suppress the desire to scream out, “Would bite your arm off to just lose 2-0.” Would take that scoreline in a heartbeat. That is the rational me – the gent who knows we have had just two wins in our last 30 clashes and crucially not won consecutive league Derbies since 1984-85. My animal mind, as Rory Smith calls it, wants to do Liverpool so badly. But this statistic kills me: After Wednesday night, Craig Dawson is Everton’s joint-second highest top-scorer with two goals. He plays for Wolves.  

This will be. New Dad Arne Slot’s first Merseyside Derby. It is definitely a game with its own ecosystem. His Liverpool just wobbled up at Newcastle but they remain seven points clear, unbeaten in 10 games. The truth is, Slot has defied every Premier League managerial trope about time needed to bed in and how impossible it is to be the man who follows The Man, with a giant tactical brain, true humility and complete lack of ego.  It has been astonishing to witness their consistency and almost complete airbrushing out of footballing ups and downs. With Mo Salah playing for his contract, and out of his mind, why worry? Salah is transcendent. Borderline alchemic. Nine goals, three assists in the last seven games.  Man is walking infomercial for the transformational power of hair transplants. The thought of him running at poor Mykolenko is nightmare fuel. 

More: In the game of Contract Chess, Mo Salah has Liverpool in checkmate.

Tottenham vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 11.30 a.m. ET, USA)

Pray for Ange? That 4-0 battering of Manchester City feels like a season ago judging by the way travelling Spurs fans booed Postecoglou after yesterday’s erratic 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth last night. Spurs are 10th in the table. If Ange knows how to stabilize his inconsistent team, this would be the weekend to show it. Tottenham have beaten Chelsea just once in their last 15 Derby clashes and Enzo Maresca has his second place team playing effervescent, explosive, cunning football. Unbeaten in six games, the fans are starting to dream, singing “we’ve got our Chelsea back.” Time to start workshopping the Todd Boehly chants. PS. If you have a good Todd Boehly Chant, please email it to me [email protected] and I will read the best on the pod.

PS: I loved interviewing Cole Palmer. He is a really special human being. A gent unafraid to be himself in public – he seems to be savoring every second. I admire it greatly. A superlative human being who excels at something and is incredibly economical with words. Like the opposite of me in every single way.

Fulham vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Centuries of philosophers have asked themselves the same question. What are Arsenal without Corners? The answer is Wolverhampton Wanderers. Good god. They beat United by bumming the ball in off their arse cheeks. Whatever they are paying their set piece coach Nicolas Jover, it is not enough. Make no mistake. This visit to sixth place Fulham – a Fulham loaded with Arsenal rejects – will be some test. Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi and Co have lost just once in their last six league games, and will yearn to win consecutive games against the Gunners for the first time in club history. Antonee Robinson, Captain. Leader. Legend. 

One note on Arsenal corners: Arteta’s mob have now scored 22 goals from corners since the start of last season, more than any other side. The advantage they are exploiting is this: a foul in the penalty area by an attacker is just a foul. No big deal. A foul by a defender is a penalty. Which gives the physical and mental advantage to the attacking team by a multitude.  

Manchester United vs. Nottingham Forest (Saturday, 12.30 p.m. ET, NBC)

Before an insipid midweek loss to Arsenal, that 2-0 damp squib which meant Ruben Amorim failed his first real test, the bearded wonder had warned the “storm” was coming. Not to go too Game of Thrones on your asses, but this weekend, we will find out if that Storm is Winter. Put another way, it is one thing to obliterate Everton, another altogether to face teams who know how to play football at levels higher than Estrella Amadora and the other bottom feeders in the Liga Portugal. This is not your grandfather’s Nottingham Forest though. It’s not even your “I remember the first 10 games of the season” Forest. Loser of three of their last four, they have not won at Old Trafford since December 1994.  

Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Midweek games were so surreal, even Manchester City managed to win, making their last eight games look like this: LLLLLDLW. Palace have green shoots of recovery. Curse of Rog has been a blessing and Eberechi Eze is back despite appearing on our show. A menacing comment from Jeremy Doku captures what I believe is the truth of City’s season: “It’s still December… if they think the Premier League title race is over, let them think it’s over!”

More: Bold are the English journos who are already prognosticating about how and when Pep could be sacked.

More: Full Premier League Broadcast Schedule here📺

Festive Cheer, Blazers Gear, and All the Joy Football Brings ❄️⚽

The holiday season is upon us — a time of joy, wonder, and huddling around the television to watch hungover footballers grind out 0-0 draws in the snow. With the wonderful folks at WorldSoccerShop, all of the Men in Blazers gear you’ve been eyeing – and almost everything on WorldSoccerShop – is on sale. ⚽ SHOP NOW.

🚨 Use code CW25 at checkout to get the discount 🚨

🎁 Need some ideas? We’ve got you covered with Holiday Gift Guides from Rog, Sam Mewis, and Herc.

Make this holiday a belter. Treat yourself, treat others, make memories through football, and above all else...

Courage. 💙

More Football, Did Ya Say?

• Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid is about to be waved through on December 11th. Fifa bid reviewers have just given Saudi Arabia 2034 the "highest ever evaluation score" even though it is unclear when the World Cup will be held and the heat is 104 degrees in the summer. Also: Some host cities have not yet been built!

• Man who knows nothing about football but changed Chelsea. 

• MLS Cup Final Weekend. Can LA Galaxy become a top dog again as of yore?

• Fascinating seeing the Guardian’s selections of the 100 Best Women’s Footballers in the World. While Triple Espresso surely still to come, the lack of American players shows how the power balance of football is seen from a Euro perspective.  

• Not about Football. But it kind of is: Michelin starred chef begs for thieves to return $40,000 worth of Yorkshire Pies.

Prize Picks. Best PP since Past Participle

Charlie Kipp Writes: If this week was any reminder, we are entering the golden window of Premier League football. A period where there is no rhyme or reason to the fixtures, and if you’re looking to mentally check-out of that Q4 sales meeting, throw on a Wednesday afternoon match and give yourself a reason to feel invested, there really is nothing better than PrizePicks. Pick a game, find a player and select from dozens of statistical categories and simply choose More or Less. That’s it. Watch, I’ll show you here: this Sunday, grab Bernd Leno MORE than 3.5 saves.

Arsenal, not unlike Stella in 1998, seem to have gotten their groove back. A collection of winnable fixtures for Arteta’s mob continues this Sunday at 9 a.m. on USA Network as the Gunners head to Craven Cottage to face a surprisingly high-flying Fulham side. As a proud Fulham fan, take it from me: they will humble us. One significant factor in that outcome, however, will be former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Criminally underrated, the 32-year old German likely won’t change the inevitable outcome, but he will do his best. Grab the MORE on Bernd Leno saves, and enjoy your winnings.

If you haven’t joined PrizePicks, CLICK HERE and play $5 and get $50 instantly when you use code MiB.

USWNT have their Groove Back 🇺🇸

After Tuesday’s 2-1 win in the Netherlands, Emma Hayes completed the year undefeated as manager of the USWNT. Her record of 15 games, 13 wins, two draws, and one Gold Medal is the single most profound act of transformational leadership our nation has ever seen.  

Think back to the end of last year – never mind last year, remember losing 2-0 to Mexico in February 2024! – and you will remember how despondent the mood was. For me it feels like only yesterday, I would get off live streams with Sam Mewis, and we would both be in shock after watching our team’s aura evaporate. Sam’s words “I’m rattled, I’m not OK” would haunt me for days afterwards. Emma has turned all that around so quickly. The 72 days from first training to Gold Medal, a sizzling reclamation of Top Dog status. The remarkable difference now, is that after a generation of players has retired, the manager is now the face of the team in unprecedented fashion. The 2027 World Cup cannot come quickly enough. 

📺 More: I loved Sam and Kristie Mewis breaking down the dullest of 0-0 draws against England and making it seem like a sparkling joy that could lift your day. This is content.

Other Magical Games to watch this Weekend

Wrexham, Don’t Wrexham it Up 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

After Tuesday’s last gasp 1-0 win against Barnsley (cue the Danny DeVito celebrations), Wrexham head to struggling Burton Albion two points off the top of League One but down two goalkeepers 😬 (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Paramount +). A win in the Midlands could leave the Red Dragons top of the table come weekend's end, after leaders Wycombe dropped two points at Exeter midweek. 

Atalanta vs. AC Milan 🇮🇹 (Today, 2.45 p.m. ET, Paramount +)

AC Milan feature in Serie A’s early game away against an exhilarating Bergamo side who'll have one eye on their Champions League clash with Real Madrid next Tuesday. Yunus Musah is set to start against the side Pep Guardiola once described playing against as, “like going to the dentist”. Sunday back in Milan, the San Siro will host its very first “la Scala del Calcio” between Inter and AC Milan’s women’s sides (not streaming 😢).

🇮🇹 These are exquisite: Pulisic helps AC Milan mark 125 years with exquisite retro kit. Daddy Wants. And YOU can get them (and the whole 125th Anniversary collection) thanks to our friends at WorldSoccerShop.

MiB Mad Libs

Our new feature courtesy of GFOP Stephen Mellin who wanted us to have readers write in their best football Mad Libs. As ever, you guys made me smile in a way I needed with your entries.  

GFOP Lyn Helbig was last week’s patch winner for the winner of “Stay Humble, Eh” is living proof that______ “

Lyn wrote: ““Stay Humble, Eh” is living proof that...not everyone likes pie..”

This week’s phrase is:

“It’s always the Hope that _____________

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

Not Football and All the Better for It

• Conclave 2? Inside the Vatican’s secret saint-making process.

• Man who found smooth Mars bar gets £2 compensation. Life hack: Find a smooth Mars bar and you get enough to buy two free Mars bars. 

• Kieran Culkin Could Rule Oscar Season. He’d Rather Be at Home. The people yearn for Roman Roy. 

• This One Trick will create food deserts nationwide 🙃 The Great Grocery Squeeze.

• Cousin Edie was onto something: How the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar Became a Hot Commodity.

• AI-Powered Robot Leads Uprising, Talks A Dozen Showroom Bots Into 'Quitting Their Jobs' In 'Terrifying' Security Footage. Want to make an Erling Haaland joke, but unable due to fingers trembling with fear...

• We've left Stick Season and have entered List Season: 52 things I learned in 2024.

• The majority of hardwood basketball courts are produced by one tiny town in Michigan, NOT from two other hardwood courts who love each other very much.

• In Cold Blood. The history of Yeti Coolers is...surprisingly murdery? (Sub required, SORRY!)

• Playlist of all of the Puskas nominees for this year...could do without the last one :(

• Bear-leather shoes and Roman 'good-luck' coins: The lost worlds emerging from glaciers. Of course the Germans have a word for this: "ausgeapert".

• This Song Helped Me Through the Week: Focus Ring by Denison Witmer and SUFJAN STEVENS. 👑

CELEBRATE A BOURNEMOUTH AND TYLER ADAMS WIN with a Brand New Kit 🍒

We have a special edition Michael B. Jordan x Bournemouth kit to give away exclusively to you GFOPs who subscribe to the Raven. We want to do this as much as possible as a thank you for making football memories with us. 💙

To enter to win, just answer the question below. We’ll reach out to the winner next week.

Dear Rog... GFOPs Write ✍️

Rog writes: Bob! What kind of mind creates this beautiful cruelty? This is both awe-inspiring and hurtful. But it does beg the question again: Why do I devote my life to loving sports teams who hate me back? Indeed, the more they hate me, the more I love them. There is nothing else in my life like that. I generally try to spend time with people I truly adore and do good things with great people. Maybe sports are a chance to live a parallel life. To walk on the wild side. To be a different, more dangerous you. Or in my case, a different, more eternally disappointed me.  

I say that ahead of this dread filled Derby. Which feels darker to me than the last four episodes of the quite audacious Say Nothing. Spurs fans, I wish you strength. Arsenal fans, we will do our best, I promise. Everton fans. I love you all so much. Night Gathers, and Now our Watch Begins… 

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

To Better Days Ahead for All.

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

Big Love,

Courage.

ROG

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