MANCHESTER DERBY WEEKEND 🔵🔴

Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers still startled by the U.S. Women’s National Team’s 2-0 defeat against a buoyant, buccaneering and clinical Mexico on Monday night. A result carved out of Lalas-ian dreams. Rationally, we know the world of women’s football is becoming ever-more competitive; yet emotionally, these losses are rocking to experience. The rare, reverse Dos A Cero which was the first time La Tri have won in the United States and only the second time the U.S. have lost to our neighbors. If you did not see the game, there was no luck in the result. Mexico were propelled by an intelligent counter-attacking game plan executed by a well drilled collective. An important side story: 11 out of 15 players Mexico used are either dual-nationals or played here but fell, or dropped off the US youth development pathway. Their goals were jaw-dropping. Take a look at this dagger of a strike from West Palm Beach, Fla.’s Mayra Pelayo who thrashed this exclamation point blast.  

Make, no mistake: the United States can still win this tournament. We take the field again Sunday night against a dangerous Colombia propelled by Linda Caciedo (8.15 p.m. ET, Paramount + 🇨🇴). There is no doubt we have individual players capable of wonder. However the program is in interim-purgatory as it awaits new coach Emma Hayes who will arrive after Chelsea’s season to uptick the tactical poise. Until then, our team seems to play with existential fear, as if wounded by the sudden awareness of their own mortality. Emma cannot come quickly enough.

ii. One aspect of the post-World Cup Round of 16-exit and its instant impact on this team: The sparse attendance at their games. The official attendance at their first game was 3,242. Monday night was announced at 11,612 – however, the vast majority were Mexican fans there to cheer for La Tri who said post-match that “that it felt like a home game.” A staggering reality. The atmosphere was loud and hostile towards the American team, in a style reminiscent of US Men’s games in the 1990s. Here is the challenge: (and this has ramifications for the NWSL too, as part of the Mexican success has been boosted by the incredible rise of the Liga MX Femenil) The United States team has a brand built on invincibility. The World Cup Round of 16 exit shattered that. A percentage of the vast audience that lived for this team when they were winning by divine right, is no longer automatic when they do not. Women’s Sports now contains constellations — meaning they can move on to Caitlin Clark, Alexia Putellas, or Coco Gauff.  

iii. I cannot overstate just how much of a joy it has been to work with the mighty Sam Mewis since she joined MiB Network full-time to become Editor-In-Chief in January. What a force of nature Sam is — as a colleague and a broadcaster. I loved this week’s interview with Sophia Smith, as well as Sam’s post-game clear-eyed analysis of the Mexico defeat. Sam and I will be taping an NWSL preview show next week. She is building something very special on The Women’s Game channel with a large announcement imminent.

PS. Two incredibly handsome guests for me this week. Almost annoyingly so. I adore the piercingly suave Matthew McConaughey. A gent whose one weakness in life is his willingness to be a repeat guest on my show. Mathew proper LOVES his football and his life truths are like songs you cannot get out of your mind. His idea of Messi joining him and Willie Nelson in Austin is a Road Movie that has to happen. The other gent – an ocean away, but just as magical: Wrexham’s Elliot Lee, whose telling of his time at the STōK Cae Ras is actually good for the soul. More on both of those interviews below. 

2. To the Football

i. Manchester City vs. Manchester United (Sunday, 10.30 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Just how tall is the perch Manchester City are on – and how wide is the gulf between them and Jim Ratcliffe’s Manchester United? We will find out on Sunday in this defining week for Erik Ten Hag and the optics of his progress, leadership, and future in the eyes of his new bosses. Last weekend’s dank defeat by Fulham ended a run of five consecutive victories, but it feels darker because so many of those wins were grabbed from the jaws of defeat with performances shorn of control or finesse. United will once again be without star striker Rasmus Hojlund as well as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez. Harry Maguire is doubtful. A fractious reality which has left ETH taking potshots at Fulham’s quite hilarious and frankly deserved TikTok-mocking Bruno Fernandes. One that ran with a caption: "So glad he’s ok…"

It gets worse for United: They are facing a City coming off a 6-2 desiccation of Luton Town in which Erling Haaland showed he is feasting on opponent’s ground bones and panicked souls again, scoring five times inside 58 minutes – as many as Marcus Rashford all season. Kevin de Bruyne assisted four of the Norwegian's goals. United fans, if I offered you the 3-0 defeat you experienced in the reverse fixture right now: Would you bite my arm off? 

Important Read: Marcus Rashford says his critics have a tone that you don’t get with other footballers.

ii. Nottingham Forest vs. Liverpool (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Stroll on, 1-877-Klopp’s Kars 4 Kids. What a time it is to be a Liverpool fan. The first leg of the Klopp-druple has been secured. Take a look at this photograph of Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns. I was fascinated to see Virgil van Dijk challenge Liverpool’s kids to “stay humble” midweek. He is right. The Premier League is filled with young heroes who announce themselves to the world like Francis Jeffers, Adan Januzaj, or Ross Barkley 1.0, then promptly disappear. Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai may be available, but tell me if I am insane typing this: There is more joy in this single image than we Everton fans have experienced in a decade. 

Klopp’s babies Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas and Bobby Clark all come from footballing families – what is behind this Anfield trend?

iii. Everton vs. West Ham (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, USA)

Watching Everton is like a lifetime sentence trapped in Glasgow’s Willy Wonka Experience. Let’s be honest, we have absolutely no idea where we are in the table right now after the Blues first plunged from 14th to 19th following the smack of that 10-point deduction in November, then soared from 17th to 15th last Monday when the deduction was reduced to six points on appeal. Don’t forget – punishment for a second breach is still to be ruled upon in March. Amidst this madness, of course, David Moyes, our former Dad, arrives to bring misery to Goodison for old times’ sake. After smashing Brentford 4-2, OF COURSE WEST HAM SUDDENLY FIND THE GOALS RIGHT BEFORE THEY PLAY EVERTON. In truth, the Blues have won in court more recently than we have on the field. No wins since Dec. 16. I do wonder if our Super Lawyer, Laurence Rabinowitz, can play striker?

More: Dyche calls for Rule Change to protect the League’s integrity.

iv. Brentford vs. Chelsea’s Billion‑Pound Blue Bottle Jobs (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Winner gets to keep Ivan Toney. Despite surviving Leeds in the FA Cup midweek. Just. Courtesy of a 90th minute moment of sudden-Connor Gallagher clinicality, Pochettino’s future remains uncertain after the impotent extra-time Carabao Cup surrender against Liverpool. Brentford have lost 12 of their last 15 games in the Premier League and are a vastly different team to the one who embarrassed Chelsea 2-0 in the reverse fixture. There could be few better seasons for them to complete their first Bees double over Chelsea since 1938-39.

🎙️ For a full review of the Carabao Cup Final loss to Liverpool, our friends at London is Blue have you covered. They also have a full preview for this weekend’s match against Brentford. You’ll also get an extra dose of Rog as he joined them to talk Chelsea, the podcast joining the Men in Blazers Media Network & all things football in America. 💙🇺🇸⚽️

As always, make sure to subscribe to their newsletter, the London is Blue Dispatch, for your weekly Chelsea updates straight to your inbox.

v. Sheffield United vs. Arsenal (Monday, 3 p.m. ET, USA)

Monday afternoon just got 100% set-piecier. Come to see if Arsenal can extend their six-straight Premier League wins, stick around to watch Ben White fling himself at the United backline on every corner, as if he is Pete Weber’s bowling ball. 

More: Entire weekend Premier League broadcast schedule here. 📺

3. SERVE YOUR COUNTRY: NICKNAME THE USMNT COMPETITION 🇺🇸🦅

This week we launched a competition to create a better nickname for the USMNT. One that can do battle with the Indomitable Lions, War Elephants, and my new favorite, Jordan’s Chivalrous Gentlemen. Big Prizes. More on this here. Send your entries to me at [email protected].

4. Prize Picks. Best PP since Pete Postelthwaite.

Charlie Kipp writes: The only thing better than watching your team win over the weekend is magnifying that joy with a no-doubter PrizePicks entry. When you make the right 2-4 selections on stat categories and the results go your way, you get to feel like what I imagine a Manchester City fan feels like on a daily basis. Victory Vibes. Regular readers will know I am on a 6-0 Tear… the chance to go 7-0. Humility out the door. Middle finger to the haters (there are literally dozens of them - dozens!). Best of all - our More or Less pick this week is the single best I’ve felt since the inception of the column. Say it with me: Timo Werner LESS than 0.5 Goals + Assists.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The now 27-year-old was once the youngest-ever senior player for VfB Stuttgart, turned youngest-ever player to reach 100 Bundesliga appearances at RB Leipzig, turned big-money signing by Chelsea where… stop me if you’ve heard this before - the wheels kind of fell off. Or, to be more accurate, fell offside. Now, trying to do his best Theon Greyjoy impression, Werner’s redemption arc has brought him to Big Ange’s Tottenham Hotspur, who host Crystal Palace this Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on Peacock. How’s that going for him? The German has not yet recorded a PL goal in a Spurs shirt and hasn’t assisted a goal since Feb. 1. Do I wish ill upon Timo? Of course not. Would be great to see a return to the beautiful potent form he once possessed. Just not on Saturday. More of this, please. Timo Werner LESS than 0.5 Goals + Assists.

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

4. This Week in Europe 🇺🇸🇮🇹🇳🇱

i. AC Milan vaguely dream, but Como and Venezia is where it’s at.

Milan had to settle for a frustrating draw against Atalanta last Sunday after this astonishing Rafael Leao wonderstrike was canceled out by Tuen Koopmeiners’ 42nd minute penalty. This afternoon (2:45 p.m. ET, Paramount +), they head to the Capital to take on a Lazio side who’ll have one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. 

b. Meanwhile at the foothills of the alps, Sunday’s Serie B clash between Como FC and Venezia sees USMNT youngster Nicholas Selson Gioacchini (Como) face off against USMNT hopefuls Tanner Tessmann and Gianluca Busio (Venezia) (Sunday, 10:15 a.m. ET, Fox Soccer Plus). A win for either side could have promotion implications, with Como currently sitting fourth and Venezia second, five points off league leaders Parma. 

ii. PSV keep on PSV-ing

Ricardo Pepi etched his name on a crowded scoresheet last Saturday, scoring PSV’s seventh and final goal in their demolition of a dismal PEC Zwolle. This weekend’s opponent, closest (*if you count a 10-point gap as close) rivals Feyenoord, are unlikely to show such defensive fallibility, having conceded only one goal in their last seven league games (Sunday, 8:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+). Will PSV's unbeaten Eredivisie streak continue on to 24(!!!) games? All signs point to Ja! 

More: Eindhoven—>Arlington: CONCACAF Nations League: Predicting the USMNT's final 23-man roster.

4. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. We are about to enter a period of Super Club Managerial Musical Chairs.

ii. Harry Kane is not cursed. Gent is having a brilliant season. By Jonathan Liew.

iii. New NWSL kits lay the foundation for Commercial Growth for the league.

5. Wrexham! Wrexham! Wrexham! 

After a disappointing result at the weekend against controversy-plagued Forest Green Rovers, this Sunday’s fixture against 15th placed Accrington Stanley (10 a.m. ET, iFollow) presents a crucial opportunity for Wrexham to climb back into League Two’s automatic promotion places. The good news: Paul Mullin’s goal drought is OVER and Accrington Stanley are winless in three. Roll on the promotion train! 🚂

THIS WEEK AT MiB World Headquarters

Men in Blazers World, where we specialize in herding cats. So much happening this week… 

💚 Headlined by Academy Award-winning actor and Austin FC Co-Owner Matthew McConaughey joining Rog for his FOURTH appearance on Men in Blazers. Matthew’s appearances are always filled with football talk and life wisdom in equal measure. And, we’ll just say, this episode could serve as his book on tape. WATCH HERE. PODCAST HERE. A Special TV Version will be available on Peacock this Sunday, March 3. Here’s Matthew’s recruiting pitch to Lionel Messi. 

🏡 “Garden Football.” It’s a phrase Wrexham’s Elliot Lee came up with when talking about playing growing up, the green shoots of his dreams. A phrase that we love and one that sets the tone for a brand new episode of our “This Week in Wrexham” Pod Series, Powered by the GFOPs at STōK Cold Brew Coffee. LISTEN HERE. WATCH HERE. And talking of all things Wrexham, we have a new episode of “This Week in Wrexham” in which Tomi “Cheese” Lewis makes the furthest away trip of the season and gets a tour of Gillingham from a local. WATCH HERE. 

💪 The Women’s Game with Sam Mewis is so busy at the moment, covering the W Gold Cup, including that 2-0 shock US loss to Mexico (See Sam’s Reaction HERE). But they keep cranking out the hits when it comes to interviews. The guest on this week’s Pod: Sophia Smith. WATCH HERE. LISTEN HERE. An interview in which Soph talks embracing her role as a leader on this USWNT. Follow The Women’s Game on Instagram HERE. Also DON’T FORGET to subscribe to The Women’s Game newsletter which flies every Monday. And if you have any friends who would enjoy it, make sure to forward it along to them. Word of mouth is how we operate here at Men in Blazers and we are forever grateful.

📰 If you’ve not yet listened to Men in Blazers Early Kickoff, our daily Podcast that brings you football’s biggest headlines every single day in 10 minutes, do yourself a favor and LISTEN HERE. That Pod feed is also where you can get your daily dose of CONCACAF with Herc Gomez. This week’s guest: FC Dallas’ Paul Arriola. LISTEN HERE.  

5. Not Football, and All the Better for It

i. This is how we were marketed cigarettes. These 11 advertisements range from the vintage to the vaginal. They are remarkable to witness. 

ii. "If we accept that Disney adults were created, rather than spontaneously generated, then why are we scrutinizing the congregation instead of the church?" The “Disney adult” industrial complex. 

iii. Kim Gordon’s Coolest Act Yet. More like Koolest Act Yet. 

iv. Glasgow’s Sad Oompa Loompa Isn’t Gonna Sugarcoat This. I don't know how you could with the jellybean rationing. 

v. Beautiful all the way through: The Black Women of Gee’s Bend Work Hard and Easy.

vi. If you're looking for plans this weekend: Why must I smoke my pubic hair? My wild day following Yoko Ono’s avant-garde orders.

vii. Isolated for six months, scientists in Antarctica began to develop their own accent. May all your days be Dingle Days. 

viii. Another loss: Vice Made the Fatal Mistake of Trying to Grow Up. This 2015 story lives on forever in my heart, I Played 'The Boys Are Back in Town' on a Bar Jukebox Until I Got Kicked Out. This one is also great 😉 I Went to Iceland to Learn What's Up With Their Elves.

ix. Recovering the lost aviators of World War II. Several options for our USMNT nickname competition in there...

x. With Richard Lewis, Kvetching Was Charismatic. HBO can come after me for this, I don't care, 1hr+ of Richard Lewis comedy gold. RIP.

xi. This song moved me this week: Damn by Ada Lea.

xii. This book made me think so bloody much: Filterworld by Kyle Chayka. The New Yorker writer argues that our world of machine-filtered curation has made us passive consumers, flattening and homogenizing our personal tastes. To the extent that real life culture has been contorted to ape the common denominator. Hence, musicians writing identical hooks into the top of their songs to maximize instant impact on Spotify. Or, coffee shops around the world having identical characteristics: “large storefront windows; industrial-size wood tables for accessible seating; a bright interior with walls painted white or covered in subway tiles.” Let us fight this drab, uniform, clichéd future. Be yourself dear GFOPs. Cling onto your taste. It is all we have.

That is it for today. I do want to thank you all for your countless lovely messages to [email protected] sending your love and more for my Mum and Dad. It means the world to all of us. I treasure our mailbag. Especially the letters from the mass of you who are taking your football passions to the next level by flying over to England and watching your Premier League loves, live and in person. One of the most moving this week came from Tim Emmons of Alexandria, VA who was one of over 50 Americans who flew to watch Everton and Crystal Palace. Tim’s telling ended like this: “It is amazing that a group of strangers from all over the continent can come together, seemingly bound only by their love of a game and a football club, and leave days later as lifelong friends.” I adore that experience, as it reflects what I wanted to build when starting MiB. To you Tim, and your new lifelong friends. May we all savor every second we have watching football together, and not take a moment for granted. 

To more,

Big Love,

Courage.

ROG