Hail GFOP!

Rog writes: I write from Chicago where my heart is full of pride and joy despite the Bears loss I just witnessed. I support so many terrible teams – Everton, White Sox, the Bears (normally). To watch this team play with such joy and tenacity, I knew I had to come in person to witness them and make memories with my kids. Even in defeat, I was so powerfully moved by the performance, and the sense of meaning this collective has made for a city that really needed it. All of that, and racks of ribs at Twin Anchors and a massive pie at Pequod’s. I am not worthy. 🐻

The Premier League football this weekend was also magnificent. A dream start for Michael Carrick at Manchester United defying the haters. Manchester City in the mud; Arsenal bogged down in a Dycheian world o’ pain; Liverpool had one of those draws that felt like a loss. A weekend in which not one of the top four won. Tottenham are what it sounds like when doves cry, and this was one of the worst weeks in Crystal Palace history. Is that bat signal being sent up for Roy Hodgson? 🧓🏻

ii. The goal of the weekend that you might have missed: Behold Ousmane Dembélé’s “PlayStation” finish from Friday against Lille. Just WOW. 🤯

iii. I want to thank you all for your response to my book being announced. “We Are The World (Cup): A Personal History of the World’s Greatest Sporting Event.” I would love it if you would take a moment to do two things: 

1. Read the introduction so you gain a sense of what the book is about. It has taken me four years to write, and if you read this newsletter, you are exactly the human being I wrote it for. 📖

2. Take a moment to do something counter-intuitive: pre-order a copy now. It is crazy how the book industry works. Pre-Orders make or break a book. So if we have given you any joy, and you can find it in your heart to thank us, this would be the way. If you buy one at any Independent Book Store, upload your receipt at this landing page, I will send you a signed book plate ASAP! Please spread the word. I am so grateful for your support at this moment, more than I can say. Email me with any suggestions [email protected]. 🙌

iv. Finally, tonight is the College Football National Championship. To celebrate, we are releasing an unforgettable conversation with a legend of college footballl: Heisman trophy winner and national champion Jameis Winston, who also just happens to be one of the most charismatic personalities on this planet. We talked about the World Cup with him, thanks to our good friends at Coca-Cola. And yes, it was very, very Jameis. Watch him go off here. 🏈

Courage,
Rog

PS - Someone please explain how this own goal actually happened. 🤔 

MiB HQ Bulletin Board 📣

United Paint Manchester City Red 🥊

By Tommy Stewart

Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City

Even if Diogo Dalot had been sent off for a dangerous high foot on Jérémy Doku 10 minutes into this war for pride, points and Mancunian bragging rights at Old Trafford, it always felt like Manchester United would win on Saturday. Michael Carrick’s unshackled side were relentless from the off, and throughout the match they hit the post twice, had three goals ruled offside by VAR, while Gianluigi Donnarumma performed myriad miracles. It wasn’t until the 65th minute that they officially registered a goal, counter-attacking from deep inside their own box via a delayed one-two between Bruno Fernandes and scorer Bryan Mbeumo, echoing the exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney and erupting Old Trafford in ways it forgot it could. Just 11 minutes later the game was put to bed by the burgeoning Patrick Dorgu, who latched on to a cross from substitute, Matheus Cunha. City were spineless and only had one shot on target, but for United fans, it felt, looked and sounded like an old friend was out dancing again after having long lost their confidence. 

Michael Carrick’s “Man United DNA”

Manchester United’s DNA is an impossibly elusive elixir, a mythical Arthurian legend involving flying wingers, “youth” and exclusively attacking football. Nostalgia is a dangerous drug, but for a couple of hours at Old Trafford on Saturday, club legend Michael Carrick harnessed all of whatever that energy and identity is, and had a lost side playing football that was more Manchester United™️ than the red of Sir Alex Ferguson’s nose. Former players with podcasts had landed Carrick’s plane before it had a chance to take flight, but by putting City to the sword with such assured conviction, the complex and often tired narrative around English football’s most enduring soap opera, took a leap into the future while borrowing from the past. More obstacles will present themselves with time, but in his combined stints as United manager so far, Carrick has now beaten Pep Guardiola, Unai Emery, Mikel Arteta and drawn to Thomas Tuchel, which if nothing else will allow reds a forgotten luxury: to dream.

City Spending but Spiralling

Pep Guardiola might have actually been verging on tears as his side’s title hopes dissipated in the back garden of his local adversary on Saturday. While he attempts to construct his own City 3.0 (a working title), Pep’s instinct is to throw as much money as possible at any given problem, but against United, save for Donnarumma, who still conceded five goals at the weekend, none of his players stepped up. Erling Haaland only has one goal in the past seven games, and as City’s defense leaks uncontrollably, Pep will hope the emergency addition of Marc Guéhi can perform a Super Mario-sized plumbing job to amend that glaring issue. Arsenal’s draw at Nottingham Forest will have prevented a total self-immolation on Saturday night, but his glass of red will have been seasoned with his own sadness regardless. 

📬 Enjoying The Raven? Check out our other MiB newsletters:

☀️ The Women’s Game: Everything you need to know about women’s football, sent straight to your inbox each week.

🔍 The Correspondent: Rory Smith’s thoughts on the world of soccer, culture, food, and how they all connect – every Thursday.

🇺🇸 USMNT Only: Your regular update on the most important topics in the U.S. men’s game, all leading up to this year’s World Cup.

Arsenal Get Dyched & Anfield Boos Slot 😬

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

Other than scuppered chances for Gunners Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres in the first half, Nottingham Forest were relatively comfortable at the City Ground until the second half introduction of wing wizard, Bukayo Saka. His looping header extracted a save of the season contender from Matz Sels, and the Belgian Wall sealed a man of the match performance by later doggedly keeping out Gabriel Jesus. It was a low block masterclass from Sean Dyche, where Mikel Arteta must have felt like Sideshow Bob repeatedly stepping on rakes. This was Arsenal’s second consecutive 0-0 draw in the Premier League, and after both City and Villa lost this weekend, will they come to rue this result, or is it a point gained rather than two lost?

Liverpool 1-1 Burnley

The perpetual party that was Anfield during the 2024/25 season has been substituted for a middle management meeting which was evident when dreary moans met Dominik Szoboszlai’s first half penalty miss. Florian Wirtz reminded us why every elite club was queuing up for his signature in the summer with an unstoppable rocket just before half time, but Liverpool couldn’t capitalize, instead succumbing to Burnley’s counter attacks. Scott Parker’s stoic relegation battlers defended bravely before seamlessly perforating a sleeping Liverpool defense with a smart drilled finish from Marcus Edwards in the 65th minute. Arne Slot’s side were again met with a worrying smattering of boos at the final whistle; after a fourth league draw on the bounce, patience is wearing thin.

Chelsea 2-0 Brentford

When João Pedro’s thundering first half finish was eventually ruled an arm hair onside, Liam Rosenior celebrated with the relief of a man who’s just found an essential missing piece of Lego. Although surprise Champions League-chasers, Keith Andrews’ Brentford, dominated shots and possession, even hitting the post late in the first half, the home side were more decisive. The Bees were ultimately architects of their own demise when in the 75th minute, Nathan Collins gave goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher a hospital pass, resulting in a poor touch that saw him clumsily take down Liam Delap, allowing Cole Palmer to confidently convert the penalty. Rosenior is the antithesis of Enzo Maresca, which is probably why Chelsea and their fans seem to have, so far, taken kindly to the guy who puts the man in management.  

And Now, Rog’s Super Chill Thoughts on WTF Happened to Everton this Weekend 💙

Aston Villa 0-1 Everton

Rog writes: How this happened, I just don’t know. But it is emblematic of the unpredictability and chaos of this Premier League season, and utterly delicious. I watched it in Chicago's premier football bar, AJ Hudson’s, along with a hardy crew of Everton supporters. I don’t think anyone thought victory was possible before kick off. Villa undefeated in 11 straight at home with a chance to close the gap on Arsenal. Instead, Morgan Rogers was wildly uncalibrated with his England manager Thomas Tuchel watching, and in a stunning moment of clinicality, Emi Martínez palmed a Dwight McNeil arrow straight into the Kenny Loggins danger zone and Thierno Barry uncorked a delicate finish which can only be described as erotic. It was lovely to share the moment with so many Chicago Blues. Shout out to a gent named Lo who told me he supported Everton because they are as bad as his beloved White Sox. I love that approach to fandom – Give me another portion of pain please, sir…

Elsewhere in the Premier League: Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace, Leeds 1-0 Fulham, Wolves 0-0 Newcastle, Tottenham 1-2 West Ham

An Absolutely Wild AFCON Final 🤯

Senegal 1-0 Morocco

Depending on what you’re into, the fact this prestigious AFCON final between its two highest-ranked sides became a Royal Rumble of rule-bending and ugly aggression, either made it must-watch cinema, or a sad indictment on the modern game. A late Senegal goal was confusingly disallowed, and not long later, hosts Morocco were awarded a soft 98th minute penalty causing Senegalese manager Pape Thiaw to call his players off the pitch in protest. When they returned, an ominous Brahim Diaz Panenka was gifted to Édouard Mendy, taking the tie to extra time where Papa Gueye scored a thunder-bastard worthy of winning any final, even one this Josh Safdie-coded.

More: From one football nation to another, watch as Harlem celebrates Senegal’s massive win. Also, if you want a wider reflection of the sheer madness of the whole evening, you can read extensively about here.

On the Continent 🇪🇺

🇪🇸 La Liga: Barcelona’s 10-match La Liga winning streak ended in a 2-1 loss to Real Sociedad yesterday, and suddenly their title cakewalk has become a tough mudder. Thoughts and prayers go to Xabi Alonso, whose former Real Madrid side are now just a point behind their nemesis after a 2-0 home win against 19th-placed Levante, a result he’ll feel he could have matched or bettered. For the neutral who thought Barcelona might never lose a domestic match again, VAMOS, we have a title race!

🇮🇹 Serie A: No one folded in Serie A’s cautious three-way poker game between Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli, all of whom enjoyed very attritional and Italian 1-0 wins. Roma stayed in touch with the leading pack with a third consecutive victory, a 2-0 away win at Torino initiated by a debut goal from former Aston Villa forward Donyell Malen, who only signed for Gian Gasperini’s side last Wednesday. Weston McKennie featured in a 1-0 loss at Cagliari for Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus, whose hopeful flicker of a title charge after a recent surge in form, may now have dimmed.

🇩🇪 Bundesliga: Bayern Munich played the taunting Milton Rockwell to RB Leipzig’s plucky, or perhaps deluded Marty Mauser, dispatching them ruthlessly 5-1 and ending any naive semblance of title hopes. To torment them further, Vincent Kompany’s Bavarians were 1-0 down from the 20th to 50th minute, but once Serge Gnabry opened the floodgates, the cavalry smelt blood, with Harry Kane, Michael Olise just two more of the five different goalscorers. Second-placed Borussia Dortmund beat St. Pauli 3-2 deep in injury time and remain 11 points behind the champions.

Mid-Week Matches Worth Faking a Meeting for 📺

Premier League 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Brighton vs. Bournemouth (TODAY, 3 p.m. ET, USA) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

This lower-midtable battle of these affable southern sides feels like a direct head-to-head for who will be the next Spurs manager between Andoni Iraola and Fabian Hürzeler. It is, of course, much more than that, but with neither side in inspired form or in danger of relegation, a dub for the Golden War Cherries, who are searching for their first back-to-back wins in the league since August, would take them level on points with the Seagulls in 12th. 

Champions League 🏆

Inter Milan vs. Arsenal (Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🇮🇹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

In a direct stare-off between the Premier League and Serie A’s respective leaders, Arteta’s quadruple-chasing Gunners are favorites, but Inter are reinvigorated under Christian Chivu. Sure, they cannot hide from the humiliating trauma of last season’s final, that 5-0 annihilation by PSG, and yes, Arsenal are six for six at the top of UCL, but since Simone Inzaghi’s exit, Chivu has emboldened his squad without rocking the boat. Having said that, since the Arteta’s side lost to Inter at the San Siro last season, they’ve won 10 consecutive league phase matches, conceding just three goals.

Bodø/Glimt vs. Manchester City (Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🇳🇴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

With the $27 million addition of Marc Guéhi, Pep Guardiola has spent with the cavalier disregard of a trust fund kid with access to daddy’s credit card, splashing just south of $700 million on a whole starting XI since last January. He’s already disposed of half of those now forgotten toys, yet they’re second by seven points in the Premier League, and fourth in the UCL table. Europe’s Northernmost side, Bodø / Glimt, will probably never expend that amount of cash in their entire existence, but with that mythical plastic pitch and those arctic conditions, they’re a potential banana skin for a spiritless City side.

Tottenham vs. Dortmund (Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🇩🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Even if Spurs play like 1970s Brazil and drub the Bundesliga’s second best side tomorrow, it seems Thomas Frank has maxed out his credit with Tottenham fans. However, while no one expects a Champions League-winning run, like last season, they’ve been a Jekyll & Hyde side in Europe and domestically, winning their three home Champions League matches so far without conceding, while Borussia Dortmund have lost seven of their last eight European matches against English teams.

Some Non-Football to Start the Week Off 📖

• Marty Supreme's Kevin O'Leary wants to be "an immortal villain." Dude wears two watches at once, job done. 

• America is becoming increasingly obsessed with Aldi. (Not mentioned in the article, but Aldi's Girl Scout Cookie dupes are ELITE.) 

• ‘I fell in love with him on the spot’: Alan Rickman remembered, 10 years after his death. Apparently he had a habit of paying for everything, and when his friends protested, he'd just say “Harry Potter” and plunk his credit card down. 

• The real da Vinci code. Far less Catholic conspiracies than one would think.

It’s MiB Trivia Time 🤔

This week’s question: Inter Milan and Arsenal are top of their respective divisions and face each other in the UCL tomorrow, but who has more league titles of the two giants?

Email us with your answer for a chance to win a much-coveted MiB patch!

Last week’s winner: No one correctly answered that Tottenham are the side with 77 third round FA Cup wins, which is more than anyone else! How un-Spursy of them.

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

🙌 If you’re enjoying The Raven, we’d love an assist. Forward this email or share this URL with a friend.

📧 First time with us? Sign up here to get the next edition sent straight to your inbox.