THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS BACK 🏴🏆

Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers exhilarated by all there is to come. What incredible days we are living: A week that began with Olympic Gold, our journey across Britain, reveling in the chance to speak to some of the biggest managers in football, the news Poch will become the next USMNT manager, and now, the 2024-25 Premier League is upon us this afternoon. I will endeavor to break down all of this magical chaos in this newsletter. All that. And Chelsea Women are doing a live show with us next Wednesday night in New York City, and you can access tickets below!

i. Let’s open with the Premier League’s return. The first of 380 games scattered over 281 days. Bringing the best of the Paris Olympics – suave Frenchmen, cool shooting South Koreans, and well-meaning but unsyncopated Australian breakdancers – but for eight long months. I love today the best of all. Because before a ball is kicked, fans of every team will make the case for hope. If you are Everton, Ipswich Town, or Southampton, embrace the inner Shel Silverstein that lives inside you:

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

Shel Silverstein would have been proper Everton, right? But he is right here. What is football good for, if not for dreaming?

ii. I have just finished a magnificent week charging around Britain for our first annual Football Holiday, filming with so many of the managers who will be vying for the title this season. We filmed with Pep Guardiola who was on maximum charm, Mikel Arteta, who is just a bundle of positive energy. A man obsessed with the minute details in constructing a winning culture – having him talk about his meditation practice, or the thinking that led to the club bringing in an assistance dog named Win – was legit amazing; and Big Ange Postecoglou, who was reflective after a first season of life truths dispensed and lessons learned. Above all, it was amazing to meet these human beings – and the front office staff who work alongside them – after years of filming with them from afar via Zoom. Son-Heung Min has come on four times before and was legit amazed that we had flown over to be with him in person. What a human being he is by the way. The kind of gent who makes you feel so bloody good about life just by being around him. Virgil Van Dijk was really thoughtful about this late stage of his career, and the inspiration he draws from LeBron and Tom Brady in terms of what he has left to give. (He also smells amazing — up there with DCL as top three smelling footballers of all-time.) None of this could have been possible without the support of British Airways – an airline which has always represented much that is good about my birth nation — Visit Liverpool (The Titanic Hotel is one of my favorites in the world), and Visit Manchester. My big takeaway from this experience is – one of these seasons, I would love to come over with a lot of you Great Friends of the Pod, and do a Football Holiday in which we all revel in a weekend of wonder watching football together with our own eyes. Big Dream.

More: 📺 Watch our Entire Football Holiday Series

Ange Postecolgou - WATCH HERE

Son-Heung Min - WATCH HERE

Mikel Arteta - WATCH HERE

Martin Odegaard - WATCH HERE

Pep Guardiola - Coming Tuesday 

Manuel Ankanji - Coming Wednesday 

Virgil Van Coming - Coming Thursday  

Truth is, it has been a shattering week, charging up and down Great Britain, hoovering up English breakfast on the daily, laying waste to pie after pie, inhaling every curry I could, but it was also magical to live the pre-season mood club to club first-hand in an effort to bring them to you via our YouTube. But it is also remarkable to glimpse just how hungry these managers and players are – and the extent to which, they too, cannot wait for this journey to begin. We have so many interviews still to drop. To ensure you did not miss a single one, subscribe to our YouTube channel now, and turn on notifications so you savor each and every moment.

2. Pochettino: He’s Magic You Know 🇺🇸🇦🇷

Rejoice, America! What a week this is for all who love the sport of soccer and its growth here in the United States. Argentinian manager Mauricio Pochettino, 52, has agreed to be the new manager of our US men's national team. Make no mistake, this is a massive coup by US Soccer and Matt Crocker. The single-most accomplished and globally respected manager they have ever attracted. At his core, Poch is simply a really good human being. At his best, when set up to succeed, a charismatic coaching mind, a man-motivating master craftsman with a black belt in empathy who builds his projects around passion. There are a number of unknowns about the hire, a number of challenges, but no coaching hire is perfect. None are a given. Every one is like a donor organ that can either be welcomed or rejected by the host body. There is no such thing as a slam dunk. The most important thing to acknowledge, is that, for now, it feels so joyous to feel so optimistic again, to feel a sense of possibility that Poch can do for our men, as Emma Hayes did for our women. World Cup 2026 is now just 664 days away. That is the blink of an eye for a culture-builder like Poch, who knows he has so few meaningful games to build culture in. To more. GO, GO, USA! ❤️🤍💙

Read More: I set out my thoughts on Pochettino taking over the USMNT in some detail here. I would love to hear and read your responses at [email protected].

3. To the Football: Premier League is BACK 🏆

Background to handball rules changes and new VAR Style. Here’s the most important detail: A guide to the new Premier League kits.

Ii. Manchester United vs Fulham (Friday, 3 p.m. ET, USA)

And the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era begins in earnest, with that loose tooth of a manager, Erik ten Hag, claiming that Manchester United’s ambition is to win the Premier League, and despite their 8th place finish last season, that they have only been second best to rivals Manchester City since his arrival in 2022. Bold claim if true. Lots of positive vibes at Old Trafford though: More ex-Ajax arrivals in Defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. Toothy Captain Bruno Fernandes also signed a contract extension at Old Trafford. Fulham won at Old Trafford last season, but are now without a slew of familiar names including Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich, De Cordova Reid, and their man-bunned talisman Tim Ream. Can their journey to mid-table obscurity begin here?

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

The first time since August 2017 that both teams are being led by managers both taking charge of their first Premier League match. For Liverpool, the Arne Slot era begins. Their bald Dutch King leads a squad that is the only one to lack a single incoming new player. They have contract issues to resolve over Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, but the positive, possession hungry, pro-active football they have unfurled in pre-season have turned vibes up to 11. 

Ipswich, under young coveted manager, Kieran McKenna, will also revel in this moment. Their first Premier League game in over 22 years. Their last one, a 5-0 beatdown against Liverpool in 2002. The day after Ed Sheeran announced his minority ownership in a fantastic video, they must quickly calculate how much to adjust their buccaneering style which gained them back-to-back promotions. 

More: Great short film that explains Ipswich the place, and Ipswich the team including some obligatory Sheeran.

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

After spending time at Arsenal this season, there is no doubt the mindset is that this has to be the season in which the squad building, the Arteta coaching, and the good vibes peak and end in Glory. It is going to be fascinating watching new signing Riccardo Calafiori debut at left back. Can the 23-year old swashbuckling Italian give Arteta the left-sided threat his team carry through White and Saka on the left? Cue a blast of the new chant “Calafiori Dreamin.”.

Lots of Arsenal conversations for you. This chat I had with sporting Director Edu will fire you up. 

iv. Chelsea vs. Manchester City (Sunday, 11.30 ET, NBC)

The Five-Peat starts here. Pep Guardiola faces another of his assistants turned Premier League managers, 44-year old Bald Prince Enzo Maresca, who was on the City bench when they won the Treble. I spent time with Pep on Tuesday afternoon, for an interview which will come out this week. He was on the most relaxed form I have ever seen him, however, the season ahead promises to be surreal. City could end with more glory, or rumors of relegation for the 115 charges which will begin to be heard in September. 

Some challenge for Maresca. This will be his first test as a top-flight manager, and pre-season Erling Haaland blasted a hat-trick, punishing every mist-step by a Chelsea backline attempting to learn the skills of playing it out the back. The Italian is the 4th permanent manager in the two years under tumultuous American ownership. Can he oversee the chaos which seems to be a self-inflicted permanent feature of the club’s culture? A crevice of hope for Chelsea fans: Rodri is not fit to play.

More: I sat down with Enzo Maresca to talk about the Chelsea challenges to come. And Chess. A lot of Chess. 

And: Premier League CEO “Time is right to resolve City case.”

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

Goodison Park’s farewell season begins ahead of its 132nd and final year. Bring on your point deductions, your ownership takeover chaos, do you worst. Sean Dyche is invincible, because what is dead may never die. 

Brighton are led by Fabian Hürzeler, the Houston born-German-Swiss set to be the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history, and the first to be born after the league was founded. The American Julian Nagelsmann will become one of the most fascinating new characters this season. He comes from the German second division where he transformed cult-heroes St Pauli in a promotion season. 

More: Everton fans, drink this Tark hype video up.

Tune-In: Entire First Weekend Schedule here.

And: Miguel Delaney’s excellent big-picture primer on a surreal season to come.

PrizePicks. Best PP since Peter Piper

Welcome back folks to another addition of MORE OR LESS, presented by the masterminds over at PrizePicks. The return of the Premier League brings with it a sense of eternal optimism, even for you Manchester United fans. Revel in the prospect of all that is to come…and the sizzling creativity of that young Argentinian prince, Alejandro Garnacho. He is poised for a great start to the Premier League campaign after scoring last weekend in the Community Shield, I anticipate he will continue his form this weekend into the first match. That is why I am taking MORE Than Three Shots. 

For the start of the new season, we have a fantastic new offer for you. Play $5 and get $50 instantly when you use code MIB. You don't even need to win to receive the $50 bonus, it's guaranteed. So go to prizepicks.com and sign up today. Cheers to you Alejandro and the rest of us who will be watching this weekend.

4. WE ARE DOING A LIVE SHOW WITH CHELSEA WOMEN: GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

We are humbled to present A Night with the Champions Chelsea Women FC x The Women's Game LIVE in New York City. Reigning Barclays Women's Super League Champions Chelsea will join Sam Mewis and Roger Bennett for a live taping at the start of an exciting new era for one of the most dominant teams in English women's football. 

New coach, the iconic Sonia Bompastor, and a number of Chelsea's title winning stars will talk about their ambitions as they prepare to defend their crown. It all takes place this Wednesday, August 21st in New York City.

WE HAVE SOME TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY to this very limited-seating event. If you can be sure you’ll be in New York City this Wednesday evening and would like the chance to attend, simply answer the question below. We’ll be in contact in the next few days so make sure that all eyes are on your inbox: we don’t want you to miss out.

5. I have thought a lot of the immensity of Emma Hayes’ achievement this week and the USMNT coach to come. 

It has been magnificent watching the US Women players celebrating their gold. The joy mixed with the sense of real relief when a true self is regained. It has been especially moving watching Emma Hayes, whom I have thought a lot about while running around her old manor of North London. Truly remarkable to realize, it took someone who is the best of British who made us all feel so proud to be American. Both with the elite transformation she has overseen in just 72 days from first training to gold medal game. But it is particularly profound, in this time of chaos, to hear Emma, with her London accent, talk about her love of America, which is an echo of my own. Hearing Emma say “America made me” is startling but it is true. Name another English manager who talks about themselves so confidently as a “winner”? The only other English football figure with that kind of unshakable confidence and self belief is Jude Bellingham. It is a very new national archetype, and as the search for the US Men’s coach concludes, it is important to acknowledge just how high a bar US Soccer set for themselves with Emma. It is incredible that Poch – whom she used to watch as a Spurs season ticket holder, and then coached alongside her at Chelsea – is coming to ride with us. To more. And to all that is to come.

More: Beautiful piece about Hayes from an English perspective, and how her father’s dying wishes propelled her to the United States. A story I just love, for multiple reasons. 

And: Which USMNT players could move before the transfer window closes? 

6. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. Black Arsenal: How the club became a symbol of modern British integration.

ii. Loss and loneliness of being an out of work manager. Brilliant piece.

iii. Premier League to roll out AI-assisted VAR. A lot of initials. Please let it work.

iv. The increased centrality of London in Premier League football.

7. Wrexham: UP THE TOWN! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿☕️

Manager Phil Parkinson returns to the club he led to promotion back in 2017, as Wrexham take on Bolton Wanderers at the Toughsheet Community Stadium (Sunday 10 a.m. ET, Paramount+). The Manchester based club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship last season, finishing third in the league and losing in the playoff finals to Oxford United. They will be a massive test for Wrexham – and a real bellwether of all that is to come. 

SEASON 2 of THIS WEEK IN WREXHAM BEGINS: It is a real thrill to welcome back Tomi Caws and his regular reports from North Wales. I had the time of my life at the STōK Cae Ras last week, watching the Town beat Wycombe in the sunshine. We are so indebted to the magical team at STōK for making this dose of joy happen on the regs. Watch the film here – I hope it makes you feel better about your own life.

8. Not Football, and All the Better for It

i. Best thing you will watch today: The great Nick Cave, who has been openly grieving his son’s death, talks about what makes his heart soar. Submitted by GFOP Christina Craig.

ii. You know I love myself some airport carpet. Thanks to GFOP Jocelyn Berge who sent in this piece on my beloved Portland airport’s redesign. 

iii. How to feed the Olympians. Step one: Get 3 million bananas. 

iv. Surely there's a reality tv show that will pay YOU to do this: Why Some People Are Paying to Be Left on a Desert Island—Alone.

v. FINALLY: In Praise of Michael Caine's Possibly Anti-Fascist, Undeniably Charming Twitter Feed.

vi. Scientists find humans age dramatically in two bursts – at 44, then 60. James Milner, your days are numbered. 

vii. El Fonoll, the medieval village in Spain where clothes are banned. The sunscreen market must be HUGE here. 

viii. The 100 Best Movies of the 2000s. Almost gave up on this after I saw Michael Clayton was only 88th(?).

ix. How to Start a Professional Sports Team, Win Games, and Save the Town. Aaron Sorkin, I have a SECOND Oakland A's movie for you to write. 

x. For the ultimate road trip: Map of independent bookstores across the US.

xi. I read this book and it is remarkable: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden. I don’t want to give away the twist in the plot so I will not say too much. But it hits all of my buttons – Post-War Europe rebuilding, immensely terse, humanly truthful writing, and an emotional guy punch of a narrative. This is one of the best debut novels I have read in a long, long time.

xii. This song got me through the week: Fontaines DC: Here’s the Thing.

That is it for this week. Anyone who has lost someone they love will tell you that it is the firsts which really hurt. This weekend marks the first Everton game I will watch without my Dad being alive to share it with. It is almost unbelievable to reflect that he never saw us play outside of the Premier League, and I pray that continues, even though I know it won’t. To all of you who have lost someone you love who also loved this game, I raise my glass to you. Let’s not take a sense of connection we have to each other as the spectacle unfurls, and the cross-generational memories we forge along the way for granted.

To Life.

To more.

Let’s make great memories together this season.

Courage

ROG