The Battle of the Premier League's Last Unbeatens 🦅❤️

Hail GFOP! 

I type with fingers eager to watch this weekend’s Clash O’ the Unbeatens, Crystal Palace facing up to Liverpool. A game which, if Marc Guéhi scores, has the chance to show us whether there is an unwritten rule over a player celebrating a goal scored against his future club. Or, if Guéhi wants to vent and protest Palace’s cruel last-minute decision not to sell him to the Reds by scoring an own goal, whether you celebrate netting against the team you psychologically had already left. 🤔

ii. Highlight of my week: 20 hours in London filming with Bukayo Saka in a Nando’s. The half-chicken, medium spice, and peri-salted chips were elite. But Bukayo topped even that. We talked about his journey, his mental approach to the game, and his faith. He is a remarkable man. So intelligent, thoughtful and somehow, still humble. I cannot wait for you to hear the conversation. I am typing this in a car back home. It has been such a bonkers few days, even though I have only been away for a night, it feels like weeks since I have been back. 🍗

iii. I could not be prouder to have launched VAMOS this week, our new full-on platform designed to deliver authentic storytelling to that singularly passionate and enormous U.S. Hispanic soccer community. We have tested this for the past 18 months with Herc Gomez, and could not be more excited to have the supremely talented Give N Go join us with more, much more to come. You can read all about it here. 👏

iv. I am not a big Ballon d’Or fan. It feels like a game within the game, like transfers. A football-adjacent sideshow that began with noble intent, but that in the social media age has become an outrage factory in its own right. Having said that, I loved watching Ousmane Dembélé’s victory. His redemption story—from overpriced, arrogant underachiever, to hungry, unstoppable smiter of men—is so rewarding to witness. We write players off in football in the blink of an eye. They are human beings. As Ousmane’s story proves, they can learn and redefine themselves and then some. 🇫🇷

More: Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or is a human victory amid the toxic theatre of football.

v. We also have another edition of the Big Weekend Preview releasing this afternoon where we’ll break down all the biggest stories and reveal the 100% accurate predictions you’ll need to maximize your enjoyment during another weekend of Premier League magnificence. And when those games are on, take it up another notch by joining us on Discord where, last weekend, we saw over 4,000 comments during the slate of PL games. I love it so much. It’s a place to share in the joy and agony of stoppage time goals and even add a gif or two responding to those mad moments we can’t believe. As always, football’s better with friends. 🍻

vi. I can’t wait to head to Seattle next week for our sold-out show, celebrating the singular and unique culture of the Emerald City. Let me know where we should eat there. I would love your suggestions. 🟢

vii. Here is our New York show with Karl-Anthony Townes and Josh Hart, amongst others. It is a true joy to relive. 🗽

PS – This is the best thing I watched this week. The Everton one had me. 💙

Courage,
ROG

To the Football 🍻

Brentford vs. Manchester United (Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET, USA)

Was United’s 10-man, mud-bath outwitting of a self-immolating Chelsea the green shoots of progress? Was the first-five-match gauntlet that included games against Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea too tough a control group to truly judge them? Was the Grimsby fish-slapping just a meme-filled blip? The Gtech is moment of truth time because United have lost two of four games there since the Bees were promoted. What could possibly go wrong?

Rogstradamus 🔮: Brentford shock United early, but Amorim’s team are resilient and a Bryan Mbeumo assist and late Harry Maguire goal will get that lad closer and closer to a haircut. 

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

The Premier League’s last two unbeaten sides clash. The Reds are perfect on paper, but Palace, who are on a club-record, 17-game-all-comps run, have a deep history of being Liverpool’s Achilles' heel. 

Arne Slot has had a week of challenge. Some self-inflicted, like Hugo Ektike feeling compelled to whip off his shirt and receive a second yellow after scoring an 86th-minute (yawn!) winner midweek. In more agonizing news, freshly arrived young Italian center-back Giovanni Leoni has torn his ACL and will be out for around "a year." This clash will be tight. Palace have conceded just two goals in five games, with captain Marc Guéhi, who came within a fitness class of signing for Liverpool on transfer deadline day, an imperious rock alongside Birmingham, Alabama’s Chris Richards. Which record will still be intact at the final whistle?

Rogstradamus 🔮: No surprise! A late winner, but not for Liverpool. Watch out, corner flags. Mateta nets at the death. Palace 2-1. Yes, this is Rog, speaking it into existence… 

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

Football as a Real Housewives Reunion. Chelsea have SIX ex-Seagulls in their squad ahead of Brighton’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. It may still not be enough. Maresca’s side is ravaged by injury with Cole Palmer out for three weeks with a groin knack and just one senior center-back available. Brighton’s players will treat this game as both a Premier League clash and a job interview.

Rogstradamus 🔮: The Chelsea fan fume will be turned up to 11 after this one. A Hürzeler hit-and-run 2-1 victory.

More: Check out the difference in shin pad styles between Brighton’s 17-year-old and 39-year-old. The cycle of life as demonstrated by shin-pad choices.

Manchester City vs. Burnley (Saturday 10 a.m. ET, USA)

The James Trafford Memorial Derby. Ninth-place City enter a points-accrual run of the season as they face a series of mid opponents in October, beginning with J.J. Watt’s Burnley, against whom they have emerged as victors from 17 of their last 18 rumbles. I do not expect the low-block parking of the Pep bus in this one. 

Rogstradamus 🔮: Phil Foden’s resurrection continues. Two assists for Pep’s son as Erling Haaland bags a hat-trick. And it could have been worse for Burnley…

Tottenham vs. Wolves (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, USA)

Thomas Frank has his team trending towards progress, scoring for fun, and yet to concede a second-half goal. Lolloping Wolves have lost all five of their Premier League matches this season—the club’s worst-ever league start. At least they are consistent. 

Rogstradamus 🔮: Only three sides have lost their first six games in a Premier League season. History beckons. Spurs 2-0.

Newcastle vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET, USA)

A thorny clash for Mikel Arteta, who has lost his last two away games at St James’ Park, but after spotting Liverpool an agonizingly early five-point lead, he will now feel that every league game in 2025 is a must-win. Newcastle United are defensively robust with four clean sheets in five league games. Let’s ignore for now their struggle to score since Alexander Isak defected. Arsenal will have to use all their creative options to find a way through, though news that Noni Madueke is out until November with a knee injury will make fans' sphincters tighten. However, that dizzying care bear Bukayo Saka is back and his next goal involvement will be his 100th. 

Rogstradamus 🔮: Eberechi Eze scored his first Arsenal goal midweek. Expect his second to follow this weekend. It was games like this that he was brought in to win. A nervy first half will be followed by Anne Hathaway ecstasy in the second. Gunners 1-0. 

Everton vs. West Ham (Monday, 3 p.m. ET, USA)

Monday Night Football under the lights at the Big Dickinson Energy for the first time! David Moyes hosts teetering Graham Potter and West Ham. The club who dispensed with his services after he had won the club’s first trophy in 43 years, and then plummeted into this current meme-filled free-fall as an agonizing reminder of, “Be careful what you wish for.” I am old enough to remember when Potter was considered to be Everton’s next manager before he brought his broken ways to the Hammers. Which Everton will arrive? Moyes’ brave new clenched fist, or the merciful charity who make opponent’s dreams come true?

Rogstradamus 🔮: I dream of tiny-shin-pad-scented glory, but am braced for West Ham to miraculously defend corners with vigor, and cut us apart on the counter. Bowen will score twice. He always does us. Hammers respite for one week only. 0-2. 

🗓️ Elsewhere in the Premier League:

Leeds vs. Bournemouth (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Peacock) 🤍🍒
Nottm Forest vs. Sunderland (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, USA) 🌳🐈‍⬛
Aston Villa vs. Fulham (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, USA) 🦁🏡

A Massive Week at The Women’s Game ☀️

The week of new shows in the MiB universe continues as we ask ourselves a pertinent and important question: What’s better than one Mewis? That’s right: TWO MEWISES. It thrills me to see the launch of Mewis Squared, a brand-new podcast hosted by sisters and USWNT greats, Sam and Kristie Mewis, where we’ll get an intimate look into their journeys and the highs and lows of competing as each other’s first teammates. The show, which will have bi-weekly episodes starting later today, should hopefully feel like you’re dialing directly into one of the Mewis sisters’ weekly Facetime calls. 

Additionally, the legendary Becky Sauerbrunn is also joining the platform full-time with her new show, Teaming Up, which will bring fans closer to the world of women’s soccer with unique voices ranging from celebrity owners and coaches to sports psychologists and social activists. The first episode featuring actress and NWSL co-owner Elizabeth Banks drops Sept. 29 and, like Mewis Squared, can be found on all TWG channels.

To cap things off, Sam welcomed legendary Chelsea and Matildas striker (and her future sister-in-law) Sam Kerr to Friendlies this week. It is a beautiful episode in so many ways, but learning about the growth of women’s soccer in Australia and how becoming a mom has changed her perspective as an athlete was truly inspiring. You can find that full conversation here.

Even More Football ⚽️

• Trump threatens to pull the World Cup from blue cities. An unlikely scenario, but the real threat host cities are concerned about is the $625 million in federal security funding. Football once again is merely a mirror for the culture and politics of the society that surround it.

• The Premier League is threatening a minimum six-point penalty for serious breach of planned spending rules beginning next season. The new mechanism, “Squad Cost Ratio,” would limit spending on player wages, transfers and agent fees to 85% of revenue and be enforced in real time. I am braced for Everton to have this beta tested on them this campaign.

• Lovely piece on the magical Cherry Antoine Semenyo, whose renewed form has been one of the true joys of the season.

The MiB Breakfast Club Collection 🫖 

Hand-decorated ceramics and an assortment of apparel, headwear, and accessories for the most important meal of the day.

The Correspondent w/ Rory Smith: The Platonic Ideal of a Liverpool Transfer ♥️

Rory writes: Over the last few years, the many and varied virtues of Liverpool’s transfer strategy have been recounted so often that they are deeply familiar: the data gathered and parsed by the (admittedly sinister-sounding) Research Department, staffed by astrophysicists recruited direct from CERN; the incorporation of that information in any decision; the absolute certainty that the wisdom of the system trumps individual opinion.

To many, Liverpool has come to represent a sort of gold standard, something close to a model of how an elite team should operate in the transfer market in 2025. That has been borne out by results: the club’s approach, once considered vaguely heretical within English football, has led Liverpool to two Premier League titles, a Champions League victory, another couple of finals, and sundry domestic cups.

And that, as always, has brought aspiring imitators to the club’s doors. Though teams like Brighton and Brentford deserve no small portion of the credit, Liverpool played a key role in popularizing – or at least legitimizing – not just the use of data in soccer, but the idea that a club with any ambition at all should have what, on the other side of the Atlantic, would be called a Front Office. The structure of Liverpool’s hierarchy is, increasingly, a blueprint for other teams to follow.

Read the full newsletter 📧

🚨 We Need Your Help: Our 2025 GFOP Survey 👏

One of the greatest joys of Men in Blazers is this community we’ve built together. A ragtag band of football obsessives spread across the nation, united by the joy, the pain, and the wonder of this game.

Every year, your voices in our annual GFOP Survey help us understand what matters most to you, and how we can make this community even stronger. From the pods, to the newsletters, to the live shows and everything in between, your feedback truly shapes what we do.

It only takes a few minutes to complete, but it helps us create something even better, together. We’d be so grateful for your time... and honestly, who doesn’t like answering questions about themselves?

To thank you, a lucky few who take the survey will win free gear from the soon-to-be-released Breakfast Club Collection from our store. It’s the least we can do.

👉 Take the 2025 GFOP Survey here

Other Beautiful Football Around the World 🌎

Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid (Saturday, 10:15 a.m. ET, ESPN+) 🇪🇸

Although the season’s only begun, Diego Simeone’s not accustomed to his Atléti side having to punch this far up this soon to compete with their local rival. Los Blancos sit at the top of La Liga with six wins in six, leaving their bitter inner-city neighbors nine points and places adrift. After a midweek brace, Kylian Mbappé remains at the top of the league’s scoring charts with seven goals, but Athléti’s Julián Alvarez outdid him with a hat-trick in their win on Wednesday. While this all may look a bit one-sided, the league-leaders have only won one of the last six Madrid derbies going into tomorrow’s match, and Simeone’s Suicide Squad will also be encouraged by playing this one in their 70,000-seat Riyadh Air Metropolitano, a place that for 90 minutes will become a hellacious inferno for Real Madrid.

Juventus vs. Atalanta (Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET, CBS) 🇮🇹

Ivan Jurić had one of the most daunting jobs in European football when he took the baton from Gian Piero Gasperini after nine transformative years at Atalanta, and so far he’s doing pretty, pretty good. They’re fifth in Serie A and Jurić has astutely managed the soft-launch return of wantaway star, Ademola Lookman. Meanwhile, Juventus manager Igor Tudor is enjoying a second life at his former club, but his second-place side could only manage a draw against Verona last weekend after back-to-back epics clashes against Dortmund and Inter. We’re not saying that’s because Weston McKennie was an unused substitute, but we’re also not not saying that either.

Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad (Sunday, 3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 🇪🇸

After playing back-to-back home games at the small Johan Cruyff training ground while their beloved Camp Nou continues one of the world’s most arduous glow ups, Barca will host Real Sociedad at the historic Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys this weekend. Luckily all of the chaos surrounding their stadium displacement hasn’t distracted Hansi Flick’s second-place side from their on-pitch mission of playing scintillating football whilst winning matches, despite missing Lamine Yamal to injury over the past few games with Lewandowski, Rashford, and others picking up the slack. Sergio Francisco’s Real Sociedad were winless until they beat Mallorca on Wednesday and come into this one sitting 14 spots below Barcelona in the table. Best of luck, Los Txuri-Urdin.

AC Milan vs. Napoli (Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🇮🇹

Might third-place AC Milan actually be back? Sure, we’re only four league fixtures in, but Massimiliano Allegri has recruited midfield veterans with winning experience while reintroducing high standards to the Rossoneri. He’s also smartly managed Pulisic’s game time, which has resulted in five goals and one assist in six matches across all comps so far. Antonio Conte’s Napoli remain top after sneaking a win past Pisa earlier this week, but Allegri’s squad is a much more daunting opponent. Should Milan beat the champs and league leaders at the San Siro on Sunday, they’ll join them on 12 points and announce themselves as genuine Scudetto contenders. Come for the legendary midfield face-off between Modrić and KDB, stay for the possible return from injury of Milan’s magical winger, Rafael Leão.

NWSL - Washington Spirit vs. Houston Dash (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🇺🇸

With the competition for the NWSL Shield all done and dusted (congrats to KC!), all eyes now turn to the playoffs. After ending the first half of the season in 12th place, even the most optimistic of Dash fans would have had little hope their team could make a run at the playoffs, and YET, with three games to go, Houston sit two points outside of the playoff berths and have one of the league’s most in-form strikers in Yazmeen Ryan. A win and a result for Seattle in Sunday’s late game against North Carolina could have Houston in the league’s last playoff spot by weekend’s end, however opponents Washington will also be looking to lockdown their post-season. A win at Audi Field would guarantee the Spirit’s appearance in November's playoffs.

WSL - West Ham vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET, ESPN) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

A slightly premature “First vs. Worst” pairing as winless West Ham host still-perfect Chelsea. The Hammers will take solace in their 5-1 demolition of Charlton in the League Cup on Wednesday, and will hope Chelsea’s players are still hungover from ALL THAT WINNING at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

MiB Mad Libs 📝

This week’s phrase is: “______ is certain to win next year’s Ballon d’Or because ______”

Email us your submissions to be in contention to win a coveted MiB patch.

There were A TON of excellent suggestions this week, but there can only be one winner:

Vincent Fike: “Liverpool’s ability to score late goals is not tactics or fitness or mentality. It’s real cause is the game of 'who scores last goal gets first shower.'"

Vincent – Thanks for bringing rational thought to perceived alchemy.

Not Football and All the Better for It 📖

• Saving the Venus Flytrap: How One Woman Rallied a Town Around Its Weirdest Attraction. This isn't the “Little Shop of Horrors” plot I remember. 

• Get into it, America! The Revenge of the Hot Water Bottle.

• OnlyFans Triangle. Not sure the Derbyshire County Council will be running with this... 

• The Next Big Thing in Pop Culture: Public Bathrooms. “Perfect Days” heads BEEN knowing this.

• March Madness will never be the same: An ode to Sister Jean.

• This Song Helped Me Through the Week: “Come Around” by Frown Line.

• I read this book and like it: “The Fact Checker” by Austin Kelley. A New Yorker fact-checker searches for a lost woman in a hairy story which is a vibe that will appeal to NYC-philes, New Yorker obsessives, and “Confederacy of Dunces” fans.

Introducing Pet FC’s Newest Member: Leo 🐶

We have partnered with the two-legged people at Purina to create Pet FC, a new initiative where we will be featuring YOUR four-legged friends that show a true love of football on par with their human counterparts.

Named for Messi, Leo lives with his Liverpool-supporting family in Newport, Pennsylvania, where he keeps a watchful eye over Premier League morning watch parties. 🐐

Do you have a great football story involving the dog or cat in your life? Click the link below to submit your pets and pet stories, and we will be regularly featuring the best of the best here in the Raven and on our social channels. What's more, we have Purina prize packs for every pet featured.

Submit your Pet FC stories here 🐾

A GFOP Writes… ✍️

Nick Holke writes: I've watched the Premier League for many years but never had a team. Usually, I root for underdogs that stand a chance of fighting for Champions League spots. Last year, it was teams like Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth. This year, it may be—dare I say it—Everton and Manchester City?

I mentioned to my friend, who supports Manchester United (the poor soul), that I don't have a particular team, and he said, "You lack commitment."

Which got me thinking: Is my lack of choosing a team to support in the Premier League an extension of my inability to commit in other areas of my life? Like how I've been dragging my feet a little when it comes to proposing to my girlfriend? Because supporting a Premier League team is a lot like a marriage: till death do us part, in sickness and in health, and—when the relationship grows stale—you bring in Jack Grealish to spice things up (wearing nothing but his tiny shin pads).

I suppose what I'm asking is: Should I marry my girlfriend? No, wait—wrong question (don't worry, I know the answer to that one is a resounding yes; she's lovely).

What I'm really trying to ask is: Am I in love with Grealish? Shoot, hang on—I can do this (and I know the answer to this one is an even more resounding yes. What's not to love?).

My real question is: Am I missing something essential about the Premier League by not supporting a team? Or have I developed a workaround that enables me to enjoy every game I watch without the risk of falling into the deep Evertonian despair Rog has trudged through these past years?

Cheers, Nick

Rog writes: Nick –There is so much life in that letter, I don’t know what to say. First of all, did you just propose to your girlfriend via the newsletter? Putting out that “resounding yes” which reminds me of the great Philp Larkin line, “On me your voice falls as they say love should, like an enormous yes.”

Second, are you Everton in disguise? I think from the emotional tenor of your letter, the answer is another resounding yes.

But your big picture question is fascinating to me. The idea that shorn of geography and pre-existing, multi-generational familial fandom, you can be a fan of the entire league or universe of football. Like some kind of Premier League Rob Lowe in his NFL hat. The idea is really remarkable— the notion of you just opening your heart to the entire cosmos of football, in the same way as my newly discovered interest in ornithology has me loving all birds. But I do believe that once you commit to your partner, things may change. The ripple effect may be seismic, and you may become a one-team man. Please keep me in the loop, and more importantly, let me know what your girlfriend says when she reads your proposal here within. 

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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