Premier League Returns with City vs. Arsenal 💥

Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers quaking as Premier League football crashes back into our loving arms after what feels like months away. We charge into action with this one-point-separating-three-teams title race and Manchester City colliding with Arsenal in the last of the season’s six meetings between the trio of challengers. An event of Cowboy Carter-sized proportion. In this newsletter, we will break it all down, along with the latest on Liverpool and Bayern being Heismanned by Xabi Alonso, a review of the US Men’s National’s team turbulent week of ultimate glory, and the week ahead in the Women’s game. 

b. I am writing from a hotel lobby in Old Port, Montreal. What a city. What an absolutely singular vibe. I love this place and have been thrilled to meet so many GFOPs as I ate my way through your must-hit recommendations. Steak at Joe Beef, Poutine at Greenspot, Duck in a Can at Au Pied de Cochon, Burgers at Larry’s, smoked beef at Schwartz’s Deli and every bagel on the menu at St. Viateur. It has been magnificent to read my Mordechai Richler and charge around this city that still throbs with the words of Leonard Cohen, “Some say that no one ever leaves Montreal, for that city, like Canada itself, is designed to preserve the past, a past that happened somewhere else.” 🇨🇦

2. To the Football

i. Manchester City vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 11.30 a.m. ET, NBC)

A game between last season’s first and second placed clubs, so massive, it feels like the future of democratic society itself rests on the outcome. Think about how maniacal both Pep and Arteta will have been during the international break. Plotting and re-plotting their tactical second and third guessing like footballing Nate Oats. Arsenal have the chance to open a four-point gap over the Treble-Seeking champions. They go into the game after eight straight league wins, refreshed after not playing for 19 days. City have not lost in four months but the only “big six” side they have beaten this season are United. Last season, we had circled this clash as a title-decider but by the time the game kicked off, Arsenal had lost Saliba and blipped to three straight draws and the race was already over with Pep rolling 4-1. This time round, it is City who have the defensive challenges with Kyle Walker and John Stones confirmed to miss the match and Manuel Akanji picking up a knock during the break. Can Arsenal summon a different mindset this season? Not one of fear, and of the impotent reality of something slipping, but the true collective belief they can inflict a mortal wound on a title rival?

ii. Liverpool vs. Brighton (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, USA)

A sudden audition for Roberto De Zerbi. As news broke yesterday that Liverpool and Bayern Munich’s coveted managerial target, Xabi Alonso, will likely keep his handsome boyish good looks at Bayer Leverkusen next season, Sporting Lisbon’s young Ruben Amorim and the fractious schemer de Zerbi have become the leading candidates to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Although I keep telling everyone who will listen that Roy Hodgson deserves a second crack at the job, De Zerbi brings old boys Adam Lallana and James Millner back to Liverpool to face Quadruple Treble-chasing Klopp, hoping they can show him a secret goat path to defeat his opponent like Ephialtes in 300.

Who is Richard Hughes? Profile of Liverpool’s new sporting director. 

ii. Brentford vs. Manchester United (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, Peacock)

Last time United traveled to Brentford, Thomas Frank pressed, exposed and humiliated Ten Hag’s squad in a 4-0 destruction. Not a lot has changed at United, but plenty has for the Bees, who are a shadow of themselves. Five points off the relegation zone, and the most losses in the Premier League since November. City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all won at the Community Stadium this season. Can Ten Hag build on that stunning FA Cup win over Liverpool which feels like it was years ago, but was right before the international break? 

iii. Bournemouth vs. Everton (Saturday, 11 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Not in the face, Tyler Adams. Not in the face. Everton tremble towards the Las Vegas Golden War Cherries, with their league worst winless in 11 games streak and with a threat of another arbitrary-sized points deduction being dumped upon them. It has been glorious to “international window” without Everton in my life. Seven goals in the course of that winless run. Watching the Blues feels like a choice between death-by-Dominic Calvert-Lewin (no goals since December) or death-by-Beto who has scored just twice in the league. I hate myself and I want to die. 

Everton fans can’t win. Either 777 or dread owner Moshiri.

AND: Full TV Broadcast Schedule HERE 📺

3. USA! USA! USA! Victory from the jaws of Doom 🇺🇸🦅

Congratulations to the USMNT who Threepeated in the Nations League. A week which began on the precipice of disaster, ended with two magical exclamation point goals that will long be savored in hype videos ahead of future games in this rivalry and individual redemption stories for the magical Tyler Adams and deliriously menacing Gio Reyna. 

For US fans, it was a week of whiplash. We snapped from Bust to Boom in the blink of an eye. Or the second it takes for a Jamaican 96th minute own goal and Tyler Adams to thrash home from Caitlin Clark territory. So the question that now lingers as the smoke clears, is what to make of it all in a way that avoids recency bias? 

ii. This rivalry is no longer a competitive one. Mexico is not the standard by which we should judge ourselves. 

In truth, the dominant sporting aftertaste was one of reprieve and relief. It is always a delight to beat Mexico Dos A Cero. A scoreline that is reinforced by so many magical moments through team history. Yet, as the Merseyside Derby proves, seismic rivalries are not forever. Despite Lalasian attempts to hype USMNT-Mexico as the biggest in the world, this match-up is over as a clash of equals. Mexico has not won against us since 2019 and the gulf in class is structural: The United States started a line-up without a single MLS player. Post-game, the Mexican coach Jimmy Lozano bemoaned his players inability to leave Liga MX. Mexican players will not move to Europe and are stagnating. Until they do, the divide in class between the two programs is seismic and will only widen. Only European football is the steel to sharpen steel.

iii. So, for the United States, where are we? 

We are big fish in a very small CONCACAF pond, akin to Gonzaga basketball beating up opponents in the lowly Western Conference then being found out in March Madness. The truth is, we are not competing with Mexico – we are attempting to close the gap on the Uruguays, Colombias, or Portugals, Italys, and Japans. And we can. Look at the talent in our squad. There is no doubt our players are capable of making so much noise in international play. See Morocco, Croatia, or even Iceland and Wales in major tournaments past. Ask yourself, why not us? So much now revolves around Gregg Berhalter showing he is mastering the steep, occasionally brutal learning curve of international football. Many of the players love him for his empathy with their plights during tough times in their club journeys. Yet, the dislocation between the coach and much of the fanbase is large (it was hard to witness the sparse support at both US games or the comments under any Berhalter-related tweet). Bring on that Copa. A moment of truth to reveal our true weight class before the World Cup, Our chance to prove ourselves to ourselves.

More: Lovely piece with Pulisic talking about Milan and staying healthy.

4. Wrexham’s Weekend of Epic Proportion 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

First versus Third. Today, league leading Mansfield Town rumble into the STōK Cae Ras (11 a.m. ET, iFollow) in a clash which could boom or bust both teams’ promotion dreams. Last weekend’s decisive win away to Grimsby came at the cost of an injury to winger Jacob Mendy, who is likely to miss Friday’s match with a short-term hamstring injury. However, James McClean is available for Phil Parkinson after serving a two match ban. 

5. More Football, Did Ya Say? 🇺🇦

i. Power Ranking analysis of the 24 Teams at Euro 2024.

ii. So thrilled for Ukraine, qualifying for Euro 2024.

iii. Remembering Wales 1978 Shirt. One of the most beautiful in international football history.

6. Europa Europa! 🇮🇹🇳🇱

a. AC Milan return to action after their 3-1 victory against Verona (PULISIC GOAL HERE). The Rossoneri now sit second, now clear of winless-in-three-Juventus. This Saturday they travel to Tuscany to take on a Fiorentina team whose manager is rumored to be leaving the club (3.45 p.m. ET, Paramount +). USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah traveled back to Italy midweek and are unlikely to feature in Stefano Pioli’s lineup. 

More: This feels right: LAFC finalizing deal with Olivier Giroud through 2025 - sources.

b. PSV Eindhoven travel northeast to a Nijmegen side looking to recapture their winning streak (Saturday 11.30 a.m. ET, ESPN+). With all three of PSV’s American stars featuring in the USMNT squad for last weekend’s Nations League victory, manager Peter Bosz may rest our gents during his side’s quest to make it 27 games unbeaten. 

7. Weekend o’ Women's Football

This weekend’s NWSL fixtures kick off tonight with Marta’s Orlando Pride squaring off against Mal Swanson’s Chicago Red Stars (7 p.m. ET, NWSL +) who will look to continue their surprisingly wonderful start to the season. Saturday, North Carolina Courage welcomes Gotham F.C. who won their first league match last Sunday against the Portland Thorns despite losing star Midge Purce with an ACL injury. (not on streaming services)

b. The big match in the WSL this weekend sees Liverpool host Man City, who defeated their crosstown rivals United 3-1 in the Manchester Derby last Saturday. A win or draw for City would take them top of the WSL going into next week’s international break, as leaders Chelsea don’t play in the league until April 17. Speaking of, Chelsea and Emma Hayes stand 11 games from era-defining greatness.

More: This ill-advised wound of a US Soccer issue self-inflicted by 20-year-old newcomer Korbin Albert has been remarkable to witness. We always predict the new, bold future is going to be unstoppable. Not so fast.

PrizePicks. The Best PP since Poutine Pizza

Charlie Kipp writes: What is it about the March International Break that makes it feel so long? While the real answer is that unlike the fall, where the breaks are almost too-frequent, the March break is our first in months - but for me, it’s the absence of my PrizePicks entries to get me through a long day of Premier League football. By simply picking More or Less on a selection of statistical categories, my football-enjoying coefficient is improved immeasurably. We so back. We (finally) had a hit last week with our non-soccer play on Teisei Tominaga, and we look to the obscure again to keep the mojo going: Stefan Ortega MORE than 2.5 Saves.

Football is about predicting the unpredictable. And when it comes to unpredictability: Stefan Ortega is a 31-year-old German goalkeeper whose CV reads as follows: ~200 league appearances for Arminia Bielefeld (a team in the German 3rd division), ~50 league appearances for 1860 Munich (also in the German third tier), 0 international caps for Germany at youth or senior level, moved to his current club on a free transfer in the Summer of 2022. That’s the rap sheet. So why in the world is he the subject of our More or Less pick for the week? Because this Sunday, the gent described above is starting in goal for Manchester City against Arsenal in arguably the biggest game of the Premier League season. Yup, an Ederson injury means that the ‘long-time understudy and journeyman’ (there HAS to be a German word for that) Stefan Ortega will be thrust into the limelight. Normally I’d provide stats, but instead I’ll just say: I was there for Linsanity, I’ll be here for Ortegamania. Stefan Ortega MORE than 2.5 Saves.

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

8. This Week in Blazers 

Milner’s Touch and Messi’s Heat Map…

🇺🇸 We love the smell of Dos A Cero in the morning, particularly on a Monday morning. And we kicked the week off with a very special Do it Live! with Brendan Hunt, aka Coach Beard from Ted Lasso, taped at the final whistle of the USMNT’s 2 - 0 victory over Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League. WATCH HERE | LISTEN HERE 

📱And the question so many American football fans were asking in the wake of that victory… when will Forest #FreeGio? And when will we see him get his chance at club level? In another sublime piece of content (despite our involvement), Transfer King Fabrizio Romano broke down what could be next for Gio in a very special MiB x Here We Go Crossover LISTEN HERE. And to stay up with all of the comings and goings in global football, subscribe to Fab’s Here We Go Podcast, part of the Men in Blazers Media Network. 

💪 Another monster week for The Women’s Game Podcast, where editor-in-chief Sam Mewis continues her tour of England, which has already included stops at The Etihad, Stamford Bridge and THIS INCREDIBLE LOOKING CHIPPY. And Sam has taken the show on the road with her, dropping new episodes of “Good Vibes FC” with Becky Sauerbrunn (LISTEN HERE | WATCH HERE) and a must listen interview with Trinity Rodman on “Friendlies” (LISTEN HERE | WATCH HERE). 

🚨Coming up tomorrow… Episode 3 of our new season of World Corrupt, our Podcast mashup with Tommy Vietor and the GFOPs at Crooked Media. This season is a look at why Saudi Arabia is pumping billions of dollars into football and in this episode, we focus on the Saudi domestic league and their bid to host the men’s AND women’s World Cups in 2034 and 2035. Episode 1 is available HERE. Episode 2 is available HERE. 

9. Not Football and All the Better for It

i. Tips + excellent recs in here: For Book Recommendations, People Are Always Better Than Algorithms.

ii. A positive climate story???? They exist (in Scandinavia)! The Eider Keepers.

iii. "Lobsters may be mentioned in the set-up, but not the punch-line" The World’s Funniest Crab Joke Competition. Peep that judging lineup 👀.

iv. This is how French elections should be decided: Ready, Set, Garçon! Paris Waiters Race as Storied Contest Returns.

v. “There’s So Many Things Lurking”: Andrew Scott on the Sinister and Seductive New Ripley. Suddenly, I'm OK with remakes....

vi. This is a delight: SWEET TEA WITH EMILY DICKINSON. 

vii, The Confessions of Inigo Philbrick, Art Fraudster Extraordinaire. Inigo's lawyer, look away. 

viii. Loved this: ‘To the train lady with dark brown hair … ’: extraordinary stories of four couples who found love via small ads. Made me think of this extraordinary story from Colman Domingo.

ix. Who’s Behind All the ‘P**** in Bio’ on X? I clicked all the way through so you don’t have to. For those uninitiated, I truly envy you. 

x. I like this song a lot: I am Nothing (that I wanted) by Alex Dunaway.

Finally, I love this football jersey so much… and it is for charity

John Green’s favorite AFC Wimbledon will wear a magnificent one-off kit featuring the Rowing Blazers iconic “Black Sheep” motif to raise money for the charity War Child. These are some of the tastiest jerseys of the season and you can snap one up at Rowing Blazers. 100% of net proceeds will be donated to War Child, a charitable organization that protects, educates, and stands up for the rights of children in war, and to AFC Wimbledon’s own community charitable foundation.

Let’s not take a second of watching football together for granted,

Let’s make memories together,

To more,

Courage

ROG