Rog's Tales from Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers filled with exhaustion after an incredible week spent in those twin footballing powerhouses, Wrexham and Liverpool. While shooting in the countryside of North Wales, I learned a Welsh term from my mate, Tomi Cheese: “Hiraeth.” A word without literal translation, but one that essentially means, “a deep, soulful longing for home.” 

And it resonated with me. Because I knew that after Wrexham I was headed to my own home of Liverpool. That poem of a city filled with tenacious beauty, wonder, and pride in equal measure. The streets where I grew up and ones that welcome me with open arms every time I return. And honestly, I needed a hug on this trip because I was going to see my dad, Ivor, who, as many of you know, has been battling away for the last eight months in hospital.

My plans also included taking in 90 minutes of slightly masochistic respite on Monday night, by catching Everton against Palace. A game soaked with meaning, not just because of both teams’ precarious positions in the table, but because it would be my first time at Goodison without my Dad. 

Life though, as it so often does, had other plans. The morning before the match my poor mum was suddenly hospitalized for pneumonia and I had to spend the day with her in the Emergency Room of the Royal Liverpool Hospital – an incredible place whose staff are the best of my city. As kick-off approached, and I was still there, holding my Mum’s hand, I realized I was not going to make it to Goodison, and had to watch the game from the ER along with the hospital staff.

And after 84 minutes of some of the crappest football I have ever seen – and I've seen some crap football – the moment I'd yearned for all trip occurred as Amadou Onana leaped up to nod the ball home. Not the prettiest goal ever, but to me, the emotional release was as profound as if he had beaten three opponents on a slaloming run before thrashing home from 45-yards. The result, a 1-1 draw which felt like victory. A gift when I needed it most. A reminder that amid life's storms, football, sweet football, can provide calm seas, if only for a moment. And even though we were both in hospital, my dad and I were both at Goodison in spirit. Up the Fucking Toffees. Wishing you strength and love Mum and Dad.

PS. Another truly sad aspect of my inability to savor Goodison: There were 55 American fans at the game who had traveled over from Everton’s North American supporters clubs. Incredible really. The fans who came from as far flung places as Arkansas and Minnesota met with Everton legend Kevin Sheedy, watched the Palace game, took in the Everton women’s victory, then met with Jack Harrison and Vitalii Mykolenko. I met so many on my flight home – had some incredible conversations with them about the memories they made together. To more, with love. 

ii. HOLY CRAP DID I HAVE THE TIME OF MY LIFE IN WREXHAM? I wrote and talked a lot about it this week – so will spare you more vibing. But I am so elated with the way the first video we shot turned out. It is really beautiful. There is a gent in it – Josh – who just steals the whole thing. He is fast becoming the Itchy and Scratchy Show to the Simpsons, and deserves his own spin-off. Genuinely loved him so much. Someone texted me, “We are all Josh.” And that is true. Thanks again. So much – to all at STōK for their support in making all of this joy happen. A fraction of the joy their Cold Brew brings to me on the daily. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

2. To the Football 🍻

i. Carabao Cup Final: Liverpool vs. Chelsea 🏆 (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET, ESPN+) 

The first English trophy of the season is one made of Fool's Gold and Carabao. I was surprised when I was back home, how much the Liverpool fans seemed to care. The fight for tickets and hum of anticipatory excitement ahead of the journey to London did not square up with my empty calories sense of the Carabao. I asked my nephew Jacob who is headed down south today, why he was so buzzed, when Liverpool have already won so much, and he looked at me like I was an idiot: “I’m going to watch us win the first leg of the QUADRUPLE!” I loved that response – one filled with typical Liverpool surging optimism. It might just as easily be the last trophy Klopp lifts with the team. Liverpool had nine senior players missing for Wednesday's 4-1 win against Luton at Anfield and will now limp into Sunday’s final at Wembley against Chelsea. A game which history tells us will end with Liverpool winning on penalties after 120 minutes of goalless football. But Chelsea are feeling it. Three weeks ago, they were humiliated 4-1 at Anfield, and it seemed like the gulf between the squads would make Sspoke to unday a non-competitive event. However, three recent solid-to-impressive Chelsea performances, and we are wondering: Could this be Pochettino's first ever trophy in England – and the first of the Clearlake-Chelsea era? 

More: In-form Raz ready for the Raheem Sterling Memorial Derby.

Even more: For all things Chelsea – from the men to women to youth – make sure to give our friends at London is Blue podcast a listen. You can also listen to their three points ahead of the Carabo Cup Final on today’s Early Kick Off podcast.

ii. Arsenal vs. Newcastle (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, Peacock)

Which Arsenal will show up? The dominant free-scoring machine that has averaged 4.2 goals per game in winning their past five league matches, or the naive unit who fired Champions League blanks midweek, as they were stunned in the 94th minute by the third-best side in Portugal, Porto? After that stunning loss, Mikel Arteta told his players they “lacked purpose… aggression… and threat?” But this is also not the Newcastle who were able to swagger into the Emirates last season and emerge with a nil-nil draw. Newcastle have leaked 19 goals in their last seven top-flight games – and are a staggering 12 points off the Top Four. The good news for them: Alexander Isak – possibly the most Arsenally non-Arsenal attacker, could return from injury. I just spoke to Bukayo Saka this morning and I am happy to report, his confidence is undented (even though he did make a bold claim that the Celtics will win the NBA title this season.)

iii. Bournemouth vs. Manchester City (Saturday, 12.30 a.m. ET, NBC)

City still feel like title favorites – unbeaten in their last 10 games. Yet, recent performances – the draw against Chelsea and two desperately hard-fought wins against Brentford and Everton – have been like watching Viggo Mortensen’s nude bathhouse fight scene in Eastern Promises. Bournemouth have not won in calendar year 2024 and the bad news for rubberneckers, Liverpool and Arsenal fans alike, is they have never beaten City in their 20 previous meetings. 

iv. Manchester United vs. Fulham (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Manchester United play football after a week of massive, massive talk. The Sir Jim Ratcliffe-era begins with the local petro-chemical billionaire-made-good attempting to echo Sir Alex Ferguson by promising to knock Manchester City and Liverpool “off their perch” within three years. A lot of big talk – and a refreshing change for United fans with the Glazers barely saying a word since 2005. 

On the field, Manchester United welcome middling Fulham who have had just one win in their last eight games all-comps. Seven goals in six games-Rasmsus Hoijlund is now out for this match and the next 2-3 weeks. Nobody has scored in six successive top‑flight games at a younger age. His transformation from laughing stock-memelord who did not break his ­Premier League duck until ­Boxing Day, to this potent talk of the town has been humanly mesmerizing to witness. We can all learn so much from his tenacity, even though few could match his clinicality. 

More: Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first interview after taking control of football operations and outlining a three-year plan for United’s Resurrection. 

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

A mate of mine texted me during Everton’s droopy 1-1 draw against Palace last Monday asking, “As a human, how do you practice something all week and then be so bad at it?” We have not scored a goal from open play since December. Poor Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s handsomeness only serves to make him seem sadder as he muddles around in the midst of a 19-game goal drought. We have not won since December 16th, the league’s longest drought. Will that change this week against Brighton? Will I have hair on Monday? I fear Simon Adingra. I fear Evan Ferguson. I fear Danny Wellbeck. I think I have just named all three goalscorers. Yes, we are in the “speaking my worst fears out of existence” stage of the season. 

More: Pascal Gross is the complete tempo-setting footballer.

AND THIS: Entire Premier League broadcast slate HERE. 💪

3. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. Data analysts run the numbers on who should be Liverpool’s next manager. Fascinating.

ii. How German football fans took on the might of investors, and WON! 🇩🇪

iii. How to stop World Cup winners Spain. Or at least try. 🇪🇸

iv. Crystal Palace new manager Oliver Glasner has a massive debut against Burnley. Here's what to know about our new Premier League friend.

4. In Europe: Send a Salami to your boys in the Army 🇮🇹🇳🇱

a. AC Milan vs. Atalanta 🇮🇹

Pulisic and co. booked their place in the Europa League round of 16 yesterday despite losing 3-2 at French side Rennes (5-3 on Aggregate). They face second place in the Czech league, Slavia Praha in the next round. Following last weekend’s shock 4-2 loss to midtable Monza, the Rossoneri will look to build on their Europa League momentum Sunday as they host an Atalanta side who sit one place below them in Serie A, seeking to gain vengeance on the team who beat them in December’s reverse fixture and January’s Coppa Italia quarter final (Sunday, 2.45 p.m ET, Paramount +). A win could see Stefano Pioli’s side close the gap on second placed Juventus. Pulisic is back to his scoring ways but has also talked of fatigue. Let’s pray for a repeat of last week’s banger which sounds twice as great with Italian commentary.

b. PSV at PEC Zwolle 🇳🇱

PSV fans had to be content with a 1-1 draw in their Champions League tie against Dortmund midweek, with Luuk de Jong’s second half penalty (via a foul won somewhat controversially by our gent Malik Tillman) canceling out former PSV player Donyell Malen’s 24th minute strike. Saturday (2 p.m ET, ESPN+) Europe’s most-American side travel to the north east to take on newly (still newly in late February?) promoted side PEC Zwolle, who sit 10th in the Eredivisie, 35 POINTS below PSV. Everton have 20 points total. Just wanted to add that here. 

Hell yea: Dest, Tillman and Pepi: The American trio aiming to become ‘invincible’ at PSV.

5. THIS WEEK AT MEN IN BLAZERS HQ 🍻

A week spent with one foot on either side of the Atlantic and one in which we shot and produced so much content for football lovers of all shapes and sizes. We never take it for granted and we cannot not tell you how much it means to have you, dear GFOP, on this footballing journey with us. 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 We spent the first part of the week in Wrexham, making THIS BRAND NEW EPISODE OF THIS WEEK IN WREXHAM, POWERED BY STŌK COLD BREW. And if you want a behind the scenes look at the making of this episode and our trip to North Wales, listen to THIS POD. Dewrder!

💫 A delirious week of European Football means a double dose of the world’s foremost Gelato expert, who also dabbles in football, The New York Times’ Rory Smith. Tuesday, a deep dive on Xavi’s conscious uncoupling from Barcelona in a new episode of EUROPEAN NIGHTS. LISTEN HERE. And Wednesday, a very special Do it Live! immediately after Porto stunned Arsenal. WATCH HERE. 

💪 It’s Gold Cup Week at The Women’s Game with Sam Mewis and Sam released a quite brilliant breakdown of the USWNT’s 5 - 0 victory over the Dominican Republic on The Women’s Game YouTube WATCH HERE. And do not miss this week’s Podcast with England footballing icon Jill Scott. LISTEN HERE. For weekly updates on everything The Women’s Game straight to your inbox, make sure to subscribe to The Women’s Game newsletter. Everything the women’s game in four minutes.

🇺🇸 A new episode of VAMOS with Herc Gomez and a man who we are convinced changes haircuts just to troll Rog, the New York Red Bulls’ John Tolkin. LISTEN HERE. A reminder that VAMOS is now on our Early Kickoff Pod Feed. SUBSCRIBE HERE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE. 

⭐ Next Week… A special interview with Bukayo Saka. WATCH AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE TO ENSURE YOU GET NOTIFIED WHEN IT GOES LIVE. 

6. Wrexham Don’t Wrexham it Up! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ☕️

Can Wrexham win games without me sullying their stadium? We will find out this week. Three games in seven days see Wrexham take on Gillingham at the weekend (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, iFollow) and Forest Green Tuesday (2.45 p.m. ET, iFollow) after drawing their midweek clash at Milton Keynes. I’m exhausted just typing that out. For this Saturday’s match away to 8th placed Gillingham, Phil Parkinson will be without the talents of Will Boyle, who is suspended following a sending off against Milton Keynes, and midfield duo George Evans and James Jones who are both out due to injury. Three points behind with a game in hand on league leaders Stockport, getting maximum points from these upcoming fixtures could propel the Red Dragons top of League Two. Curse of Rog who??? May the promotion train be back on track baby!

7. MORE OR LESS, PRESENTED BY PRIZEPICKS 🤯

Charlie Kipp writes: As a Fulham fan, not every week is a fun one on the pitch - but off it, I always take joy in watching my PrizePicks selections play out in real time. By selecting a handful of more-or-less picks across a variety of stat categories, you can add an extra layer of interest to your football-viewing routine.

I have buried the lede, this column now sits at 5-0 on PrizePicks selections since its inception. Though as Uncle Ben told Peter Parker “With great power comes great responsibility. When you’re on a PrizePicks heater, don’t F it up.” We’re avoiding the obvious names and digging deep to find the standout pick of the weekend. It’s Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook, MORE than 30.5 passes attempted.

AFC Bournemouth host Manchester City this Saturday at 12.30 p.m. ET on network NBC where Cook, the 27-year-old who is Bournemouth’s longest serving player, with the Cherries since 2016 has experienced both the highs of promotion and the lows of relegation - and lived to tell the tale. You want numbers? In all 15 matches that Cook has been on the pitch for the full 90 minutes this season, Cook has recorded at least 35 passes. “But Charlie, this is Manchester City, Bournemouth won’t have a sniff of possession” - I point you to matches against Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea where Cook surpassed the 30 pass mark in each game. Make like Blue Öyster Cult and ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper City.’ Lewis Cook, MORE than 30.5 passes attempted.

If you haven’t joined PrizePicks, go to prizepicks.com/MIB and use code MiB for a first deposit match up to $100.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING FOR EA FC 24’S WORLD’S BEST XI 🎮

We owe a massive set of thanks to all of you who voted for EA FC 24’s World’s Best XI (both men and women) a few weeks ago. One of the rare times that your voice gets heard in world football.

As a thank you, the GFOPs at EA SPORTS FC have been kind enough to give us 10 (!) download codes of FC 24 to give away to you good people and we are happy to say we have our winners.

Massive thanks and congrats to Matt E., Bret D., Joseph O., Scott E., Steve J., Adam W., Jena B., Zach C., Drew S., and Matthew S. We’ll be in touch with your EA FC 24 codes 💪.

8. Not Football and all the better for it

i. Thought a lot about imposter syndrome lately and so loved this interview with the magical Noah Kahan in which he openly discusses his anxiety and fear of failure.

ii. A Female Stingray That Hasn’t Had a Mate in Eight Years Is Mysteriously Pregnant. Is a Shark the Father? Need Maury to come out of retirement for this. 

iii. THE GREAT PRETENDERS, No mention of the magical Chrissie Hynde, and for once, I am relieved. 

iv. "People have been drawing links between insect and human societies for millennia. But what people see says more about them than about insects." From Aeon: Ant geopolitics. 

v. Loved this short essay from Sarah Moss: Generation Gap.

vi. What is Happening in Tom Sandoval's Brain? Very little, if this piece is to be relied upon. 

vii. ‘Schindler’s List’: An Oral History of a Masterpiece. Cape Fear for Schindler, Billy Wilder's heartbreak, Liam Neeson's chicken wing and Guinness prep! This has everything. 

viii. The surreal life of a professional bridesmaid. Make real friends, save real money!

ix. No, Your Honor, You Can’t Call Yourself ‘High Justice’ on the Ballot in Chinese. Just in case the MiB thing doesn't work out, I want you all to know my Chinese name is 投我一票.

x. The Burgeoning Science of Search and Rescue. "Lost person behavior” could explain many an Everton midfielder...

xi. I loved this book: MY FRIENDS, by Hisham Matar. I adore this writer and his meticulous prose. This is a slow-build but ultimately a potent human story of exile, longing, friendship, time and a longing for home. Highly recommend if any of those themes touch your soul.

xii. I am grateful for this song which helped me through the week: Electric Lizard by Angela Autumn.

That is it for today. I want to leave you with this immense piece of news which I think is just remarkable. This week, the definitive annual poll of Sports Fandom uncovered Lionel Messi is the most popular athlete for sports fans in America. Yes. According to Sports Poll, Lionel Messi is now officially America’s favorite athlete. The poll has tracked America’s favorite athlete, by quarter, for 30 years and Messi is the first footballer to claim the No. 1 spot, inheriting the role from past winners like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James. (Also, fascinating, the way he has separated himself from Ronaldo in American hearts and minds.) A testament to Messi’s transcendence as an athlete and human being. Separating himself from a pack of global superstars to claim the top spot in a country rife with competition. Like The Beatles, Adidas and Pho, Lionel Messi has officially made it in America. And all it took was a couple trips to Publix. I am genuinely blown away by this moment. Yes – haters will point out, with some truth, that MLS has not done enough to leverage this moment and shine more of the spotlight on its league — it is incredible to live at a time when a professional footballer is so beloved in this nation. Soccer, America’s Sport of the Future no more. 

Big Love,

Let’s savor every moment watching football together this weekend and not take a second for granted.

Courage.

ROG