🚨 Sam Mewis Joining MiB Full Time as Editor-in-Chief of The Women’s Game 🚨

Hail GFOP!

I type with super giddy fingers. Today is a massive day for all of us at the MiB Media Network: 

🚨SAM MEWIS IS JOINING US FULL-TIME 🚨

Yes. World Cup Winner Samantha June Mewis is joining Men in Blazers as our first ever editor-in-chief of The Women’s Game. Lynn Willliams is the first of a number of new voices she is bringing on to build out our full, flourishing network that will cover every aspect of the global Women’s Game. You can read more about it all in this Wall Street Journal piece by Rachel Bachmann.

I will be honest. This is a bittersweet day for all of us who love the game of football in the United States. Sam is retiring from an elite professional career in which she has won everywhere she has gone, from college, to club and national team – both in, and for, the United States - and then over at Manchester City in England. As someone that has gotten to know Sam well over the past two years, it has been so hard to watch her grapple with a knee injury and put herself through so much pain, trying to return to the game she loves, while facing up to the reality that it would not be possible, and the sense of loss that comes with that.   

However, the old Wolverhampton Wanderers football adage is true: “Out of Darkness, Cometh Light.” So, in this moment of profound personal transformation for Sam, I am beyond overjoyed to have her join us full-time. Sam was my broadcast partner for a rollicking month during the 2023 World Cup and I was blown away by her natural ability to flick between telling indelible stories of her own career, drop a riveting moment of tactical analysis, before pivoting into a tribute to her love of Hugh Jackman in “The Greatest Showman,” or the bar pizza at that South Shore iconic spot, Poopsies. More than anything, I would emerge from five long hours of broadcasting by her side and feel better about my own life simply by listening to her talk – which, at the end of the day, is what I have always wanted the MiB Network to be at its core: Love, meaning, passion, empathy and joy. All of which Sam embodies, and then some.   

The moment the World Cup finished, it felt only right that I charge up to Pembroke, Mass., meet Sam at Poopsies, and celebrate over beers and bar pies. It was there that Sam confided her reality to me and as we talked about what could come next, she articulated a magical vision – of building a global network of voices from around the world, covering the Women’s game from wherever it is growing and flourishing. Before the bill had come, we had agreed that is exactly what we would do here with the Women’s Game: We’ll be talking about soccer in the US, covering the USWNT and NWSL, but also in Europe, where Spain and England are leading its incredible growth… across Australia, South America, Africa, you name it - our goal is to share these human footballing stories with you. 

We lay out all of this in Sam’s first episode with us which you can listen to here. There is laughter. There are a lot of tears. 😂😢 Sam talks candidly about the shattering past four years of hope, dashed hope, and rehab.  The loss of identity and fraught agony over the decision to retire from the game she loves. What she will miss and can never replace. And the reality that it all gets worse now – because she has to work with me every day. 😉 (And YES! This is Sam’s first ever office job, which brings its own surreal hilarities.) 

In the coming weeks, Sam will start by talking to guests like Lindsey Horan, Lucy Bronze, Mal Swanson, Crystal Dunn, Jill Scott… and of course Lynn Williams, her best friend, who is just the first person of a number we are bringing in to help build this network. Let us know whom you would like Sam to interview next by emailing us here.

You can follow all the updates on The Women’s Game on the new social handles on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. This new step forward, like everything we do here at MiB, is based on community and word of mouth and we are immensely grateful to you for helping grow it. It is such an honor to do what we do at MiB and to have Sam on board. Please, share this new step forward with anyone you think would enjoy our new The Women’s Game platform.

I could not be more exhilarated about all that is to come.  The only thing I know for sure is that Sam will soon be all of our bosses.

2. To the Football

Another week of the “winter-break.” The half-and-half scarf of football which teaches us the best thing to watch after lots of football, is some football:

i. Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace (Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET, USA)

While warm weather training in Dubai this week, Mikel Arteta attempted to get Arsenal’s season nadir out of the way by eating over salted steak straight from the Salt Bae knife. (Expect a Premier League announcement about the points deduction this taste-crime warrants under FFP rules imminently.). Fourth place Arsenal will hope this steak infraction will act as misdirection from a dark impotent spell which has gleaned just one win in their last five Premier League matches. Cue this North London-South London argie-bargie against a feeble Palace who were just clipped by a lackluster Everton in the FA Cup midweek and have their own barren – just one win in their past 11 all comps. Arsenal fans, how low can you go?  Your team has not lost three straight home matches in all comps without scoring since November-December 1908.  

ii. Brentford vs. “Matty Turner also featuring Nottingham Forest” (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, NBC Proper)

Forest’s first game since joining Everton on the Premier League naughty step. Brentford have lost five straight Premier League games but can finally recall Ivan Toney – who will start and be captain – after his eight-month ban for 262 breaches of gambling rules. Toney has scored 32 goals in 64 Premier League games for Brentford but has not played a competitive match since May 6, 2023. The striker celebrated his return with a social media post declaring he was "free," then quickly changed his tune from declaring he had, “a lot to repay Brentford for and I can't wait to try and do that," to, “Whether it’s this January that is the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows?”

iii. Sheffield United vs. West Ham (Sunday, 9.00 a.m. ET, USA)

The Blades have only two problems: They can’t defend and they cannot score. West Ham, shocked in midweek FA Cup action by Championship Bristol City will attempt to rebound despite the absences of Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, and Michael Antonio to injury and that mischievous spark, Mohammed Kudus and Nayef Aguerd to AFCON. 

iv. Bournemouth vs. Liverpool (Sunday, 11.30 a.m. ET, USA)

League-leading Liverpool attempt to continue to thrill alliteration aficionados and cling onto their hopes of a Quadruple. They are unbeaten in 13. Bournemouth had their own long unbeaten run (seven games) ended at Tottenham on New Year’s Eve but will want to see hot-hand striker Dominic Solanke NOT celebrate many goals against his former team.

More: Liverpool Nation holds breath over extent of Mo Salah’s hamstring injury on AFCON duty.

v. Brighton vs. Wolves (Monday, 2.45 p.m. ET, USA)

The Seagulls will be boxfresh having not played since Jan. 6.  Wolves plans of a winter break were scuppered by an FA Cup replay, leaving manager/miracle worker Gary O’Neil to worry about his “very small, tired group” of players who cannot be reinforced this window because of FFP concerns. They have lost four straight against Brighton and will be without Asian Cup star Hee-Chan Hwang.

vi. A word on Everton… 💙🚑

At this point, Everton are less a serious football club, and more a hidden camera–practical joke reality television series in which I expect Ashton Kutcher to leap out in front of the Gwladys Street End at any moment and tell us we’re just being Punk’d by the Premier League. Are we watching football or are we trapped in a court procedural meets ponzi scheme meets forensic accounting meltdown? Even the lovely moments like Andre Gomes’ magnificent free-kick which won the FA Cup 3rd round replay midweek are immediately tarnished by realizing it is the club’s first in 1,848 days – over five years of watching one player after another smash set-pieces straight into the wall or high over the bar.  

I spoke at length with as much thought as I could muster about my reaction to this second FFP charge on Wednesday night on YouTube live. You can hear it here. 😭

PS: Massive 1st v 2nd clash in Championship on Monday: Leicester City vs the incredible Ipswich Town (3 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 🦊🚜

3. THIS WEEK AT MEN IN BLAZERS WORLD HEADQUARTERS 🍻☕️

So much flying around MiB World HQ, it’s hard to tell if up is down, left is right, or Everton are good at football. Maybe not that hard.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 A piece we’re particularly proud of: The latest episode of This Week in Wrexham, Powered by STöK Cold Brew Coffee. IN THIS EPISODE, our Wrexham correspondent Tomi “Cheese” Lewis explores the resilience of the Welsh people, and his pride in his country’s native language. Also, how Wrexham’s rise reflects that sense of belonging. A really beautiful story that proves the theory football is best when it’s about more than football. 

🐉 Talking of Wrexham, we also dropped an all-time episode of our Pod series with that magnificent club - also presented by the GFOPs at STöK Cold Brew - featuring none other than the singular Ollie Palmer. LISTEN HERE. An interview so contentious about Wrexham’s inner-squad table tennis rankings that an argument between Palmer and Ben Tozer broke out in our IG Comments Section. 

💰 Midweek, we hosted a very special Do it Live! On YouTube Live in which Rog went deep on the Financial Fair Play charges against Everton and Nottingham Forest. To understand exactly what this means for the clubs, give it a LISTEN HERE. Programming Note: This Wednesday we go LIVE with FABRIZIOOOOOOOOOO at 5 p.m. ET on our YouTube for all your transfer questions. Subscribe now and join us here.

🚨 IMPORTANT VAMOS NEWS. Massive news for those of you who listen to VAMOS with the mighty Herc Gomez, Presented by Bud Light. VAMOS is moving to a new Podcast feed. That is right, this show will now be available exclusively on "The Men In Blazers Early Kickoff" Podcast feed, alongside Sammy James and the EKO crew. Sprinkling some CONCACAF on there. IF YOU LOVE VAMOS, make sure to subscribe to the Men in Blazers Early Kickoff feed, RIGHT HERE. This is where you will get new episodes of the show going forward. VAMOS!

😜 A deep dive on Pep’s one-man show at the Final Whistle of City’s victory over Newcastle. WATCH HERE as Rog breaks down every KDB hug and bizarre Iberian finger waggle. Also Paul Pogba aficionados… here is his cautionary tale deeply told.

4. Our Cups Runneth Over: The Magic of the AFCON and Asian Cup

We crash into the second weekend of AFCON and Asian Cup after both competitions delivered a week of bangers only including: an upset by 115th ranked Namibia, the debut of the Asian Cup’s first female referee, and a sweet sweet moment between Nigerian star Victor Osimhen and traveling Napoli Fans. Keep an eye out on India’s veteran captain Sunil Chhetr in his ~somewhat unlikely~ quest to reach 100 international goals. Currently on 93 goals, the 39-year-old striker trails only Messi (108) and Ronaldo (128) amongst active players. 

More: Ghana and Nigeria, two of the region’s biggest names, are struggling with the weight of history. 🇬🇭🇳🇬

5. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. The transfer window is CRICKETS. Why only 10% of the monies spent last January at this point, have been spent this time round… 

ii. How Jordan Henderson’s sad return to Ajax from Saudi Arabia damages both his own legacy, and the reputation of the league project.

iii. Trying to calculate how many people really watch MLS on Apple by Jonathan Tannenwald.

iv. A background on Financial Fair Play and why it was created in the first place. 

v. FIFA yet to release report on human rights impact of Qatar World Cup. Why? Because FIFA.

vi. LIONEL MESSI WORLD CUP DOC coming… trailer here.

6. Our American Boys in Europe 🇺🇸

i. Puli... Sic... Sic... Come on Baby! 🇮🇹

Freshly-minted US Men’s Player of The Year (Antonee Robinson not even nominated tho?) Christian Pulisic and his AC Milan boys make the 230+ mile journey north east to take on Udinese (Saturday, 2.45 p.m. ET Paramount +.)  Milan, unbeaten in their last five, remain 3rd in Serie A, nine points off of Inter at the top. Opponents Udinese have won just one game in their last five. Italian paper La Gazzetta dello Sport reports Milan’s staff have ‘cautious optimism’ that Olivier Giroud will make the trip to Udine after being out of training this week with sickness. Giroud’s absence comes the same week research group CIES Football Observatory published data showing AC Milan has used more players this season (32!) than any other team in Europe. 

ii. What PSV are doing is Astonishing and NOT normal 🇳🇱

The unstoppable PSV roll into Utrecht looking to make it 18 wins in a row (Sunday 6.15 a.m. EST ESPN+). Thirteenth placed Utrecht, the side Erik ten Hag played for and managed as recently as 2017, will hope they can widen the four point gap between themselves and the relegation playoff spot. This week USMNT star and Barcelona loanee Sergino Dest spoke to Dutch paper Voetbol International about his future at PSV, telling the paper he won’t return to his parent club as long as manager Xavi is still at the helm. 

🗣️Programming Alert: We have PSV’s Chucky Lozano joining us. Let us know what questions you have for that human wonder 🇲🇽

For a weekly roundup on all of our American men and women abroad, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR AMERICAN STATES UNITED NEWSLETTER, which flies every Wednesday. 

7. This Week in Wrexham 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Wrexham’s away travels stay domestic this weekend as the team heads South to fellow Welsh football aspirants Newport County (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET iFollow), the Exiles fresh off of securing a hugely lucrative tie with Manchester United in the 4th round of the FA Cup. Manager Phil Parkinson told reporters yesterday he hopes his side can exploit any possible dip in form after all the excitement of Newport’s midweek victory while Wrexham are up to 2nd in the league following last week’s win against AFC Wimbledon. These two Welsh wonders met less than a month ago, with Wrexham taking all three points in December’s 2-0 win at the STōK Cae Ras. 

More: To get a sense of Newport, re-live this truly incredible video.

Again: I loved speaking to Wrexham’s shirt-optional striker Ollie Palmer. Lower league players just speak more honestly about life.

8. Not Football and All the Better for it

i. I loved this movie: All of Us Strangers. If you have lost a loved one without having the opportunity to say goodbye. This is the film for you… to sob through.

ii. Taylor Swift’s old apartment to Nirvana’s bathtub: the photo project following in musicians’ footsteps. “Sometimes it’s just a case of going on Google Maps and losing my mind.”

iii. Brilliant from Emily Gogolak: Lost Highway: The Trials Of Trucking School.

iv. How former punks The Go-Gos became the first all-female band to score a No. 1 record. I loved this band so much but will save many of you the inevitable google search: The Go-Go's - We Got The Beat (SNL).

v. Please Don’t Make Me Use Another QR Code Restaurant Menu. I'll be running on this platform in the next NYC mayoral race. And I will win!

vi. Texas Monthly never misses: The Juror Who Found Herself Guilty. 

vii. The Anxious Precision of Jacqueline Novak’s Comedy. I did some of my best Craiglist work getting tickets to "Get On Your Knees" a few years back. You can save yourself the threat of being murdered/ripped off by streaming her GENIUS work on Netflix.

viii. The harrowing murder mystery of a 9-year-old's pet goat. Cedar is dead/Long live Cedar! 

ix. Absolutely delightful: this Maryland pay phone is free but it just plays bird songs. Makes me want to build a VCR that sounds like a rushing stream. 

x. 7 weeks with the Yakuza in Tokyo.  Don’t let the article title fool you. I know it sounds like an off-the-beaten-path internship program but is actually, a riveting read.

xi. Best thing I read this week: Why every coffee shop looks the same. The Nike template of interior design. 

xii. I love this song so much: K Hi by Raave Tapes 

That is it for today. Please, please remember to spread the word about all of the new Sam Mewis Women’s Game work. She is about to build something immense. It is such an incredible moment to have her join us – add your support on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. And drop Sam a line at [email protected]. She would love to hear from you. To more. Together. Propelled by our mutual love of football. 

Big Love
Courage.
ROG