Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers still cracking up after taping our annual John Oliver Boxing Day Holiday special. The show, which comes out Dec. 26th, is always the joy of my year. But this year – after all we have been through – let’s just say, I needed this. It made me realize that football, which Jürgen Klopp famously suggested is, “the world’s most important, least important thing” is in our world now actually more of that. The game is no longer just a diversion, but a place to feel emotion, and despite the fact the elite level is a crass over-commercialized, corrupt reflection of the real world itself, it remains a profoundly critical place to feel a sense of human connection.  

Taping with John Oliver is also always slightly humbling. I spend all day, every day working on and thinking about football. John just saunters onto our show and casually drops the deepest and most side splitting observations. I am genuinely in awe of that. I once asked him how he does it, and he said it is a result of training himself to be an “athletic listener.” I think about that a lot. As I believe it contains a secret to a creative life. More than just being a great guest, it is also how to be a truly great friend, partner, or workplace colleague.  

We have a MASSIVE package of shows to meet the moment of Football’s Frenzy over the Holidays. More to come on this next week. 🤶

We were up at 4 a.m. this morning filming with Trent Alexander-Arnold for a conversation which will come out next Thursday.  Trent was on magical form. He has evolved so much as a human being.  This was the sixth time I have had him on, and he has become ever more relaxed, composed and emotionally articulate. To talk to him about what he loves most in his game, was to listen to a moment of footballing poetry. 

PS. We are now on Bluesky. Please follow me there, and Men In Blazers HERE. 

If you like this newsletter, and it brings you joy and sets you up for all you need to know about the weekend ahead, please share it with your friends and ask them to subscribe here.

This Week at MiB World HQ 💙

• Most relaxing thing I have done this week: This Do It Live! with the quite remarkable John Green. As much as I can right now, I want to spend time with people who leave me feeling energized and better about life. John is that and more. His insights into Cole Palmer were life-affirming –I strongly encourage you to listen to his analysis, which felt like a great sermon. 

By the way: Follow us on Tik Tok.

• This podcast with my friend Rory Smith was a true delight. We went deep on City’s implosion, The Bible of Ange and his Postecogluites, and how to stop Arsenal at corners. 

• On Wednesday, in its traditional eerie, surreal style, FIFA jerry-rigged the vote for the 2030 World Cup, so that the 2034 tournament was left with Saudi Arabia as the sole bidder. There is more on this below. But if you want to understand how football got here, learning no moral lessons from the thousands of workers who died to ready the Qatar tournament – we created an entire series World Corrupt, with my friend Tommy Vietor and Crooked Media, covering both the footballing and geopolitical reasons that have led us to this moment. Listen to the Entire Series here.

To the Football

Manchester City vs. Manchester United (Sunday, 11.30 a.m. ET, USA)

In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bennet asked, “For what do we live but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?” Was he talking about the 195th Manchester Derby? A game that was once an epic rumble between the Premier League’s two most successful clubs, suddenly appearing like a laboratory experiment to test the theory that both teams can’t lose a match at the same time. Manchester City stagger in. A bewildered, bleeding mess. Losers again midweek at Juventus  – their seventh defeat in their last 10 games – done in, stunningly, by two Great Americans, absent of the energy, confidence, and control that propelled them to the last four titles. This will be the odd game in which 13th place Manchester United, who have lost two straight in the league, appear to be the in-form team. 

Ruben Amorim, in his first Derby, will have the confidence of knowing he has already defanged Pep this season, when Sporting clubbed City 4-1 in the Champions League. His United won in the Europa League against Viktoria Plzeň, just, having to come from behind after another Onana malfunction, thanks to two late goals by Rasmus Højlund.

We think of Pep as a tactical genius able to think his way through any problem. But what if he is the problem? At what point do we tip into, “Is he the man to change the mess he has made?” territory?

More: Is Onana a solution or problem for Amorim?

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

I am old enough to remember when Liverpool had a nine point lead. That canter has been cut to four points after a 3-3 Draw at Newcastle and the glorious cancellation of the Merseyside derby last weekend. Trap game?  Marco Silva’s Fulham are so coherent. Unbeaten in three. They have been ferocious, trading punches with Arsenal in last week’s 1-1 draw and thrashing Brighton. Rumblings have connected captain Antonee Robinson to a Liverpool move. After grappling admirably with Saka last weekend, watch him versus Mo Salah. Two gents playing out of their skin.

Chelsea vs. Brentford (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, USA)

Brentford at home are Brazil 1970 winning 22 points out of 24. Brentford on the road are the San Jose Earthquakes 2024 eking out just a single point out of a possible 21. Thomas Frank was asked to explain the difference last week and he just laughed and said, “I have no ideas.” Can playing just six miles away from home make a difference? Free-scoring Chelsea, unbeaten in seven games in the league, makes that an unlikely prospect until you realize – the Bees have won their last three at Stamford Bridge and Maresca – albeit with his B-squad – have just returned from a 7,000 mile round trip from Kazakhstan. Very Nice!

More: Really lovely writing from Miguel Delaney on the unique, rare quality that sets Cole Palmer apart.

Southampton vs. Tottenham (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, Peacock)

Russell Martin vs. Big Ange. The stubborn manager version of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.

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

What a Champions League week for Arsenal. Scoring Big Boy goals in Open Play as well as Corners. Keeping clean sheets too. Wobbling Everton’s arrival must have set piece coach Nicolas Jover salivating like Pavlov’s dog. (Gent now has his own mural outside the Emirates.) Arteta’s side are on a 14-game unbeaten run at home. Welcoming the club who resuscitated his playing career, Arteta will have no mercy, and instead, seek to prove a title run is still attainable as his team remains six points behind Liverpool, having played one game more.

Everton’s single away win this season came at fellow duffers Ipswich back in October – and we have not scored on the road since then. The big news this morning is that new prospective American investors, The Friedkin Group have secured approval from the Premier League to become the new owners of Everton. They now await the Premier League's Independent Oversight Panel to approve but there are said to be no red flags. Magnificent Gamechanger.  

More: Heartening profile of 18-year-old Gooner/Local Wonder Myles Lewis-Skelly.

THIS: Full Premier League Broadcast schedule Here. 📺

Balancing Life On and Off the Pitch: PULISIC presented by Michelob ULTRA

As his stardom reaches new heights, follow USMNT Captain @cmpulisic with unprecedented access to his life on and off the pitch in the new docuseries PULISIC presented by Michelob ULTRA. Now streaming exclusively on Paramount+.

📺 Watch “PULISIC” presented by Michelob ULTRA exclusively on Paramount+.

We Should Not Normalize the Notion of a Saudi World Cup

Wednesday’s decision by FIFA to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia despite warnings from human-rights groups—and global outcry over migrant deaths at Qatar 2022—was surreal in a way which should never be normalized. The vote was conducted by acclamation, or a collective round of applause, on an eerie Zoom call of FIFA’s 211 member countries.

This followed a jerry rigged vote created by FIFA's manufacturing of an unprecedented three-continent, six-country 2030 World Cup to establish the conditions for – surprise, surprise – Saudi Arabia to emerge as the unopposed bidder for 2034. The world's most-watched and most beloved sporting tournament is now just a bauble of, and servant to, geopolitical power.  

The history of the World Cup is intertwined with terrible hosting decisions: Mussolini’s Italy in 1934. Argentina's military Junta in 1978.  Putin’s Russia in 2018!!! And of course the surreal ridiculosity of Qatar and its rented home fans and human rights abuse workers deaths in 2022. When it comes to UEFA and FIFA, no one is watching the watchmen, and we fans just become mesmerized once a whistle is blown and Ronaldo – who will no doubt still be playing –  first kicks the football 

More: Barney Ronay: A vote without a vote: the Saudi World Cup is an act of violence and disdain.

Other Great Games to Watch in Our Football World

Wrexham, Don’t Wrexham it Up! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Paramount +)

A 1-0 win last Saturday against Burton Albion means the title race is well and truly on as we enter the second half of the season. Wrexham are now level with leaders Wycombe after the Buckinghamshire side’s surprise draw with struggling Swindon. Both sides will be looking to pick up points this weekend, as Wrexham host 22nd placed Cambridge United and Wycombe travel to bottom-of-the-table Shrewsbury Town 

More: I loved Sam Mewis interviewing the incredible Gemma Owen, architect of the rise of Wrexham Women’s Team.

AC Milan vs. Genoa (Sunday, 2.45 p.m. ET, Paramount +) 🇮🇹

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alvaro Morata both went off injured within minutes of each other in Milan’s 2-1 Champions League win over Crvena zvezda, joining Christian Pulisic on the Rossoneri’s list of Chelsea-turned-Milan players out of commission. Good news for Manager Paulo Fonesca as he girds up to face 777: another former Blue is back amongst the goals, Tammy Abraham’s 87th minute winner midweek marks his fifth this season.

WSL 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 

Still-perfect Chelsea look to make it 10 wins on the bounce as they head to a Leicester side on a four game losing run (Saturday, 7 a.m. ET, WSL Youtube). Nearing the season’s halfway point, closest challengers Manchester City can’t afford to make a misstep in their game with 10th placed Everton (Sunday, 7.30 a.m. ET, ESPN +/WSL Youtube). 

More: This story is not good: Robert de Pauw leaves Aston Villa amid allegations over remarks to players.

MiB Mad Libs

Our new feature courtesy of GFOP Stephen Mellin who wanted us to have readers write in their best football Mad Libs. As ever, you guys made me crease in a way I needed with your entries.  

GFOP Trevor Unsdeth was last week’s patch winner for the winner of “It's always the Hope that ... ruins the weekend.”

This week’s phrase is:

Former winner Mark Dolce is now suggesting Mad Libs

He wrote: Here's an idea for a Rog phrase completion:

"I don't mean to be hyperbolic, but ______________." 

Email me your entries. Winner gets a coveted MiB Patch.

Best PP Since Power Plays

Charlie Kipp writes: The holidays are nearly upon us, which means football, football, football. If you’re going to watch, help that time pay you back with a quick and easy PrizePicks entry. By selecting as few as two correct statistical category picks, you can turn your watching into winning! This week, we look at a Scandinavian striker looking to make an impact in the Manchester Derby, you guessed it: Rasmus Højlund MORE in the shots department. 

There comes a point when blips become trends, and eventually, trends become reality. Let’s be perfectly blunt: Manchester City’s poor form is no longer a blip, and is bordering on becoming reality. Mix that with a Ruben Amorim-led United team looking for its first signature win under the new boss and you have a derby that is as compelling as it’s been for over a decade. Central to this tilt is 21-year-old Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, fresh off a brace in the Europa League (a feat his ‘big brother’ Haaland hasn’t accomplished in the PL since September) and ready to inject his influence. Will he score? Remains to be seen, but I do suspect he will try to get involved and with that, be sure to grab the MORE for Rasmus Hojlund SHOTS this Sunday.

If you haven’t joined PrizePicks, CLICK HERE and play $5 and get $50 instantly when you use code MiB.

Not Football, and All the Better for It

• I found this very moving: 88-year-old Man passes grade eight piano with distinction, 67 years after taking grade seven.

• Ready, set, relax: in Asian countries, thousands of burnt-out adults now gather for competitions to do as little as possible. Taking the day off to research this. 

• The theft of a portrait of Winston Churchill. This never happens to those Magic Eye posters. 

• Rolling Stone has dropped their 2024 meme/internet culture moments of the year list. The Glasgow Wonka experience was THIS YEAR????

• How I Aged Into the Bad Christmas Movie (aka How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Late Period Lindsay Lohan). 

• Forward this to your cats: World in a Box.

• Wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy: I Went to the Premiere of the First Commercially Streaming AI-Generated Movies.

• No one has to settle for bad pizza anymore. SAY IT LOUDER, FOR PAPA JOHN IN THE BACK. 

• Chart lovers rejoice! Is the love song really dying? 

• The US workforce can be divided into "sitters" and "standers." I'll take any chance to spread the gospel of TJ Mack. 

• It's the last Friday 13th of 2024: Here's what to know about this 'unlucky' day. If you're in line for a flash tattoo, STAY IN LINE

• This Song Made My Week: Autumn by Jesse Wells. And the video is oddly mesmerizing. 
  

• I am reading this book and it is woozy and magical and gets better and stronger and more haunting the more you read. Stay with it people: The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami. By the way, I love that Andoni Iraola is a massive Murakami fan.

Dear Rog... GFOPs Write ✍️

Alayna Buckner writes: “At the beginning of the season, the only thing I truly, desperately wanted was to not have Man City win the title again. 

I’m a Liverpool fan, but when my friend asked me who I wanted to win this year, I literally said “Dear God, anyone but Man City.” 

But after the past 10 games, where Man City truly looks mediocre and lost and aged, I have become confused!!! I’m experiencing strange emotions like being SAD for them and for Pep. As I was watching them lose in the Champions League AGAIN, I found myself hoping they would score. Just to see that machine working again! To prove that they could actually still score!! But they didn’t.  

Just a few months in, I now find myself saying “Not like this Man City… not like this.” I wanted them to be mortal and beatable. I didn’t want them quite so…flawed…so incapable. It’s hard to watch. 

Alayna.”

Rog writes: Alayna. You are a better person than me. I will be honest though, I do relate a little bit. When Everton score on someone – like they did twice against Bournemouth – there are moments I feel unbearably sad for our opponents. That they are that bad, to let Everton score on them. And I feel for their players and how much shame they must be experiencing. Then they go and score three times, and that sadness burns off quickly. So my advice would be, give it time, then come back to me. 

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

ROG’S HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE IS HERE 🎁

The holiday season is upon us — a time of joy, wonder, and huddling around the television to watch hungover footballers grind out 0-0 draws in the snow. With the wonderful folks at WorldSoccerShop, all of the Men in Blazers gear you’ve been eyeing – and almost everything on WorldSoccerShop – is on sale. ⚽ SHOP NOW.

🚨 Use code SLEIGH at checkout to get 25% off your whole order 🚨

🎁 Need some ideas? We’ve got you covered with Holiday Gift Guides from Rog, Sam Mewis, and Herc.

Make this holiday a belter. Treat yourself, treat others, make memories through football, and above all else...

Courage. 💙