Premier League All-Star Game?!

Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers still buzzing after heading down to the National Archives in DC this week, and addressing a class of newly-minted Americans sworn in front of the actual Constitution. The ceremony was in celebration of that document’s 235th anniversary on Constitution Day this Saturday, and I found it incredibly moving, watching 25 people from 21 nations have their lives transformed by becoming Americans together. I am not going to lie. I sobbed through my remarks. Partially because of the memories of my own citizenship process which it unleashed. But also because I was overwhelmed by the symbolic power – of being blessed to stand there in the Rotunda, with the Constitution behind me, and tell the group that the iconic phrase, “We the people” now includes them as part of that “We.”

I was also touched to discover just how many diehard football fans there are amongst the staff at the National Archives. I met Spurs fans, Arsenal supporters, United devotees. What a place it is. And the archivists are true American heroes. By dedicating their lives to preserving the records that underpin our nation, they ensure that the American stories we tell ourselves about ourselves are ones grounded in primary sources. Without them, we would have no shared truths. To experience a Naturalization Ceremony at the National Archives – that powerful process in which collective dreams were made real before my eyes – was so unbelievably profound. I truly believe every American should attend at least one a year. They are all that is good about our nation.

PS. We will release a version of this event on our social channels Saturday.

One more thing that made me proud this week: the sheer number of American fans who headed to Premier League games for a football holiday. I felt your agony when the entire English slate of games was canceled as the nation mourned Queen Elizabeth II. In an effort to lift your spirits, we offered to buy a few of those GFOPs a beer... or six... or 36... telling 10 GFOPs who Tweeted a photo at us we'd send some Bud their way to assuage the Premier League pain. This week, we saw some of those deliveries arrive. And how did we make said deliveries? With the help of Drizly. While we can't send all of you free beer, we can provide you with this deal: order Budweiser via Drizly and get $5 off your first order when you use the code: BUDXMIB Courtesy of Drizly. New Drizly users only. Must be 21+. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Per applicable law, value may be applied towards order total or shipping or delivery fees. Includes orders of non-alcoholic items. Void where prohibited. Expires on 12/31/22 at 11:59 EDT.

2. How will the Premier League schedule be impacted by the Queen’s Funeral? 👑🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The Premier League returns from its moment of self-inflicted class warfare with a partial schedule and a raft of ritual tributes to the Queen before kick-off: the national anthem will be played before kick-off, there will be a moment of applause at the 70th minute (marking the number of years of her reign), and managers are encouraged to wear suits.

There are some games off. The task of policing Monday’s Royal Funeral is so enormous, police from all over the country have been dispatched to the capital, leaving behind numbers too thin to adequately police the biggest matches of the weekend:

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Manchester United vs. Leeds

(Brighton vs. Crystal Palace had already been canceled for unrelated reasons due to strikes)

More: Miguel Delaney on how football’s decision to cancel last week was about its fear of dissent.

OUR BOOK: Please keep the Pre-Orders coming. Thanks to your love and support we are set to launch quite strongly. Bringing a book out in 2022 is a crazy work of passion. Grab your copy now, dear reader, and get all kinds of goodies with our love in return (A Patch! Limited Edition Poster! An invite to join us at our launch Celebration on Oct. 11!). GRAB YOURS HERE.

3. To the Football: “First of all… We Got to Talk about Todd…” 🇺🇸🤦‍♂️

Todd Boehly has had himself a week. The American has owned Chelsea for just over 100 days and is making headlines for blundering his way through a “brainstorm sesh” at the SALT Conference, in which he talked about English football as if he knew it all and could immediately solve all its problems while undermining himself with blunders and malaprops such as rattling off some of the biggest names to emerge from Chelsea’s youth academy. Yes, he really did name drop De Bruyne and Mo Salah, it was no fever dream. This was a Kendall Roy-caliber performance. Boehly was a man who came across as a leader with an enormous blindspot. A rich man surrounded by so many “yes-flunkies,” he remains blithely unaware that he does not know what he does not know. There is an enormous cultural difference between American sports ownership and European football stewardship. Make no mistake. This was the most disastrous early first impression an American Premier League investor has made since Tom Hicks rolled up at Anfield and in his first press conference blathered on shallowly about his love of “The Liverpool Reds.”

Boehly’s tone deaf comments about establishing an All-Star game to fund the English grassroots pyramid created a firestorm. (“Just wait till I tell these English chaps about my idea for a Premier League Dunk Contest…”) There are so many things wrong with the idea, I do not know where to begin: The talk of football as a “product” and his skill as an owner in managing “human capital.” The lack of understanding of the intensity of hatreds between north and south, and amongst major clubs in both regions. Failure to appreciate his players’ major issue: the oversaturation of the football calendar. And the big picture truth, that when you join a new world, you need to sit and listen for a moment to gain an appreciation of its culture and ecosystem, as opposed to charging in and attempting to open your mouth, whilst simultaneously inserting your own hammy fist in it.

Many Men In Blazers listeners have written to me with thoughtful emails wondering if the reaction would have been so intense out of a non-American mouth. I actually believe the fact it was American did make it worse, but not for the reason many of us are thinking. The English fanbase is still reeling from the trauma and destruction of the brazen Super League debacle. An idea which may have originated in Spain and Italy, but was given the fuel by American Premier League sports investors’ desperate need to keep oligarchs and nation state-money in check. Boehly would do well to be aware of that, and have at least a one year moratorium on beginning any sentence, “I think we can take a lesson from American sports…”

More: Todd Boehly is intent on building a multi-club system, similar to Manchester City, Red Bird and others.

ii. Nottingham Forest vs. Fulham (Today, 3 p.m. ET, P’Cock)

Forest attempt to shrug off three consecutive defeats and the trauma of their last implosion, where they ceded a two-goal lead to Bournemouth. Manager Steve Cooper, a man who is always bringing sexy back, will face ongoing scrutiny about his connection to the Brighton job.

iii. Wolves vs. Manchester City (Saturday, 7.30 AM ET, USA)

Diego Costa’s return to the Premier League, aged almost 34, was announced in a spectacular video which, for the first 10 seconds, made it seem like Wolves had signed Hannibal Lecter, but then proceeded to reveal they had actually acquired someone much, much scarier. Diego will need a few weeks to gain match fitness, but it would be no surprise if Bruno Lage flung him on for a team that have been all too blunt. Manchester City will fling Erling Haaland at that Old Gold backline, like a dead horse carcass flung from a trebuchet during a siege.

iv. Newcastle vs. Bournemouth (Saturday, 10 AM ET, USA)

Eddie Howe faces up to the nerdy crew he used to hang out with before his LIV-Golf-esque heel turn, seeking the Toon’s second win of the season. For Bournemouth, the biggest news is off the field. An American consortium from Las Vegas is weighing up a $171M offer for the club which would make it the 11th with U.S. owners in the Premier League. Bournemouth Golden Knights.

v. Tottenham vs. Leicester (Saturday 12.30 PM ET, NBC Proper)

Third-place Spurs reminded Europe’s elite of their old ways last Tuesday, leaking twice after the 90th minute at Lisbon in Champions League action. How they respond to Conte unleashing the blowtorch in the wake will be illuminating as they welcome a down-in-his-cups Brodge who has a meager one point after six games.

vi. Brentford vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 7 AM ET, USA)

Mikel Arteta returns to the Brentford Community Stadium, scene of his All or Nothing opening scenes humiliation. As any viewers of that show will know well, Arsenal last season had a trope of following defeat with a spiral of dropped points. Can they rebound after the chastening 3-1 loss to Manchester United and reinforce their place at the top of the table? The Champions of September Trophy is up for grabs. A double awaits!

More: Bees marksman Ivan Toney has been handed his first international call-up by England at the age of 26. An incredible moment in a winding journey for Toney, who is the best striker outside of the Big Six.

vii. Everton vs. West Ham (Sunday, 9.15 AM ET, USA)

There are no winners in the David Moyes Memorial Derby.

4. USMNT: Fly Baby Eagles Fly! 🇺🇸🦅

Gregg Berhalter picked his last squad before the one that will head to World Cup 2022. A number of surprises. A return for the flailing Ricardo Pepi. No place for hot-as-crap goal machine Pefok. I would like to believe that Pepi, who has not scored a single goal since last October, deserves one last chance. He bailed Berhalter out when he needed him. He warrants an unwarranted final opportunity to prove himself. Similarly, Pefok’s exclusion does not mean he will not head to the World Cup. I have talked a lot about how Gregg’s achilles heel is his obsession with his system – a club football approach which does not work at international level, where a team is better constructed by building a system around your best players rather than vice versa. Put it this way: if the Baby Eagles need a goal with 10 minutes to play, whom would you throw on from a US bench?

For more on the USMNT roster drop, our boys’ recent study abroad form, and how that form may have affected the Bounce Pass King of New Jersey’s selection, read our very first edition of American States United, a weekly content offering that we're still developing, but hope to bring you every week in the lead up to the World Cup. Please send suggestions on how we can improve our coverage of the Baby Eagles plying their trade overseas to [email protected].

ii. NEW FEATURE: PAUL CARR BLOWS YOUR MIND!!!

You know how much I love Paul Carr. The soccer researcher who worked with us at ESPN and is now TruMedia’s Senior Director of Content. As well as being my friend, and one of the loveliest humans in football, Paul is a genius, and will now grace MiB with his statistical thoughts ahead of every match week. Are you ready to have your Mind Blown? The second statistic is amazeballs.

🤯 Nine Americans played in UEFA Champions League this week, setting a single-matchday record. If John Brooks and Owen Otasowie get in a UCL game this season, that will break the single-season record of 10 Americans, set last season.

🤯 Through the first two match days of the Champions League season, Americans have played 17 games, most by any country outside of Europe and South America.

🤯 If he plays on Friday, Tim Ream will appear in his 53rd Premier League game, passing the great Joe-Max Moore for 16th-most by a U.S. international.

5. Men in Blazers. The faucet that drips like a fire hose.

i. On Monday's Men in Blazers Podcast, Rog and Davo on Queen Elizabeth II's passing, the repercussions of a canceled Premier League weekend, and what they think the reaction in the Pulisic household was to news of Chelsea's managerial change.

ii. Tuesday, it was episode three of European Nights, Presented by Paramount+. And this season is off to a flying start. This week, Rog and New York Times Chief Soccer Correspondent Rory Smith broke down how Barcelona pulled off their miraculous heist of a summer. Plus, a deep dive on SSC Napoli, the city and club's unique place in Italy (and a lot of pizza talk).

We know European Nights are taking a break next week, but don't deprive yourself of continental football. Serie A is back on Paramount+ this weekend with some matches tastier than grandma's Pasta e fagioli. This Sunday, Sept. 18, features seismic clashes at the top of Serie A, starting with Udinese vs. Inter at 6:30 a.m. ET. And at 12 p.m. ET, Roma and Jose Mourinho's trophy tattoos (or is it trophies tattoo?) look to continue their resurgence as they face an Atalanta team off to a fast start. Up the Bergamo Boys. And finally, two teams tied on points at the top of the table - the aforementioned Napoli and AC Milan - battle it out at 2:45 p.m. ET. Try Paramount+ free HERE. 

iii. Wednesday, we prayed at the church of Heat Map Jesus. That is correct. Tyler Adams: Road to the Cup Episode Five, Powered by Volkswagen. In this episode, Tyler joins Rog live from the Leeds training facility to recount his team’s delirious 3 - 0 win over Chelsea Football Club, discuss Brenden Aaronson's new "American Boy" song from the Elland Road faithful, and reveal why he won't disclose his favorite NY pizza spot. A video version of the interview is available on our YouTube Channel. Smash that subscribe, America. We are dropping so much content on our YouTube these days. Not to be missed.

iv. Thursday, as we speed toward the business end of the NWSL season, we sat down with elite footballer-medical doctor-podcaster-activist, the ultimate multi-hyphenate, Nadia Nadim, for the latest episode of The Women's Game, Presented by Paramount+. And this week's episode comes on the precipice of what promises to be one of the games of the season: 10 p.m. ET Saturday. San Diego Wave vs. Angel City FC. At a sold out Snapdragon stadium in glorious San Diego. More than 30,000 tickets have been sold for this match. Roll on Saturday night. And if you aren't one of those lucky enough to be in San Diego, there is only one way to watch the game. You guessed it: Paramount+. Try Paramount+ free HERE.

v. Great news for those of you watching that one. You can wake up with even more elite football. After seeing its opening weekend called off last week due to the Queen’s passing, The Barclays Women's Super League kicks off in Albion this weekend. And it has a new home here in the United States: Paramount+. It begins Sunday, Sept. 18 with Aston Villa vs. Manchester City at 7:30 a.m. ET, followed by Liverpool vs. defending champion Chelsea (SAM KERR TIME!) at 12 p.m. ET. Did we mention you can try Try Paramount+ free HERE. 

6. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. Women’s Super League kicks off in England, post-Three Lionesses Summer. The only Super League football wants and needs. Can anyone knock Emma Hayes’ Mighty Chelsea off their perch?

ii. Premier League is “set to introduce semi-automated offsides in place of manually-drawn VAR lines” following successful Champions League trial, with decisions to be made “within the time of natural stoppages.”

iii. Qatar’s stadia are failing their tests in early openings. Brace yourselves. This World Cup could be nasty.

iv. Norwich USA?

v. Jesse Marsch One-Game Ban. Haters.

7. Not Football, and All the Better for It

i. Just a couple of bros trying to draw a circle. None of them would be allowed to play for Pep.

ii. Is it bourgeois to like ‘good food?’ I went looking for answers. Crazy premise to even try to float in a post-Bourdain world.

iii. The Best Coffee Grinders Are Your Ticket to a Better Cup. Buuut it is bourgeois to like good coffee can't deny that… PS I own a Baratza Encore.

iv, He proposed between innings and she said "wtf are you doing?", a breakdown. This belongs to that really specific category of moments when life imitates b-side Taylor Swift songs aka the most cosmologically important category of moment.

vi. The Raccoons of Central Park Move in Packs and Go Fast. On Bikes. God I wish this had been about real racoons.

vii. The Painful Mediocrity of White Boy Rap. Producer Miranda writes: “When I was in 11th grade at my very white private school we organized a rap battle between our only competent rapper and the only competent rapper from the rival private school and I'm sorry to have to report that nothing in my life has ever come close to matching that adrenaline rush.”

viii. ‘A new way of life’: the Marxist, post-capitalist, green manifesto captivating Japan. "The message is simple: capitalism’s demand for unlimited profits is destroying the planet and only degrowth can repair the damage by slowing down production and sharing wealth."

ix. Whatever happened to the It Girl? Pretty sure Alexa Chung is alive and well and living in London. Don't @ me.

x. ‘Home is like a magnet’: a small corner of north Wales … in New York – in pictures. On the first episode of the Wrexham doc series Rob McElhenney was like "Wrexham is really similar to Philly" and everyone was like bro get yourself to Remsen, N.Y. and reevaluate.

xi. Jean-Luc Godard Was Cinema’s North Star. Catch me rioting in the streets that Ligue 1 didn't follow the Premier League's lead and cancel the weekend's games in honor of their fallen king

xii. Roger Federer Came Along When Tennis Desperately Needed Him. Genuinely feels like the end of an epoch. Did not intend to cry when I read this but here we are anyway. Matt Futterman is the greatest.

xiii. I Love This Song: Expert in a Dying Field by the Beths

xiv. A BOOK! Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks by Chris Herring. I have rarely despised a team more than those Knicks who battled my Jordan-less Bulls upon my arrival in Chicago. Herring is such a good writer and his recreation of that time and place is masterful. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Grab yours here.

8. Next Week at MIB!

i. Tuesday, we drop Episode 3 of American States United, Presented by ESPN+ with special guest, that USMNT midfield metronome, Luca de la Torre. And what an interview this is. Luca talks leaving San Diego at 15 for Fulham's hard knock academy (for real), how he honed his ability as a quiet on-ball technician, and where he sees himself playing a role at this World Cup.

ii. Also next week, as we approach Friday's friendly, we are DOING IT LIVE! Not once, but twice. Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET, we're back on Amp with special guest Hercules Gomez, former USMNT hero and host of "Futbol Americas" (streaming exclusively on ESPN+, brand new episodes every Monday and Thursday). And Friday, immediately after the Final Whistle, Rog and Davo will chop it up about the Baby Eagles performance. If you're not on Amp, do you even Berhalter? It is a live radio app that allows you to listen to us Pod live and, more than that, ask your questions live on the Pod. DOWNLOAD AMP HERE. All you have to do is download the app, follow Men in Blazers, and get involved. You can also say, "Alexa, play Men in Blazers" while we're on the air to listen to us Pod.

That is it for this week. To all GFOPs in San Diego, enjoy your weekend of wonder as the majestic Snapdragon Stadium opens with a history-making 32,000 fans in attendance. We are living in incredible times in which the tectonic plates are shifting under the women’s game. This is what so many of us have always dreamed of and it is becoming real. I am blown away by the San Diego Wave – the organization and the football culture they have tapped into. Vision. Passion. Wonder. There are no limits. To more, and to the memories we all make along the way.

Big Love.

Courage.

ROG