Old-school fan violence reared its ugly head this weekend, from the hallowed terraces of Wembley to the streets of Newcastle upon Tyne. Even hardened criminals from the depths of Her Majesty’s Prison Service were in disbelief over the audacity of one horse-punching Magpie supporter.
Somewhere amid this nonsense, football was played, and in this week’s suboptimal podcast the Men in Blazers consider it all — from the Chelsea–Man City FA Cup semifinal to Everton’s continued late-season form, courtesy of a win against relegation-threatened QPR that sent Harry Redknapp into his ritual comical rage. Now, with just a month left in this Premier League season, Michael and Roger handicap the race for Arsene Wenger’s coveted “fourth-place trophy.”
With Michael Davies away, Rog goes solo, welcoming USMNT Coach Jurgen Klinsmann to the pod. Fresh from the March of the Penguins win against Costa Rica, and a gutsy draw in the Azteca thunderdome, Klinsmann candidly discusses his own identity, management style, change strategy, and vision for American soccer’s future. He is also willing to broach the big topics: the heroic role Kyle Beckerman could play for the US team at World Cup 2014 in Rio.
Normal suboptimal Men In Blazers service will be resumed next week.
The song remains the same. Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, and Chelsea all managed wins. But while there wasn’t a change in the Top Four, the weekend wasn’t without its drama. Gareth Bale was like clockwork in Spurs’ all-important triumph over Arsenal, leaving their North London rivals with more lingering questions about the club’s direction. In this week’s pod, Michael and Roger analyze all the ramifications from the derby, turn their attention to the relegation battle, and reflect on the opening weekend of MLS.
If that wasn’t enough, the Blazers also speak with iconic ESPN broadcaster and jolliest man alive Bob Ley about his days as the public-address announcer of the Cosmos, how the culture has changed in Bristol over the years, and what truthfully is the secret to eternal youth. Horse placentas are about to have their moment in the sun.
American soccer fans battling the Black Dog after last night’s eye-acher against Canada can find solace in the one thing our nation does astonishingly — producing a pipeline of the world’s finest follicularly challenged goalkeepers. In this week’s pod, the Men in Blazers sit down with USMNT and Everton’s Tim Howard for an expansive interview. The New Jersey native reflects on the American style of goalkeeping, shares how he first journeyed to England via Manchester United, and pegs Fabian Johnson as a young Von Trapp to watch. His confidence will be the perfect remedy on this day of midwinter discontent.
On happier matters, Michael and Roger mourn the passing of Lady Sybil and delve deep into the resurgence of their beloved FA Cup as the likes of Brentford, Luton, Oldham, and Leeds finally have their day of glory on the pod.
It was a snowy weekend of mid-season football in the Premier League, with the weather providing a cleansing effect for Clint Dempsey in Tottenham’s home meeting with Manchester United. After close to 93 minutes of disappointing form, Deuceface slotted home the equalizer as America, Andre Villas-Boas, Manchester City, and Under Armour all rejoiced. In this week’s Men in Blazers podcast, Michael Davies and Roger Bennett review the title race that’s back on, only because it was never really off. But it’s not only the glory of the top of the table that’s up for discussion. The Blazers also consider the relegation battle and bid sacked Southampton manager Nigel “Happyface” Adkins farewell.
To add a modicum of intelligent insight, Fox Soccer’s very own Rob Stone drops in to recap the Brek Shea saga and shed light on what life is like these days for a soccer- and cheerleader-lovin’ American at the network that gave us Cleatus the dancing robot.
Apparently, England’s antiquated past is the new present here in the U.S. The weekend offered a welcome return of everyone’s favorite aristocratic family, the Crawleys, of PBS’s Downton Abbey. We laughed, we cried, we gasped at the audacity of Sir Anthony’s bold sexual advances upon Lady Edith’s virtue. Elsewhere on the dial, the FA Cup made its network broadcast debut in suitably dramatic fashion, proving there’s still life in the old dog yet. Needless to say, both developments brought much joy to the Men in Blazers in this week’s pod, as Michael Davies and Roger Bennett borrow George Michael’s Sports Machine, traveling across the English countryside to recap these far-flung matches featuring the likes of Mansfield Town and Cheltenham. Get ready for a geography lesson, America.
Of course, the biggest story from the weekend was Luis Suarez’s handball game winner, dashing the hopes of Mansfield’s escort turned CEO. To examine just how Liverpool supporters can stomach their morally dubious striker, the Blazers welcome GFOP, comedian, and Liverpudlian John Oliver back to the pod to offer his thoughts and expectations for his beloved club. If you’re a fellow fan of the Reds, prepare to lower the bar.
The football again provided superlative theater over the weekend. Goals, pitch invasions, blood, Scientological sightings — the Manchester Derby had it all, even if it did feature two teams neutrals love to loathe. In this week’s pod, Michael Davies and Roger Bennett brave the apocalyptic 12/12/12 to recap all the action from the Premier League, a place where, as Tottenham realized yet again, dropped points hurt more than a straight loss.
But the true attraction to this week’s pod is a guest appearance by FIFA Player of the Year finalist Alex Morgan. The U.S. striker has reached rock-star status since winning Olympic gold in London and joins the Blazers from the road during the final matches of the Fan Tribute Tour. Morgan offers her thoughts on her growing celebrity, playing at Old Trafford, nicknames, and the launch of the next professional women’s soccer league. Courage.
Send your telegrams via raven to the Crap Part of SoHo, reach us @MeninBlazers or drop an email at meninblazers@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the pod in iTunes or via our RSS feed.
In the wake of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Sandy, the importance of a game in which 22 men chase around a ball is once again put into perspective — mainly, that soccer is as important as ever in this time of need. With Michael driving around lower Manhattan, broadcasting from his automobile, and Rog huddled on the floor of his guest bathroom, the Men in Blazers vow to not leave GFOPs without their weekly helping of suboptimal podding.
In this week’s edition, the Blazers recap the wild and controversial Chelsea and Manchester United clash, the Merseyside derby, and NBC’s dip into the EPL broadcasting waters. Welcome to the fold, Bob, Al, and Mary.
Send your telegrams via raven to the Crap Part of SoHo, reach us @MeninBlazers or drop an email at meninblazers@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the pod in iTunes or via our RSS feed.
After eight weeks, Premier League patterns are starting to emerge. The Manchester clubs continue to eek out victories in their own distinct fashion (United, attack-heavy; City during Dzeko Time), but it is nimble-footed Chelsea that have proved most impressive, week in and out. Thanks to a defensive line that appears to score when it wants, not to mention the divine work of midfield maestro Juan Mata, Chelsea came back to beat Tottenham 4-2 on Saturday — Andre Villas-Boas conceding defeat to Roberto Di Matteo in the first ever Battle of the Alphabet. All these developments and more are covered by Michael and Roger in this week’s Men in Blazers pod.
The pod is also blessed by the appearance of author Nick Hornby, who is marking the 20th anniversary of the publication of Fever Pitch. Hornby discusses how the game has evolved since he wrote the ode to Arsenal fandom, how last season was the most memorable of his life, and why Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has become a cult figure in the Hornby household.
Send your telegrams via raven to the Crap Part of SoHo, reach us @MeninBlazers or drop an email at meninblazers@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the pod in iTunes or via our RSS feed.
There’s no place like home. After slumming it on a muddy cricket field in Antigua, the United States returned to the warm, juiced embrace of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, where Jurgen, Clint, and Michael Bradley collectively throttled Guatemala 3-1 to enter “The Hex,” the final stage of World Cup qualifying. To mark the occasion, the Men in Blazers welcomed U.S. legend and ESPN studio analyst Alexi Lalas to the pod. The well-known defender, who played both Stateside and in the celebrated Serie A, offered his thoughts on head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and reminisced about his own experiences with the U.S. team in the dark ages of the 1990s, before closing with a heartfelt message for gingie kids everywhere: Stay the course, and maybe you, too, can support Hootie and the Blowfish on a European tour.
As expected, Michael and Roger also paused to comment on England’s World Cup qualifying blight, analyzing the least-impressive 5-0 blowout in the history of the game. Their opponent? The mighty enclaved micro-state San Marino (pop. 32,140). It got us thinking. If San Marino can field a side to play internationally, why not GFOP Nation? We intend to challenge the Sammarinese on their own turf. To participate in this historic campaign, please send your footballing résumés our way.
Send your telegrams via raven to the Crap Part of SoHo, reach us @MeninBlazers or drop an email at meninblazers@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the pod in iTunes or via our RSS feed.
It was a snowy weekend of mid-season football in the Premier League, with the weather providing a cleansing effect for Clint Dempsey in Tottenham’s home meeting with Manchester United. After close to 93 minutes of disappointing form, Deuceface slotted home the equalizer as America, Andre Villas-Boas, Manchester City, and Under Armour all rejoiced. 
Apparently, England’s antiquated past is the new present here in the U.S. The weekend offered a welcome return of everyone’s favorite aristocratic family, the Crawleys, of PBS’s Downton Abbey. We laughed, we cried, we gasped at the audacity of Sir Anthony’s bold sexual advances upon Lady Edith’s virtue. Elsewhere on the dial, the FA Cup made its network broadcast debut in suitably dramatic fashion, proving there’s still life in the old dog yet. Needless to say, both developments brought much joy to the Men in Blazers in this week’s pod, as Michael Davies and Roger Bennett borrow George Michael’s Sports Machine, traveling across the English countryside to recap these far-flung matches featuring the likes of Mansfield Town and Cheltenham. Get ready for a geography lesson, America.
After eight weeks, Premier League patterns are starting to emerge. The Manchester clubs continue to eek out victories in their own distinct fashion (United, attack-heavy; City during Dzeko Time), but it is nimble-footed Chelsea that have proved most impressive, week in and out. Thanks to a defensive line that appears to score when it wants, not to mention the divine work of midfield maestro Juan Mata, Chelsea came back to beat Tottenham 4-2 on Saturday — Andre Villas-Boas conceding defeat to Roberto Di Matteo in the first ever Battle of the Alphabet. All these developments and more are covered by Michael and Roger 
There’s no place like home. After slumming it on a muddy cricket field in Antigua, the United States returned to the warm, juiced embrace of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, where Jurgen, Clint, and Michael Bradley collectively throttled Guatemala 3-1 to enter “The Hex,” the final stage of World Cup qualifying. To mark the occasion, the 
