Men In Blazers

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ. WILL HE STAY OR WILL HE GO? He's going to Real Madrid, right?... right?... right? Plus, why on earth does no one want the Bayern Munich job? Rog and Rory Smith go deep on those questions and preview this week's looming Champions League semifinals.

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ARSENAL CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP. Rog and Rory on the title race staring contest between Arsenal and City in which both teams refuse to blink. The Klopp farewell tour gets back on track. And, holy crap, Chelsea are smashing teams.

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"WE'VE GOT MULLIN, SUPER PAUL MULLIN." Rog sits down with Wrexham's star striker to relive this season's Homer's Odyssey of a journey, trace the origins of his epic end-of-game celebration, and discuss how difficult League One will be next season.

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"Negative comments on social media are a motivation for me. It makes me show you these people wrong. And on top of that, it makes me realize how much more support I have and see the positive comments from people cheering for me"

Herc had an emotional and candid conversation with Daryl Dike. A friend of Pod, who's coming off back-to-back Achilles injuries. Delving into his rehab process, where he's mentally, what he thinks is in store for him, and what Daryl thinks about the current USMNT's strikers. Plus, Herc's mea-culpa for not trusting Columbus Crew in this Concacaf Champions Cup.

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Rog is joined by The Athletic's James Horncastle to break down Dortmund's 1-0 win over PSG, and the 2-2 draw between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

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WHO IS ARNE SLOT? Rog and Rory explore the background of the incoming Liverpool manager. Plus, a look at how New School Dortmund went Old School to make it to the Champions League Semifinals. And why so many American owners are investing in Serie A.

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THERE WILL BE FIRE. Rog and Rory Smith talk about Arsenal's imperious, and yet somehow nerve-wracking, North London Derby victory. Mo Salah and Jurgen Klopp's touchline dustup. And Everton's summer starts... NOW.

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IT'S THE WEEKEND BABY! This is WGFOP, presented by PrizePicks. As Klopp's Liverpool metaphorically repeated Gerrard's famous slip at Goodison Park midweek, can Big Ange take out the second horse in North London on Sunday? Will there be another twist in the tale? It's another big one. It's crunch time. Let’s enjoy every second.

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REGULAR SEASON LA LIGA GAMES IN THE US? Herc explores whether its a good idea, or a straight up cash grab. Plus, MLS 1.0 Pioneer, Premier League veteran and USMNT 2002 Dos a Cero Hero Eddie Lewis joins the show.

"STATE OF THE AMERICAN FAN SURVEY" https://mibcourage.co/3W6o9IZ

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Rog is joined by the New York Times' Rory Smith to react to Everton's shocking 2-0 win over Liverpool.

Men in Blazers 2024 STATE OF THE AMERICAN FAN SURVEY: https://mibcourage.co/49HNT1v

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THE SECRET TO A WINNING PREMIER LEAGUE CULTURE. Rog sits down with Brighton & Hove Albion CEO Paul Barber to talk about taking the Seagulls from the Football League to European Competition. A conversation on workplace culture, intelligent investment and how to build a business.

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Rog sits down with Wrexham executive director, writer, actor and comedian Humphrey Ker to discuss Wrexham's second promotion on the spin, the unusual way he celebrated it, and what changes the team will have to make to compete in League One.

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IT'S THE WEEKEND! This is WGFOP, presented by PrizePicks. The title race rumbles on... Is it over? Possibly. Will there be another twist in the tale? Potentially. Will we be glued to it until the very end? Absolutely. We've also got the small matter of the FA Cup semi finals to negotiate. It's another big one. Let’s enjoy every second.

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"The reality is if you want to be a consistent national team player, you must be playing at a consistently good level in Europe."

Herc had a candid conversation with Matt Miazga, considered one of the top defenders in Major League Soccer. Their discussion revolved around all aspects of football, starting from Matt's early days in the NY Redbulls Academy, his experience playing for Chelsea and what's like being managed by Vincent Kompany on his days at Anderlecht in Belgium, and his memories of the rivalry with the Mexican national team, which included the famous viral incident involving Diego Lainez. They also talked about his current life as a player for FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer.

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Rog is joined LIVE by The Athletic's James Horncastle to break down all the Champions League Quarterfinals action.

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THE BIGGEST CLUB NEVER TO HAVE WON IN EUROPE. Yes, Arsenal fans, we're talking about your team. And no, the UEFA Cup Winners Cup doesn't count. But with the Gunners taking a step back in their hunt for a league trophy over the weekend, their best chance at victory this season may now be in the Champions League. Rog and New York Times chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith deep dive into the history of Arsenal to look back at just exactly how they became one of the biggest clubs in Europe, why legendary manager Arsene Wenger managed to do everything but lift the Champions League trophy, and whether or not Mikel Arteta's current squad have a legitimate shot at European glory.

Then, Rog and Rory hop on over to the Europa League to look at giant-killers Atalanta, fresh off of slaying Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of their semi-final matchup. Just how did this little club from Bergamo become so successful? And what is the ceiling to their success? All of this and more on the latest European Nights...

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WHEN THREE BECOMES ONE. Rog and Rory Smith break down losses for Liverpool and Arsenal that leave Manchester City atop the title race leaderboard. Plus, Leverkusen clinch the Bundesliga title, dethroning Bayern and ending their streak of 11-straight titles. And Wrexham are going up.

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IT'S THE WEEKEND! This is WGFOP, presented by PrizePicks. Bring on a weekend gloriously free of Evertonian despair, but packed full of a daytime soap’s worth of storylines, as we enter the “Mind Games” territory of an unprecedented title race. 3 teams separated by a single point. The Premier League has not experienced this in its history. Let’s enjoy every second. Courage.

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"Liga MX versus Major League Soccer is the narrative we always feed into every single year in the CONCACAF Champions Cup"

Herc talked with Eric Gomez, a friend of the house who works for ESPN Deportes, about all things Mexican football. They discussed Santi Gimenez's dry run with Feyenoord and with "El Tri", cleared up rumors that linked Mallorca's manager Javier Aguirre to the Mexican National Team, and debated on "Liga MX vs MLS" after this week's CONCACAF Champions Cup drama.

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Rog is joined by Daniel Storey, chief football writer of Britain's "i" newspaper, to break down all of the Champions League Quarterfinal action.

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THE GAME THAT CHANGED THE WORLD. Like Seal or Beyonce, it needs only one name: "La Remontada" or "The Comeback" in English. Ahead of Barcelona's clash with PSG in this week's Champions League slate, Rog and New York Times chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith revisit that glorious night in the spring of 2017 when Barca fought back from down 4-0 on aggregate in their Champions League Round of 16 matchup against PSG, going on to score six (yes, six!) goals in the second leg, including three from the 87th minute beyond. Rog and Rory breakdown how that game would forever alter the landscape of world football, prompting PSG to sign Neymar for unthinkable amounts of money, sending Barcelona into a financial tailspin, and wreaking havoc on the global transfer market.

Then, Rog and Rory head to Athens to deep dive on Greece's domestic powerhouse Olypmiacos, including their hot headed, shipping magnate, songwriting, potentially match-fixing, multi-hyphenate owner Evangelos Marinakis (who just so happens to also own Nottingham Forest). Plus, Rory gives him recommendation on where to find (and, more importantly, how to pronounce) the best gyros in Athens. All this and more on the latest European Nights....

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"We were on the way to the airport with my family when I got the call with Gregg Berhalter to play Concacaf Nations League. I was really happy but I couldn't share it with my family because they were excited for me to go on vacation with them."

Rog is joined by Haji Wright, Coventry City striker and freshly minted CONCACAF Nations League champion. He told the story of his soccer journey that began in the playing fields of Los Angeles and continued with a grand tour of Europe's top football leagues. He has faced challenges and overcome them, becoming stronger and more skilled. Achieving remarkable moments for both his club and his nation.

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WHAT IN THE MAINOO JUST HAPPENED? Rog and Rory marvel at a back-and-forth 2-2 derby draw between Liverpool and Manchester United. Plus, Arsenal are Top the Table. And Everton are... not Top of the Table.

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In the final episode of this four-part series, Rog and Tommy trace the massive flow of Saudi money into Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Wall Street, and how the biggest venture capitalists and A-list celebrities seem to no longer care about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. They also look back at the history of the US-Saudi relationship, and how President Biden went from pleading to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” to traveling there to fist bump Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. And finally, they dive into the possible motivations behind Saudi Arabia’s investments, from the need to diversify the Saudi economy, to whitewashing the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and changing the subject from other human rights violations. Despite all the depressing news, Rog and Tommy try to find glimmers of hope where grassroots activism and football can lead the way in creating a more just world. All of this and more, on the final episode of World Corrupt, Season 2.

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IT'S THE WEEKEND! This is WGFOP, presented by PrizePicks. We’ve made it to the end of another week, and what a weekend of football we have in store. Strap in and enjoy every second. Courage.

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“I spoke a lot with Wolfsburg’s front office about Kevin Paredes before they signed him. He's a guy that I played with together in DC, I know his work ethic and I'm happy that now he's been starting in the team after a year and a half”.

Herc had a candid conversation with Julian Gressel, an American-German midfielder currently playing with Inter Miami after recently winning the MLS Cup with Columbus Crew. They discussed Julian's early days as a footballer in Germany, his experience in the US College system, and how it feels playing with Lionel Messi. Plus, Julian is now a podcaster, and he explained why he enjoys doing it so much.

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Rog is joined LIVE by the New York Times' Rory Smith to break down all the midweek Premier League action.

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STARTED AT THE NINTH TIER, NOW WE HERE. Rog sits down with Wrexham hero and Gambian International Jacob Mendy to talk his singular journey from Africa, to Spain, to Britain, where Jacob was working and studying while grinding it out in the bowels of the Football League, just hoping for his shot.

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THREE-WAY TITLE RACE ROCHAMBEAU. Rog and Rory Smith break down today's 0 - 0 draw between Pep Guardiola's City and Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. Plus, Liverpool come from behind (as usual). And a Premier League weekend that failed a breathalyzer.

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In episode three of this four part series, Rog and Tommy explore the rise of Saudi Arabia’s domestic football league and why superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are flocking there. iNews’s chief football writer Daniel Storey joins the show to tell the tale of one of those players, former Liverpool captain and one-time “moral center” of English football Jordan Henderson, whose move to the Saudi pro-league led to one of the starkest falls from grace in recent sporting history. Plus, Saudi Arabia has all but secured hosting rights for the 2034 Men’s World Cup....but did football’s global governing body FIFA rig the bidding process years in advance? And with Saudi Arabia also eyeing hosting duties for the 2035 Women's World Cup, former US Women’s National Team legend Megan Rapinoe gives her thoughts on what it would mean to play football's crown jewel tournament in a country where women are assigned a male guardian and homosexuality is illegal. All of this and more on the latest episode of World Corrupt. 

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TITLE RACE POD SPECIAL. Rog sits down with Dutch man mountain Virgil Van Dijk and North London Starboy Bukayo Saka to discuss how they're experiencing this Premier League title race for the ages. Plus, Big Virg on Klopp's departure. And Saka on his beloved Boston Celtics.

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Sam is joined by USWNT and Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman to talk through her signature moves, how she has handled the pressure of being a mainstay for the USWNT at such a young age, and what makes Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang so special.

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XABI ALONSO TO LIVERPOOL... OR BAYERN MUNICH? IVAN TONEY TO MANCHESTER UNITED?

Fabrizio Romano, the Wizard of the Transfer Window and host of the Here We Go podcast joins Rog to answer these questions and more. Fab enlightens us on which league would be the best fit for Gio Reyna's talent for the upcoming season, shared his thoughts about the contract situation of Alphonso Davies at Bayern Munich, who might be the next European player to join MLS, and how he describes the energy of the transfer market at this time of year compared to others.

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DOS A CERO. Rog and Brendan Hunt aka Coach Beard from Ted Lasso provide instant reaction at the final whistle of Sunday's 2-0 Nations League Final win over Mexico.

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Roger Bennett and Tommy Vietor take a look at the history of Saudi Arabia, US-Saudi relations, and the Kingdom’s path to becoming a geopolitical force. They trace the unlikely rise of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman from a lowly place in the royal hierarchy to de facto leader of the country, and examine his record of enacting major social reforms while brutally cracking down on critics and rivals. Guests Ben Hubbard, Sarah Leah Whitson, and Khalid Al Jabri provide insight through stories about the infamous lock-up at the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the disappearance of even the family members of MBS’ political rivals. And finally, they unpack what MBS’ massive investment into soccer means for the global game. Listen to the second episode of this four-part series to find out.

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"The thing for me with tactics is always about making complicated things simple when creating a tactical system (...) And, last night showed a little bit that we're not fully there yet"

Rog is joined by Jesse Marsch (the last man to beat Jurgen Klopp at Anfield) to discuss and analyze the USMNT's victory (3-1) over Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League Semifinals, which gives the US access to the upcoming final on Sunday against Mexico.

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Rog goes LIVE right after the USMNT's victory over Jamaica to take you calls.

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HOW CLOSE ARE THE US TO WINNING A MAJOR TOURNAMENT? The manager of tonight's opponent Jamaica thinks it hinges on one, very important thing. Rog is joined by the former Icelandic dentist and national team manager to discuss what to watch ahead of tonight's CONCACAF Clash.

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Sam Mewis is joined by Seattle Reign and Wales legend Jess Fishlock to discuss how she fell in love with the game as a young girl in Wales, her career in the NWSL, and what it is like to play on the same team as her wife, Tzarria King.

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“The USMNT will take advantage of the absences from the Jamaican team. I think it’ll be a rigid match but as soon as the first goal goes in you will unlock their defense, picking them apart with players like Christian Pulisic, or Timothy Weah”

Rog and host of VAMOS Herc Gomez analyzed the USMNT squad ahead of their Concacaf Nations League Semifinal against Jamaica. They also delved into the pool of strikers of the USMNT, ranking them based on their current form. Plus, they highlighted the importance of Tyler Adams' leadership skills and how a player like Antonee Robinson can boost the US defensive line.

Finally, Rog asked our GFOPs to suggest a US Men's Team nickname before the upcoming Copa America.

VOTE FOR THE USMNT NICKNAME: mibcourage.co/USMNT2024

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THE KLOPPRUPLE DIES AT THE SEASON OF DREAMS. Rog goes live at the final whistle of a seven-goal FA Cup Quarterfinal thriller between heated rivals Manchester United and Liverpool. Plus, FA Cup glory for that great American Haji Wright. And Everton... you can't lose if you don't play.

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Roger Bennet and Tommy Vietor are back for Season 2 of World Corrupt! And this time, Rog and Tommy are diving into how Saudi Arabia, the biggest exporter of oil in the world and a nation in the news for human rights abuses, became the latest geopolitical powerplayer sweeping global soccer. The Saudis have poured billions of dollars into the world’s most popular sport, including signing superstar players like Cristiano Ronaldo to eye-popping contracts. But the crown jewel in the Saudi investment portfolio? That would be the take over of one of England’s most historic football clubs, Newcastle United. A team with a rich history from an impoverished corner of the country, Newcastle had fallen upon hard times…and they welcomed the Saudis with open arms. But at what cost? Listen to the first episode of this four part series to find out.

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This is WGFOP Weekend Preview, presented by PrizePicks. IT'S THE WEEKEND. IT'S THE FA CUP QUARTER FINALS AND BOY, DO WE HAVE SOME FIXTURES TO LOOK FORWARD TO. Who needs this more? Poch and his billion pound blue bottle jobs? Ten Hag with his withering United, Klopp in search of the Klopptruple? Or Eddie Howe under pressure from his Saudi Arabian bosses? All this, plus the return of Michael Edwards at Liverpool, and some little league coaching tips. Courage.

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Sam is joined by USWNT and NWSL legend Megan Rapinoe to talk through their time as teammates, how she is enjoying retirement, and what she sees ahead for the USWNT in 2024 and beyond.

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Rog is joined live by the New York Times' Rory Smith to break down all of this week's Champions League Round of 16 action.

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THE FALL OF NAPOLI: It seems like only yesterday that the streets of Naples were ringing out with song and fireworks following the club's first Scudetto in 33 years. Less than a year later, the team sits 7th in the table and is going on their fourth manager in the last 12 months. Rog and New York Times Chief Soccer Correspondent Rory Smith break down how exactly the team fell so fast, what bombastic owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has to do with it, and what the Neapolitans can do to try to save their season.

Then, Rog and Rory skip to FC Porto, where drama surrounding an upcoming team presidential election is engulfing the club. This is a story ripped from a soap opera: arrests, fan violence, political infighting, and the return of a departed club legend. Find out all of the details...and what Andre Villas-Boas has to do with all of it....on the latest European Nights.

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LIVERPOOL VS. MANCHESTER CITY IN A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS. Rog and Davo break down the final Premier League meeting between Pep and Klopp. Arsenal go top of the table. And Spurs are coming 'round the outside, 'round the outside for those Champions League spots.

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And, we're back! Join Roger Bennet and Tommy Vietor for another season of World Corrupt, with a focus on why Saudi Arabia is investing billions in football. Episode 1 coming March 16. 

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IT'S THE WEEKEND AND LIVERPOOL FACE MANCHESTER CITY! We've also got the undercard of the season in the shape of Villa v Spurs: what a time to be alive. We also have some HUGE announcements (sound up the bugle) for the Men in Blazers media network this WGFOP. Strap in. Courage.

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Sam Mewis is joined by Seattle Reign forward Bethany Balcer to discuss her unusual path to the pros, what it was like getting her first USWNT cap, and if she will ever release the tweets???

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