PawedCast Episode 245: NYCFC Rewind, D.C. United and Pride-Spirit Previews, Crew Rebrand, Potential OCSC Sale, and More

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Orlando City remains undefeated on the young 2021 season but the Lions have drawn three times in four outings after Saturday night’s 1-1 affair with New York City FC at Exploria Stadium. It was the third consecutive match with a dramatic Nani goal but an ill-timed challenge from the returning Joao Moutinho threw NYCFC a lifeline via a late penalty. Still, the Lions appear in good form, aside from needing more offensive contributions from Chris Mueller and the striker position. We break down the match and give our Man of the Match choices and discuss Mueller’s current form as well.

Jason Anderson from Black and Red United joined us to help us preview Orlando City’s next opponents, D.C. United. As an added bonus, Jason also helped us preview the Orlando Pride’s NWSL opener this Sunday at home against the Washington Spirit. It turns out D.C. United and the Spirit are from the same geographical region. Who knew? (Everyone.) Big thanks to Jason for his insight into D.C.’s injury struggles and new style of play as well as what to expect from the Spirit when they visit Orlando.

The Lions are reportedly close to being sold to the Wilf Family and we discuss the stewardship of Flavio Augusto da Silva in his time as Orlando City owner and his approach to team ownership. We also talk about how things can go terribly wrong with a new owner, which was essentially a segue into our discussion of how awful the Columbus Crew (never Columbus SC) rebrand has gone so far. Wow, just…no.

Former Lion Dom Dwyer has a new team and we discuss how Toronto FC needed him and how he could have helped Orlando with this year’s striker issues (loans, knees, etc.). We also tell you where Jordan Bender will be playing his 2021 soccer and why it’s a good thing.

This week’s mailbag is light but asks who else could (should?) go out on loan in 2021 as Bender did.

Then we get to our key match-ups and score predictions for Orlando City vs. D.C. United on Sunday.

If there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on next show, just ask by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC.

That’s all for this week.

Stay safe and enjoy the show!

Here’s how show No. 245 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City and New York City FC drew yet again and that’s not a bad result, but when you start stacking draw upon draw, it’s also not ideal. The defense has been mostly sharp, but more goals are needed. Plus, our MotM picks and where’s the 2020 Cash?

25:35 – Our supersized guest spotlight belongs to Jason Anderson this week, where we discuss not one, but two upcoming opponents — one on the MLS side and one in the NWSL. Jason has all the info you want to know about D.C. United and the Spirit.

56:23 – We don’t know how the Wilf family ownership of OCSC will go if/when it happens, but we don’t want a complete rebrand and we’ve got things to say about what Columbus did. Plus our mailbag and game predictions for Sunday night in D.C.