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PawedCast Episode 318: Orlando City Off-Season Moves, the USMNT at the World Cup and More

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After a week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, we are back and ready to talk about some Orlando City news. We would also be happy to talk about some Orlando Pride news, but there hasn’t been much of that. So, we’ve got some moves by the club to discuss this week.

We start with the addition of midfielder Felipe Martins, who was most recently with Austin FC and has had success elsewhere in his MLS career — particularly with the New York Red Bulls. We opine on the move overall, where Martins fits in with the Lions, and how the midfield is shaping up.

Speaking of the midfield, Orlando City re-signed captain Mauricio Pereyra to a new two-year contract and he’s no longer occupying a Designated Player slot, so that’s a bonus. Mauri has been a good player for the club and it’ll be good to have him around for a couple more years and it’ll be even better if he’s got a top-notch new DP to feed the ball to in 2023 and 2024.

There was also a departure, albeit an expected one and not one that affects the roster as it stood at the end of the season. Alexander Alvarado’s loan to LDU de Quito is now permanent and the winger is no longer on Orlando City’s books. We wish Alexander the best of luck in Ecuador.

The World Cup group stage is wrapping up and the United States Men’s National Team is moving on into the Round of 16! We discuss the young Yanks’ World Cup performances so far. It’s encouraging to see a young team doing well on the big stage and although we’d obviously love to see the USMNT go as far as possible, we’re more excited about the prospect of these guys being in their prime when the event is hosted in North America in 2026.

This week’s mailbag asked us who our favorite USMNT player is and what Orlando City needs to do this off-season. If there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the next show, just ask by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC.

Programming Note: We are in our monthly off-season schedule for recording new episodes, but if the news cycle warrants it, we will of course put out new shows more frequently, as needed. In other words, we might be back in a week or a month.

Stay safe and enjoy the show!


Here’s how No. 318 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City’s off-season is in full swing and the team has been making moves. We talked about those that have been made and those still yet to come.

19:53 – The USMNT is through the group without having conceded from open play and without having tasted defeat. Those are good things, but this team still has another gear and we hope the Yanks can find it.

51:43 – Mailbagbox time! USMNT favorites and Orlando City’s needs.

Podcasts

SkoPurp Soccer Episode 91: Bay FC Rewind, Racing Louisville Preview, and More

The Pride squeak out a gritty road draw at Bay FC and continue their road trip in Kentucky.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride remained unbeaten in the state of California, but it wasn’t easy. Barbra Banda snapped a scoreless tie early in the second half and the Pride held on against a barrage of Bay FC attacks down the stretch to claim another road win. Anna Moorhouse played well to keep the clean sheet in Orlando’s second consecutive 1-0 win and third victory in a row.

We looked back at the key moments and players, checked our score predictions from our last show, and made our selections for Player of the Match.

This week’s mailbagbox wanted to know about the Pride’s ideal formation, the Tampa Bay Sun winning the USL title, the recent addition of Simone Jackson, Moorhouse’s performance, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We’d also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, we previewed the Pride’s trip to face Racing Louisville on Friday in Kentucky, starting with the evenly played series history, Orlando’s struggles on the road against Louisville, and the relative position of the two teams in the table. We provided our key matchups and made our final score predictions.

If you’d like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we’d love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.


Here’s how Episode 91 went down:

0:15 – A look back at a wild finish that prevented a meh 0-0 draw against Houston.

24:17 – The mailbagbox is chock full of questions.

39:48 – Our preview of the Pride’s trip to Lynn Family Stadium to face Racing Louisville.

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Podcasts

PawedCast Episode 485: Rapids Rewind, OCB-Carolina Core, Alex Freeman with the USMNT, and More

The Lions hold off Colorado on the road and OCB doesn’t put up much of a fight in North Carolina.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City returned to action and battled the Colorado Rapids on the road, claiming all three points and snapping a two-match losing streak. The Lions didn’t play their best soccer, but they fought hard and were able to grind out a tightly contested road win. Martin Ojeda provided the game’s only offensive highlight that mattered, showing that if you shoot hard and on frame, good things can, and often do, happen.

We looked back at the key moments and players in the game, checked our score predictions to see how close we came to being right, and made our selections for Man of the Match.

Alex Freeman’s first competitive match with the USMNT came in the Gold Cup against Trinidad & Tobago, and the Orlando City Homegrown fullback was one of the bright spots for the Yanks in a 5-0 win. It just feels like the more he plays, the more he grows.

The mailbagbox asked about whether Orlando City needs to make a change to the starting lineup up top, whether the MLS shutout record will fall this season, and more. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.

Following the mailbagbox segment, we briefly discussed a forgettable 1-0 OCB loss at Carolina Core FC. The Young Lions didn’t have much bite last week against the Foxes, and it wasn’t much fun to watch. Both OCB and Orlando City are now off until June 25.

Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we’ll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.

If you’d like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we’d love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.


Here’s how No. 485 went down:

0:15 – The Lions went to the Rocky Mountains and brought back all three points. Alex Freeman went to PayPal Park and played well for the USMNT.

23:27– The questions come from our listeners. The answers come from us. Mailbagbox time!

38:57 – OCB didn’t play so well against Carolina Core FC, especially at the offensive end.

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Podcasts

SkoPurp Soccer Episode 90: Houston Rewind, Pride Call-Ups, Bay FC Preview, and More

A win at the death for the Pride vs. Houston will be followed by a trip to play Bay FC.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride returned to action after the international break and left it late before dispatching the Houston Dash 1-0. Cori Dyke was the improbable hero, scoring deep in stoppage time to snare all three points for the hometown Pride. A goal to win it late is better than no goal at all, especially when that goal is the game winner. It nearly wasn’t, as Anna Moorhouse was saved blushes for a mistake by an offside flag, but in the end, even ugly wins are wins.

We look back at the key moments in the match, check our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

We also discussed Marta and Angelina being selected for Brazil’s Copa America Femenina roster.

Afterwards, we jumped into this week’s mailbagbox, which wanted to know about a listener’s outfit, whether the Pride can just for once make things easy on themselves, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We’d also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.

Finally, we previewed the Pride’s upcoming Friday match against Bay FC. We look at both teams’ 2025 seasons so far, break down the short series history, provide our key matchups for the game, and make our final score predictions.

If you’d like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we’d love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.


Here’s how Episode 90 went down:

0:15 – A look back at a wild finish that prevented a meh 0-0 draw against Houston.

23:17 – The mailbagbox is always a nice cherry on top of a Pride victory.

39:48 – A look ahead at the Pride’s second-ever trip to play Bay FC.

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