It’s been almost a month since we broke for the off-season and as of our recording this episode, Orlando City hadn’t yet used the open Designated Player slot left behind by Facundo Torres. The Lions lost another forward with the sudden retirement of Jack Lynn. We discussed how that leaves Orlando City quite thin at the top of the attack.

However, the Lions did add a winger, although it’s not necessarily the guy who will immediately replace Torres. Nicolas Rodriguez is a promising U22 Initiative arrival from Colombia who has the upside to develop into that type of player. Whether he plays a lot or even starts in 2025 remains to be seen.

We also discuss what the reported possible transfer of Cesar Araujo would mean for the Lions as we are now just weeks away from the start of the regular season. It’s not too late to get something done to help this team improve. It only feels that way.

This mailbagbox for this episode asked about workout songs, our experiences with cold, some of our favorite Apple TV shows, 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.

Finally, we discussed a pair of friendlies at Inter&Co Stadium this week, including the USMNT hosting Costa Rica and Orlando City playing Atletico Mineiro in the FC Series. We should have reports on both matches for you at The Mane Land. And we end the show with news we didn’t want to discuss — the departure of Homegrown goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake.

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.

Here’s how No. 462 went down:

0:15 – The Lions had one arrival to go along with the departures and we discuss the holes in the roster.

30:01 – The first mailbagbox of 2025!

49:16 – Upcoming friendlies in Orlando for the USMNT and Orlando City as well as another player departure we didn’t want to talk about.

We’re in our off-season podcast schedule, which means things can be a bit unpredictable, except that you’ll get a new show at least monthly before the season starts back up. We didn’t have a ton of news, but circumstances warranted an episode, because we’re about to lose one of our favorite people.

After we discussed Orlando’s signing Monday afternoon of Wake Forest defender Zara Chavoshi, the first rookie signed since the NWSL did away with the draft, we have a special guest. Longtime Orlando City/Orlando Pride Director of Communications Jackie Maynard is leaving the club after nine seasons to take on a new challenge. She’s going out a champion, but she’s always been one in our book, as she’s been one of the best PR people on the MLS or NWSL side for years. She has set up so many of our interviews over the years and listened in on them, so it was only right that we let her take the microphone for herself before she leaves the City Beautiful.

Jackie discusses her career in Orlando, how the club and women’s soccer have evolved in her time here, some of the crazy, behind-the-scenes stuff she’s had to deal with on the road, and much more. Big thanks to Jackie for all her help through the years and our deepest wishes for success in the next step of the journey, which she is not at liberty to discuss publicly just yet as of this writing, but it’s a nice gig and we’re happy for her.

After our chat with Jackie, we dive into our mailbagbox, which asks us what position group we’d most like the Pride to address this off-season and makes us pick an over/under on Orlando goals in 2025. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. 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.

After the mailbagbox, we discuss the Pride re-signing team captain Marta for two more seasons. As the Brazilian soccer icon prepares for her 39th birthday, she also readies herself for the first season of a new two-year deal with Orlando that will likely see out her illustrious playing career. Marta was remarkable in 2024, helping her team win two trophies, and if she can keep playing at that level, she’s welcome here for as long as she likes.

Here’s how Episode 73 went down:

0:15 – The Pride add their first rookie since the NWSL dropped the draft. Welcome to Orlando, Zara Chavoshi!

8:14 – Jackie Maynard jumps on with us to discuss her nine-year career with Orlando City SC/Orlando Pride and we can’t thank her enough for her time on this show and her help throughout the years.

33:47 – We open up the mailbagbox and then discuss Marta’s return for two more seasons with Orlando.

With Facundo Torres officially transferring to Palmeiras on Friday, we reconvened to discuss what it means for Orlando City this off-season and moving forward into 2025. The Lions are sitting pretty in terms of cash, but it remains to be seen how the club will approach having an open Designated Player slot, an open MLS U22 Initiative slot, plenty of General Allocation Money, and a good infusion of cash from Brazil.

There are multiple ways the team can address the situation, but the front office has never been in a position where it’s had an opportunity to stack the team with quality starters and depth.

This week’s mailbagbox asked which current Lion needs to step up most, which of our favorite current and former EPL teams’ players we’d like to see playing for Orlando, and what we like to eat at Christmas. 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.

Finally, we discussed Major League Soccer not broadcasting or streaming the 2025 SuperDraft and the players Orlando City selected Friday afternoon. We’re not huge fans of the draft not being broadcast in some form, and it suggests the event may not have much more of a future. Orlando picked up four players out of college — two from the same school — and every position group except goalkeeper was impacted. Those who sign are likely to spend most of 2025 with OCB.

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.

Here’s how No. 461 went down:

0:15 – The Torres transfer is official and Orlando City has some cash to splash.

17:54 – The mailbagbox wants presents in the form of answers to our listeners’ questions.

37:28 – An overview of the lack of an MLS SuperDraft broadcast and Orlando City’s 2025 picks.