Podcasts
PawedCast Episode 518: Antoine Griezmann Transfer Rumor, Red Bulls Rewind, Miami Preview, and More
Orlando City pursues Antoine Griezmann, Lions lose to New York, and Inter Miami visits on Sunday.
The regular season is here, the Lions have their in-state rivals coming up on the schedule this weekend, and Antoine Griezmann may come to Orlando…wait, what?
We start this episode with the report from Tom Bogert that Orlando City is pursuing Atletico Madrid star attacking midfielder/forward and French international Griezmann for the club’s third Designated Player slot. This is something we put out into the universe a few years ago with no expectation that anything would ever happen. It’s entirely possible nothing ever does happen, but it’s astounding that credible soccer writers are even talking about it. We know Ricardo Moreira was just going along with us when we asked him to sign Griezmann, but it’s still been amazing to parlay our longtime running gag into a potential bit of historic club news.
Our discussion revolves around staying grounded amid the current reports, how exciting it would be to have an attacker of his quality if Griezmann were to sign, and how a potential signing puts us on the hot seat if he doesn’t perform. Thanks to everyone who reached out to us after hearing the news.
After diving into the surrealism that my dumb gag could actually take place, we turn to a less pleasant topic: Orlando City’s 2-1 home loss to the New York Red Bulls in Saturday’s 2026 season opener. The Lions started the match horribly, with the exception of Maxime Crepeau’s shot stopping. Although the second half was much better after a couple of substitutions and a tactical change, the Lions had an equally difficult time beating Ethan Horvath, who was outstanding in the New York goal. Ultimately, Tiago’s first MLS goal came too late to change the game, but at least Orlando fans can take heart in the team’s fight and the Lions can perhaps take some momentum from the second 45 minutes.
We discuss all the key moments, players, and plays from the game, check on our score predictions, and select our Orlando City Man of the Match. The latter was an easy choice.
Our mailbagbox asked about our reactions to the Griezmann reports, how to rank the future minutes of the bench players Saturday who didn’t get on the field, 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 wrap up the show with a look ahead to Sunday’s Tropic Thunder rivalry match with Inter Miami. The Herons were blasted at LAFC over the weekend and Lionel Messi escaped punishment for his petulant pursuit of the match officials after the game as his teammates tried to hold him back. Might Messi try to take his frustrations out on the Lions Sunday in Orlando? Well, he has yet to step foot on the Inter&Co Stadium pitch for a league game since arriving in MLS, but…maybe. Will fans run onto the field like idiots if he plays? Possibly.
We present our key matchups to the game and try to predict the final score. We were in lockstep on both topics.
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. 518 went down:
0:15 – Antoine Griezmann in Orlando? I’ll believe it when I get the club’s press release with photos of the Frenchman with his purple kit. Still…it’s nice that it’s even being discussed. Oh, and Orlando City played a match against the Red Bulls.
37:55 – The mailbagbox is fun and seems to genuinely want me to be happy.
54:26 – The first round of Tropic Thunder 2026 looms on Sunday.
Podcasts
PawedCast Episode 537: OCB-Carolina Core, USMNT-Germany, and More
The Young Lions made it harder than it needed to be but got another win. The USMNT did not win.
Orlando City is still off for the World Cup break, but OCB is not. We open this week’s show with a little-longer-than-usual look at the Young Lions’ 3-2 comeback win over Carolina Core FC on Sunday. It wasn’t easy, and it certainly wasn’t OCB’s best performance of the year, but the job ultimately got done.
We discuss the lethargic start, the red card/penalty that changed everything, and a second half that wasn’t looking like it would be good enough until it ultimately was.
After our OCB-Carolina Core rewind, we discussed the USMNT’s 2-1 loss to Germany. The Yanks hung around, but this is a team that is supposed to be about more than hanging around. At some point, you must beat a good European team just to be taken seriously, never mind winning a World Cup. But hey, that was quite a goal by Antonee Robinson, wasn’t it?
Our mailbagbox is super full this week, asking us to wager (nothing) on a parlay, select Orlando City preferences, and pick the hardest shooter, among other things. 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.
After the mailbagbox, we look ahead to Saturday’s OCB match on the road at Huntsville City. The Nashville affiliate poses some challenges, and the teams look to be evenly matched. Can the Young Lions stop bleeding goals while continuing to score them? We’ll see.
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. 537 went down:
0:15 – OCB got three points that might not have been earned against a full-strength squad, and the USMNT continues to have a defense prone to breakage as World Cup matches loom.
25:34 – Our mailbagbox is all over the map…including the greater Seattle area.
49:26 – OCB won but should still try to bounce back from a bit of a lethargic performance for most of its win on Sunday when it travels to Huntsville.
Podcasts
SkoPurp Soccer Episode 125: Bay FC Rewind, USWNT Friendlies in Brazil, and More
The Pride enter the summer break on a high note but it comes at a cost as Barbra Banda leaves the game injured.
The Orlando Pride hosted Bay FC and made it two straight wins for the first time in 2026. Orlando continued its successful ways against California-based teams with another standout performance by striker Barbra Banda. The Zambian international scored two goals and set up another to lead the Pride to another big three points on the cusp of the World Cup break. Jacquie Ovalle and Zara Chavoshi came off the bench, taking the Pride two steps closer to having a healthy roster.
It wasn’t all good news, however. The game was fun until Banda picked up an injury late in the game and now we wait to see what the severity is. Losing Banda for any length of time is not ideal for a team reliant on her for goals and hovering near the bottom of the playoff places.
We break down the Pride’s 3-1 win at home, look back at our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match.
This week’s mailbagbox asked about Nicole Payne, Tallahassee-based side TLH Reckoning, Orlando Pride players as USWNT starters, 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.
After the mailbagbox, we look ahead to the USWNT heading to Brazil for a pair of friendlies. These games should be good tests for Emma Hayes’ side, and it will be fun to watch Orlando’s Brazilians play for their national team.
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 125 went down:
0:15 – Orlando has its first winning streak of the season with a victory over Bay FC.
19:04 – The mailbagbox takes us into the summer break.
32:45 – The USWNT heads to Brazil to face a good team with several Pride players on it.
Podcasts
PawedCast Episode 536: USMNT-Senegal, OCB-Chattanooga, and More
OCB picks up another home win, the USMNT beats Senegal, and more.
With Orlando City off until mid-July, we start this week’s show with a brief discussion of the United States Men’s National Team’s friendly win over Senegal on Sunday. Former Lion Alex Freeman continues to impress at the international level, and the U.S. was able to hang with a good African side despite blowing a lead and changing most of the squad at halftime. It may not mean much for the World Cup, but it’s good to see the USMNT playing tough against good sides from around the world. Germany is up next.
We then turned our attention toward OCB’s win over Chattanooga at home on Sunday. The Young Lions threw away their early lead before halftime, but then they sprung to life in the second half and dominated the second half, scoring four unanswered goals to win 5-2. We break down OCB’s win, which sprung the team toward the top of the Eastern Conference table.
Our mailbagbox asked us which OCB players might play well enough to earn first-team minutes after the World Cup break. 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.
After the mailbagbox, we prepare for OCB’s upcoming match with Carolina Core FC. The Young Lions have a chance to keep things rolling against one of the teams low in the Eastern Conference. We discuss where the teams are relative to one another in the table and which players OCB will need to keep tabs on.
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. 536 went down:
0:15 – The USMNT picked up an impressive win over Senegal and OCB continues to score goals, hanging five on Chattanooga on Sunday.
17:50 – Our mailbagbox takes an interest in the Young Lions.
26:11 – OCB welcomes Carolina Core to Kissimmee on Sunday. Can the Young Lions keep rolling along?
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