9/23 Portland Thorns Preview - Hello Kitty Night
Mario: In the stadium for some
free tickets, free tickets, free
stickers,
Angela: Dang, like that?
Mario: find us in the
stadium for free stickers,
photos,
we're falling apart,
Angela: There's like 13 more seconds.
Hi, everyone, and welcome to Casual
FC, an Angel City preview pod.
I'm your host, Angela Morales, with
my emotional support, Capri Suns,
and I'm here with my slightly under
the weather, forever pushing through,
father of two children, Mario Salazar.
Mario: two germ factories, honestly.
It's the be I,
Angela: It's the start of school.
Mario: parents of young kids out there
and all the teachers out there know
exactly what's going on, you know,
it's the start of school, it's hot
as balls outside, but it's still,
like, flu season, like, no matter
what, it's just germ season right now,
Angela: Yeah,
Mario: surprisingly, Maddie has not
gotten sick yet, so knock it on wood.
Angela: come on.
Let's go immune system.
Mario: And then,
Angela: Yeah, fingers crossed that holds.
Mario: But, my son Everett is He's
younger, he's in TK, but he's also,
with that, he is now, for the first
time, being exposed to an LAUSD
Angela: Oh,
Mario: where,
Angela: that's true because he was a
COVID baby and just got to stay home
and not have to deal with other people.
Mario: right at the beginning
of the pandemic, and like,
Angela: Oh, that'll do it.
That'll do it.
Mario: school, but it was still, like,
seven kids in his class, and now he's
in a class of 20 with, like, Three other
classes of TK and Kindergarten, yeah.
Lots of germs.
Angela: Yeah, I hope you have bought stock
in like Lysol and Clorox and all of that.
Mario: C packets are on like
Amazon repeat, like, they
just, they come every month.
Angela: Subscribe and save.
quick note before we start, Recording.
we're recording, but like, before we get
into the nitty gritty of the episode,
we're recording this on Tuesday,
September 17th, which is like the
national register your butt to vote day.
And we touched on it a little bit
last episode, but go do it or check
your registration status and make sure
that if you're in a area where they're
doing weird things to the voter rolls,
that you're still registered to vote.
It's incredibly important.
Your local election is.
Honest to God, the most important thing
that you don't think is important, House
Reps, State Senate, Federal Senate,
like, all of this is so important.
It's not just the President.
Everybody's up for re election.
Everybody is trying to convince you
that they're good to do their job.
So keep them to it.
If they're bad at their job, don't
let them have their job again.
This is the one time we have a little
bit of power to be like, hey, you suck.
Dip.
Like I said last episode,
it's super important to me.
If you have any questions,
please reach out.
we've been posting stuff about
voting and we will continue to
because it is very important.
That's all.
That's my little baby soapbox.
Mario: a few minutes to check your voter
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: if it's not up to date,
then you can do it right away.
not a big deal.
Do it.
You'll get the mailer.
You'll get to start looking at
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: you know, make yourself a
cheat sheet when you get there.
And then,
Angela: Yeah.
And as we get closer, we'll
probably put together like, here
are our favorite voter guides.
Here's where you can get more information
that you just want to research yourself.
Like we.
it is pertinent that you participate
in your local government.
Otherwise, you don't have one
because those rights get taken away.
with that said,
let's talk about our next match
against the Portland Thorns.
It's coming up on Monday,
our favorite day of the week,
Monday, September 23rd at BMO.
It's a home game.
It's a night game.
I've been asking for this, but it's
Mario: on a Monday.
Angela: I wish it was a Monday.
Partially because it's our
normal recording day and
this jacks up our schedule.
Secondly, because my
ass gets up at like 4.
45 in the morning and I'm delusional
by 7pm, which is why the last
few episodes have been freaking
shenanigans, so I'm derailed.
I have no attention span, I
have no energy, and I'm just
Hold none for dear life.
Mario: Oh.
Why we chose to, like, make it a
normal thing to release on Wednesdays,
I don't know, but that's just how it
Angela: I don't know.
But kickoff is at 7pm.
The game will be streaming on our
least favorite place in the whole
wide world, CBS Sports Network.
And also Bally Sports.
Which is somewhere.
I don't know if you can make it
to somewhere to watch the game.
If you can't make it to BMO, do
that, because, or call your friends.
Mario: And
Angela: Torrent, I don't know.
Mario: check the listings like the
day of, because whenever it's on Bally
Sports, up being on some other network,
Angela: Ballet Sports has started being
absorbed now by other networks because
they, I think they declared bankruptcy.
Something happened earlier in the season.
I don't remember.
It's been a long few months.
the game will also be on iHeartRadio
with our buddies Isaac and Tracy.
deaf listen there if you're on the road.
or, can't make it or out of town
or something, that'll also be
in Spanish on Tu Liga Radio.
What is that?
Tu Liga Radio, okay, anyway,
Mario: It
Angela: on the AM station,
that was so weird.
Mario: me every time, whenever
we say it, and I always end up
Angela: It's so hard to say, Tu
Liga Radio, but, or, Tu Liga Radio,
that, wow, I'm so sorry, that
Mario: That's all
Angela: I promise I speak Spanish.
Yes, absolutely.
Monday is also a very special match.
homegirl Hello Kitty is going
to have her first like U.
S.
Mario: Woo!
Angela: women's sporting
event night, our game.
So the queen of Sanrio, Hello Kitty.
There's so much.
Like so much is happening on Monday
night that we had to break it
into both of us talking about it.
It's not just like, hey, it's
Hello Kitty, you get a cool thing.
No.
Mario: the small British child.
Angela: What?
Mario: Yeah, Hello Kitty.
Hello Kitty's not a kitty.
Angela: Wait, what?
Mario: a little British girl.
Angela: Mario, no.
What?
What the hell are you
saying to me right now?
I grew up a Sanrio kid.
I literally have a note that said,
okay, Hello Kitty's cool, but like,
I wish she was bringing her friends
Keroppi and Pochacco and Badtz-maru
because those were my homies growing up.
But excuse me, what?
She's British?
She's not Japanese.
What?
Since when?
Mario: forever.
And this was also news to
me maybe a couple years ago.
I think a couple years ago I saw
something where they were like,
yeah, she's a little British girl.
She's not.
Angela: That is a lie.
I don't know what to do.
I, what?
Even, what in the world.
I'm like, what?
My conception of reality has
just been blown to pieces.
I'm crying because I'm laughing so hard,
I'm not crying because I'm like, upset.
No, like, Hello Kitty, Sanrio, like
the Sanrio collection of characters
is like, Like, I remember the year
my mom took me to the Sanrio store
to do my back to school shopping.
It was like the splurge fun year.
I had a Keroppi backpack.
Everything was Keroppi.
Occasionally Pochacco.
And then, like, fourth, fifth
grade is when I transitioned
into being, like, moody.
And was like, oh, Bats
Maru is my penguin homie.
I'm a ride or die for those three.
But, anyway, Pre match at the street
fair, so outside of BMO, from 430 to
6, there will be a friendship bracelet
making station, there will be photo
backdrops to take pictures with like
step and repeat situations, and first
come first serve, so get your butt there
early if this is super important to you.
Your girl Hello Kitty is gonna
be there for a meet and greet.
like,
will she talk?
Like, is she I need to hear
the British accent now.
Like, I'm so I don't know what's going on.
Mario: I'll send you the info.
I'll send you the
Angela: Please, you're gonna need to post
it as well once this episode goes live.
Because people are gonna be like, liar.
Absolute lies.
Mario: okay.
Angela: No.
I'm
Mario: inside the stadium.
So the gates will
Angela: so shook.
What
Mario: devolve into Shannata said.
All right.
So inside the stadium, the
gates are going to open,
Angela: changed my life?
Mario: are going to open at 530.
The game, the kickoff
is going to be at seven.
As we all know, traffic, work, most people
are going to get there by like seven.
If that, but, if you do get a
chance to go early, there's pre
match stuff inside the stadium.
there will be a Hello Kitty bow
and ears paper crown giveaway.
There will also
Angela: What?
Mario: more Hello Kitty photo
backdrops throughout the concourse.
I'm wondering if they're just
going to move the concourse.
Angela: Who knows?
Mario: There's also a Season
Ticket Member Meet and Greet.
details to come.
As
Angela: year old right now.
Mario: Season Ticket Member,
have not received anything.
I have not received anything yet.
And this is Tuesday, the 17th.
It's,
Angela: We'll find out.
Mario: And this is all from
the Angel City website.
I'm not making any of this up.
you know, there will be some pre game
on field, ceremonies with Hello Kitty.
I'm guessing she's going to get a
shirt, get a kit with like some,
like, Hello Kitty on it or something.
Live trivia for the Hello Kitty fans,
there's going to be a friendship cam
on the board a fan photo submission,
you know, it's probably going to be
that QR code thing that you can do and,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: share.
If you bought a special, this is one
of those special ticket events also,
so if you bought a special ticket
for the Hello Kitty night, there is
a Hello Kitty blanket, and if you are
a season ticket holder who emailed
to get that blanket, you would have
had a confirmation email by now.
If you did, they're completely sold out.
Sorry, we're dropping this
Angela: That's not surprising.
Yeah.
Mario: But
Angela: yeah.
Also, we, I don't know if you got
the email today, but there, the Iron
Fan situation has been announced.
And if you got your email,
they are encouraging you to
get to the final three games.
Because if you do Or
maybe this is just for me.
I don't even know.
Oh,
Mario: to all the games.
Angela: okay, as an iron fan,
which granted, I have not been
able to do the last two seasons.
I went to a wedding there
in the first season.
I graduated from grad school last year.
So apparently this year,
I didn't go anywhere.
For those of you who are iron fans,
and those who aren't, who want to
know what that means, it means just
like an iron woman, you've been there
every game you've played, like you've
played every minute of every game.
That's not like an iron player.
For fans, it's, Every game, or every
home game, you're there, you show up,
so if you make it to the last three
games, then, you'll be entered to join
other fans during Fan Appreciation Day
on October 20th, and be featured in
some incredible on field opportunities.
And you can submit, in the email
they sent the submission form to
submit photos to play back during
the game, so they have a head start.
So yeah, if you've made it to
every game so far, check it out,
make sure you check your email.
I'm really bad at following
through on stuff like this,
I'm gonna try really hard.
Mario: We're gonna take a
Angela: I'm actually proud of myself.
Mario: to take a bunch of pictures
with just casual FC everything.
Angela: Yep, just laying
in a bed of stickers.
Like what was that, American Beauty or
whatever where she's like in all the
rose petals and they're falling on her?
Oh my god, promo for next season.
Just stickers, we have so many.
Mario: And I just got
Angela: But hey, I gave some
away tonight, so it works out.
Mario: notification that our
reprint is coming right now.
So,
Angela: go ahead.
Mario: not only were the stickers slow
to get here where I wanted to get them
before the watch party, totally derailing
from what we were supposed to be talking
about, but all the stickers that we
Design and printed for the watch party.
They never showed up.
we need to make a Capri Sun one later.
they showed up late and they also
showed up not what we expected.
they were a little thin.
They're still great stickers.
If you got one, they're amazing.
Angela: We have high standards.
Mario: so after talking to the
printer, they're reprinting them.
and, we're getting a whole new batch and
there was 600 stickers in the first order.
So there's another 600 coming.
Angela: So we need to one, get more fans.
Two, Make it rain, and
three, get more fans.
Mario: So that's the whole, you know,
if you stick all the way to the end,
I'm going to say it now, because
if you don't stick all the way to
the end, a friend about the pod.
It brings us good luck and
we send it to the team.
We send it, pack it up
and right, right there.
Angela: And it might earn
you a sticker or a hundred.
Like,
Mario: okay.
All right.
award.
I didn't have like a full chaos
award cause we were going to talk
about other stuff once we get to it.
I, I did put for my kind of chaos
award and let me know if you agree.
It's probably
Angela: yes.
Mario: is my
Angela: I do, I agree.
Mario: It's permutation season.
Angela: on the text, yeah, based on the
text you sent me earlier about this, yes.
Mario: It is permutation.
Angela: pew!
Mario: which means it is the time of year
where every single match, every single
week we're gonna be like, so and so will
make the playoffs if this happens, and
that happens, and this person stands on
one leg, and the temperature reaches 90
degrees Houston, and we're like, huh.
Angela: And the fourth level tiebreaker
is somebody ate a hard boiled egg.
Like, it's bonkers over here.
Mario: love it.
And honest,
was it the best use of my time?
You know, I'm gonna say Other
people may not agree, but I,
Angela: Were you happy?
Yes.
Mario: I ended up building my own
little, I already have my standings
board, which has formulas already
built in the season progresses of who
automatically makes it into the playoffs.
but now I have my own little permutation
board where if I pick the scores,
For the next week, the next couple
weeks, I can see how that changes
the table and who's going to make it.
We'll talk about that once
we get to the standings.
Angela: friends, this means that I now
get to rein Mario in before he goes
down the, okay, if it's 0 0, then this.
If it's 0 1, it's this.
If it's 1 0, it's this.
Get ready.
There's gonna be a lot of numbers
thrown at you over the next few weeks.
I don't know.
I don't know.
It's bonkers over here in general.
this just gets more fun.
Mario: Oh, yeah.
Angela: look around the league,
congratulations to the Washington
Spirit for clinching a playoff spot.
the next batch to qualify we'll
get to when we talk more standings
and things in a little bit.
But over the weekend, The North
Carolina Courage and Bay FC matched
up and wound up in a draw at 1 1.
Orlando and Kansas City matched
up for their ERAs weekend.
Really quick, I just need to talk
about this because it's cool.
Orlando, wait, was it Orlando?
No.
Yes, Orlando sent the social media
team at Kansas City, like the Orlando
social team, sent Kansas City social
team like friendship bracelets, like
Taylor Swift friendship bracelets.
It's like ORL, heart, Casey, like it was
very cute and like wrote a whole bunch of
punny Taylor Swift notes and then Kansas
City was like right back at you and did
something similar and it's just cute.
I'm not the biggest Taylor Swift fan.
I think I'm like not her demographic,
one, because a lot of reasons.
But I'm not going to get into
that because I don't want
Swifties taking down our podcast.
But anyway, it was cute
and I loved it for them.
The Chicago Red Stars beat Portland
1 0, San Diego beat Utah 2 1.
The Washington Spirit beat.
The Dash, 3 0, which, we've talked
about it every matchup over the last
two years, about, or like two seasons
with the Dash, they need consistency
in their coaching staff, they need
consistency in their front office,
and it's a whole hot trashful, like, a
dumpster fire worth of bullshit right now.
I saw a Twitter thread.
They've had 32 matches since
2022 without a head coach, like
an official, like an interim or,
we don't know what's happening.
Apparently, Fran Alonso, their
current quote unquote head coach,
is dealing with a health issue, but
Nobody really knows what's going on.
And this last week, Diana Ordonez spoke
out and was like, We need a coach.
Like, either come back or don't.
It's fine.
And I get where she's coming
from, but if it is a health
issue, like, I feel really bad.
But also, why haven't they
found, like, an interim?
Or, like, a better situation
Mario: it's,
Angela: for these players?
Mario: like anybody.
Anybody needs stability.
You're gonna need
stability to progress, you're gonna need
stability to succeed, you're gonna need
stability to just know you're doing.
Like, the idea of building a system
or playing in a system or playing
with a
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: that stability.
If you haven't had that, no reason
why, you know, or there's an app.
It's exactly the reason why the Dash
are where they are, like at the bottom.
Angela: Yeah.
It's unfortunate because they're
a fantastic team overall.
mean, granted Paige is there, so
already they are one up for me,
but yeah, like they, they're a
good team and there's no reason why
they should be bottom of the table.
But when you put into perspective
everything that's gone on coaching
staff wise, it makes complete sense.
Which is a big bummer.
And then last but not least, least,
Gotham beat the Reign 2 0 and that
closes out our recap for this last week.
And then it brings us to
what happened in our game.
Mario: Yeah.
Angela: Which
Yeah, so the good thing, we matched up
against Louisville, before the game,
there is video of Christen Press, like,
walking the scene of the crime, having a
moment on the pitch, pre game, by herself,
for those who don't know, this is the
stadium, Lynn Family Stadium, or whatever
it's called, where she was injured,
Mario: Oh,
Angela: ACL disappeared, yeah, like
legit, I think it was Katie Zelem posted
a video of CP on the pitch, just in her,
like, travel uniform, walking around
barefoot as she does, having a moment,
and as somebody who has done that, it's
important, because it's scary to go back
to the place that hurt you, literally.
Yeah, it's like, ugh, you gotta, you
have to like, sage it out and like, clear
those vibes your your brain as well.
That was dope.
Syd Leroux hit 12, 000
minutes played, which is rare.
Mario: that's a feat.
Angela: Yeah, that's, that's big time.
So those who watch, the final score
was 2 1 racing, Meggie Dougherty Howard
scored a freaking banger of a goal
in the 18th minute.
So
good.
Mario: Just buried it.
Angela: beautiful rebound of a goal.
And then eight minutes later, Bethany
Balser, who was a trade from Seattle
that we said it's weird not talking
about her last week, kicked us in
the ass and equalized the game.
And then
a whole half later, Janine Becky,
another trade, kicked us in the ass
at the 68th minute to win the game.
I understand what Sarah Gorden was
saying that we are a second half
team, like a second half of the season
team, that's when we hit our stride.
But I think.
This season, I think too much
damage was done in the first half.
Like, we're on the cusp, but I don't know
Mario: We,
Angela: how long we're
going to stay there.
Mario: yeah,
Angela: And it makes me really sad, guys.
Mario: year's,
Angela: I don't like to say these things.
Mario: last year's Like, we all
know, and we can, we kinda knew that
even last year, it could've been, it
straight up could've been a fluke of
a season where first half, complete
dogshit, second half, the switch and
Angela: Coaching change.
Mario: right?
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: get back to this year, we
thought lights were on, and then
we're plagued with so many variables
Angela: So many injuries.
Mario: so many times, right?
Like, injuries, player
availability, like, we've had
a,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: year
Angela: Yes.
Mario: of the years that
Angel
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: It's just been
this unfortunate mix of
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: the health the right time.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: one player got healthy, another
player wasn't, and then when they got
healthy, someone else wasn't, which
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: all the pieces kept coming
on and off the chessboard, and like,
you, like, you couldn't properly play,
Angela: Mhm.
Mario: us a lot at the
beginning, and so it gave
Angela: Mhm.
Mario: previous season vibes, right?
Like, we were losing, and we
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: We thought we were going
to get this bounce after the
Olympic break and we did and then,
Angela: some shit happened
and I don't know what it is.
It's incredibly
frustrating for us as fans.
Like, I love this team and I will
never not say that I love this team.
I can be frustrated and
that's where I'm at.
But I know too, like, and we've both
said this before, as frustrated as we
are, the team, a hundred times as much.
Because I know it's clicking in training.
That's obvious.
That part is like, oh, it's
there, but something is happening,
Mario: know,
Angela: I don't know, they know, yeah,
it's one of those things where it's like,
I know they want it, I want so much for
them, and I know they want it too, and
it's very reminiscent of the Orlando Pride
team from a few seasons ago, where they
had Ali Krieger, Alex Morgan, Syd Leroux,
Ali Riley, Marta, and Taylor Korniak,
who's now Taylor Flynt, on Louisville,
which, yeah, Again, where did she go?
When did she change her name?
But that's, you can rewind
to the M Woods conversation.
But they had a slew of just
top notch, amazing players.
And those are just like the big names,
not just the league stallboard names or
like the players that are just solid.
Those are the highlight
names or highlighted names.
And for some reason, it
didn't click for them.
Like that team should have run the table.
It should have won every championship
for like five years and it just didn't.
Mario: we, we even talked about having
all the big names and having all the
top players does not a team make, right?
Angela: But this team like built together.
That's the thing.
Like, with the exception of
Kriegs and Cap, they were
there for a minute together.
It wasn't just like a, Frankenstein
Mario: Yeah.
yeah,
Angela: But yeah, like, you can put
Superstar on Superstar on Superstar,
and sure, you might win a game here
or there, but it doesn't mean you
have, like, actual team chemistry.
But man, I don't know what's going on.
I do know that we need
another true center back.
That has a little bit more
offensive inclination.
That's how I'm gonna put that.
I don't think it's gonna happen
this late in the season, but I think
in the offseason, that's something
the team really needs to look for.
Like, Maddie Curry, killin it.
Jazz Spencer, killin it.
M.
A., killin it.
Like, every Everybody who's
stepped in is killin it.
I realize what it is with Megan Reid.
After this last game, she
is an amazing defender.
Defends like her life depends on it.
Just is in the right place.
She's so good.
But what's happening now is teams are
realizing she's not very offensive
minded and she'll pass back.
And so they know, oh, if we're on,
her side, she's going to pass back
to Didi in this case, which slows our
offensive, like offensive attack way down.
And then brings our offense to a
standstill and makes it easier to
intercept passes because they're shorter.
They're not like these big, long
balls that like something like
Abby Dahlkamper is known for.
If you watch the recap episode with
Abby D at all, you talk, like you hear
Christen and Tobin be b b boot it.
Like, she, that woman can
kick a frickin soccer ball.
Like, Sarah Gordon, too.
Like, the defensive line, You can launch
a ball, but I think that's what it is
that's of slowing down the offense, is
that Megan isn't as offensively minded
as a lot of the other players are.
Mario: points in this game and the
game before where, and plenty of
other games throughout the season,
but really these last two games
where they were passing back, keeping
it within that back line for a good,
like, Two minutes, minute and a
half,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: Like you were saying, it
slowed the game so much to the point
where you're just like, all right,
what
Angela: Please?
Yeah.
Mario: like, yeah,
Angela: and cooked dinner in
the second half of this game.
Mario: It's
Angela: That's, and I was like,
okay, whatever, Eva's just
like giving me highlights.
And I'm like, sure.
Mario: it's like,
oh,
Angela: And this,
Mario: new Bob's Burgers.
Maybe I'll go watch that.
Like,
Angela: right,
Mario: like,
Angela: right.
And I hate it.
Like, I hate that because I'm not
a person who leaves game early.
I'm not that person.
I will stay to the death of myself.
You know, like, I do not leave early.
Mario: stick around to the, like, 14th
Angela: Yeah,
Mario: I
Angela: absolutely.
I'm not leaving early.
What if I miss something?
You know, like, absolutely not.
I'm there till half the parking lot clears
out because I don't want to sit in that.
Like, no.
But the thing I realized this weekend
is that when we slow our offense
down as much as we do, whether it's
habit, accidental, whatever the
reasoning, it doesn't really matter.
But like, The intense slowing of
our offense means we lose our bite
because this team is fast, we're
fast up the flanks, we're fast in the
middle, we're fast if you get it over
the top, but if that doesn't happen,
ain't shit to work with, you know?
And it's like, dang, that's such a
bummer, especially those two games
after the break, like we got to see
this team running on all cylinders
and and pushing and pushing.
Or three games, really, because it was
It's the Juarez game and the two after
that, like, it was like, oh, okay, sick.
We're back.
we're good.
Mario: we like,
Angela: And then the last two, it's just
been a bummer and it makes me really sad.
And I think we really need shake
some things up, which you'll get
to because you have thoughts.
So many thoughts.
Mario: first thought is, I think this
is another match where we were not so
much blatantly as the previous one.
but we were screwed by the ref again.
I know that is like the seemingly
cop out way of like, oh, we
lost, it was the ref's fault.
you,
Angela: No, but this is one of those.
Yeah.
Mario: when fans when you, a ref by name.
Angela: By name.
Mario: to know the refs.
The refs are just
supposed
Angela: Nope.
Mario: officials.
They're just supposed to be there.
They're not the famous people.
When they become the famous
people, when they become the names,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: bad.
Angela: And when I know
your first and last name,
Mario: a good thing.
Angela: No, in the Discord for this game,
like, two minutes in, I was the one that
was like, oh, Chesky's calling this game?
Great.
Super.
Mario: people chimed
in with like, ah, shit.
Like,
Angela: Damn it.
it's not even like, oh, we were
going to lose because of this ref.
Like, oh, no, this is going to be a
poorly officiated game for both teams.
Because every game she calls is bonkers.
It's NWSL after dark at 2 p.
m.
It's no cards, and then weird
cards, and then, um, What?
Mario: thing is that
everything was, called,
Angela: Nothing makes sense.
Mario: there's something to be said,
and we've said this before, about,
like, a ref being shit for both sides.
the ref was shit for both sides, then both
of you are still playing on equal ground.
But,
Angela: Yep.
Mario: you get this, like, weird kind
of inconsistency on calls being weird,
yellow cards for seemingly stupid
non offenses, to not getting carded
for other, like, like, that should
have been, that was an orange card,
like, that should have been, you know?
Like It, it throws everything out of
whack, and, one of the, Borges, Borges?
Yeah, I think
Angela: Oh, Ari Borges.
Yeah.
Oh, she.
Mario: to the max in this game.
Angela: That is Ari Borges.
She usually keeps herself
in check, but she knew.
Mario: but
Angela: She knew she
could press those buttons.
Yeah.
Mario: get anything.
And there was plenty of times where like
Angel City was just like, what the hell?
And Messiah earned a beautiful, like,
Angela: Yeah.
I applauded in, in.
Mario: I a little like Mm
Angela: Yeah.
It's an atta girl.
Mario: she bodied gorgeous, to the
point where, like, when she got
back
Angela: Just like bonk.
Mario: she got back up, she had
her own arms up, and she was, like,
doing the old lady walk, like,
Angela: Yeah.
Like, oh, my back.
Yeah.
Mario: like, it was a straight
up, like, Check yourself type
body check, because it was,
Angela: Like, hit me again.
Yeah.
Mario: she was fouling Messiah.
She was fouling every other player
that she was coming in contact with.
She was playing dangerously
and So it was like,
Angela: that was the
thing in the first half.
Sorry, kinda sorta derailed.
Who knows?
Bethany Bolser legitimately
high booted Madison Hammond in
the head and didn't get carded.
Oh, a foul.
No?
Mario: Nothing.
Ugh.
Angela: What?
Mario: yeah,
Angela: sorry, that was another,
like, what the hell non call.
Mario: this is what I'm talking about is,
if,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: if it's a consistent shit ref
for both sides, then you're
still playing on equal ground.
When it's this weird, like, like, I don't
know, I'm rolling a, like, D& D 12 sided
die to be like, I'm gonna call this one.
Like, no, that's
not.
Angela: Yeah.
Roll for initiative.
It's like roll for a call.
Any call.
Mario: yeah.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: So it's just stupid.
Okay, so that was the first thing.
The second thing, and
it's my biggest gripe.
We've been talking about it a while.
And
I have gathered my thoughts.
We're recording a day later than usual,
keeping the, keeping those thoughts in
everything I want.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna preface this.
It's not caveat.
It's not caveat.
You know, I'm just prefacing this
with, everything I'm saying is about
the position, it's not about the
Angela: Yeah.
Not the person.
Mario: There's certain aspects
about the person, but it's about
the, really about the position, and
this is my Keeper Soapbox, okay?
I might even do like a little title.
Woo ding!
Angela: Yeah.
And this is something beat around
the bush for a few episodes of like,
please don't make me say this out loud.
And I think after this last game,
it's a bummer, kind of got to say it.
Mario: DeeDee lost, and if not,
should lose, the number one
spot, the number one keeper.
Now, say this
knowing that keeper position
is possibly the only position
where you are,
you're playing in that
position till you lose it.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: other field position, day in,
day out, on the practice field, you
can lose your spot that day, right?
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: You're not guaranteed a
start from one game to another.
Angela: No.
Mario: might be, something might
not be clicking in practice or
whatever, and Someone else is right
behind you to take your spot, right?
Keeper, on the other
hand, is very much a trust
position.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: And you don't,
Angela: It's earned.
Mario: you
kind of,
Angela: Yeah.
It's like earned in the off season.
Mario: you don't mess with it.
And then you make your
decision and you go.
And the thing is, you
go with ups and downs.
you don't, mess with it.
Like, swapping out
keepers, not a real thing.
Angela: No.
Mario: but, Angelina, okay, so
let's go back to the beginning.
Angelina, we were both, we're both
big Angelina fans, we wanted to see
her play some more, and we were really
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: she started the season.
started the season, we all
had high hopes for her.
Unfortunately, the first three
matches and the only three matches
that she got to play in this season
were against some really hard teams.
So she had two losses
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: title.
She played against Bay FC in our
first match, which, at the beginning
of the season, they were lights out.
Angela: Yeah.
Beginning of the season,
they were untouchable.
Mario: they dipped a little bit, but
they're still like coming back at it.
They're above us in the table.
Beginning of the season,
they were lights out, right?
They were just winning.
And
Angela: So fast.
So fast.
Mario: They've either won
or
Angela: I don't think so either.
Yeah.
Mario: And then
we
Angela: I don't think so.
Mario: Orlando.
Where the hell is
Angela: Oh, They got their
first draw this last week.
We said it.
Mario: yeah.
Okay.
Angela: I was like, wait a second.
Yeah, first draw 20 weeks in.
That's insane.
But yeah, then we put frickin Orlando
Mario: where's Orlando?
Freaking gonna break the
Angela: top of the table.
Yeah.
Mario: Already broke the
record of everything.
Qualifying and we're going to
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: Like, yeah.
And then we also played the current,
again, another lights out team.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: At the beginning of the
season, we just talked about it.
team wasn't a hundred percent.
We had.
We had all our players semi healthy
to healthy, none the point where
they can play together and gel
Angela: Like there were injuries
we didn't find out about until
like a month ago, two months ago.
Mario: And so,
Angela: that players weren't playing
the first half of the season.
Mario: our backline wasn't
as strong as it is now.
Our midfield wasn't,
the big question in the offseason
was the midfield, that wasn't there.
Alyssa had the yips from
the
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: so like,
Angela: Whew.
Mario: everything, everything
was working against us.
And unfortunately worked against Angelina.
So after the third match,
she got pulled, right?
as a keeper, it's yours to lose.
Women fucking rocked it.
She immediately came
back and was like, what?
I've, I haven't left.
And
Angela: right.
Like, don't call this a comeback.
Mario: And
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: I remember we said.
It's hers to lose now,
like, her, that is her spot.
She is not
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: until she loses that.
And I feel like we've reached
the point where she's lost it.
it's,
there's multiple things
that are playing against us.
It's The constant backpassing to Didi when
we know that she doesn't have the feet.
She is an amazing keeper.
Her hands, her, like, hockey,
like, split saves, like, her
dives.
Angela: Her vision of the pitch.
Fantastic.
Mario: As
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: coming towards her.
So on a defensive mind.
Offensive mind
it looks like every time she
has the
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: yelling at someone, and like,
it's the only voice you can hear on the
broadcast as you hear DeeDee yelling,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: there was a goal, I don't
know if it was this one or the last
one, where like, as soon as the goal
happened, all you hear is DeeDee, like,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: look, you yelling at the
side ref that it's off, that's
not gonna change anything.
Like,
Angela: they're not gonna review it.
Yeah.
Mario: Yeah, I, she can't, we
know that she can't play out of
the back, like her, she's not the
greatest with her feet, and she's not
the distribution, picking the points,
and there were so many passes that
were short, so many passes back that
were short, so many like, gonna spend
like a minute or two in this back
area, and hopefully nobody comes
Angela: hmm.
Mario: oh shit.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: The, some of the errors that
lead, led to goals in this match, I think
were on Didi's part, some of the goals,
Angela: Yeah.
I know there was one where
she was off her line.
Mario: she was way, yeah,
there was
Angela: And it may
Mario: the one
that
Angela: she's way, way off.
Mario: where she
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: the offside thing, and it was, it
could
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: but, I forget who it was,
but someone tapped it in at the
very end, but the ball was already
over the line, either like a very,
like, very light, weak offside.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: Yeah.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: And then last game, we
played, and we showed up, we
got but we also got screwed
by the two goals that I think
DeeDee was responsible for, you
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: the penalty, and then,
again, she was caught off her,
caught flat footed, crossed it,
Angela: Oh, yeah, the Sarah Kingle.
Mario: it in front of her, she
was not in the right position, she
her weight was shifted the wrong
way, couldn't get back to it,
and they
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: Dinked it right
behind her and so we,
Angela: She's a bummer.
Like, I don't want to
have this conversation.
Yeah.
Mario: respect DeeDee and
she is a freaking wall.
And even when,
I think it was Ethan in the discord that
like made a suggestion for like a keeper
shirt, like as merch, I even thought
of like, like a bricklaying company
and DeeDee's name is going to be first.
It's going to be
the,
Angela: Yeah.
Like, Heritage Brick Lane
or something like that.
Yeah.
Mario: wall and she still is.
Some of these amazing saves that she
had in this last match, credible,
incredible, the only problem is of those
incredible saves came from her own errors.
Angela: Yeah, it's like I wish I
could piecemeal our keeper together
where it's like Didi's vision of
the pitch, Angelina's height, and
her ability to distribute the ball.
Like, there's so much I wish I
could just like cobble together
because I want all of them.
Like, I want everything put together.
Mario: so just
Angela: This is the most, sorry, I
totally interrupted you a million times.
This is the most like, why
can't everybody get along?
Like, moment I've ever
had in sports, I think.
I'm just like, but I don't
want, like, I don't want DeeDee
to feel bad about herself.
But like, I also want to change
something about the team.
And I think that's the thing.
But like, I feel bad saying that.
And I don't know, this
is a new feeling for me.
Mario: so again, we love DeeDee.
She is our number one, our day one.
She is
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: a wall on our back line.
I just think it's time
for, to try something new.
you know, the whole definition
of insanity of trying the same
thing
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: the, different results.
but yeah.
these losses are adding up, and we're
at the point of the season where we're
technically not out of the playoff race
just yet, but every single one of these,
the
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: widening and widening,
and we have some very important
games that we lose those games.
Done, right?
Like, we'll get to it, but
Angela: Yeah.
We basically need to win out
at this point.
For sanity, at least.
Mario: in, in almost the
mantra of the Summer Cup,
let's try some shit.
Angela: Yeah, let's get weird.
Mario: At this point,
we're out of the playoffs.
If we put Angelina in and we don't
make the playoffs, hey, we were
never in them in the first place.
Angela: I think this, the next few
weeks are gonna get real freaking weird.
Yeah, but we, ahead, go ahead.
Sorry, I'm just interrupting
all over the place.
Mario: wrap it up by saying,
like, you know, it is what it is.
And hopefully these, the tape, the
reviewing, the whatever they need to do,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: the field, gels, and
solidifies whatever holes they
have, and they can stop playing
backwards, it's like the goal's on
the other side, come on, let's go.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: yeah,
Angela: So we put up a prompt
after the game, per uge, to
some thoughts and feelings.
So this week's prompt
was mistakes on mistakes.
Thoughts as we start trailing
in the standings, like, how
you feeling, what you thinking?
Haiku Extraordinaire, Ethan came
in with, overall played fine?
Question mark?
M.
A.
taking names, late subs,
mid needs to play back.
yeah, M.
A.
is like, You wanna F around and find out?
You gon find out.
I, everybody who knows me and listens
to this show knows how much I love M.
A.
Like, I just, it's, she's
just refreshing to watch.
I, but yes, she is ready to fight.
Like, yes, and it's great.
Mario: was, I
Angela: Uh, we did make subs.
Mario: least one game where we saw her up
top and we were all really excited, like,
Angela: Oh, yes.
That one game, it was a 5 3 2 game.
Mario: Oh,
Angela: Like, the end of last season,
we're like, excuse me, what is happening?
Or beginning of this season, whatever.
Do that again.
Yeah.
Can't scout someone who
doesn't play that position.
Just saying.
but yeah, subs were made super late.
And, yeah.
Dustin said, play to the strengths.
I know we want a quote
unquote recognizable style,
but we have fast playmakers.
Stop messing about and get the ball
forward where they can do some damage.
Yes.
Didi can save the shit out of
the ball, but can't use her feet.
Don't force her into
positions to make mistakes.
Really happy with Alyssa, M.
A., MDH, and Emsley though.
Which, yeah, that's what it is.
It's like play to your strengths, put
people in situations where they're going
to succeed, like collectively as a whole,
which is what our whole soapbox was about.
Janthony wants to see Katie Zelem and
Kennedy Fuller on the pitch at the
same time, which would be awesome.
Kennedy hasn't played much lately.
I'm not sure why, but.
Maybe it's just rest because
the youths of it all.
And he said, we miss Gisele.
Mario: playing on the U20?
No, she's not playing on the
Angela: no.
he said we miss Gisele a lot more than I
thought we would have, which I agree with.
Mario: Yeah.
Angela: she's a good fresh legs
sub, but they're killing it.
in the U 20 World Cup,
so I don't hate that.
Mario: They just
beat
Angela: Alicia,
Mario: beat out Germany?
Angela: yeah.
In, oh, in like the comeback of all
comebacks, Germany was up 2 1, or 2 0.
We went 2 1, then we equalized, then
they went up 3 2, then we went and
equalized again, and then we went to
PKs, and then we beat them 3 1 in PKs.
Insane.
I didn't watch the match
because I didn't know it was on.
I probably was at work, but.
Um, Alicia sent a face in the
clouds emoji, which I agree.
Rachel Dee Dee, and like a crying emoji.
Yes, he wants everybody to stop
effing passing back to Deedee.
I feel so bad.
I hate that this is what this is coming to
and I don't like it and I don't know how
to fix it because it's not mine to fix.
And I'm just frustrated.
Mario: And
I,
Angela: said,
Mario: I
will
Angela: go ahead,
Mario: like, nothing in this
prompt was like, what did you
think about Didi's performance?
Like, you know, and
Angela: no,
Mario: a lot of these
responses include Didi.
you know,
ah,
Angela: ugh about it
because I know she does too.
Like, I think that's the thing for
me is that I know the frustration we
feel is felt by 100 fold by the team.
They know when they screwed up.
They know when things that they
were supposed to do didn't do
what they were supposed to do.
You know, like, you know that feeling
as a player, regardless of sport.
And I hate harping on it.
But I think this one was important because
I think it's time that we have to start
looking at other options just to salvage
the rest of the season offensively.
And for me, that's what it is.
It's not the defense.
It's the offense.
It's not her ability to block shots, it's
not her ability to keep, or like goal
keep, but it's the offensive transitions
that are slowing the collective
down that I think we need to like,
Last but not least, Jeff came
in, said I couldn't watch,
and was still disappointed.
What happened to the two
win team post Olympics?
Bro, me too.
We don't know either.
Mario: What happened
to the 7 0 Juarez team?
Um,
Angela: Can we bring
back the What Is game?
Like that?
Whoo!
The confidence booster.
Honestly.
Mario: out?
Can we like, give a score, give
a goal in each one of these?
Okay, because of what I did,
I
Angela: That'd be fantastic.
Mario: a tight 5.
Angela: All right, so we are now into
the standings, permutations, crazy time.
Let's go.
Mario: I think, maybe, we'll see.
We're almost at an hour already.
So like,
Angela: I know.
I know.
Mario: okay,
Angela: There's a good
amount to cut out, right?
Mario: so.
All right.
this point in the season, NWSL is probably
going to put something out next, by
tomorrow, if the playoffs started today.
So if we're looking at, the people
that are in the playoffs at the
moment, one through eight, we have
the Pride, Spirit, Gotham, Current,
Bay, Red Stars, Thorns, and Courage.
So it would be, the matchups would
be Pride, Bay, Spirit, Red Stars,
Gotham, Thorns, and Current, Courage.
Those are the top 8 right now.
Into the permutations, this next
match window, Gotham will clinch their
playoff berth if they straight out win.
Or, Bay loses.
If Bay loses, that means Orlando has won,
which most likely is going to be the case.
And with that, Orlando will clinch, not
only, they're already in the playoffs,
but they will clinch home field advantage.
They will clinch everything.
Angela: Oof.
Mario: will clinch a top four spot
and
then,
Angela: And listen, when that
happens, Orlando better show up.
This is one hell of a team you've got.
Mario: yeah, and then, Kansas
City will also clinch if Kansas
City win if the Wave wins.
Um, either result will cause Kansas
City to move on, so those are the
next ones, getting ready to cash
their ticket in for the postseason.
Uh, for, as for us, we're currently
in 10th place with 21 points.
We got lucky that, the rain lost
their match because that kept them
below us or else they would have
Angela: Yep.
Mario: us.
And that would have been another team
that we've had to battle through.
between us the Portland Thorns
who are currently in 6th place,
There's only a six point spread.
think starting fifth,
that's not reachable.
we're
not
Angela: No.
Mario: that, we're not talking in that
range because it's not going to happen.
Portland Thorns, to us, six point spread.
Guess who we still have to play twice?
By
the
Angela: times, two times.
Mario: a
Angela: you can't give me a
Fuji's reference and like let,
you think I'm gonna let it go?
Mario: Y Clap in there,
Angela: Yeah.
I am a woman of a certain age, Mario.
Mario: yeah, I got the
reference, like, right away.
Angela: Well, yeah,
Mario: okay, so yeah, six points.
We still face Portland twice
before the end of the season.
If we beat them twice, there are the
six points that we need to make up.
And it will be directly with the people
that were six points away, so it's huge.
Angela: I'm just saying that last
year we ended on a 5 1 scoreline and
a bicycle kick from Sydney Leroux.
We could do that again, y'all.
It would be really cool to
do that on a Monday night on
September 23rd at BMO at 7 p.
m.
I'm just saying.
Mario: opportunity,
Angela: wearing my Sid LaRue bike
shirt on Monday, I'm flying home from
Portland, or from like Oregon, I'll be
in Oregon, I'm gonna go wear an Angel
City gear to the airport, on a game
day, fly my happy ass back home, in
a Sid LaRue bike shirt with an Angel
City hat on, I'm known to wear merch.
I wore a LA Kings Stanley Cup
hat in Chicago the year they beat
the Blackhawks in, in the finals.
I have no qualms about that and
I will be repping my team flying
home from Portland that day.
So come on.
Mario: on, these matches
are gonna be huge.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: four out of the last
six matches that we have left.
There are above the line already.
There are teams that are above us.
four out of those last
six matches are Huge.
Um, the ones below us
can only just help us,
that's where we're at.
Angela: I know.
Mario: Alright, let's talk about the real
quick preview of the Portland Thorns.
It's a Monday match.
Angela: I promise we're a
preview matchup podcast.
I promise.
There's just been a lot to talk
about the last couple of weeks.
Mario: you know, okay, you know, negative
three, two, three, how you feeling about
this still being called a preview podcast?
Should we just name it
a Angel City podcast?
Just,
Angela: A podcast.
I still want to stick with previews.
We've just had a lot to talk about
the last couple of weeks, get,
we'll get back to our ways someday.
Maybe.
Who knows?
That's what the off season is for.
But coming up, we're
matching up against Portland.
Like I said, last time we saw them at BMO,
we hurt some feelings, and it was great,
and I would love for that to happen again,
because one, we'd win, and we need that.
Two, goal differential, we need that.
Three, morale, we absolutely need that.
And four, come on, it's fun.
It's really fun to score,
like, a bazillion goals.
Mario: Kitty there.
Hello Kitty can
rush
the
Angela: Yeah, come on, do not
disappoint a small British girl.
What?
Like, I'm still, I can't, I still cannot
fathom that Hello Kitty is not a cat.
I swear, if you're gaslighting me.
Divorce.
Podcast divorce.
Anyway, so, Thorns FC is coming to BMO.
this team is so frickin stacked.
I hate it so much, but I love it
because I really enjoy watching
the majority of these players.
We've got Christine Sinclair, Canadian
international, like, storied player,
generational player out of Canada.
Run's really weird, but that's
just me being a body nerd.
Sink may or may not re sign, we don't
know if she's ever gonna retire, if
she's retiring this season, nobody
She's hung up her boots internationally,
but not for the NWSL, I don't know.
you've got Hina Sagida, you've got
Like, they're cling, like, you have
such Good, Alexa Spohnstra, like,
they have so many good players.
I was like, who do I pick?
And I'm like, who's gonna be known?
we have a single shot of
espresso to talk about.
Sophia Smith, number
nine, forward, insane.
Um, I really don't want
to be a shruggy meme.
On Monday.
I don't want to be the recipient of that.
So if y'all could make sure she
doesn't get the ball, that'd be dope.
She is a fantastic scorer,
like genuinely prolific.
She just looks so peaceful on the
pitch, even though she's like,
going to hurt your feelings and
embarrass you at the same time.
Like, she's just like,
Mario: Smith is one of
the, Nike ad World Cup
players,
Angela: Oh, yeah.
Mario: Yeah.
Angela: Yeah.
The like scary one where she's just
like showing up in your shadows.
That's Sophia Smith.
That's how she plays.
Like, That is exactly it.
She's just threatening.
She doesn't have to do anything.
She could, she draws the defense
because she's just that good.
And that's, like, if you're
playing professional sports,
like, that's your job.
Your job is to just be a
threat regardless, defensively,
offensively, doesn't matter.
Um, Soph is just damn good.
She's part of Triple Espresso,
the front line for the U.
S.
national team.
So, recent gold medal winner.
Um, she's gonna have a prolific career.
She's still so young, like,
I'm like, oh, she's been in the league for
like, like, whatever, how many seasons?
I don't even know.
At this point, my brain is goop.
But then I'm right, Angela,
you're 38 years old.
you might be able to um, a
very young mom of Sophia Smith.
Like, it's one of those things where
you're just like, Ew, I'm an adult.
that's the thing when you realize
how young some of these players are.
It's like, gross.
Who allowed this?
she's she's fantastic
to she's just so good.
And she's very, like, She's a silent
assassin in the same way that Christen
Press is, where you're like, oh yeah,
good, so good, and then all of a
sudden you're like, oh my god, like,
oh, shit, like, it hurt my it's like
secondhand embarrassment because I
got my own feelings hurt and nothing
happened to me, but I saw what happened
on the pitch and, ooh, are you okay?
Like, do we need to call your mom?
Did somebody come pick you up?
That's the vibe, like,
Mario: mom.
Angela: I've seen her score on some
people where it's just like, damn.
Oh, are you okay?
Like, like a 9 1 1, I'd like to report
a murder, like that kind of thing.
So yeah, do you need
somebody to call your mom?
Mario: It's that one meme of like the kid
just like, and then all, everybody's like,
Angela: Yep.
Yeah, exactly.
Um, following that we've got,
Maka, so Mackenzie Arnold from
the Australian national team.
Number 30, a new acquisition to the
Thorns post Olympic break, so she's
their new keeper since Bella Bixby is on
maternity leave, which I guess is fine.
I say that because like,
she's good, baby's healthy,
they're having so much fun.
Um, I'm grateful that we don't have
to relive a backheel from Bella Bixby
because that was some hot garbage that
nobody enjoyed, but I feel like Angel
City did get some revenge in that.
Mario: on the field so
that
we
Angela: Last season.
Yeah, again, we need another.
Yeah.
But Mackenzie Arnold is so good.
So good.
Um, she's just another brick wall.
She makes the goal smaller.
She is a fantastic steward of
the sport as well in Australia.
she's fun to watch in the box.
It's just frustrating
because she's very good.
In general, I have, this is the like
one position on defense in soccer that I
have a beef with because I love watching
good keepers block shots, but like, bruh,
Mario: going to be
blocking
Angela: not against my team.
But yeah, stop,
quit it, please.
but no, I'm excited to see her
play live just because of like, Her
international career, just, she's
just great, super, super great.
And I'm really, this is just a
completely uh, standpoint, but I
am very happy that they're finally
starting to sell keeper kits.
Like, it was hard, I don't know, like,
I don't get it, Nike, you make
the kits, just make them for
everybody, including Brianna Scurry.
Mario: it's a weird thing.
Um, I know that I, but I also know
that like the MLS like doesn't.
I don't think they
always sell keeper kits,
Angela: No,
Mario: I think
it
Angela: it's across sports.
Mario: I mean they do sell keeper
kits, it's just, you have to,
I think it's one of those things
where like, you have to hit a
certain threshold for like, the
team to be able to do that, think
Angela: That's so stupid.
Mario: this, slightly derailing, I
think this year there was, the MLS
finally okayed having third kits,
Angela: That's right.
Mario: only A handful of teams got the
third kits because they've hit thresholds
of sales in order to get the third kit.
So there's out of the like
Angela: That's fair.
Mario: 50 teams, there's only 30, but of
MLS,
Angela: Feels like 50 though.
Mario: of the MLS teams, I think
it was only like a total of like
6 or 8 that got, 3rd kits, I
think
Angela: Dang.
Mario: and LAFC got um, Miami got
one, of course, because they went
and sold a ton of Messi shirts.
Um,
Angela: know they went from
0 to 9 million with Messi.
Mario: but, the, I like the kits.
I still think the funniest
thing is that they went for this
crazy, like, retro MLS vibe.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: three or four out of
the, like, half of the teams
that were, you know, Picked
our newer teams that didn't exist.
Exactly.
Angela: original ones.
It's very funny.
Mario: it's funny, but, they're nice.
And, you know, but again, goes back
to like, if we want kits, like,
Angela: Yeah.
And the thing is, I think Retailers
are having trouble figuring out women's
sports because it's not like, oh, we
just want the most famous players kit.
It's like, no, I want the most
obscure player because I've met
them and I love them and they're
a great addition to my community.
So like, sell the kits.
Same thing with women's basketball.
Sell the jerseys.
Mario: what
they,
Angela: Like,
Mario: should have gotten in the CBA?
Angela: I should have to pay
extra for a custom jersey when
the player is on the team.
Ooh,
Mario: have got, the ability for
teams to find their own jerseys.
this,
Angela: scandalous.
Mario: BS,
Angela: next one.
Mario: this BS, templated
Angela: Nike only.
Yeah.
that'll that'll be when we know
the league made it when it's like
Nike, Adidas, uh, Asics, Umbro.
Like,
Mario: a
de
Angela: you know,
Mario: imagine an Angel City deodora.
Angela: figured out the women's
sports market because all of
us are like, take my money.
Here, I will give you my money,
but you have to give me a product.
And they're like, oh, that's hard.
And I'm like.
It's really not.
We're coming up with the stupidest
merch ideas and people are buying them.
Like, it's not that difficult to sell
the kit of the team that you sponsor.
Like, I don't understand.
Anyway, that's a whole
different derailing.
I have to talk about one more
player on the thorns because I
love her with my whole heart.
I want to be her friend.
The.
Becky Sauerbrunn.
I just, like, I looked up just,
like, before I said that because,
like, her kit is hanging right there.
Her national team kit, like, the all white
with the red and blue, like, arm cuff.
Like, I love Becky Sauerbrunn.
Like, Becky is just,
she's just so wonderful.
She's so, like, normal.
She just reads books and doesn't want to
talk to people, but she's also this insane
defender that doesn't get enough credit
because she's so good at what she does.
It's that, like, quiet.
comes in, does what she needs to do.
She isn't always the fastest,
but she's the best placed player.
She can score.
It's like, if Becky Sauerbrunn scores,
do you know what's gonna happen?
I don't want her to
score against Angel City.
I just want to preface that
and put that in the universe.
Please don't score against my team.
Score against somebody else's, but like,
let me watch it and over and over again.
Forever.
Because she's not, she
doesn't have an NWSL goal.
She doesn't have an international goal.
Like, it's one of those where it's like,
She used to be, uh, offensive midfielder.
Like, she used to play more offensive
roles in, like, high school and college.
She was a forward and then
transitioned to defense.
And she's like, I can do it.
I just don't.
And I'm like, please,
the whole WOSO community
Mario: Don't
Angela: is begging the
universe for a little tap in.
Like, please.
please.
Mario: look, you guys are
comfortably in sixth place right now.
You don't have to do it.
You know,
you
might
Angela: You don't have
to do that on Monday.
You can do it.
Mario: one of the teams
that like are above you.
Angela: Yeah.
Yeah.
Mario: saying, you know.
Angela: Yeah.
But Becky Sauerbrunn is a
very quiet, steady leader.
She is so solid.
She, like, she is Was
the USA, Team USA, U.
S.
National Team, whatever
you want us to call it.
She was our captain for years, quietly
leading this team, pushing us forward.
Oh, Becky Sauerbrunn, I
just love you so much.
Like, I don't know anyone who
watches women's soccer that
doesn't love Becky Sauerbrunn.
If they don't, it's because
they don't know that she
exists and don't know the lore.
There's videos coming out of,
like, the national team from,
like, 2012 to 2019, 2020.
And just, like, everyone is shenanigans
and Becky's like, I'm talking to my
husband on the phone, leave me alone.
Like, just, you know, like, they're
going through hotels and, like,
singing Christmas carols and she
opens the door and she's on the
phone and she's like, hold on.
Like, what?
She's just, like, the most normal person.
And I love the fact that she's this,
like, insane soccer player, but she's
just like, no, I just go home and I
read and I cook dinner and we just
hang out on the couch and watch TV.
Like, she's so good, you guys.
Like, she's one of those players
that, like, deserves the credit
and deserves to be recognized
now instead of when she retires.
Like, her last stint with the
national team was heartbreaking.
This is when her foot was hurt.
Last season and season before and so she
didn't really get like the proper send
off and I'm like This is Becky Sauerbrunn.
Like, do you understand?
But, yeah, it's one of those
things where when she posts on
social media, it's either something
very good or y'all effed up.
And there's been a, there's
been a lot of Becky Sauerbrunn.
Or, like, you retired and I miss you.
Like, it's that.
Mario: Yeah.
Angela: You know, she's now co hosting
an, a show on, the Men in Blazers, like,
channel with Lynn Williams and Sam Mewes.
And it's fantastic.
They're very good friends.
It's a very fun show.
They talk a lot of soccer,
talk a lot of fun stuff.
That's my little I love Becky
Sauerbrunn moment, because
of course I love Defenders.
And now for Angel City, I.
I couldn't pick players to talk about,
not because I don't think they're
worthy of being talked about, because
that's not it at all, but it's because
I just want to, like, hype the team up.
And I'm gonna cry if I keep
talking about this, but, like,
I still believe in this team.
Mario: too.
If
Angela: think we need to make big
changes, but I love this team,
and I know we're gonna come out
there and play our asses off.
Like, I'm so tired.
It's been a very difficult week.
It's Tuesday.
Like, but I love this team
and I want the best for them.
That's it.
Oh, shit.
We're on video.
No!
Well, look, it's Angela Kryan, everybody.
Mario: you
Angela: my, that's my,
oh my god, Mario moment.
yi.
yi.
Mario: happened, I'm not going to say
yours happens more than mine because
mine's probably going to happen a lot too.
Angela: But overall, like, the faith
I have in this team is unwavering,
and we're gonna hit road bumps and
really difficult times, and I really
hope that we're getting these really
hard times out of our system early
as a club.
Mario: still believe we have
a team with the potential
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: giving
us
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: problems, right?
Angela: Oh, absolutely.
Mario: stupid good
Angela: Just a menace.
Mario: one reason or another,
it's just not quite there.
it'll come, But,
when we get there, it'll be
amazing, and I still believe
that we do have that team in us,
Angela: We got that dog in us.
that's a, that's a direct Kelsey
Plum quote, and like, yes,
other people have said it, but I
meant it in the Kelsey Plum way.
If anybody watches the WNBA, like,
that's a Kelsey Plum reference.
Mario: yeah, I,
we'll deep dive on some more
players, next match, let's see.
Angela: yeah,
Mario: we're just hoping for the best, and
we, we'll
Angela: I'm just going to cry about
it tonight if I talk about our
team because I love them that much.
It's one of those where you see the
heart and you see the camaraderie
and you see the frustration
because it's not coming together.
So it's like, y'all are just great.
That's that's that's
the whole conversation.
All of you.
Damn it.
the history between the two teams,
because of the Challenge Cup and
playing 400 matches against West Coast
teams, we are three wins, two draws,
and three losses against Portland.
Let's make it four wins, y'all.
That's it.
All right.
So just as a quick recap, we
are playing Portland Thorns at
BMO on Monday, September 23rd.
At 7 p.
m., Hello Kitty Night, I am still
shook from what I have learned tonight.
I'm so glad that reaction was captured
on video because what in the holy hell.
But, we're streaming on CBS Sports
Network and Ballet Sports, and make
sure you log on, like, 14 seconds
before kickoff to find out where the
game is actually going to be streaming.
Who knows?
radio, iHeartRadio, with Isaac and
Tracy, 1330 AM, Two Liga Radio.
Mario: There we go.
The correct pronunciation.
If
you,
Angela: It's really hard to say.
Mario: when you haven't
switched your brain to Spanish
Angela: right.
Mario: haven't hit the
SAP in your head, yeah.
Alright guys,
Angela: That's exactly what happened
that first time, like, I went to
Spanish brain halfway through.
Anyway,
Mario: if
you
like
Angela: take us home.
Mario: hear, hit the subscribe
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Check out casualfc.
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We're also on YouTube and we're also
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Angela: Ooh,
Mario: On
Angela: because you can see us.
Mario: these faces now.
You can see the salt and pepper.
us
Angela: What?
I don't have that.
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Angela: don't.
Mario: let us know.
But I'm pretty sure you don't.
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Okay, Hello kitty!
Angela: see you on Monday at BMO.
