ACFC Midseason Report Card
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Hi everyone.
Welcome to Casual FC, an Angel City
match preview and footy Therapy pod.
Featuring two podcast
certified footy therapist.
I'm your host, Angela Morales, with my
very much alive co-host, Mario Salazar.
Yay.
We're back guys.
Finally, finally, finally,
finally, we're back.
Um, this is gonna be our Midseason
recap report, card update, situation
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
banter, basically.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Wanna hang out on the internet with
us episode, and also a mini preview of
the friendly against Carolina Ascent
FC from the Gain Bridge Super League.
Very excited
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
and when we say mini, we mean mini.
It's
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mini because.
There's a lot to talk about.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yes.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
the first thing is we have
very, very big news for us.
Very excited to do this.
Um, we have partnered with a
show of our own to host an Angel
City watch party at Watch Me,
our favorite place in Long Beach.
So August 9th, the Magic in San Diego.
In San Diego.
We will be in Long Beach at Watch
Me having fun, hanging out with
Jax and her team and trading cards.
So if you're not going down
to San Diego and you don't
wanna be at home, come kick it.
It's gonna be super great.
Um, you can go to watchparty.casualFC.com
to rsvp.
Obviously the event is free.
We want you to just support food and
drinks and everything good at watch
me, but we're just trying to get
a head count generally so we know
how many tables we need to save.
All that good stuff.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: So
we can hoard the tables and we can say
like, no, my friend is gonna sit here,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: And
then my friend never shows up, so show up.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
please.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
But if you haven't, if you aren't
a trading card nerd, as I've become
in the last like three months, um, a
show of our own is this like up and
coming trade show, which is super cool.
They held a show at Watch
Me earlier this season.
Mario donated some of its tickets.
Like it was just, it was great.
So it's super fun trading card event.
I think they're gonna have
stuff for purchase along with
trading like cards to trade.
I will have my stuff there to trade.
Um, I may or may not have more things to
trade by then because on Friday there is a
signing event at Burbank Sports Cards with
Riley Tiernan and Macy Hodge and Eva, I
will be there because what am I gonna do?
Spend money on women's sports and yeah.
So it's gonna be super cool because
the trade night's gonna be a.
A show of our owns Second
event there trading.
We're gonna be there.
It's just gonna be fun.
It's like friends, family, just come
hang out, watch the game with us.
Um, you can check out Show of Our Own
on Instagram at Show of our own along
with us, we're, we will be tagging
and posting and all the good stuff.
That's like the big cool, exciting news.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah,
also, and if you're listening to this this
comes out, um, there will be a, um, will
be giving away tickets to the Ascent game.
Um, it's gonna be very simple.
Uh, you're, all you have to do is repost
the watch party post in your stories.
Um, tag all three of us, make sure
you're following all three of us.
And I will randomly pick one,
um, winner on, uh, Thursday.
And, um, you know, I'll record it.
I'll show that it's all random.
Do the whole legit thing.
Um, and, uh, yeah, that'll be fun.
And you know, hopefully we'll just
kind of get more word out there
if we can pack out that place with
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: just.
Angel City fans that didn't get
to make it down to San Diego.
Right.
Um, then it's gonna be fun, you know, like
it, if you go down there just because you
wanna watch the game in a fun environment,
you don't necessarily want to be with
the pod or with the show of our own.
But you went down there and if
it, you went down there because
you heard you heard it from
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
exactly.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: then
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
say hi.
Like at least we'll have
stickers, we'll have stuff.
Um, it's just gonna be a good time.
If you're at the last watch
party, it was, we had bingo.
We won't most likely have it
this time 'cause it's gonna
be in part with another group.
So we wanna make sure everybody
has all the things they need.
Um, but with that said, I'm
gonna grab a very important
emotional support, Capri Sun.
So that Mario can give us the life update.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yes.
Yeah.
yes.
So life updates, um, support,
capris is very, very valid.
We had, we had episodes planned
for this international break.
we were gonna do this as a shorter
episode because we were also
gonna do another episode, um, for.
The ascent, like a little
bit more of a deep dive.
And then we were gonna do another episode,
whatever.
We had episodes planned during this break.
And then life threw me scary ass,
like curving free kick that just
kind of, it just toppled everything.
And
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yep.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
mixing metaphors because it
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
It was bad y'all.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
intense.
so not to completely give you my medical
background, um, and history, but, um,
and I wish, I wish from what I went
through, I can tell you something
like, go learn CPR, it'll save a life.
It's like, no,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
bonkers freak.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: to
anyone, but it's also very, very like
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Real.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
and, you know, so, um,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Like still go learn CPR and get
certified in first aid and all that, but
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
not necessarily in coordination with
what Mario went through the last month.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
yeah, yeah.
Um, so I went to the er, um, after
thinking what I thought was the flu for
about a whole week, like a solid week.
Um, and then finally just said,
just, okay, I gotta go to the er
'cause this is not going away.
Turns out it wasn't the flu
they had no clue what it was.
Uh, and, uh, I got admitted that
day when I went to the er and then
shit just went downhill so fast.
Um,
there was a point in, uh, there was a
point in the ER that I remember I closed
my eyes and then I wake up in the ICU.
days later
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
At a different hospital.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
in a different
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
In a completely different place.
And to kind of put it into perspective,
we were supposed to record the day
after Mario, or Yeah, the day after
Mario's got to the er, we didn't record.
And he doesn't remember texting
me saying, Hey, I'm in the er.
I don't think I'm gonna be able to record.
And I'm like, that's fine.
Take care.
Like this can get put on hold.
Take care of yourself.
Just give me updates when you can.
And then everything happened.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah.
Um,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
then I got an update from his wife.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
so I woke up in the ICU,
um, about six days later.
Um, remembering much, um, and not
really realizing that it's been week
I've been, um, uh, down basically.
Um, so with all of that, I am.
Here I probably look a little
thinner because spending that
long in an, in the hospital, you,
you tend to lose some weight.
Don't recommend that weight loss plan
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
No, don't do that.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: it.
Um, but thank you to the doctors at the,
the ER doctor, um, at, uh, Providence
Tarzana, which is the hospital that I have
near me and where I started at uh, the
cardio and pulmonary ICU team of doctors.
'cause at that point I now had like
eight different doctors seeing me,
like at all hours of the night, uh,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: I.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: day.
Um, and all the nurses, I respected,
I, I had mad respect for nurses
already, but when you had to go
through like that and the in.
Just importance of having a good nurse
with you that entire time and, and
keeping you sane and keeping you to a
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Um, thank you.
Um, just amazing.
Uh, so all the, the teams and everybody
in the, the cardio and pulmonary
ICU at Cedar-Sinai, quite literally
saved my life, like in the, the most
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
they did save my life.
Like,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
yeah.
They absolutely did.
And we, Eva and I got to go see Mario
like the day before he got discharged.
And yeah, like the team of nurses and
attendance, like basically the, the pre
doctors, the, the folks who are doing
their rounds and residencies came in and.
Every single person we met, even the
people just like walking the floor, like
other nurses, everyone there is so nice
and it's, it's always hard 'cause it's
like, oh, you know, if I get sick or if
I have this, like that's what I want.
But like, you ultimately don't
want that, like you don't want
to have those experiences.
But
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I'm very grateful for them as well.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah.
They, they were, um, amazing and I
appreciate every single one of them.
Um, we filled out as many, like, I
appreciate this nurse, uh, and, and this
doctor as much as we could whenever,
you know, there was like, we saw one
of those little survey things pop up.
Um, so yeah, it was, it was an ordeal.
Um, I was out for, uh, about two weeks,
um, then I started recovery at home.
Um, so I.
I'm feeling good.
Um, I, I think I look good.
I'm feeling good.
Um, but I'm not, I'm
not at a hundred percent
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: No,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: like,
am I gonna go back out and run a 5K again?
Uh, no.
'cause it was, it was a big thing with my
lungs, like I said, cardio and pulmonary.
Um,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: be
able to like, walk around the block before
he decides to get back to the run club.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah.
Yeah.
So, and then a secondary thanks just to
angel City, having all those corners.
'cause you know, Cedars Sinai,
getting all that, all that exposure.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
We've always joked that like with
every corner kick we, we take, like
we should get a punch card for like,
Eva was like, you know, like free
colonoscopy or free labor and delivery.
Like Mario got his
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
uh, cardiopulmonary help.
So,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
no, but it, I'm, I'm so glad you're home.
I'm so glad you're okay.
I'm so glad that you're
on the road to recovery.
It was harrowing.
I know there was, I had tapped into
a couple like close podcast friends
and family, Eva, like, there's a
chance Mario might not be able to
record for a while you, in, like
you in the guest house with me.
So yeah.
I'm just, I'm so grateful for,
for all this and grateful to
be back doing this with you.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Yeah, yeah.
There was a point the ICU where like
I was like, beyond thinking about all
the shit that I was going through.
Um, then there was like a small little
thing about like, should try to text,
uh, Angela and like be like, just, just
find some guests and keep it going.
That was like a quick fleeting thought.
And then I was probably
hopped up on something and
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah, it just went back to sleep, like,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
But then also, I couldn't
lift up my arms, right?
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
so, like, out of it.
Um, so yeah.
All right, well,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
we're here.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
let's get, we're here.
We're healthy-ish.
Um, get back into it.
So let's look at our season so far.
We are at the halfway point.
Uh, the season is going to restart on
August 1st for us, uh, we, that's gonna
be our first, uh, season match back.
But if we're looking at what we're
at, where we're at right now, our
current record for this season, we
have four wins, three draws and six
losses with a total of 15 points.
And that puts us in 11th place.
Now we have a goal, the, the goal
differential we kept talking about
like, we wanna be in the positive.
We were in the positive for a little bit.
When you look into the goal
differential, it's kind of impressive.
And it's also kind of sad
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
an equal measure.
so our goal differential
right now is a negative four.
But we have 20 goals for
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Is that more than we scored all season?
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: It
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
year.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: it
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I don't think we had 20
goals at all last year.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: no.
Last year we didn't
really score like a ton.
Like, and, and, and when we
did score, it was only really
from like one or two people.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
now we're kind of getting, we're
getting from a bigger group,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: right?
We're getting goals from, uh, Riley.
We're getting, uh, goals from Alyssa.
We're getting goals from,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
The midfield, multiple midfielders,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
So being spread out.
So the fact that we have 20 goals.
For the team is amazing.
on the, on the other side of that
coin, and we have 24 against, which
leads you to scratch your head, right?
As to like, where
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
a lot of those are late.
Like a lot of those are late
goals, which is the big, I think
the biggest thing to figure out.
'cause it's one thing if
you're giving up goals, just.
In the course of play over 90 minutes,
but when you're giving up goals at like
88 or like 90 plus five, it's a lot.
It feels, it feels like there's more,
like instead of it just counts for one,
it counts for like nine in your soul.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah.
so, but as we talk about the whole gold
differential and, and, uh, all of that,
the fact that we have two of our Angel
City players, uh, in the Golden Boot race.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: now,
Esther is at the top with 10.
Chewa and Banda are both at eight,
so they're tied for second place.
And then in fourth place we have
Riley Tiernan with seven, like that
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
season.
That's gotta be like rookie of the
year Contender right there already
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
a hundred percent.
If she's not in the rookie of the
year conversations, I'd like to have
a conversation with some people.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Exactly.
Um, but she is in fourth place for
the Golden Boot race at this midpoint.
Um, and then we have Alyssa Thompson
down in tied for sixth with five.
So both Alyssa and Riley from Angel
City are in this Golden Boot race.
And it's not over.
We've
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: No.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
we've got 13 more matches to go.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah, we've got half the season still.
It's gonna be, whew.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: can,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
be fun.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
getting a little, a little
crazy, a little wild.
if we break down the overall
record that we have, we have.
The Slay era, the lady era, and then
we have the Straus era, right, which
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I would also like the games that
we've played under Strauss so far.
I would, I would say like,
like it's like a 0.5.
It's not fully like his direction at this
point, so it's like a lot of leftover.
Sam Lady Shenanigans.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
yeah, the Straus era would be like
a half him, half lady kind of thing.
But uh, during lady's tenure of the
first half, we have the four wins.
Uh, we have two draws
and we have four losses.
So there, I mean, there was a point
where I know we were talking and
we were saying like, look, Sam
was getting a couple wins in a row
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
and things were looking good.
And so, you know, I, I think, I think
someone asked this like, like what, um.
What do we think of Sam?
Like, how, how is it going?
And at that point we were just like, look,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
it is fine.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Like he's, he's
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Let's give him more time and see where,
and you know, it kind of turned out
that they were a couple of fluke wins.
'cause like we ended up
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I don't even.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
more and then,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I don't think they were Fluke wins.
I think they're very well earned wins.
But then everything got like shaken in
an etch of sketch again, and we had a
starting lineup and everything was going
okay and then it was like, just get in.
We're not gonna do that anymore.
All that stuff that worked, who cares?
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: And
then granted, like the team got shaken
up a lot with everything, with Savvy.
Like this first half of the season
has been dramatic to say the least.
Coaching red cards, savvy Mario.
Like all, there's been
too much, I wanna win out.
Like I want the easiest
coast into the playoffs.
Like I just, no.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
so, and then under Strauss, like we
said, it was kind of more of the,
the lady, lady two point or uh, 2.5
era.
Um, 'cause really, like he comes
in uh, European League is, is
done with, then he comes in.
So it's mid-season for us.
And then he literally had
like a week with the team
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Not even a full like practice
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
schedule.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
so he needed to rely,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
he was probably doing his scouting
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
but he really needed to rely on Sam
and the rest of the coaching staff
on was happening with the team, where
their fitness was, all of that stuff.
And he was relying on
them communicating to
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
you know, can we hold him for the,
the one draw and the two losses?
Yes and no.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
I think it's kind of like, I guess like
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
not, I don't feel any kind of way about
it, like a very much, I think we're
starting, not necessarily starting
from scratch, but very close to it.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
look, this is, um, this is the point in
where, where, when Becky took over, it
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
midpoint.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
Right around the same time.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
they had that international break.
They had that time to kind of reassess
and actually kind of build into the
groove and kind of figure things out.
And then they went gangbusters
for the rest of the season,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
season, right?
So Strauss having the mindset that he
has and the development mindset that
he has, um, I will say that because
of the development mindset, it's
great for us long term, short term.
Let's see what happens.
'cause short
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
It still be a little bit
of a rough road, right?
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Well, I think part of it too is that
there's been no consistency, and
we'll talk about this more later.
Any team, regardless of sport,
wants consistency in their coaching,
in their playing style, in their
training style, in their schedules.
Like you need consistency so that you
don't have to think about half the
things that you think about and when
you have to, like, am I going here?
Am I going there?
Are we doing this?
Are we doing that?
Like it's inefficient.
First of all, just by nature, you're
wasting time figuring out details that
you should already know, or like that
should already have been provided to you.
And then you're wasting energy because
it's like, well, we're not doing anything.
You know, like we're not
progressing as a team.
We're not like everything's just
going in circles essentially.
And it kind of feels like we're
circling the drain right now.
But I have a feeling he's going
to stop that spiral that Angel
City is like in and redirect it.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
So more on that later.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
All right.
Let's, uh, let's get into, um, where
we're at with, with all of this.
There are some important NWSL dates,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yes,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
that we gotta keep in mind
during this kind of international
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
so many.
So because the Euro Leagues end and their
contracts end now, everything gets bonkers
internationally since we're in season.
So the option extension deadline was
the last day of June, and that was
essentially like if you have a mutual
team option or something like that,
those have to be extended by then.
The hard part is that that was two
days before, like a holiday weekend,
and we all know that the league has
to approve every single transaction.
So like there's still transactions
that haven't been announced, I'm sure
because the league is like backlogged.
Um, the free agent, free for all
started the next day, July 1st.
This is for the contract year
of 2026, is like this opens
the door to those negotiations.
So it's shenanigans everywhere.
You're gonna start seeing people
moving around in the, you know, the
end of the season, blah, blah, blah.
And then, because we're already
seeing so many moves, it's now
the summer transfer window.
So that started on July 1st as well.
And that goes until August 25th.
So we've got a month left of this
transfer window, and there's gonna be so
many things, so many things that happen
internationally in the NWSL, everywhere.
And then rosters freeze.
So no more moves, no more nothing,
obviously, unless it's like an SEI or you
know, like something like that happens.
But October 9th, that's it, everything
pauses because the season ends November
playoffs and, and then more, more
shenanigans in the off season per usual.
But.
From an Angel City standpoint, which is
what we're coming at our latest moves
and acquisitions and all the things.
So
there's so much.
Okay.
A lot of this is old news
for the majority of us.
Neat.
We're just given.
Yeah, it's just a recap.
Vanessa Gils finally off the books.
I loved her.
I'm proud of her.
I'm happy for her.
I'm just thankful for
the space on the roster.
She is going to Byron Munich
where we got Strauss from.
So who knows what's
gonna happen over there.
She is transferred from uh, OL to them.
That's handled.
No more loan, no more nothing.
Yay.
Um, Hannah Johnson and Bree
Norris who were on hardship
contracts have been released.
I hope they're still practicing.
Like I hope they're on the practice
squad or I hope they're still
involved in, um, training somewhere
because that's great for them.
And then
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
hopefully, you know, it's, I mean, they're
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
so hopefully
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
Like I hope they get
picked up or something.
Um, and then as of today,
today's Monday, what's the date?
The 21st.
So as of today, like three
hours ago, it's four.
We're AC Okay.
Also, we're actually recording
and the sun is still up
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yes.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
substantially.
Like we have hours until sunset.
It's 4:00 PM it's a miracle.
Um, but Casey Phair has resigned with
Angel City through 2028 and she's
now currently on loan to your gardens
in Sweden through essentially the
end of the year, through Christmas.
I think this is a
substantially amazing move.
One to make roster space here.
Two, to get her minutes and to
get her up to consistent play.
And like when you're getting eight minutes
a game, like cool, that's exciting for
you, but also like you deserve more.
And I think like, I think it's
just gonna be really good for her.
And every, like, everybody's on the
same page of like, yes, she needs to
play, so we're gonna essentially ship
her over to Sweden for the rest of the
year, and then she's gonna come back.
And then we're gonna party.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah.
Uh, one of the, I think one
of the problems that we have.
And I, I, maybe you can call
it champagne problems, right?
It's, um, have a, like we've been saying
for the longest time, we have a lot
of really great players on paper and
things just haven't been working out.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Right?
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
has been an amazing player.
Uh, whenever she plays with Korean team,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
it's always highlight reel
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Um, and this season when she was
able to get some minutes on the
field, it's, it's been really good.
But the problem is that she's
just not getting enough.
And in order to have her grow, you need
to be able to give her more minutes.
And if
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yep.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
get them here, then
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
You gotta find a place.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
a place.
And if she's gonna get
them in Sweden, then.
Uh, hell yeah.
You know,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
let's get that going and, um, hopefully
she comes back, um, in March, uh, when
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
when the next season starts up
and she can be more of that, um,
starter or more of that like early
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Like super sub.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
Absolutely.
And she's still so young, like you're, is
she a legal adult now or is she still 17?
She is, yes, she's 18 now, but like,
essentially she's just starting,
like, yes, she's been at the senior
international level, but also like
girl, you have so much, you got
20 years of a career and you've
already got like three in, you know,
like, you're good, you're fine.
Um, but so those are the moves
essentially that we've made so far.
Um, we have added Coach Strauss, obviously
we've talked about him a whole bunch.
We've added a third official keeper
in Hannah Seabert through 2026.
She's, she went to Pepperdine,
like she's, she's a LA girl also.
Um, excited to see what
happens at the keeper position.
There's a lot.
And then she landed today.
They just had a post about it, like an
hour before we started, uh, recording.
Um, find Ya's daughter
is officially here in la.
Very exciting.
Big news.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yep.
Yep.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Ta-da like, yay, new person.
Um, Evelyn Shores is here.
Said everybody.
I think that's everybody.
I don't remember.
I think I may be missing somebody, but in
bigger longtime Angel City news, in bigger
fan updates and the best of updates.
June Endo is off the SEI list.
June Endo is in full contact practice.
June Endo started a friendly,
which is essentially every,
a lot of people are mad.
Because tickets weren't offered,
it wasn't like really publicized
that we played BFC on the 19th,
which I understand completely, but
it was also like a fancy scrimmage.
I wouldn't even call it a
friendly, um, it was before
their season ticket holder event.
So it was just like an exhibition
game, which I think both teams needed.
'cause both teams are making
a lot of shifts and changes.
Um, my friend was there and she is,
she has played soccer her whole life.
She loves Angel City.
She's from the Bay.
So once Bay started, she's like,
well, this has to be my team.
But she is a Sarah Gorden Truther as well.
Like Sarah and I, my friend Sarah and I
are very much connected on this level.
So it's like we're, we're
screaming about Angel City.
She's screaming about BFC.
She's like, I love too many players.
I don't know what to do.
But yeah, the, the game was, it happened.
We know June scored.
Like
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yep.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
she played 33 minutes.
She scored a banger.
If you haven't seen it on
Instagram, go look at it.
'cause this is a damn good June goal.
Like
June Endo back on the pitch,
just like makes me so happy.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
This is just, this is just
fodder for the the revenge
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yes.
The revenge tour of June
Endo cannot wait for it.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
So, uh, those are all the big updates,
but we do, there are some players
that, um, have question marks next to
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Um, one of 'em, kind of at the
top, Sophia Mattis, uh, she
was on a short-term contract.
Um, and there's been no news
about, uh, extension or release,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
at this point.
The short term count, the short term
contract is over, it was over June 30th.
Um, so I think they can't sign
her to another, uh, short term.
It has to be like a full contract
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Like through the end of the season.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
no news either way about that.
So, um, who knows?
Uh, and again, like, like, uh,
Angela mentioned that lot of these
things to Angel City has been fined
before for making announcements
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
exactly.
Like the,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: to,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
team is overly cautious and making
announcements like this now.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yes.
So we have to wait till, um, the
league approves, or the league
is ready to say something.
Um, so who knows?
And along with that, we also have a bunch
of players that have their contracts
ending this year, which means as of the
1st of July, they are free agents and
they are able to talk to other teams.
Now on this list, we have, um, Hannah
Stambaugh, uh, Hannah, uh, Stumbaugh.
I don't know why keep tripping over that.
But that's what it's, we have
Christen Press, Nabet, Madison
Hammond, Megan Reid, Elizabeth Eddy,
Riley, who's still on SEI, uh, Alana
Kennedy, and, uh, me, Miyabi Moriya.
now I will caveat this.
Just because they are
entering their free agency
does not mean they are not
talking to Angel City or that
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Right.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
already been some deal struck
with Angel City that again, need
to wait for the league to approve
and then be able to announce.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
We're gonna finish recording.
There's like 15 different,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
contract drops.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
updates.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
Okay.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: so
just because we haven't heard anything,
um, is neither good nor bad thing.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: they
can actually, they can totally still
be talking to Angel City, but they're
also free to talk to other teams.
So that's where the, uh, Rocky road
of, of, of what we're entering right
now, um, is some of these players
we know probably just wanna stay.
They just need to, um, either.
Balance out.
Like, okay, well one, how
much am I gonna get paid?
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Right.
Salary cap negotiations are tough.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
yeah, two, how much time or
how much more of my body can I
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Right?
Um, and they're just kind of balancing
out those kind of questions and,
know, uh, we'll, we'll see what,
we'll see what ends up happening.
But we do have them till
the end of the year,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
till the end of the season.
So the good side.
We do have them till, till
playoffs and everything like that.
Um, but yeah, we'll be waiting to
hear, um, about all of these players.
And with that being said, with
all the kind of little moves that
have happened, I did have a big
old bold, we have too many active
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Um, since all the updates
have come in, we've actually
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
we no longer.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Gone back under the, the too many active
players numbers, so, which is great.
So currently we have 25 active
players out of 26 spots.
We, and that is not including, so, you
know, still on the roster, still on the,
uh, uh, on the books and everything, but
just not being counted for roster spots.
Uh, we have Ali Riley on SEI, uh, this
is my assumption, just because there's
been no official, I don't believe there's
been any official, uh, thing yet, but
Savvy King being on medical leave,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah, just the, the availability report
says medical leave, but we don't know if
that means like a 40 day, 45 day list,
SEI, but it's classified differently.
Like I don't think they're
gonna rush her back anyway.
Like, like girl, just take your time,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
recover, emotionally,
recover, physically recover.
You are young.
We'll see you next season as far as I hope
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
ended up having.
Uh,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
attack.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
a step, a step more than what I had
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
had a heart surgery.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Um, I, lucky, lucky enough, did not
have to go through surgery, but I had
to go through a whole bunch of shit.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
but with all of that, we both think
Cedar-Sinai amazing doctor there.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
absolutely.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
like, like we said, we don't know if
she's on, if she's been placed on a 45
day injury list, which would be kind
of weird for what she went through.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Right.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: or
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: that
45 days is up as it would be right now.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
Uh, 'cause it happened on like
the May 9th or something like
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
So like, starting that day.
Um, or she's gonna be placed on a
full SEI, which I mean, why not?
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Just do it.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
taken so long?
Just
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
But don't have official word about
Savvy King yet, but she is, um.
been visiting practices, she's been,
um, working, there's, there was a whole
thing about her working out with the,
doctors at Cedar-Sinai, getting her,
like her running back in there and
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
So she'll be back soon.
Um, and then we have our two
players on load and we have, uh,
Mike De Lopez, um, who's out on
the, uh, at, on a team for the USL.
I don't know what team at the moment.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
The gain bridge Super league.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: and
then we have, um, Casey Phair, uh, who's
going to Sweden, like we just mentioned.
Um, okay, so real quick, we'll
go down the roster and then just
kind of give our general thoughts.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Um, we now have like three
full contract, uh, keepers.
Um, I think Angelina Anderson
has been doing a great job.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I think so too.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Uh, it's a lot of.
Yeah.
I will say a good portion of
those 24 goals that have gone in
have been, some of them have just been
bangers, where you're just like, well,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Like, okay.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
Um, and then some of them have just been
like those weird fluky goals where it's
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: like
it just bounce off of someone's foot weird
and just went completely the wrong way
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yep.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
was nothing she could do.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
There's a, you know, there,
there's a mix of there, but of
like, yeah, that was your fault.
Like you
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: off.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
that's gonna be for any keeper.
Like you're gonna have bangers,
you're gonna have those unlucky goals.
And then the ones where it's
like, Ooh, you stepped wrong.
Like I saw, I saw what you saw, and Nope.
You know?
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah.
But even, even at that, I would
say that those, um, she was in the
wrong place or she stepped wrong,
or like, that was, that's on you.
Those are very minimal.
Like
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I agree.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Not very many out of the, the 24.
So I think, I think it's a whole
team thing that we need to look at,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
midfield, defense, um, there's been a
lot of, like we were saying, turmoil
changes, um, unplanned things that have
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
So like, it's not like it, things are
starting to gel and then something
went wrong, things started to
gel, and then something else went
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
And then the roster changed
for reasons we don't know.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
yeah, and so we just, I, I think,
I think there needs to be a little
bit more consistency with our team
on just like how we can handle those
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
and um, how we can build into
like, okay, one piece falls.
How can we replace that
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Right.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
um, and get it going?
Not be like one piece falls.
Now let's shift the entire team
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: and
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I think that's like, not even just for
goal allowance or anything like that.
I think it's just overall, and granted,
like really, truly at the heart of hearts,
the theme of this episode is consistency.
The team just needs consistency
and they've been begging for it.
And I really hope that with Straus
coming in and getting settled over the
break and getting them back to like a
regular, like knowing that this coach is
gonna be there for a while, it's like,
okay, we can all take a deep breath and
this is how we're gonna work this out.
This is, we're playing the long
game now, and you also are playing
with nothing to lose this season.
If it goes to shit, it goes to shit.
If we win out, we win out.
Like, yes, we wanna win out every,
like, I'm sorry if you're competing
at this level and you're just
like, I'm here for fun, go away.
Like, I'm not a, I'm not
having that conversation.
Yeah.
Like, no, thank you.
I'm, I'm not even like actively
competing in sports and I'm still
like, no, we're here to win.
Because that's the mentality.
Every player steps on the
court, the pitch, the field,
whatever you call it, the ice.
Like every player goes out
there to win at this level.
And so like our defense, same thing.
They have been shuffled around
so much because of injury,
because of international
ups, um, minute restrictions.
Like,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
them haven't, haven't even
seen the pitch at all.
I mean, I, I, I don't think
Elizabeth, Elizabeth Ody
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
nope, she has not seen
the pitch this season.
She saw it for like five
seconds last year or two.
I don't understand a variety of things.
I don't understand, but.
I really hope that with this break, our
back line re solidifies and like gels
again and like settles into themselves
again so that they can be there for
Angelina in the, in the goal because
yes, Hannah Sea's coming in, but I
don't know if Angelina's unseated
at this point, you know what I mean?
Like, she's gotten the
international call up.
She's done really well as a
training camp participant.
All the kind of things.
Um,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: It
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
really,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
I think about, when I think about
the defense, I think about like
that one, you know, the, the
weaving basketball drill where
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
three man weave.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Yeah, yeah.
Where you're doing that.
Like, um, I just think of that of like,
okay, we need to figure out how we can,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
how we can do that, that three man
weave, but then just be like, all
right, you, you sit down, you go
in, but still keep the rhythm of
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
A hundred percent.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
is supposed to
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
That's exactly my, what I've been putting.
Like that's the image I have
in my head is just boom.
You know, you're just weaving
through each other and
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: and,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
up and putting down pieces to, to make
it work and we're gonna get there.
Like, I really truly feel like this
is the first time, honestly, probably
since inaugural season, pre inaugural,
like start, like this is the first
time in Angel City history that like,
it feels like there's somebody at the
helm who can steer the ship correctly
and with efficiency and with like,
what's, what's the word I'm looking for?
With, um,
with like, with a sense, sense of urgency,
but with like an actual direct path.
Like he knows how to develop, he
knows how to win, he knows how to, uh.
Redirect and how to right the
ship and like, you know, get
you back on course essentially.
So that's really what I'm looking forward
to, is actually somebody who's like at the
helm with an idea of where we're going.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Not just like, we'll see what happens.
It's soccer, like not a, not a
Capris sun and uh, orange slice,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: M.A.
like tea mom at the helm, because that's
kind of what it's felt like, honestly.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
yeah, and I, I hope that he does
keep the kind of, um, high flying
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: wings.
Like, like that's kind of become somewhat
of a, of an angel city thing like that.
The little bit of identity that we do have
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
We fly
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
place, on
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
when we're allowed to fly, we fly.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
So hopefully we still keep that,
where we can like really send up.
Um, like Giselle, we can send up, uh, M.A.
We can
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Like we can get them kind of going.
Um,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: We
haven't had an Alana Kennedy goal yet.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: I,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Like, I don't think you understand.
You don't know the, the lore as well
as I do, but like she is, I need an
Alana Kennedy header, like off a corner
kick so bad like on Friday, like if she
hears this, can, can we clip this and
be like, please asking for a friend.
But that friend is my fiance and also
myself and some international friends
that we have now because she posted the
shirts that she ordered from us on her
Snapchat, and now we're shipping fricking
meatball subs shirts to Australia.
But, um, can we get a, a banger
off your head into the goal please?
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
She's got the height.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
the height.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
It, it's just, they're perfect
and they're beautiful and we
haven't had one yet in la.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
look, look, you, you came, you came and
you got your black eye for the season.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah, you've already checked off one,
one thing, you, you've had a black eye.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: in.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah, but I think our, our, like,
she's technically considered a
defender on the roster, but like
Alana Kennedy's been playing a lot
more of like a defensive mid for us
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Mid, yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
and the transition of her from center
back to defensive mid has been really fun
over the last few years of her career.
So, like the role she plays in
our midfield has been awesome.
We have a wonderful midfield at this rate.
Like we've improved exponentially
over the last season.
Um, we have legs up for Zem, which
almost happened at the last game.
Like I pulled, I put it in the Discord.
So if you haven't seen
it there, go look at it.
We have a, a card collecting channel
now, but in the first 2025 pack that
I pulled, I pulled a really nice
and shiny Katy Zem card and I full
on, like posted a legs up picture.
With, with my card.
So the team knows that we do this.
So, um, if she scores, you know, what
happens in in BMO at home doesn't matter.
Um, but our, our midfield is like
solidifying everything I feel
like is at this point of like,
we're not soupy jello anymore.
We're like jiggling.
We're, we're grooving.
We're like almost ready to be
cut into like shapes if you're a
nineties kid and had jello jiggers.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Um,
yeah, that, I think the only, the only
issue again with, um, like what we've,
what we were talking about is the, in
the defense is that we need to be able
to figure out the, the piece swapping.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: like,
you know, we have people that are on here
that we seen a ton of or seen at all.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Um, Madison Hammond hasn't
had a ton of minutes.
Um, Lily Nabet,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
We haven't seen her since preseason
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
yeah, we
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
like,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
she looked amazing and then
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
from what I've heard, what we've
seen of Lily is not the way Lily.
Like, it's not what Lily is known for.
And at this point, I, I, I
hate to say this out loud.
I, there's certain players on the team
and Lily is one of them that I hope at
some point in the near future, you're
either starting or getting substantial
minutes, whether it's in LA or for
another team, because you deserve them.
You don't deserve to be wasted on
the bench, which is what's happened
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
there's a reason you're a professional
soccer player, whether or not you're
my favorite player, I don't care.
You're good enough to be here and
you are good enough to play and
there are teams that will play you.
And granted, right now, some places
are harder to play in than others
for certain demographics of people
for a variety of reasons.
Um, but there are places.
That will welcome you, that will play
you like you deserve those minutes.
And I want you to have them.
I ideally would love you to have
them for my team, but if that's
not working out, like explore your
options like you are still so young.
Don't get trapped.
That's all that's, I'm putting away my
soapbox on like do things for yourself.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
another thing
of it, it's not just development of future
players and development of the youth.
It's development of.
team and the talent that we currently have
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
really showing them that ability to swap,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Like knowing, playing in a style where
if, uh, one player has to swap out for
another, for whatever reason, injury,
maybe it's just a time for a change.
Get some fresh legs in there,
whatever that player coming in.
else still knows the game plan.
Everybody else still can
be like, you know, on it.
Sounds bad, but I honestly want to
get, I, I want them to get to the
point where like, it doesn't matter
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yes.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
in the center and who's in the left
on the right, you are all playing.
You're all playing what you need to do.
And so if you pass the ball into
some space, they know that they're
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yes.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: there
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
A hundred percent.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
it doesn't matter who it is.
And I think that's a piece that might
have been missing so far is like getting
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
might like you question that.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: I,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I think it might've been missing.
I can tell you it's been missing.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
I mean, yes, it's been missing,
but I also don't wanna, like,
like I think, I think there's,
there's only so much the co the, the
coach is a very important part of
like the strategy and everything like
that, but there's only so much that
they can do and then come game day,
they honestly have nothing else to do.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
have, they can yell from the sideline
in their little dotted box and
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
But like nobody's listening.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
And then like nobody's listening or
it's too loud in the stadium where
like nobody's going to hear them, but.
At that point, they've
set, they've set the, the
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
they've set the players out there.
They've gotta play the one.
They're the ones playing 45 minutes.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
ones playing the 90 minutes.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Coach can't do anything at that point,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
and I think too, like so much of that
comes from how you're running training,
because there's a thing that happens in,
and I don't know, and this is because
I've never played like competitive
soccer, but in basketball, in volleyball,
there's certain plays for certain players
because it's a lot more fast-paced.
Mount, that kind of thing.
So if there's two minutes left on
the clock and you are down five,
you know, you need your shooters in
like, you know, you know who to sub
in, sub out, that kind of thing.
And I feel like that's what was
happening in Angel City, but the
right people weren't in at the right
times, or like, they weren't being
subbed in, in a way that made sense
with how they trained for the game.
I'm trying to,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
subbing in after the 80th minute
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
we're not talking about that today.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Well,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: to,
we're gonna get to the, the forwards.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
I know.
Um, but yeah, with, with every
part of this team, I just want
there to be some consistency.
And like you said, like everybody
on the team needs to know how to run
every play because it doesn't work
the way it does for basketball or
hockey or, you know, like volleyball
where you, you're rotating constantly.
You have very set positions and
yeah, you move around on the pitch,
but it's not like, like, I don't
know what, how to say what I'm
trying to say 'cause I'm tired, but
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Perme,
permutation Primo has to go out there
and talk with the team to be like, look,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
listen.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
when A happens, you go B.
When when B happens, you go to D.
Like, you know, like you
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
you gotta get your permutations out
there of like, when things happen,
this is what needs to happen.
Like, you
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
How much more, how much more
leave from work do you have?
Can we get you out there to like build
out all the permutations and build a
little like crazy murder board about it?
Like
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Yeah, I'm gonna have, I'm gonna
have all the players with one
of those, like, uh, quarterback,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
things.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
exactly.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: just,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
They'll be like, wow, this guy's a nerd.
Like.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Alana's over here.
Okay.
Where am I supposed?
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah, but that's what I mean.
Like, you have to know your,
your teammates in and out.
You have to know your plays in and out.
Like there's certain things that have
to happen consistently all the time.
And like I said, the theme of like,
I feel like the word of the day
in Peewee Herman like is me saying
consistency, but truly that's what it is.
And even when it comes to our attack, so
like we have some of the best goal scores
in the league and in the world right now.
Alyssa Thompson is terrifying.
Both in the NWSL and internationally,
like almost, especially internationally.
It's, it like hits different, um,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
had a couple bangers,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
international play, so.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
And we've got ri like we have
so many players who can score.
Right now, Claire isn't
even in the picture.
She's been hurt and she was
in the running for Golden Boot
for half the season last year.
Sid La Ru isn't even in there
running for Golden Boot.
'cause she's been hurt.
You know, like she had the mental health
leave in the beginning of the season.
She then tore her calf.
She's apparently,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
and then gets injured
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
yeah, and like now she's training again.
So I'm like, okay, cool.
When do we get to see Sid, the Kid?
I'm so excited for this.
And then,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
endo's off the SEI
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
yeah, like, I'm
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: got,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
so excited.
And then we'll probably see
Christen Press for more than 10
minutes and like, it's so good.
And then we have like this
big unknown in Jan's daughter
and I'm so excited for that.
And that's why like, overall,
that's my preview for the team.
I don't know.
I don't know.
And I don't care.
Like, I'm just excited.
I'll do more of a deep dive
into what I think we're gonna
look like after Saturday.
But that's, that's all.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
I asked Angela, I'm like, all right,
should we, should we, should we be
writing kind of like a, like an actual
recap and an actual, like, here's
how the team's been looking like,
and I think her, her verbatim answer
was, at this point, I don't care.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Well, yeah, because it doesn't,
it doesn't matter anymore.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
and, and I think, okay, so yes, there's,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Like our record matters.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: there.
Yeah.
We have our record.
And our record is what it is, and
we literally are moving into a whole
new era with a whole new coach.
Right.
So yeah, the, the beginning
of the season kind of,
doesn't matter in the sense that,
whatever issues we were having
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
were issu are issues of the past now.
Can they be fixed?
The, the big question
is, can they be fixed?
Can they be corrected?
Can they be, um, eliminated from the
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
And that was in, I think it was,
it was either the first or second.
Postgame presser that I was watching
that Strauss was discussing that idea.
Exactly.
And he goes, there are things
that I've seen that I know aren't
gonna change overnight, because
that's been four seasons of that.
Are they essentially bad habits?
Yes.
And we have to break them.
And that's why we have to take everything
out the closets, skeletons, trash
bags, you know, trunks of clothes.
Like you're, we are dismantling everything
and building it back the right way.
And that's why I'm like, I don't care
about the first half of the season
because that's all they've been doing.
The last month and a half, two months
is just like, let's break it and
build it again and build it the way
we want to build it for the long term.
And that's, that's why
I'm just like, let's go.
I let, show me, show me what you've
got because I know it's gonna be so
good, like injected into my veins,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Um,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
but that's it.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
that's it.
That's our, that's our mid-season recap.
Um, like I said, there's, uh, we've never
been the full on xs and O type podcast.
We're a very much vibes with
a sprinkling of Xs and O.
So, uh, we, this is where
we're at, this is how we feel.
We feel.
I think we're on the more
positive side of what's to come
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
what Strauss can bring.
And, you know, uh, a couple of
additions, a couple of moves.
be what we needed.
And um, again, there was a little bit
of a measured like look, we, we've
got a majority of the team still here,
um, with whatever those issues were,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
leg injuries, um, whatever
gelling issues we were having.
It's not like we clean
the slate mid midway,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Right.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: like,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
don't just fire everybody and start
over in the middle of the season.
But it's not to say that the
team you have is trash either.
'cause like we've said for four
years, we've got a damn good team.
They're just not being used
correctly or utilized in the
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
best positions for themselves.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
hopefully he unlocks that.
Um, so with that, let's go with our very
quick tiny preview of, of our friendly
match against the, uh, Carolina Ascent.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
So this Saturday at BMO, the 26th, 5:00
PM I don't think there's gonna be any
like fan fest or anything ahead of time.
They'll probably just be like a tailgate,
we'll post whatever gets posted,
but they haven't, everything's been
really low key about the friendlies.
So I don't know.
Parking's included if you have
a parking pass, that's really,
I think the most important part.
Um.
So the Carolina Ascent are
coming in off a fantastic season.
They won, they're calling it the, I
think the Player's Shield and they
had the best record in Game Bridge
Super League's inaugural season.
They were plus 19.
That's what I know about this team.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Geez.
Okay.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah, so they had a
very, very good season.
They are coming off a friendly
against the dash on Sunday.
So yesterday, which when this comes
out on Wednesday, on Sunday the
20th, they played Houston in Houston.
So now they're here.
So they've been traveling,
they just played in Houston.
It's been nasty, nasty ass
weather all over the country.
Um, we were at Disneyland on last week for
the last day of our three day like ticket.
And a monsoon just showed
up at like 11 to three.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
morning.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah, same here, down.
Like, I'm like, what is this?
And granted, I love summer
rain, don't get me wrong.
I don't like south summer,
Midwestern, Texas, southern rain.
That's different.
And it's gross.
I like summer rain out here.
I don't know what's happening though.
But it's gonna be interesting to see
one, how their legs are, what they've
got in the tank left from Sunday.
'cause that's a quick turnaround.
It's a week, but there's
also travel involved.
Um, so there, I will be very honest, I
do not know a lot about this team because
I did not watch a lot of the Super
League or like the games last season.
But I'm excited because this coming
season that starts, I think it was
in September, they're streaming on
Peacock, like every game's on Peacock,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Oh,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
at least for Carolina.
So I'm gonna watch as much as I
can because what's another sport?
Why not?
Or else it's the same sport.
What's another league?
But.
Keep tabs on this team.
Keep tabs on the league.
If nothing else, you're supporting women's
sports and that's really what matters.
But they have sick ass colors.
Their kits are cool.
Have you seen any of the
promo and stuff from them?
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
No, I've seen, I, I mean,
I've seen their, their shield.
I've seen their, their crest
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
That's what their kids look like.
It's like a sunset.
It's beautiful.
It's like purple, orange, yellow, pink.
Like a little teal.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
it's, it's what everybody's been asking
not to have the stupid cookie cutter
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yes.
It's almost like when you're not a Nike
sponsored league, you can do cool things.
Um, but yeah, it's, their kits are cool.
They have a good vibe and like
we, Mario said, we talk a lot of
vibes on this podcast more than
X's and O's, as much as I love X's
and O's, but they just look cool.
Their coach is a former assistant
women's national team or US
women's national team coach.
So he is obviously doing
great running this team.
Um.
Everything I've seen, they have a
couple players playing from them who
are on loan from different NWSL teams
or former NWSL players that were kind
of like on the cusp where they're
like not getting a lot of minutes.
So they went and signed
here to get more minutes.
Um, like Mackenzie Pluck who played for
us, she's on a team, I think the Brooklyn
team if I remember correctly, back east,
in the northern part of the east coast.
But I'm excited and like I said,
like I don't even know what
our lineup's gonna look like.
Nobody does.
And that's the best part about
everything coming up with this team.
The team's genuinely excited
to be working with him.
I like it.
Strauss seems super intense, like so
sports, so, so like high IQ sports,
intense, but it is intensity with a goal.
He's not just like, ah,
this is so important.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
he's just, he's not just being
like a dumb drill sergeant, like.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Exactly.
It's like, no, we're doing this,
like we're doing this specific
drill for this specific reason.
Like there's a reason behind everything.
And that's the kind of coach for
me that makes everything click
and makes everything better.
So I'm hoping that's what
happens with the team.
But yeah, I'm excited for Saturday.
See you there.
I'll be at the museum beforehand.
If you guys are at the Natural
History Museum, hit me up.
My coworkers are coming.
It's gonna be a party.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
It's gonna be fun.
so yeah, so we, we'll do this really
quick, um, 'cause we're running
a, we're running quite a bit long.
Like I said this, this is
like two or three episodes
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: one.
Um, we had this plan of doing like
an a MA, like ask us anything you
want, uh, team about us, whatever.
And I was gonna post kind of on the
regular, like every couple days just to
be like, you know, send in your questions.
I got to one post and
then shit went downhill.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
We, we only got three questions
in, one of 'em from Alicia.
Thank you, Alicia, asking why we're so
awesome and, you know, not to toot our own
horn, but definitely tooting our own horn.
It, I think it's just because
we have fun with this.
We,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
we love what we're doing here.
We're, we, love the, the community
that's been built out of this.
Like, honestly, um, I sent a message
through the Discord, um, as I
was recovering and as I was able
to pick up my arms and use them,
once I was able to use my
arms, the phone felt so
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Like it, yeah.
Um, but I was able to send a quick
message and be like, you know,
hey, everybody updates coming.
I, uh, I, you know, going through
some stuff, but just being able to.
Lurk and, and keep an eye
on, on discord and like the,
the banter that was going on.
There was a whole thing about, like,
some of the, the player announcements.
There was
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yep.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: about
like some of the, oh, the, the euros,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
euros that were happening.
Um, there was a whole bunch of
banter about that that was going on.
Um, and just being able to see that
from the community that we've built,
I think just made me happy and,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: it,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Um,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: for
being self-sufficient for a couple weeks.
So Mario and I could like, deal with real
life and figure out what we were doing.
And
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
granted that, yeah, he wasn't there to,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
and, yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
but no, thank you guys and, and
really like to answer that question.
It's just because we wanted to
have a cool place to hang out.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Honestly, that's it.
I, I don't think we're any more
or less awesome than other people.
I think we just built a community
by accident and then it's cool.
And I'm not gonna cry, so we're
gonna go to the next question.
Now I'm making an executive
decision 'cause I haven't
cried yet and it's been an hour
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
And Kay, Kay came, came in with
a, a question about the team.
Like, so what's the
problem with this team?
No, really?
What is it?
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
consistency and lack thereof.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
And
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
A hundred percent.
That's my answer until it's fixed.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah,
that's, I, I, I haven't done it yet, and
I probably will do it again for like our
end of recap type thing, but through,
like I did last year, going through and
looking at just our lineup, like how
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
our lineup?
Um, and
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
We've already eclipsed last season.
I know that much.
'cause we had three games with the
same line up before someone got hurt.
So.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah.
so with, with all of
that, I, yeah, I agree.
It's.
It's a lack of consistency, and I think
that's just been a thing since last year.
Um, and so,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
honestly, since like middle of
second season when Becki took
over, like we haven't had, and even
before then it was tumultuous, you
know, like it, they've never just
been able to like have a season.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, we've talked about too that,
you know, um, Becky inherited the team
the way it was, um, but then in the off
season, it's not like they made any moves
that looked like they were Becky moves.
Like there weren't really any,
I think there weren't any moves
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: So it
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
uh, there's a lack of consistency and
there was a lack of leadership and there
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: of
a whole bunch of other things, which now
sound like they're very much getting, like
all the pieces are getting put into place.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah, it definitely sounds like
with Mark Parsons and, and.
Strauss at the helm.
Like there's a goal, there's a
mission, and there's a plan, and
now it's just getting that plan to
come into fruition on the pitch.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Yeah, like getting that plan to become
second nature, um, to, to the players.
Um, and then our last one was from Liz
and Sam, and just a really fun, like
what's our, uh, favorite and least
favorite thing about living in la?
I, uh,
I can say that my, my, and it's gonna be
a very, uh, basic answer, but my least
favorite thing is, um, the traffic of
like, we are so sprawled out everything's
so centralized in a few places
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
that yeah, like, I mean, I have to, not
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: I
know your, your commute to work is like.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: to
work is an hour and a half each way.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
To go like seven miles, like or
10 miles, something like that.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
I, I, I started this
year, I started a new job.
I'm like in downtown la and so,
um, the drive down there, uh,
gets pretty hectic in the morning.
The drive back is just, there's,
and that's just to say like,
you know, that's the reality.
Like,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
I, I, I talk to people from other
offices, from my, from my, uh,
from the new place that I work at.
Like I've talked to, I've worked
with people from like Boston.
I've worked with people from like Atlanta
and from like Houston and New York.
And then when I, when I talk to
them about like, oh yeah, you
going home, or How long is it?
They're like, oh yeah,
that's like 10 minutes,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
minutes.
Like,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: And
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
literally do live like where
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
yeah, and to kind of like piggyback off
that, my least favorite thing is a lack
of really efficient and good public
transportation, because that would.
Cancel out like half your
hour and a half commute.
'cause like those folks in New York,
that drive would take just as long, but
they can jump on the subway, go seven
stops, and they're home in 20 minutes.
You know what I mean?
Like,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: my
only caveat with that one though is that
like we do have a fairly robust system.
It's just not big enough for
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: no.
And it's not, not run enough.
Like it's, there's not enough trains.
There's not enough cars.
There's not enough buses.
Or there are, but there's not,
it's not an, it's not enough.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
there's too many, there's
too many NIMBYs stopping
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: Yes.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
of what needs to happen.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
So many.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
uh, I will say one of, uh, the, one
of my favorite things, uh, about LA
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
is the community that we have
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
particularly.
The nature of food,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: the,
the fact that like, like can get, I can
get Persian food, I can get, uh, Filipino
food, I can get, um, Salvadorian food, I
can get Mexican food, I can get, I, I can
get virtually everything under the sun
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
Every single cuisine you
can think of, you can find,
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
because this city is built on immigrants
and this city is built on transplants.
And like I was born and raised
here, but I know plenty of
people that are transplants.
So like, they're bringing, they're
bringing their, uh, their taste and their
style and their, uh, whatever it may be
from, uh, from Texas, from Georgia, from
uh, New York, from wherever they're from.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
They're bringing their regional
kind of things and mixing it.
With what kind of West Coast style is.
And then we have all of the, uh,
immigrant community, the, the,
the people that have come here.
And a, the, one of the easiest
things, well, no, I'm not gonna say
it's the easiest things, but one of
the, one of the things that they can
do a lot of times to start becoming
self-sufficient is setting up food.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Yeah.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
Setting up, um, cooking.
And, um, like to my mom, my
mom, like cooking is a love
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Mm-hmm.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
like, so she will, so to that
point, she doesn't really know how
to cook small a lot of, a lot of
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Because I, listen, I don't
know if this is outside.
I do know it is.
So any community based culture, one
that's not based in individualism,
does not know how to cook for two.
Because there's never two,
just two people to feed.
You need to make sure you have
food for tomorrow or somebody's,
your tia's gonna come by.
Or, oh, hey, the neighbor, they're
outta work, so we're making them food.
Or you know what?
Your grandma lives here too.
Like multi-generational homes and
communities full of people who look
like you but aren't from the same place.
Like you feed them, you
take care of each other.
You look after each other.
And like, I think on a cellular level
at this point, that it's like, it's
impossible for me to cook for two people.
That's it.
And I, like, I will say the
same thing for your mom.
Like she just
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: yeah,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
not know how, because what is that like?
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: no.
'cause when she cooks and people
get wind of it, there's people
that are like, want some too.
And then my mom goes, okay then.
And so like there's just now,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
Because it's, it's also like the
philosophy of if people need to eat.
And you can feed them, you do it.
If you have enough to
provide extra, you do it.
Because when your time of need comes,
somebody's gonna do it for you.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yep.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
And that's, that's my favorite thing
is that LA is one of the biggest cities
in the world, one of the most robust
and large and like very off-putting
for a lot of people's cities.
But at the same time, this is a small
town and everybody knows everybody.
And you can connect, like
Eva played a show, right?
Like literally a day and a
half before the fires exploded.
In, in pa, in the
Palisades and in Altadena.
We were in Pasadena.
My coworker showed up who had
just moved here from Kentucky.
His, he brought a couple friends.
They knew another friend who was there
who had performed with another F.
And it was like all of a sudden,
everybody in that whole circle,
people that came to see Eva play.
We're all connected and we all
just kinda stood there like,
what, how does this happen?
Like what even is this?
Because no one here knew each other
10 minutes ago and now we are all
connected through seven different
people and people were cross connected
and you know, it's like you, you don't
know anyone, but you know everyone.
And if you're, and I think this is because
I am from here, but if you are going to
only the west side or only Hollywood or
only like Los Filas, you know what I mean?
Like if you're only going to one specific
neighborhood, you don't get that.
You don't get it.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: No.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713: You
might get it a little bit, but you don't
get it in the grand scheme of things.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
And I stand on that.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: Yeah.
Um, so with that, thank you everyone
for listening, for supporting us for.
Being part of the discord,
if that's your thing for,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
For letting me bully you if you're
Vero and Richie to join the Discord.
I've gotten one but not the other.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
um, with all of that.
Um, yeah, we just you.
We we're glad that we're able to
do, um, this, I'm glad that I've had
the energy to be able to do this.
Um, so, um,
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
He's not gonna talk for like three days.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
glad to, glad to have Angela's brain
on just the lore of everything,
um, to be able to do this.
And so, um, yeah.
Thank you.
And if you are into this.
Over the hour.
Um, that means you probably
like what you hear.
So hit the subscribe button
wherever you're listening to.
Uh, check out casual fc.com
for all the pod links for any
type of place you wanna subscribe
to, to your heart's content.
We're also on YouTube, so
go ahead and check it out.
Sorry for not posting up the video.
It's a Spotify, it's kind
of a pain in the ass.
So, um, if you do wanna watch the
video, I would suggest going to YouTube.
It's a lot easier for
me to get it up there.
follow us on social at Casual FC Pod on
everything, Instagram Threads, TikTok.
Um, and we're at casual fc.com
on Blue Sky.
Still trying to figure out how to program
everything and how to like message things
everywhere, but it's getting there.
Uh, come join us on the Discord that we've
been talking about every single time.
Um, it's free.
It's, if you're not familiar with
Discord, it's like a version of
Slack or it's a version of teams.
It's just a fun place to hang out.
There's different channels
to be tape talking about
different topics, and it's fun.
There's a lot of people from
the casual to the expert casual.
So, uh, it's, it's a, it's a fun place
to, to be best ways to support the pod,
uh, share, like, comment on our posts,
um, or go, uh, rate review us on, on
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Um, it's all about engagement.
Uh, you can also grab some merch that
Alana Kennedy herself has bought.
Um, at shop dot casual fc.com.
Uh, we have some fun merch, uh, there
and, um, can't promise that we'll have
more, but if we can, I am working on
them and we will get more out there too.
And, uh, if you feel so inclined,
you can always support the
pod by buying us a coffee.
Uh, check out the link in our bios
or go to buy me a coffee.com/casual
FC pod.
It's an easy way for you to send
us a couple bucks, uh, kind of keep
doing what we're doing and keep
the lights on and keep recording.
And, uh, just showing us a
little bit of monetary love.
Um, and with all of that,
tell a friend about the pod.
Um, it brings us good luck and we
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
And since Mario banked all that
good luck and took it with him to
the hospital, we need to restock
for the second half of the season.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712:
we need to restock a little.
So, uh, with all of that, uh,
thank you everyone, and we'll
see you at the next game.
angela--hot-dog-_1_07-21-2025_153713:
See you on Saturday guys.
Bye.
mr-reco--very-_1_07-21-2025_153712: I.
