The Mane Land PawedCast Michael Citro

The Lions went to North Carolina, went up a man, scored twice, and all they got was one lousy point. It wasn't an ideal trip to Charlotte but given recent fortunes, Orlando City will no doubt take the point on the road as Oscar Pareja continues searching for a way to get the best out of a team that has underachieved throughout 2024. The performances have been better in some respects, but there are still unusual defensive issues plaguing the team.
We break down the 2-2 draw at Charlotte, look back at our score predictions, and make our picks for Man of the Match (we were unanimous).
OCB's game at New York City FC II was canceled without an explanation given on Tuesday. No makeup date had been given as of this recording. OCB's Wilfredo Rivera got the call to replace Ramiro Enrique (personal matter) this week. He didn't get into Wednesday's match but Alex Freeman did and had a bit of an impact.
This week's mailbagbox wants to know if we know our Orlando City key pass trivia, what makes us smile, and more. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.
After the mailbagbox, we looked ahead to Saturday's matchup against Chicago, providing our key matchups and score predictions for the Lions vs. the Fire. Don't forget to listen to the episode to find out where you can meet your PawedCast hosts on Saturday afternoon in downtown Orlando!
Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we'll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.
Here’s how No. 427 went down:
0:15 – The Lions had more guys but not more goals in Charlotte. OCB didn't play.
33:00 – Our mailbagbox asks us regular questions and trivia questions.
48:05 – We preview the second meeting of the season against the Fire.
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We start this episode with a quick announcement that you can hang with your PawedCast hosts on Saturday before the Lions take on the Chicago Fire. That's right. Dave's down from Tallahassee and we'd love to thank you in person for listening to the show and reading our website. Give the episode a listen to find out where we'll be in downtown Orlando from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Orlando City's time off did not fix the offense. Well, that's not fair. It's fair to say that the offense is better at generating shots. However, if the shots aren't getting to the target or are missing it, that's a problem. Is it better to get only four shots and put one on frame or to get 19 and only put one on target? That's a terrible set of options. We break down a frustrating result despite a good performance against one of the league's best teams. We also look back at our predictions and make our selections for Man of the Match.
OCB was drunk in the bad way last week in a 2-2 home draw against Chattanooga. The Young Lions continue to defy the odds with some horrible postgame penalty shootout performances, however, and it's cost the team points. In this case, OCB went from three points in hand in stoppage time to just one lousy point. Look, only insane people care about soccer teams, because they're designed to hurt you for caring.
This week's mailbagbox wants to know about some of the young players. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.
After the mailbagbox, we touched on the USMNT's good performance against Brazil in Orlando. It was weird being back at Camping World Stadium, but it was good to see the U.S. bounce back for a good result against a tough team. We also discussed David Brekalo's cameo at the Euros on Sunday.
Finally, we provide our key matchups and score predictions for the Lions' midweek trip to Charlotte. The North Carolina side is a good defensive club, which is not what the Orlando offense needs. But hey, you have to play them all.
Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we'll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.
Here’s how No. 425 went down:
0:15 – The Lions can't shoot. The Young Lions can't shootout. It's not a fun season on the men's side.
28:04 – Our mailbagbox, a quick discussion of the USMNT vs. Brazil in Orlando, and David Brekalo gets (a few) minutes at the Euros.
45:17 – We go again Wednesday in Charlotte. Maybe the team will score. Maybe not.
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Orlando City's MLS side was off for the international break over the weekend, so we begin this week's show (the only one this week due to the schedule) with an extended breakdown of Orlando City B's comeback draw against Carolina Core FC. The Young Lions started poorly, fought back to tie the match, appeared to take the lead late, had multiple red cards shown to the bench at the end of normal time, and then won the extra point in the postgame penalty shootout.
Games like this are what made us coin the term "drunk OCB," because unexpected things happen. In fact, each team scored on a penalty in regulation. When you factor in the multi-goal comeback, the waved-off winner, the red cards to people not even on the pitch, and the wacky shootout in which four consecutive players failed to score at one point, it was a crazy match.
After our recap, we discussed the summer fates of some of Orlando City's internationals. The club's Uruguayans aren't needed for Copa America, while starting center back David Brekalo is off to the Euros to play for Slovenia.
This week's mailbagbox asked us about Orlando City's shape and which summer international tournament we're looking forward to most. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.
After the mailbagbox, we touched on the USMNT's beatdown at home against Colombia. The final score was ugly, and it could have been uglier, but it also could have been much better. It was a weird game.
Finally, we prepare you for Orlando City's home match Saturday against LAFC, a team the Lions have never beaten. Is this the year? Well, LAFC is quite good and the Lions have not been able to score goals, and that's not a recipe for success. We provide our key matchups and score predictions.
Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we'll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.
Here’s how No. 425 went down:
0:15 – The Young Lions were comically bad to start the game but showed a great deal of grit to climb back into the match and take two of a possible three points from Carolina Core.
20:33 – Our mailbagbox is fairly short and sweet this week.
31:28 – The USMNT's bad day and a preview of the LAFC match.
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Orlando City played a solid defensive game on the road against the New York Red Bulls. That's the good news. The bad news is that the anemic offense may have just had its worst performance in the Oscar Pareja era, mustering only four shot attempts and just one weak dribbler on frame. The Red Bulls converted a free kick that shouldn't have been given and that was enough to give the hosts a 1-0 win.
We broke down the match to the extent that we could stomach to do so, checked on our scor predictions, and made our Man of the Match selections.
If you're looking for more good news after the team went 0-2-1 in its last three matches, well, the team is off until June 15. The bad news is that it's against LAFC.
This week's mailbagbox asked us about MLS contracts and the shape employed by OCB's opponents on Sunday. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.
After the mailbagbox, we discussed OCB's 3-1 loss to Inter Miami II in South Florida. The Young Lions had the manpower advantage throughout the second half, but not only couldn't equalize, but also conceded a third goal and refused to send any fresh legs onto the pitch when the game was still within reach.
In better OCB news, Yutaro Tsukada was named MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month for May. The 2024 MLS SuperDraft pick has been impressive with the reserve side this season.
Finally, we've got news about the OCSC academy teams. The U-15 and U-17 squads each fared better against Inter Miami than the first team or reserve side has managed in 2024.
Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we'll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.
Here’s how No. 424 went down:
0:15 – The Lions were not good on Saturday night...at least offensively. The defense was good.
18:26 – Our mailbagbox shows our listeners aren't afraid to ask the tough questions.
28:23 – OCB suffered a bad loss, but there's some good news about the club's young players as well.
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Odd officiating decisions that have gone against Orlando City through the years would make for a fascinating book with a lot of pages in it. The Lions had them in back-to-back weeks after a strange decision not to penalize Federico Navarro for catching Ivan Angulo's leg in front of goal with the goalkeeper out of the way. While that wasn't the only reason Orlando City dropped two points at Soldier Field, it was a major contributor on a night when the offense simply didn't have anything much to offer.
We looked back at our score predictions, broke down the game, discussed that decision, and made our Man of the Match selections.
This week's mailbagbox asked us about our favorite concerts and Orlando City's Designated Player situation. If you turned in your question after lunchtime on Thursday, we will have to get to it on the next episode, as we had to record early in the day due to a quirk in my schedule. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.
After the mailbagbox, we discussed OCB's upcoming trip to South Florida. The Young Lions owe the Baby Herons of Inter Miami II some payback for a "home" loss at IMG Academy in Bradenton earlier in the season.
Finally, we looked ahead to Orlando City's trip to play the New York Red Bulls. It's not optimal that the Lions are staying on the road rather than returning home in between. This isn't to say it's not a smart idea in many ways, but the club has a bad history when extending a road trip for the second game. We looked at the Red Bulls' statistical leaders, provided our key matchups, and made our predictions for the final score.
Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we'll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.
Here’s how No. 423 went down:
0:15 – The Lions scored early. Then they stopped. It didn't hold up. At least it wasn't a loss.
26:57 – Our mailbagbox asks us about concerts and Designated Players.
35:25 – OCB looks for payback against the Baby Herons and the Lions head to New Jersey.
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Orlando City faced the Columbus Crew with a solid plan and it seemed to be working when a penalty was awarded to the Lions late in the first half. However, whenever the Professional Referee Organization gets involved, bad things tend to happen to Orlando, such as a soft foul given at the other end while a foul in the buildup to that foul was not given. The Crew managed to tack one on in the second half after scoring the penalty late in the first to get the win. Orlando's offense continues to be anemic.
We looked back at our score predictions, broke down the game, and made our Man of the Match selections.
This week's mailbagbox asked us about playing out of the back, conceding possession to the other team, using five substitutes, and former Lion Pierre da Silva (which was a blast from the past). Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.
After the mailbagbox, we discussed OCB's dominant 5-0 win at home Sunday against Huntsville City. The Young Lions could have won by an even bigger margin had they been clinical at all with some guilt-edged chances in the first half, but a big +5 in the goal differential column and a win are nothing to be upset about.
Finally, we turned our attention toward Orlando City's visit to Soldier Field to play the Chicago Fire Wednesday. After a brief discussion on the Fire's season so far, we discussed the key matchups we expect and made our score predictions.
Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we'll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.
Here’s how No. 422 went down:
0:15 – The Lions didn't get it done against the Crew. We mourn the loss.
21:19 – Our mailbagbox got philosophical about tactics.
37:02 – OCB's lopsided win and a preview of the Lions at the Fire on Wednesday.
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