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From causal and seasoned fans to fresh new fans to the game, Casual FC is your Angel City FC podcast previewing all upcoming matches, highlighting what to look for as the casual football fan.
Angela: This is the first time
you've had your glasses on in
the podcast in a long time.
I don't think you've had
them on since we had video.
Mario: Really?
Oh,
Angela: I don't think so.
Me?
Look, I have hair.
Mario: you have hair
Angela: You have glasses?
Oh my god, who are we?
Last week we switched, we switched
Mario: It's the Halloween episode.
That's why
Angela: Ooh, a spooky!
A spooky Halloween!
Hey everyone, welcome to, oh
it's already a shenanigans.
Welcome to Casual FC, an
Angel City preview pod.
And a certified footy therapy pod with
your pod certified footy therapist, Angela
Morales, and my co host, who is currently
in a fancy airport hotel, Mario Salazar.
Mario: Courtyard Marriott
at Oakland Airport,
. It's, um,
Angela: it's not one of those that's
like inside the airport, because
Mario: yeah,
Angela: kind of freak me out.
Mario: yeah, those, that's kind of, but
then again, I just wake up and then like,
walk down to like a terminal, you know.
Sounds kind of nice.
Um,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: what I will say is that at least
it's, it's a courtyard and I'm in a
pretty big ass room with like, you know,
I was lounging on the, like, the chair
over there with my, with my legs on
the ottoman watching the Dodger game.
Um,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: like, it was nice and chill
versus, uh, what's the alternative?
Like, being at a, like, Motel 6
next to the airport with, like,
Angela: That's
Mario: like, sandwiched between,
like, a McDonald's and a strip club.
Like,
Angela: And a freeway,
Mario: yeah,
Angela: Motel 6 by LAX, like,
somebody who lives by the airport,
there are some janky ass hotels.
Mario: yes.
Angela: say it.
Yeah.
But, it's the last episode of the
regular season, my friends, for us.
Mario: Yes, it is.
Well, the last
Angela: I
Mario: match, the last
match preview episode.
We've had, well, we've
had a couple more in the,
Angela: up.
Mario: a couple more coming up,
but yes, the last match preview.
Angela: Yeah, and this episode is going
to drop before election day, so make
sure that you are, if you are not already
registered to vote, that you get your shit
together and get ready for election day.
if you need any voter guide
information, how to register, um,
to do on election day, if it's
your first election, I don't know.
If you have any questions about
voting, hit us up, hit us up.
We got you.
I got you.
Sorry.
My hair is down.
it's like, you know, not 80 degrees
and I don't know what to do and
this one section just keeps doing
this and it's pissing me off.
if I come back, if I disappear and
then come back with a bun, this is
why I wear my hair up all the time.
But this is our last match
preview of the regular season.
We'll be matching up against the Portland
Thorns on Friday, November 1st at
Providence Park, which The game's at 7pm,
and I think I mentioned this on another
episode, but if you're up in Oregon,
just take, what is it, the MAX, the light
rail, whatever it's called, the zoo?
They do a lot of conservation
cool stuff up there, and then,
like, you can go to Providence
Park and then the zoo, or the zoo.
They're really close on the same
line, because you go by Providence
Park when you go to the zoo.
Mario: Just go to the zoo.
Angela: Just go.
It's fun.
It's a really cool zoo, and they
do really cool stuff up there
for research and conservation.
And yeah, that's my little do
something cool up in Oregon.
If you go, game will be
streaming on Amazon Prime.
And iHeartRadio, Perjuge,
with Isaac and Tracy.
we said, it's the final
match of the season.
Angel City's gonna be hosting a watch
party at both 33 TAPS locations,
so in Silver Lake and Culver City.
The Culver City one, um, parking
is not great on the street.
Go park on Cardiff in the parking
structure and walk a block.
It's Perfectly.
I've done this many times.
Um,
Mario: Tips brought to you by Angela.
Angela: right, by a local Silver Lake.
I don't know how the parking
is, but I assume it's bad just
given that it's Silver Lake.
Angel City has also announced a
possible secondary location for the
watch party at Football Boutique.
It's on Pico Boulevard, um,
because our game could possibly
conflict with a Game 6.
of the World Series.
If the Dodgers don't close it
out in New York, which my fiancé,
everybody knows, Eva was a huge
Yankee fan and I'm a huge Dodger fan.
If we do not close this World
Series out, we are currently up 3 1.
If we don't close this out in New York,
we have to come back here and win this.
I'm watching the, I'm
watching the baseball game.
I'm sorry.
And I'm at home.
Mario: I, I'm not, I'm
not blaming you, no.
I, I mean,
season's over.
We've been eliminated, and this is,
this is, this is a game for funsies.
Um, so if we don't try something
new, something wild, in this match,
I don't know what we're doing.
Like,
Angela: Mm hmm.
Mario: right?
Angela: Yeah.
And we'll get into that a little
bit, what I think we should do,
and then all the good things.
Mario: Okay,
Angela: But,
Mario: so I, I said this on the last vlog.
I said this on the last vlog,
and I'm gonna say it again,
because I'm gonna clip it again.
And I'm gonna Make it a thing again.
NWSL needs to bring back Decision Day.
I went back to the calendar to make
sure I wasn't talking out of my And
saying, hey, bring back Decision Day
when there was no, ever a Decision Day.
No, we had Decision Day last year.
All games played on one day,
um, to finish out the season.
This year, because of the, uh, tangled web
of, uh, the, of, of streaming contracts,
the double edged sword of, uh, Women's
sports here of like being able to say
like, look, you wanted to be able to
watch these matches, you can watch them.
The downside is that there's 10
different networks that you can,
that you're going to have to juggle
and figure out how to watch them.
So, you know, you, you, you get
what you asked for, not necessarily
exactly what you want, but, um,
Angela: And not exactly what you pay for,
Mario: yeah, yeah, you know, there's,
Angela: not all streaming is equal.
Mario: yes, yes, that's something
that they need to work on is like, The
streaming quality and the production
quality needs to kind of raise the bar.
It would kind of be equal
set among the, the partners.
But with all of that being said, because
of the way they structured all of this,
right, Amazon always got Friday matches.
ION TV always got double
headers on Saturday.
Angela: Saturday.
Mario: and, uh, whoever, oh, Paramount,
CBS gets, uh, the Sunday matches.
The way that was all structured.
Leads to a non decision day, it
makes it a decision weekend, uh, and
we'll get to it, but you're gonna
ruin the magic of decision day.
Now,
Angela: Yeah, especially when Decision
Day has been such a pinnacle in the NWSL.
Mario: it's, it's a pinnacle thing and,
Angela: decided on Decision
Day more often than not.
Mario: yeah, and it's a, it's
a thing for all the leagues.
I mean, in, in the European leagues,
because of ProRel, like, usually on
decision day, you kind of almost don't
care about the championship won because
you kind of already know who won it.
Or someone could have
won it by that point.
What you're really looking is you're
looking for the, the relegation
teams and seeing if they can
play to survive, essentially.
So, yeah.
And, I mean, the same thing
happened in the MLS Decision
Day this year, where there was,
Angela: The changed three times?
Four times?
And like, Five minutes?
Mario: yeah, yeah, it was, it was
insane, uh, the LAFC and the Galaxy
basically have been really good this
year, and they've been top of the league.
Or towards the top of the league,
um, all season, and they had an
amazing, like, it was just great
television to see them leapfrog each
other throughout the game, like, eh,
eh, eh, you know, like, it was, it,
Angela: like a PK.
LAFC is on top.
Something else happened.
And then like something, a goal
gets scored in the Galaxy game.
Galaxy is on top.
Then this happens.
And that happens.
And this happens.
Like, I just watched the, the highlight
video you sent me because as we know, I
don't watch men's soccer because I don't
need to watch anything that dramatic.
But like, it was so cool to
watch like the split screen
Mario: yeah,
Angela: change.
I'm like, this was well done.
Whoever put this together, good job.
Mario: yes.
So, uh, two things I'm gonna say
is, one, bring back Decision Day.
If anything, make the three
networks fight for, no, not, not
even make them, scratch that, make
Decision Day happen all at once.
Just be like, look.
ION, Amazon.
Like, you get your own stuff.
We're gonna have viewers on all your
platforms, but it's gonna happen.
And you know what?
Number two, NWSL.
Casual FC will do a
whole whip around show.
We'll do the show where we jump back
and forth and be like, Look at this!
Look at that!
Look at this!
And, and,
Angela: like, my head would spin.
I'd have to take the whole, like,
two days off of work the next week.
I don't care.
I would do it in a heartbeat.
That would be so much fun.
Mario: I will learn how to
produce a TV show to do that.
And like, be like, that's the one,
Angela: make a phone call.
Mario: that's the one show I do all year.
We
Angela: Yeah, we know people.
Like, we've, I know editors.
I know script supervisors,
lighting experts, directors.
Like, we got this.
Mario: got this.
Um, so that, that's, that's my
big spiel for all of this at the
end of the season is we need to
bring back the absolute chaos.
As much as we love, which
we're going to have this match,
some NWSL after dark action.
Angela: Mm hmm.
Mario: We need, we need us
some decision day chaos.
And please bring that back.
Figure it out.
Angela: Absolutely.
Thank you.
Mario: Thank you.
Um, all right.
Angela: like, and that's, thank
you for coming to my TED Talk.
Yeah.
Mario: my soapbox for today.
Angela: Yeah, absolutely.
So chaos award this week.
I have not had a chance to
watch the off season yet,
Mario: Okay.
Angela: mostly because
of a lot of baseball.
There's been so much baseball, but my plan
for this weekend is getting caught up on
the off season because there is drama.
Mario: Okay, um, so I think we might
have to, like, give you a good amount of
airtime for some off season recap, maybe
that is one of our extra episodes, because
Angela: yeah, yeah.
Mario: it's, I know that
Angela: It's spicy.
Mario: gonna, you're a lot more invested
than I am in it, or would be, you
know, so that's one thing, but I am
pulling this up right now, um, It was
something that I read this morning, and
Angela: my chaos award, though.
I
Mario: Okay.
Angela: have a different chaos
award that I didn't put in there.
Mario: Oh, see?
You can't be trying to tell me
that there's no chaos a word
and not put it in the script.
Alright, go ahead.
Mm
Angela: It's a surprise.
So this is one of those things
where it, it's tangentially
connected to the offseason in the
sense that it's spicy and it's drama.
Mario: hmm.
Angela: Krieg soft launched
on Instagram this week.
Mario: I didn't know
you were gonna say this.
Angela: I'm not even like, I, I've
like checked out of all of that
because it was just the It was so much.
But, um, yeah, that's, that's,
I think, the chaos award.
Just stir in the pot.
Mario: Just throwing the pot.
Angela: as to who it might be and
why, and there's so much happening
on, WOSO internet right now.
Mario: So that is a side of all
of this that I know we've talked
about it too, is A side of all of
this that has really struck me as
a new, like, deep dive NWSL fan is
the depths that the fandom goes into,
like, the personal lives of players.
Right?
Angela: sports.
It's the same in the W.
Mario: Like, I kind of understand it,
too, because, like, a lot more in,
like, the, you know, European It's
like, oh, this footballer was dating
this supermodel, or, like, this guy
Angela: but it's, it's also because
for so long, fans have had so much
access to the players because the
players were their own marketing teams.
Mario: Yeah, they had to
promote themselves, essentially.
Angela: yeah, you got to know the
players either post game, through
Twitter, through Instagram, like you're
DMing them, you're messaging them,
you're having full on conversations.
So now you're like,
excuse me, what is that?
Who is that?
What is happening here?
And that's the, it's this weird
situation that we get ourselves
into through this by accident.
Um, some people on purpose, I think
most by accident, myself included,
because I'm like, no thanks.
And then here I am like, Craig Safnacht.
but it's one of those things where
because women's sports has been like
a hot commodity for its audience,
but really hard and really difficult
to like find information on, you
have like, like when Twitter used
to work, like your WOSO, like list.
Or your WNBA list and you have all the
accounts you follow, or like reporters
and gossip, like, it's very communal
in that sense too, like, no joke, Eva
has a gig tonight and she's gonna come
home and be like, did you see this?
And like, we'll have a 20 minute
conversation about somebody's
dumb tweet or like, a player's,
you know, situationship that got
leaked or something like that.
It's weird.
Mario: It's very interesting.
I,
Angela: You're so kind.
Mario: no, well, the thing is that
it's, it's not weird because as,
in general, as a society, we are
obsessed with celebrities and the
stupid shit that they do or the,
the relationships that they have.
I mean, there's a whole
magazine about it, right?
People magazine that's like weekly
gossip and like that's You know,
Angela: celebrities, they're just like us.
Mario: yeah.
Angela: they out there
drinking Capri Suns?
No.
Mario: Um, so like, I
completely understand it.
It's just a shock because of
how concentrated it is, right?
It's not this like, it's not this
removed thing from a magazine about
like, You know, uh, Mila Kunis and
Ashton Kutcher, or something like that,
it's up, and those are the, for, I
don't know why those are the two people
that popped into my head, but, um,
Angela: Because you're a
Mario: but it's,
Angela: of a certain age, Mario.
Right.
Mario: that we're paying attention to,
and we're watching week in, week out,
and like, now it feels, even though
we don't know any of them, it feels a
lot closer than, than the Mila Kunis,
Ashton Kutcher thing, right, like, so,
Angela: Yeah, they're more,
they're like an arm's distance
away, maybe one to two degrees of
Mario: of separation.
Yeah.
Angela: versus like 10.
Mario: Uh, yeah.
Oh, so the other chaos award that I
was going to mention, because I read
it as I landed, um, here in, uh,
Oakland, was the NWSL, uh, disciplinary
committee gave, uh, extra suspensions
to, Ludmilla on the Red Stars and
Kuwasi on the Spirit, both got extras.
games from the red card that they got last
match and both got ejected, Ludmilla got
two additional games, which will be served
this weekend, will be the first one.
The next one will be
their first playoff match.
And if they move on, we'll
be in the next playoff match.
Those, they're all being served like
right away, which is kind of wild.
Um, and then Kuasi, yeah, and then Kuasi
has also been, um, added one more game.
So, going to be missing
this last decision day.
And Also, the first playoff game.
Now, missing the last decision
day, whatever, not a big problem.
They're already set.
Like, it's, like, who cares?
But, them missing the first
round of the playoff, like, that
could be, that could be huge.
And I think part of this,
I don't know, it's, um,
maybe the NWSL trying to save face
of, like, we're a real league, and
we give real sanctions, and we do
real penalties, um, after, like,
the whole, and, uh, Angel City.
Stuff that they, you know, I've
honestly, I think they've been getting
a little bit of flack for, of like,
not only from our Angel City
community, but also from,
Angela: no, people are pissed.
Mario: yeah,
Angela: People are pissed that
they're considering child care
to be part of the salary cap.
And then there's also been a very large
discussion outside of this podcast of
you have teenagers, are there chaperones
and parents considered child care?
Is that part of this?
What is happening?
Mario: yeah, like, the definition is
very not well defined and, um, and yeah,
it's, it's a kind of shit situation.
We've talked about this whole
child care thing before, and, and,
All those opinions still stand.
Um,
there's a bit of like, Jessica
Berman, that's the the league, right?
Um, there's a bit of like, get
your shit straight and like, look,
this is a legit league and you're
You're fumbling the bag, right?
Um, another chaos award goes to Jessica
Berman for, one, this stupid ass summer
cup that finishes in October, and two,
not showing up to the summer cup to award.
Angela: there.
Mario: She wasn't there.
A lot of, a lot of the, um, the
NWSL front office, um, Sponsors
that were part of the sponsorship
for the tournament were not there.
I
Angela: That's so
Mario: had a little bit
of downtime while I was,
Angela: You, yeah, you're traveling.
I have not been.
Mario: yeah, I'm traveling.
So like, really concentrated time with
my client and then had some downtime.
Yeah, there was a full article
on ESPN about like the fact
that The game was a joke, that,
Angela: Mm hmm.
Mario: no, the commission was
Angela: had six, seven
Mario: seven replacement players, yeah,
Angela: I mean, Mana played, which
was wonderful, but yeah, it just,
Mario: and,
Angela: it is what it is.
Mario: and there was, uh, an
announced attendance of 3, 300
for a final, like, the, the article
says, like, beyond the fact that
there was some fireworks after the
game, you wouldn't have known this
was a championship final, like,
Angela: Well, because it wasn't in
a city that has a team or that has
a strong desire to have a team.
It
was in San Antonio, if
I remember correctly.
Mario: yeah, like, it, Jessica,
Angela: And like, Houston
and San Antonio aren't close.
Mario: Jessica, like,
don't fumble the bag, just,
Angela: Yeah.
There's a lot of, um, what's
the word I'm looking for?
Criticism that is now occurring for both
the NWSL and the WNBA commissioner being
like, have we outgrown you already?
Have you, have you not kept up with the
league that you made better already?
Mario: yeah, like, I, I mean, From
what I remember, she was doing good.
Like, she was doing good
things for the league, but,
Angela: she came into a shit storm
Mario: yeah.
And like,
Angela: did a very good job of writing
this ship like correcting a lot of things.
But I think we're at a point now
where it's like, we've corrected
the things, the big things.
One, you need to keep correcting
over here and progressing over here.
Like,
Mario: gotta
Angela: make the other shit real good.
Mario: be able to chew gum and
walk at the same time, you know?
Angela: Yeah, basically.
So what happened this last
weekend around the league, Mario?
Mario: Alright, um, so we might have
gone around these scores because there
was another international break, so,
in our last episode, but just to recap,
um, Everything was pretty much set in
the last, uh, week of, weekend of games.
Uh, congrats to The Current
for winning the Summer Cup in
the fall, so there was that.
Um, but beyond that, uh, before that,
there was, uh, Seattle beating Houston 2
1, Kansas City, uh, beating San Diego 4
1, uh, Racing beating Portland 1 0, which
is, you know, we were like, Portland,
we need you to win, they said no.
Um.
So, and then, uh, Bay beating out
the, uh, Courage, uh, 1 0 again.
Courage pops out.
They said no.
Uh, Spirit beating the Red Stars 2 0.
Uh, Gotham beating out Orlando 3 1.
Oh, look at that.
All the home teams won.
It's up first.
Um, and then we drew.
And with all of that, our playoff
picture at the moment, um, and, so
at the moment, one through eight.
Orlando, uh, Spirit, Gotham, Current,
Courage, Red Stars, Thorns, and Bay FC.
Now,
Angela: Mm hmm.
Mario: one thing of the non
chaos weekend that can happen.
Orlando is solid in first place.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: 4, so Spirit, Gotham,
and Current can still flip flop.
It doesn't matter where they flip flop
because, well, it matters on who they're
going to play, but they all still get
home field advantage, so it doesn't matter
Angela: Right.
Mario: respect.
But between their factual
positions 2 4, Gotham, Current,
and the Spirit can flip flop.
North Carolina, solid in 5th place.
They beat them.
Basically can't move up, can't move down,
and then 6th, 7th, and 8th are still a
toss up, and they can be flip flopped.
They can also be flip flopped
with the number 9 position,
which is Racing Louisville.
They're not eliminated yet.
So, uh, if you look at the graphic
from the NWSL, they have NWSL
playoffs presented by whoever.
And then it's like, Orlando vs.
NWSL.
TBD.
Kansas City versus TBD.
So last time we made the TBD joke,
it's playing a lot of tibida.
It's playing a lot of matches.
So, uh, so that's, that's,
that's where everything is.
And, uh, my last little bit of
the permutation corner, Utah,
Gossam, and then Portland and Angel
City will be playing on Friday.
Saturday, Orlando versus Seattle, Courage
versus Spirit, Houston versus Bay.
Basically, again, by Saturday.
Racing Louisville will know if they will
need to play their asses off to try to
squeak in or too little too late and then
give us a boring match and like not risk
their players getting injured, right?
So, this is why we need a decision day.
Like, imagine the chaos of Racing playing
for their lives, Bay and the Thorns
basically playing for their lives because
either one of them could drop under.
Um,
Angela: Mm hmm.
Mario: and that excitement, but
no, let's do it over three days.
So that's what it is.
Bring back Decision Day.
We'll do the whip around show.
Um, so yeah, let's, let's
talk about Portland.
Angela: Uh, let's not.
So I'm, I'm kind of, um, derailing
our match opponent because we have
played Portland three weeks ago.
When was I in Oregon?
I was there on the first weekend
in October, so a month ago, we
previewed the matchup with Oregon.
So go back a month, listen to
that episode, because this whole
weird last Month and a half of
the season, all I did was say the
same things over and over again.
Mario: Yeah, honestly, we, I
mean, like we said, we need
to send the NWSL the calendar.
Jessica, I will buy you the
Hang In There Kitty poster,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: that the schedule
can be figured out now.
We have, we have, uh, I still have the
website, has the NWSL release schedule.
And it's, yeah, it's gonna go back up.
Um, and it's gonna go, and it's
basically a big ol count timer of
like, when has it been released.
Um, but.
Yeah, like, it's so idiotic that the
way our schedule worked out is we got
some really heavy hitters, almost back
to back, at the very beginning, exactly.
And then there was this huge long spread
of time, and then you pack a bunch of
teams back to back again in the last,
like, month and a half of the season.
It's just, like, why?
What, like Not only are you screwing
up the Casual FC, like, podcast
flow here, you're screwing up, like,
Angela: us.
Like,
what about us?
We're trying to do this so
that we bring in more fans.
And when I don't want to
talk about the same team they
talked about three weeks ago.
Anyway,
Mario: yeah, you
Angela: it is what it is.
Portland is a very good team.
They're getting real scrappy right now
because they want to get in the playoffs.
They've gotten and they want to
stay in the playoff contention.
So here's the thing.
I want us to show up and go
hard as shit against Portland.
Mario: ruined their parade.
Angela: mess around and,
and rain on the parade.
I want to jack shit up,
like just go in there.
I'm not going to say the F word
because Vero's mom got mad.
Well, she didn't get mad, but she
was like, you guys were very sweary.
I was like, I'm sorry.
Mario: You didn't tell me this!
Angela: I know I forgot.
It was the episode you
got real, real sweary.
And I was like, I'm sorry.
It was Mario.
We were in a really bad mood.
So I just want City to collectively
buy into the F around and find out and
just literally find out what happens.
do, like I said, just put every,
every forward we have and Sarah Gordon
and Megan Reid and see what happens.
Granted.
I know.
Or very like offensive minded players.
Like I was gonna say, I know a couple
people who are starting this weekend.
So like whatever.
just why not one last shot at chaos?
Let's do it.
Mario: You know what?
Angela: hurt.
Everybody has fun.
We win by like 14 goals.
We get another bicycle kick when you, we
get a Sarah Gordon goal, like, give us
the goods, have fun, do some crazy shit.
That's all.
Mario: You know what?
Casey Fair was doing okay for the
Korean team, like, put her in there too.
Give her some minutes.
Give her the very first minutes
that she has in the NWSL.
Angela: in the.
The U 17 Cup?
Mario: I mean, I don't know.
Angela: If they're still playing,
Mario: Probably.
Angela: Same with Kennedy
Fuller, because we advanced.
Which Kennedy Fuller has
been freaking balling out
Mario: Yes,
Angela: USA.
Mario: um,
sorry Barrow's mom for my potty mouth.
I,
I,
Angela: This is my favorite
thing, because I'm going to get
a text like midday Wednesday, and
Mario: I'm
Angela: another one later that day when
Vero has her mom listen to this part.
So, yes, we're really sorry,
Mario: very sorry.
Angela: it again, or
we'll put a disclaimer.
When, when,
Mario: be fair, to be fair, every episode
is automatically tagged as explicit.
Angela: Right.
Mario: There's a little E
when you look at our podcast.
Angela: It's really, really small.
Mario: But it's there.
Angela: It's there.
Okay.
So overall, I'm actually
really sad the season's ending.
Like, genuinely, sad we
didn't make the playoffs.
I'm sad there's no more soccer
because I get to see so many friends.
Like, Both casual FC homies, friends
through Angel City, friends from, from
old workplaces and everything, like, I get
Mario: It's a,
Angela: to an Angel City game and
just have a blast and it's just fun
because everybody I like is there.
So like, why would I not
want that to continue?
Mario: yeah, it's, it truly is, uh,
another family that you get to build.
It's a truly, truly a, I, I'm a
little sad that I don't have that
with my seats, and I think that's
just partially due to, uh, the
amount of games I can get to, um,
family and life and stuff, um, but,
And, and, and I think a lot
of the seats around me change.
I think there's, there's one, there's
one person that I consistently see, um,
and I think I've given her the sticker,
the casual FC sticker, and told her about
the podcast like 10 times at this point.
I think she's just being
nice and being like,
Angela: I
Mario: oh, thanks.
But the cool thing is that
she's bringing friends and the
friends are all like, oh, yeah.
And then one of them like
took off the sticker and put
it right on her like shirt.
She's like, yeah, I'm gonna wear this.
Angela: That's awesome.
Those are good people.
Mario: yeah, and.
I will say that in my, um, my other
season tickets, like, that is, that is
a community, that is like, we see it,
that, that, this is our hangout, right?
Yeah, and, and it's the same group of
people for the last seven years, right?
Um, so, I'm moving my seats for next year,
so hopefully I get some more, I'm moving,
Angela: back, right?
Mario: I'm moving back and
over in the same section.
So, hopefully,
Angela: I was gonna say, just
move up to 227 and we'll just
slowly, like, pull everyone
Mario: in that little,
Angela: and it's just
the casual FC corner.
Mario: do a banner, put it up
on the back wall right there.
Angela: Yeah, we'll do casual FC corner.
Oh, that'd be so dope.
I do know, I know somebody who
has additional tickets in 227.
They have their regular seats.
so I'm very excited about that
because it is somebody who listens
to the podcast and a good friend.
So
Mario: Yay!
Angela: just hasn't widely discussed
and I'm not trying to get anybody
in trouble, but um, yeah, we,
we've got a good group up there.
So obviously you're always
more than welcome to come hang.
is, honestly.
We usually have empty seats because
folks don't show, but that's fine.
And because there's people that aren't
renewing, the seats have been purchased
by new people, but we know certain people
haven't renewed or they're like going to,
um, like a smaller package or whatever.
But anyway, enough about 227.
This is the last time We get to
see our Angels, this roster, it is.
Mario: As it is, yes.
Angela: don't know what the
hell free agency is going to
be, but it's going to be insane.
Mario: Oh, wait, we did not talk
about the biggest news of all.
Angela: Oh, know, because I
hadn't gotten there yet, Mario!
Mario: sorry, you were building up to it.
Sorry, sorry, sorry.
Cook, cook, cook, cook, cook.
Angela: today, we're going to start
off by talking about the Syd Leroux,
who was announced Tuesday, October
29th, that she has re signed and
will finish her career, which Huh!
The end is upon us, friends.
2027 is Syd's last season, so we
have three years to emotionally
prepare for, like, the biggest, like,
heart wrenching, you for growing up
with us, Syd the Kid, retirement.
I'm already crying.
Jesus.
I almost said the F word, again.
This is, so, don't worry,
emotional support, juice pouch,
um, will be coming next season.
It's on the list
Mario: It's on the list.
Angela: I need it.
I have been already jumped on by folks
in our Discord, in person, people
being like, do you have a Capri Sun?
Are you okay?
And I'm like, no, they're
going to cry about it.
And I'm probably like,
but Syd re signed through 27.
So we've got Syd the Kid for a few
more years, which is fantastic.
We've got June, I think
through 27 as well.
Mario: Yeah.
Angela: Um, M.
A.
through next season.
And then it feels like
everything else is in the wind.
Mario: We still have, like,
seven players unaccounted for.
Christen Press being one of them.
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: Uh, Christen Press.
Angela: also because of her injury and
nobody really knowing was gonna happen.
Mario: Yeah,
Angela: retire?
Did she not?
So like.
There's, there's a lot that
goes into that as well.
Mario: but I mean she's a free
agent now, um, I don't think
she's, she would leave LA, but,
Angela: I don't think so either.
Mario: but money talks,
and she's healthy now,
Angela: very curious,
but she does own a house.
So
I don't, if I bought a house,
I, like, I'm not moving.
Mario: you can, you can lease it,
Angela: That's fair.
But still, um, yeah, this, this
roster, as we know, it may not exist
after tomorrow or after this weekend.
there are players who.
You can tell kind of want to leave,
have gotten offers from other teams,
other leagues, other situations,
um, folks edging on retiring.
Like, there's so many different
scenarios that are happening
with Angel City on top of
our president and GM being unable to
Mario: make any deal.
Angela: any deals.
So, until the end of the year,
which is a very long time.
Mario: Yeah, a very long time,
Angela: but that's a long
ass time in free agency.
Mario: oh yeah, okay, so here's the
list, here's the list of free agents.
Didi Heretic, Kristen Press, Jasmyne
Spencer, Maggie Doherty Howard, Katie
Johnson, Claire Ensley, Maddie Curry.
and Hannah Stambaugh.
Angela: there's a few, like I, it
would not surprise me if Jasmyne
Spencer wound up on a team back East.
Mario: If you have, if you have to pick,
Angela: there.
She's from back there.
Mario: if you got to pick three out of
that list right now to save, no, three is
too many, two, two to save from that list.
Who are you going with?
Angela: Christen Press, Maddie Curry,
Mario: Okay.
I would,
I was going to go Emsley,
Maddie Curry, but,
Angela: was my third.
Who did you say?
I talked over you.
Mario: uh, uh, Emsley and
Curry were, were my two.
Angela: That's the thing.
Like, I don't.
Yes.
That's Christen Press,
Claire Emsley, Maddie Curry.
MDH.
Like those four,
at the very least.
Ideally all of them, but
we will take what we get.
Mario: Assistant GM, you,
you can sign stuff, right?
Angela: I mean, my name's Angela, so
why not, right?
Like,
Mario: Give it a shot.
Angela: I understand how leagues work.
I can read a contract.
Like,
but no, it, this team has been through
the ringer literally since its inception.
So many of these players have
been with us from day one.
So many of these players, so many of these
players have been with us since day one.
So many of these players have been with
us Deserve better cards than we were
dealt, honestly, coaching wise, front
office wise, injury wise, I just hope
that whatever, however the cards fall,
however the things happen and, and people
go where they go, I just hope that, I hope
that they know that the fans love them.
I literally have it in the notes,
talk about everyone and don't
cry, and they're like impossible.
Plus, I'm really tired.
So like, the more tired I am,
the lower my cry threshold is.
So like, you say make me like,
say something nice to me.
And I'm like, okay, like,
yeah.
as I say that, as I look up, and
when Eva and I were finally able
to move into the house, my mom
surprised us with custom Funko Pops.
Mario: Oh, yeah?
Angela: one of us are Funko people.
Did I show you this?
Mario: No, you didn't show me them.
Angela: Yeah, so Eva's has
drumsticks a Funko Pop because
she's, she collects action figures
and like has her like swoopy hair.
Mine is hair in a bun, a rock, a bun
holding a soccer ball and a microphone.
So I'm just gonna cry about it.
Um, like this team is just good.
The vibes are good.
I want the soccer to be
just as good as the vibes.
Sometimes the soccer is just as good,
Mario: There's been times, there's been
Angela: gets lost in the sauce sometimes.
Mario: yeah, because I mean, there's
been times when we come on here and
we are like, screaming our heads off
because of how amazing a match was.
And then,
Angela: it
Mario: right after that,
Angela: the time.
Mario: and then right after
that, we were like, what the
earmuffs, uh, barrels, mom.
Angela: Exactly,
Mario: But.
Angela: exactly.
Mario: Yeah, so, hopefully,
whatever mojo, sauce, piece of
the puzzle, whatever metaphor you
want to use about how this gets
figured out in the offseason.
Whether that's training
staff changes, personnel changes,
player changes, um, player
trades, or whatever it may be.
I'm hoping that the team
has their head on for
providing a better product on the field.
Not that they didn't have
that already in their minds.
Like, it's not like they're going
out there on the field to be like,
Eh, we're going to have FACET today.
Like, I don't believe
Angela: that's
Mario: at all that that was ever the case.
But as we've talked about, there's just,
there was a mojo missing, there was a
Secret sauce missing, something wasn't
gelling quite right, um, at times it
did and it looked like magic and then
it would fall apart again, so being
able to decide or figure out what all of
that is, especially for next season, and
really give it like a full on go, right?
Let's, let's get, let's
get above 500 here.
Angela: Yeah.
Absolutely.
Mario: Let's try to, let's try to get it
Angela: if we,
Mario: better than not worse.
Angela: If we break it down
by like position group, right?
Like our keepers have gone
through it this season.
Didi's gotten knocked up here and there.
Not like pregnant knocked up.
Like, like she's had knocks.
Mario: Battle, Battle Wounds,
Angela: Thank you.
Um, Angelina went through hell
those first three, four games,
Mario: and then got like
Angela: and right.
Mario: And then got
like nothing after that.
Angela: yeah, and it was
one of those where I'm like,
well, look at who we played.
Mario: Yeah.
Angela: or yeah, Gotham,
Mario: Orlando.
Angela: and
Mario: Kansas City.
Angela: Like, what'd you expect?
No matter who the keeper
was, it was gonna happen.
Like, it's inevitable.
Mario: Yeah.
Angela: have prolific goal
scorers, someone who broke
the scoring record, Like, yes.
So I think we need to like,
just kind of like reflect, not
all this is quality of player.
Some of this is circumstance.
I hope we get another keeper coach.
I think we have one, but he's like not
as known as coach ball was.
And then our defenders
have been through it.
kinds of injuries.
Like the, the, the.
The loss of Paige, I think, threw the team
off in general.
Like, there's so many little things
that, like, messed us up over the season.
And that's something we had planned
to talk about, but, like, we never had
consistency in our starting lineup.
Partially because of injury,
partially because we don't know.
Just cause.
like names were drew, drawn out
of a hat and like, okay, well,
we'll see what happens with this.
Um, our midfield, same thing.
Injury, players being traded, nobody
really having like set position,
especially in the midfield messes
you up because that's the piece.
The midfield is the piece that
like of drives the game in a way.
Yes, you can play out
the back, which We do.
But your midfield is the one that
keeps the ball, or like, allows the
other team to then take the ball.
So like, if you don't
have a cohesive middle
that's, that's the sauce
where everything gets lost.
Mario: Yeah.
So, I mean, we know, we, we see the holes.
We see the inconsistencies.
Are those the magic fix all areas?
Probably not, but they're
a good place to start.
And so hopefully,
Angela: Yeah.
Mario: um, especially when we.
I think we're still going to give
it a good shake of doing more of
a deep dive end of season recap,
Angela: Yeah, yeah.
Mario: a look at our players,
like what happened, and lineup
changes, and all that good stuff.
Angela: All the things, all the numbers.
Mario: Yeah.
Um, let my stats brain go crazy.
Um, we'll do that, but I, I do believe,
I do believe that we do have something,
and I mean, we're the most, we're one
of the most valuable, if not the most
valuable, like women's sports team or
women's soccer team out there right now.
So it's like women's
Angela: team,
Mario: sports, right?
Like just collective.
Yeah.
Angela: yo.
Yeah.
Mario: We, but
Angela: team has the players.
It has the pieces.
I just don't think they're
being utilized well.
That's what I think it is.
Mario: mm-Hmm.
Angela: More than anything,
it's not the lack of talent.
It's not that at all.
Mm
Mario: Yeah, we rich.
But if the product is not
good on the field, we're
gonna keep losing the casuals.
Right?
Your diehards are going to be
there, but your diehards aren't
going to fund the team anymore.
You need to keep,
Angela: hmm,
Mario: you need to keep the casuals.
And
Angela: the casuals into diehards.
you don't have the piece,
that turns them into diehards.
If you don't have the me's
to keep the you's, then,
Mario: Some bees to keep the youth.
Angela: the Angelas to sucker
Mario into starting a podcast,
so he has to stick around.
But overall, between these two teams,
we have a very rich game history.
This is now the 10th
matchup in three years.
Between us and Portland, we
are even across the board.
Three wins, three draws, three losses.
Let's ruin the party and win.
Mario: Yes.
Um,
Angela: it.
Mario: yeah.
I mean, we, we gave Portland a really
nice end of season surprise last year.
Let's give them another one this year.
Let's
Angela: but in Oregon this time.
Mario: backheel in Oregon.
Angela: Forever.
Mario: Ha ha ha ha ha.
Angela: Forever.
Like, Belle Bixby, she's
on maternity leave.
She's not even playing.
I'm still just like, We gon get you.
Forever.
Mario: So, yes, just to remind everybody,
the match is going to be Friday,
November 1st, Portland Thorns vs.
Angel City at Providence
Park, 7pm, so expect some NWSL
chaos after dark shenanigans.
The game will be on Amazon Prime.
Listen to the game on iHeartRadio
with Isaac and Tracy, and I really
hope we keep them around next year,
too, and we're going to be doing that.
Angela: Honestly,
Mario: bugging them every single
day in the offseason, not every day.
I won't bug you, Tracy or Isaac,
but we'll keep tabs because we
want you back for next year.
It is the final match of the season.
It's Decision Weekend, and there
is a watch party by ACFC at both
33 Tufts locations at the moment.
Check your emails for any
or check the website for any
backup location information if
the Dodgers come back to play.
So, with that being said, if you like
what you hear, subscribe from wherever
you're listening, uh, drop us a
like, comment, you know, if you're on
YouTube, give us a thumbs up, if you're
on that was weird, I'm not gonna, um
If you're on YouTube, uh, hit the,
like, God, I feel so weird saying those
things, but, okay, give us the like and
give us the subscribe on the YouTube.
Do the YouTube thing.
If you're on Apple, do the Apple thing.
If you're on Spotify,
do the Spotify thing.
One of those.
Pick your place.
Um,
Angela: the thing.
Mario: uh, check out casualfc.
com for any of the links
if you need them anywhere.
Um, follow us on all our socials,
casualfcpod, on Instagram,
Twitter, threads, and TikTok.
Come join us on the Discord.
Um, we've been having lots of
fun and there's gonna be a secret
giveaway only for Discord people.
Shh, I didn't tell you.
Angela: And polls and input on
things we're gonna do next season.
So get involved.
Mario: But tell people to get
to, yeah, don't tell everybody.
Um, best ways to support the pod, uh, like
and share any one of our Instagram stuff.
Uh, grab some merch at CasualOFC, shop.
casualofc.
com, uh, Believe me, we have a running
list right now of stuff we want to do
next year, and things are shaping up,
so it's going to be really exciting.
And if you feel so inclined and would
like to send us a little bit here and
there to help us keep doing what we're
doing, send us a coffee at findmeacoffee.
com slash casualfcpod, and, um, help us.
Do our shenanigans, and keep
our foul language to a minimum.
Angela: And whoever sent us 15
coffees, which is 15, And said,
I love y'all, thank you so much.
It was
Mario: Thank you.
Angela: Immediately I cried.
Um, it just means a lot that you
actually want us to keep doing this.
Mario: Yes.
Uh, we're not, as I say,
this is our version of like,
whatever a Patreon might be.
We don't have the bandwidth or the ideas
of like, keeping extra content for a bit.
Like, behind the scenes,
Angela: really, it's really
the extra ideas at this point.
Mario: yeah.
But we truly appreciate any support
you guys, um, give us, from liking and
sharing to, you know, sending us a coffee.
Um, it's all very, very much appreciated.
Um, tell a friend about the pod, it
brings us good luck, and we're gonna
send that good luck right up to Portland
with them, and hopefully we get that win.
For this last game.
So, remember, voting happens
on Tuesday after this episode.
If you're not registered,
gather all your stuff.
You can register at the polls
if you have any questions.
Ask Angela.
She will be the best resource beyond me.
Because I'm probably going to
be asking Angela about stuff.
And, um, get ready, man.
Angela: I, I legit had to have that vote.
Like, this is how you vote at, like,
conversation at work in our weekly
Everybody's Here team meeting on Monday.
So.
Please, I, I am that person.
I love being that person.
So, if anybody has
questions, just hit me up.
Mario: But, uh, that's our episode
and, uh, we have some plans for some
little extra bit of content right
before, uh, as we end this season.
So, keep an ear out and keep an eye
out and we'll hopefully see you soon.
Angela: See you soon!
Mario: Bye!