We Don't Need To Draft A Forward

January 12, 2023·57 min·5 clips

Brie calls trading the number two pick one of the stupidest things Orlando has ever done, questioning who authorized it.

This episode of the Purple Pulse Podcast focuses on the Orlando Pride's offseason moves ahead of the NWSL draft. Hosts Luis and Brie, passionate Pride supporters, analyze the team's recent decisions and draft strategy. They begin by discussing the major news that club legend Marta has re-signed on a two-year contract. The hosts praise the creative video announcement for Marta's signing but critique the club for not giving similar promotional attention to other players. Luis and Brie express cautious optimism about Marta's return from a major knee injury, seeing her as a playmaker who can elevate the team's forwards. They debate the team's playoff expectations and the future challenge of a 2024 expansion draft. The conversation then shifts to a controversial four-team trade where Orlando traded the coveted number two overall draft pick to Gotham FC for a record $350,000 in allocation money. Brie reacts with intense frustration, calling the trade one of the stupidest things Orlando has ever done and questioning who authorized it without a General Manager. Both hosts worry the allocation money will not be spent effectively, citing past uses like signing a backup goalkeeper. They discuss the pressing need to use the remaining number three pick wisely, fearing the team might repeat past mistakes like trading Taylor Kornieck, who later succeeded in San Diego. Luis suggests using the allocation money to pursue a player like Canadian international Deanne Rose from Reading. The hosts agree the team's biggest needs are on defense and in midfield, not at forward. Brie emphatically states the first pick must be a center back, while Luis advocates for left back Reyna Reyes from Alabama, who also plays for the Mexican national team. They worry the front office, led by interim coach Seb Hines, might trade the number three pick away, especially in a deal with the Portland Thorns, which has historically disadvantaged Orlando. Luis notes the draft class is deep in center-back talent, allowing Orlando to potentially address that position later. In later rounds, they believe the Pride should target midfielders, naming prospects like Rylan Childers, Carly Giano, and Sydney Studer. Brie shares a fantasy of the Pride drafting a late-round player who develops into a star over several years, similar to stories like Kristen Hamilton. Both hosts predict the Pride will likely select a player from the local UCF program, viewing it as a positive pipeline akin to homegrown talent. The episode maintains a conversational and passionate tone, blending analysis with fan frustration and hope. This episode is ideal for Orlando Pride fans and NWSL enthusiasts interested in team-building strategy and draft analysis. Listeners seeking a purely optimistic or formal team-produced analysis might find the critical fan perspective less appealing.

As heard by us

A blunt draft-week argument about depth, picks, and the danger of getting cute.

Purple Pulse returns after a pause with a conversational opening that soon gives way to a serious Orlando Pride draft debate. Luis and Brie spend a few minutes on personal updates, then get to the real question: how the Pride should handle a draft with obvious holes and not much…

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Why you'd press play

You want a draft argument that starts with roster needs, not tidy talking points.

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