Lion Links: 7/31/15

Welcome the the last Lion Links! Well, for July. Well, for July of 2015 to be precise, but I digress. Let's get into this Friday's awesome links!

Ricketts to LA Galaxy

Orlando City has traded Donovan Ricketts to the LA Galaxy for a second-round draft pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. Ricketts was a good keeper for the team as Tally Hall was making his way back from injury in the first 10 matches of the season. Good luck, Donovan, and we thank you for your contribution to the Lions.

Redding to Wilmington

Orlando City has loaned Tommy Redding to Wilmington Hammerheads FC for the remainder of the USL season. Tommy hasn't seen the field for Orlando in competitive play this year, but he will get some good playing time and an opportunity to develop further at Wilmington. This comes on the heels of the Lions loaning Conor Donovan and Sidney Rivera to the USL's Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Ganso is a No Go

Sao Paulo ultimately decided to not send Paulo Ganso in exchange for the debt owed to Orlando City, for the loan of Kaká last year. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It depends on what side you look at. Sao Paulo is being sued for the money owed to City in the Kaká loan agreement, but who knows how long that battle will last in the courts? Orlando may be out the money for now, and without Ganso to show for that money, but that might not be so bad. While Ganso has shown promise, his play has been inconsistent. That’s why the case is up for debate, but it won’t be debated with Ganso in an Orlando City jersey. The linked piece above gives a good account of the player Orlando tried to acquire from Brazil.

Change is Coming! Maybe. Can We See that Again?

MLS Commissioner Don Garber had an interview that aired during halftime of the MLS All-Star Game. The big news out of the interview was that the league is considering using instant replay and potentially changing the format of the All-Star Game itself. Implementing the system isn't a forgone conclusion, and there would need to be discussions with U.S. Soccer and FIFA, but there's officially talk about it. As for the MLS All-Star Game, it seems that we might get to an East-West match, rather than the current format.

Orlando in the Top 20 for Soccer

We here at The Mane Land are shocked that Orlando isn't number one on the list, but we will take the honor of being in the Top 20. Orlando was ranked 19th out of 172 cities that includes all levels of pro and college soccer. We have some work to do people, let's keep climbing the rankings. Orlando was voted as having the most accessible MLS stadium and for having the most friendly and engaged MLS fans.

Beckham's Stadium Deal is…Bad

It seems that poor David Beckham is not getting quite the stadium deal he probably hoped for in Miami. There’s a whole bunch of stuff in regards to the Marlins, who definitely come across as petty. It really makes you appreciate the deal we have in Orlando.

Das FOX Sports

FOX Sports will be televising or streaming all 306 Bundesliga matches this coming season. The network will kick it off with a match between Bayern Munich and Hamburg. So get your sauerkraut and steins ready, and tune in to FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Go, Foxsoccer.com, and FOX Soccer 2 Go. Wow, there are a ton of ways to watch the Bundesliga.

That's all for this Friday. Don't forget to check out this week's Pride Pub to get ready for the match against Columbus. Go City!