Lion Links: 10/19/15

Happy Monday, Lion Nation and thanks for nothing, New England Revolution. Seriously, you couldn’t muster one stinking goal on your home pitch?

Yeah, I don’t like it either but at least we can bask in the glow of three points on Friday night. Making the playoffs might be the longest of long shots now, but no matter what happens, we’re finishing ahead of New York City FC. And at least we didn’t get scratched by Frank Lampard the way Darwin Ceren did.

Let's get on with your Monday morning serving of breakfast Lion Links:

Hall Done for the Season

It didn’t look good on Friday night when Tally Hall pulled up with an apparent right knee injury without having made any contact, and it isn’t. The veteran goalkeeper, who has been magnificent for Orlando City this season, will undergo surgery on that knee and is done for the season. We don’t yet know the severity of the injury, but Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel said he didn’t re-tear the ACL that kept him out until the LA Galaxy match this season.

Josh Ford will get his first MLS start on Sunday unless something weird happens. No word yet on who will back Ford up for the final game. Get well soon, Tally.

Burke Eyes MLS Contract

Former Orlando City defender Bryan Burke had a great season for Louisville City FC in 2015. But it turns out he was on a one-year deal and will seek a spot in Major League Soccer in 2016. Burke could certainly have helped Orlando City this season, as injuries and suspensions sapped the team of its fullbacks on numerous occasions and Burke could have filled in at right back. All we're saying is that we wouldn't hate the idea of his return.

Tally's Off the Hook

Orlando City’s keeper once conceded a goal just eight seconds into an MLS game, which was a league record until this weekend. Mike Grella of New York Red Bulls scored against the Philadelphia Union in just seven seconds, removing Hall’s goat horns and handing them to Philly’s Andre Blake. It’s a shame Grella couldn’t have done that in the previous game against Toronto FC. You just can’t trust teams from New York or New England to do anything helpful. Jerks.

Which is the Most Successful USL Model?

With Orlando City's recent announcements about their new USL side fresh in our minds, our friends at the Goat Parade recently broke down which model produces the best results for a USL side — an independent team, an affiliation with an MLS team, or an "MLS 2" side. The story breaks down the teams by group to provide a snapshot of this season. It's not meant to be a year-to-year overview of trends, but it's still interesting and worth your time.

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That's all for today, folks. Try to enjoy your Monday and remember, we're the better expansion side, as the standings prove.