Lion Links: 1/13/16

This week at work, we're doing that thing where you write a self-appraisal about your performance from the previous year, and then review it with your manager. It's a ridiculous exercise that is supposed to make you feel more engaged, but it's really just a way for some HR person somewhere to feel like they did something useful. I mean, does anyone actually say that they did a bad job and shouldn't get a raise? Still, it made me wonder how this would play out if Orlando City tried it.

Cyle Larin, please explain how you met your objectives for the year.

Kaká, how did you help your team meet its goals?

Sean St. Ledger, describe how you upheld Orlando City’s values.

On to the links.

Trio of Orlando Players Up for CONCACAF Awards

As if they didn’t have enough hardware already, Cyle Larin and Alex Morgan are nominated for CONCACAF male and female Player of the Year Awards, while Ashlyn Harris is up for female Goalkeeper of the Year. Morgan is also up for Female Best XI forward. Oddly, Mark Geiger isn’t on the list for Male Referee of the Year. Odd. Must have just missed him. Anyway, click here to vote for them. Then click again and vote again. When you’re done with that, click and vote again. Then after that, well, you get it.

USWNT To Host She Believes Cup

The inaugural She Believes Cup will be held March 3-9. The tournament will pit the U.S. against Germany, France and England, who are ranked first, second, third, and fifth, respectively, in the international rankings. Games will take place in Nashville, Tampa, and Boca Raton. Also part of the schedule is a fantasy camp for girls born between 2001 and 2003. The NWSL season kicks off in early April, so one can reasonably assume that the women will go from this tournament to training camp. It will be interesting to see if Lianne Sanderson plays for England against players who will be her teammates only days later.

Second Team for Second City?

I lived in Chicago when the Chicago Fire entered MLS and went to a bunch of games with my roommate, so I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for the team. Well it looks like the team will be getting a little bit of competition for local eyeballs as a group of investors, led by former Fire GM Peter Wilt, is looking to add an NASL team to the Windy City. Wilt says that they are looking to play within city limits in order to draw larger crowds, but I have to say I’m skeptical of an NASL team drawing enough fans to Soldier Field without making it look like Ordos.

RIP David Bowie

I'm sure you've heard by now that David Bowie passed away earlier this week. While I'm admittedly not the biggest Bowie aficionado out there, I can absolutely appreciate the impact he had on music and pop culture over the past forty-odd years. And so, with his passing, members of the soccer world paid their respects to David Bowie. Surely this is just a sampling of comments, but it shows the breadth of the influence Bowie held. May he rest in peace.

That will do it for today's links, but rather than end on such a somber note, here's something on the lighter side to see you on your way.