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Intelligence Report: Scouting Orlando City vs. Portland Timbers

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9 years ago

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Orlando City looks to take its unbeaten streak to four straight to start the season tomorrow night at the Citrus Bowl, but it won’t be easy. The Lions welcome the defending MLS champion Portland Timbers to the City Beautiful.

Team captain Kaká is expected to make his 2016 MLS debut, giving the Lions (1-0-2, 5 points) a boost in their nationally televised match-up with the Timbers (1-1-1, 4 points). Orlando City may not have a loss yet, but it is still searching for that elusive first home victory. Last year it took a while. Hopefully, this season it will come earlier. Perhaps tomorrow?

Portland has a dynamic attack force with guys like Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri, Fanendo Adi and Lucas Melano. But the Timbers have a chink in their defensive armor, with Liam Ridgewell out. Here to help us scout the defending champs is Will Conwell from our SB Nation sister blog covering the Timbers, Stumptown Footy. I’ve answered their questions as well, in case you want to check that out.

What are Portland’s key off-season additions and subtractions that we should know about and how have they affected Caleb Porter’s team and approach?

Will Conwell: When looking at what has changed for the Timbers since 2015, one has to pay special attention to the team’s left flank. With Jorge Villafana tearing it up in Mexico and Rodney Wallace wandering far off lands, the Timbers found themselves in need of a whole new approach on the left for 2016.

At left back the team brought in Columbus Crew SC defender Chris Klute, intending to shape him into the league’s next dominant fullback in much the same way that they had with Villafana. However, when Klute arrived, his recovery from an off-season knee surgery was significantly behind what the Timbers were expecting, forcing the team to scramble to figure out the fullback situation — further compounded by an injury to center back and team captain Liam Ridgewell. Klute is just now reaching full match fitness, but suddenly finds himself with some competition in 21-year-old Leicester City loanee Jack Barmby. It is unclear who will get the start at left back on Sunday, but for the first time in 2016 the Timbers are starting to approach their preferred option at the position.

Further up the pitch, the transition from Wallace to mid-2015 signing Lucas Melano has been a much less bumpy one. With the team having moved to a 4-3-3 formation late in 2015, Melano and opposite side winger Dairon Asprilla have made the flanks their own. Bringing pace and athleticism to the side, either can be a handful for opposition fullbacks, but both are young and raw players, in need of some tweaking to their respective games if the Timbers are going to be a top side in MLS.

Portland obviously finished strong, winning MLS Cup off a third-place regular season finish in the Western Conference. How has that changed fan expectations for 2016?

WC: If you win the MLS Cup, expectations are going to go up; that’s life. For the Timbers, however — and it seems like the Lions can probably identify with this — expectations are always going to be high to begin with.

The Timbers may have finished in third place in a ridiculously tight West last season, but they did so with some late smash and grab victories that propelled them up the standings after months and months of flirting with the dreaded red line. At this point, Caleb Porter and company have gained a reputation for turning it on late in the season and peaking at just the right time, but for much of last year, there was plenty of hand-wringing and even speculation that Porter could be on the hot seat if things didn’t turn around.

This year, it is hard to determine just how much slack the Timbers are going to get. After going 1-1-1 in March, the Timbers seem to be somehow ahead of expectations. That might be because those four points in March are the Timbers’ most to open the season since Porter took over as head coach. Or it might be because the team’s back line has been shredded by injuries. Or any number of other reasons.

What kind of formation and tactics can we expect from the Timbers this weekend against what is most likely going to be some variation of a 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3 by Orlando City, and what do you view as the game’s key match-up?

WC: The 2016 Timbers are a counter-attacking team. With attack-minded wingers, perhaps the best target forward in the league, and a midfield capable to getting the ball down the pitch quickly and efficiently, the Timbers love to let the opposition come to them before striking down the pitch with ruthless efficiency.

Well, maybe not that ruthless. As is customary for the Timbers early in the season, the finishing is not quite there yet and, despite leading the league in chances created, the side is still more than happy to take whatever half-chances come, rather than engineering fewer full-chances.

Many of those come from Asprilla and Melano on the wings, with the Timbers generating a significant number of their attacking movements from out wide. With Fanendo Adi holding the ball up at the top of the formation for Diego Valeri or Darlington Nagbe to send the ball down either flank, the Timbers’ wingers are often put into situations where they have the room and freedom to drive at the opposition box and either shoot or play a ball in for Adi and company to get on the end of. That wing play has been the Timbers’ focus for much of the last two weeks, so it should come as little surprise to the Orlando fullbacks when they find themselves under pressure for much of the match.

What is your anticipated starting XI, key injuries/suspensions, and score prediction for Sunday?

WC:

Starters: Adam Larsen Kwarasey; Jack Barmby, Jermaine Taylor, Nat Borchers, Alvas Powell; Diego Valeri, Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe; Lucas Melano, Fanendo Adi, Dairon Asprilla.

Key Injuries: Liam Ridgewell.
Key Suspensions: None.
Score Prediction: None for me, thanks. (Editor’s note: Boo!)

* * *

Big thanks to Will from Stumptown Footy for giving us some insight on the defending champs.

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Orlando City

Orlando City Signs Defender Thomas Williams Through 2026

Orlando City signs Homegrown center back Thomas Williams to a new contract through 2026 with a club option for 2027.

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1 hour ago

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January 22, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced this morning that the club has signed defender Thomas Williams through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027. The Homegrown Player has been with the first team since 2021 and will continue for at least two more years.

“Thomas is someone whose future we’re still very excited about and we’re happy to get him locked in with us for a couple more years,” Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s shown a lot of growth these last few seasons, continuing to get game action with Orlando City B and proving the importance of our development pathway, and we’re looking forward to having him with us for the foreseeable future.”

The Titusville native joined the Orlando City Academy in 2015 and made his professional debut for the club on Aug. 7, 2020 against New England Revolution II. He played in 13 games that year with 10 starts and recorded 844 minutes. His play on the Young Lions’ back line earned him a first-team contract on June 15, 2021, at just 16 years old, making him the youngest player in club history to sign a Homegrown contract.

The 20-year-old center back made his MLS debut on April 16, 2022 in a 2-0 win over the Columbus Crew in Ohio. He made five appearances with three starts in all competitions that season, recording 271 minutes. To date, those are the only appearances he’s made with the first team.

Since joining OCB in 2021, Williams has made 69 appearances with 61 starts and recorded 5,132 minutes. He’s been booked 19 times and sent off twice, both times after receiving second yellow cards.

What It Means for Orlando City

Williams is the fourth natural center back for Orlando City on the current squad behind Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, and Rodrigo Schlegel. He played well early in his OCB and MLS career, but has struggled recently. Last year, he played exclusively with the second team, partnering with Nabi Kibunguchy.

While Williams hasn’t made much of an impact on the first team so far, he’s only 20 years old and still has plenty of time to develop. Extending his contact shows that the club still has faith that he can turn into a key player for the MLS side.

It’s unlikely that Williams will see any time with the first team in 2025 (barring injuries and/or suspensions), considering that he’s also been behind versatile defender Kyle Smith at the center back position. He’ll likely spend the upcoming season with OCB, continuing to develop and earn his spot with the first team. As a Homegrown Player, there isn’t much risk in signing Williams to a new contract, especially if the club’s technical staff thinks he can develop into a quality defender.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/22/25

Orlando City transfer rumors, Orlando Pride preseason begins, USMNT at Inter&Co, and more.

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5 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The ManeLand

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Up here in Tallahassee, I’m waking up to snow/sleet, closed schools, closed government offices, and potentially icy roads. Many people will get an extra day off of work, however, I still get to go to work. I’m sure you can imagine how happy I am about that. Enough of my winter grumbling. Let’s get to the links but not until after we wish Orlando City fullback Michael Halliday a happy 22nd birthday.

Orlando City Reportedly Targeting Croatian International

While I can no longer say that Orlando City hasn’t signed any new players, the club is still moving at its traditionally slow speed as compared to other MLS clubs. We had the signing of Nicolas Rodriguez last week. Now, we have Tom Bogert report of yet another winger prospect for the club in Croatian Marco Pasalic from HNK Rijeka, though it is not a done deal. Hopefully the other targets Bogert mentions are of the striker variety.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881755961125449765?s=46&t=pMoq7Wulqfb35D7C8ydroA

Pride Preseason Begins

The 2024 NWSL champions are back to defend their title. The Orlando Pride returned to training on Tuesday. The club hasn’t needed to add many pieces, though some of the players already here, like Simone Charley and Grace Chanda, haven’t actually played any minutes for the Pride yet. Most of the chemistry is in place for Seb Hines, but reinforcing those bonds will be the challenge as the Pride look to repeat.

USMNT at Inter&Co Tonight

Hopefully you have tickets to the USMNT friendly match versus Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The match starts at 7 p.m. and there are television and streaming options if you’re not going in person. Despite the squad having 14 players with three or fewer caps, Mauricio Pochettino does not consider this an “alternative” squad, nor does he want the players to think of themselves like that.

Girma Reportedly Nearing Completion of Chelsea Move

USWNT defender Naomi Girma is reportedly headed to Chelsea FC Women for a record $1.1 million transfer fee. That is a very big chunk of change for San Diego FC to use to try to replace one of the best defenders in the world. The deal is not complete as of Tuesday evening, but according to the original report from The Athletic, it is close to being done. Girma would be the first women’s soccer player to earn a transfer fee of over $1 million.

MLS Transfer Updates

Other MLS clubs keep on putting pen to paper when it comes to new players. The Chicago Fire are bringing in Jonathan Bamba on a Designated Player deal from La Liga side Celta de Vigo. The Luca de la Torre loan from Spain’s RC Celta de Vigo to San Diego FC is also official.

https://twitter.com/sandiegofc/status/1881741042904350864

Cucho Hernandez evidently wants to stay with the Columbus Crew, though he is still waiting on a new offer.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881786193693823104

Free Kicks

https://twitter.com/weareangelcity/status/1881749040863588770?s=12&t=_WZBNG4ILAyRLdwBeB4mpQ
  • Keep your eyes peeled later today for the NWSL schedule drop.
https://twitter.com/nwsl/status/1881749035218042954?s=46&t=pN-YJp3s7ZQlCXqnTAgSfw

That will do it for today. Stay warm out there, my friends. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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1 day ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!

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