Lion Links: 5/18/16

The beauty of Wednesdays is that they’re right in between weekends, so the thrill/disappointment of the previous weekend has started to wear off, and the anticipation of the upcoming one is just beginning to build. Considering how Orlando City has been playing lately, it’s better to forget about the past and look forward to the upcoming turnaround.

Unless, of course, the team were to play on Wednesday, in which case, there is no recovery. But fortunately, there are no Wednesday games coming up on … oh … right.

Links!

Playing with Style

Regardless of what the final score has been, one constant with the team is that they look good (which is, after all, half the battle). Darwin Cerén leads that effort with his exotic hairstyles, and the below video gives a little insight on those dos. Seriously, though, when I first clicked the link, I was expecting somewhat of a silly clip, but I was surprised at the personal turn it took. We forget sometimes that these are real people, sometimes living in foreign countries, and it's nice to see that Cerén appreciates the opportunity he has. Now, if you don't mind, I need to find my clippers.

Always the Bridesmaid

For the second week in a row, Alex Morgan came in second for NWSL Player of the Week voting. Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher won the award after posting her fourth consecutive shutout. Morgan, who scored the only goal in a 1-0 game against the Western New York Flash, marks the third time in five weeks that an Orlando Pride player has been runner-up in the voting, after Ashlyn Harris secured that spot in week 2. Obviously, it's a great sign that two players have come in the top three in only five weeks, but hopefully it's just a matter of time before one of them secures the victory.

Nowhere to Go But Up?

After the latest loss to Sporting KC, Orlando City has dropped to 17th in the MLS power rankings. This marks the lowest ranking the team has held all season, and it’s hard to argue with that position. The only teams below the Lions right now are the Houston Dynamo at 18, the Columbus Crew at 19, and the Chicago Fire bringing up the rear at 20. The Dynamo and Crew have both shown better form recently, so unless Orlando finds a spark, this may not be the low point in the rankings.

In The Mane Land power rankings, our own Jeff Milby is feeling the same way. Hell, if Fight Club taught me anything, hitting rock bottom is just part of the process.

Giovani dos Santos Channels His Inner Carlos Vela

Giovani dos Santos will not be representing Mexico during the Copa América Centenario. Apparently he received a call up from Juan Carlos Osorio, but has declined the invite. No reason was given for his decision, but you could be forgiven if you assumed that the fact that he has not featured for the team recently was a factor. The joke about channeling his inner Vela is also a bit ironic, as Vela himself did not even receive an invite. Whether or not you believe this hurts Mexico's chances depends on how critical you think they are to the team. As a Mexican, I think they'll be fine so long as Andrés Guardado is there.

That's it for your links today. May your week begin its crescendo to what will undoubtedly be an Orlando City turnaround.