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Lion Links: 7/1/16

Published

9 years ago

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Good Friday morning to everyone and welcome back to your daily edition of the Links. I know, I know, it’s not Sunday, but even still, I can set you up with your Church of Lion Tip of the Week.

Last week, we went over awesome cushioned stadium seats to beat those wooden pews. This week, we’re going to troubleshoot how to get out of singing those hymns. Listen, most of us sound like frogs on a good day that early in the morning, so singing isn’t number one of the list of must do activities. Still, people look at you weird if you’re just standing there. So, here’s the solution – just lip sync the word "watermelon" until the song is over.

From a distance, it looks like you're singing every word and no one is none the wiser. The old people will give you a smile and a thumbs up. Your spouse/significant other will think highly of you. Your children (if you have little Lions) probably won’t care less, but know you are a fine example. Then when you sit down, bust out your Lion Links on your cellular device with the knowledge you’re solid for another week.

On to the Links:

Kaká is a Really Nice Guy and He's Popular!

In a piece over at The Orlando Sentinel, Mr. Kaká once again endears himself to the community by going above and beyond. This time, he showed up at a young man’s baptism at The First Baptist Church of Orlando. Well, it was by accident if we’re being honest, but still a cool moment for the teenage soccer player who, a few months earlier, heard Kaká speak at his youth group first-hand about his life. Kaká, since signing with Orlando, has become a staple to not only the team but the city as well. Oh yeah, he also has over 25 bazillion Twitter followers, in case you look at stuff like that.

Also in the article are the latest Major League Soccer Power Ratings, and Orlando City checks in at No. 10. There’s a very tough Independence Day game coming up against FC Dallas (currently No. 2) at Toyota Stadium, so we’ll see how that shakes out for next week.

MLS Goals of the Month

Can’t get enough of some pretty sweet goals? Then the MLS website has you covered. Of course, leading off the video is one epic volley shot by a guy you may have heard of – Júlio Baptista. Yep, the big man kicks off (no pun intended, or was it???) the action and for good reason. That is one freaking epic goal.

Two Orlando Pride Players Will be Missed

With the Olympics coming up, it seems the Pride are taking a little bit bigger hit than most teams in the NWSL. Ashlyn Harris, goalkeeper extraordinaire, and team captain Alex Morgan will be leaving to join up with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Honestly, Harris, who has been a human highlight reel in goal, will be the tougher void to replace with backup Aubrey Bledsoe out with injury. The way she’s been playing this year, there is no question she’s currently the Pride’s MVP.

With the emergence of Jasmyne Spencer, Morgan’s absence might be a tad easier to handle, but still, she’s a world class forward and not having her on the field is never going to be listed as a "good thing." Oh well, they don’t stop playing the games, so it’ll be very interesting to see if the Pride can hang in there until Harris and Morgan return after national team duty.

Girls Development Academy Coming to Orlando

U.S. Soccer announced today the first 25 clubs that will be a part the U.S. Girls Development Academy, an initiative designed to accelerate the development of players, and the Orlando Pride are one of them. This is fantastic news for the teams, as they will be able to provide an environment for young girls soccer players that offers high-level coaching, games, and tactics.

To round it out, six of the 10 NWSL teams are represented and the initial season will begin play in the fall of 2017. As more information is added to this exciting announcement, we’ll provide updates as they come in.

Zlatan Goes to Man United

In this world the rich just get richer. Manchester United received some awesome news as Zlatan Ibrahimovic is joining the Red Devils. The world class Swedish forward previously announced his international retirement, but it seems he’s ready to take on the field over in the Barclay’s. With Zlatan on the roster, this really ups the ante for Man United’s season. There has to be a definite feel of championship or bust hanging over Old Trafford.

Word on the street says Orlando City missed signing him by just this* much.

(*in the following case, this means never had a snowball's chance in hell.)

A Docu-series about Women’s Soccer in America

Do you love a good kick-starter project? Are you passionate about women’s soccer? If you answered yes to both questions, this just might be the project for you. Kicking the Gates wants your help in bringing this story to life. The idea is to explore different cultures and backgrounds, telling a story that ultimately ends with giving women’s soccer a voice. They have some really good themes listed and time will tell if they are able to bring their message to media near you.

Free Kicks

How do you like your Sharknado – with April or without? Well, SyFy has answered the question in this YouTube trailer that I know you’re all dying to see. Lion Links and Sharknado? Best. Friday. Ever…ESPN FC wants you to know they don’t think Jurgen Klinnsman is right for the English vacancy. Hmmm, I guess that means we’ll keep him…Speaking of English jobs, Arsène Wenger has some interest in the top spot, but the earliest he’d take it is next year when his Arsenal contract runs out. In the meantime, I know this guy named Jurg–oh, you still don’t want him? Well then, this is awkward…

On that note, until next time guys!

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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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2 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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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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