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Lion Links: 1/7/17

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10 years ago

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Whew! It’s finally Saturday, which means we’ve gotten through the first work week of 2017. So far, so good, right? As a programming note, I’m filling in for the vacationing Logan Oliver today and just as he returns, Adam Dupere goes on his vacation so I’ll be back tomorrow. Sorry, you’re stuck with me this weekend.

Right up front I want to wish Orlando City midfielder Richie Laryea a very happy 22nd birthday.  Richie spent all of 2016 with Orlando City B, but he’s still a young dude and he could develop nicely under Anthony Pulis into a future MLS regular. The No. 7 pick overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, Richie is still searching for his first professional goal, but he did notch two assists in 23 matches with OCB last year. Hopefully, he can step up his game in 2017.

Let’s dive head-first into today’s Lion Links.

Three Newest Lions are Old Lions

Orlando City announced the club re-signed Servando Carrasco yesterday, to a two-year deal. That was expected. What wasn’t quite as expected by Lion Nation is that City also re-signed defenders Seb Hines and Kevin Alston. Hines rejoins on a three-year deal and Alston got one more year in the City Beautiful.

Jason Kreis knew exactly what he had in those players and decided they were all worth bringing back. Presumably Alston and Hines are coming back for less money based on the fact their options weren’t picked up by the club back in November. When those guys are your starters and there’s little depth behind them, it’s probably not a good thing. When those guys are part of a deeper squad…well, that could be a good thing. A lot of people expressed surprise with the length of Hines’ deal due to his recurring knee issue and…well, let’s call it a whole lot of blame for the team’s defensive struggles. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be here three years.

Boden to Tampa Bay is Official

So long, Luke. We told you in yesterday’s Lion Links about Bodz ending up on the wrong end of I-4, but it became official on Friday. Boden was a class player and person for Orlando City since 2011 and he helped build the success that the Lions enjoyed over their time in the USL and grew up with the club as it advanced to the top flight. But after two seasons in MLS, the club declined Boden’s option and now he stays in the state while returning to the USL. It’s going to be weird having him line up on the other side for the I-4 Derby, but such is soccer. Our Scott Carnevale will look back at Boden’s time in Orlando later this morning.

We may not like Tampa Bay but at least Bodz is going to a team with ambition. The Rowdies have hired a couple of the guys who helped Orlando City get into MLS and they’ve got a plan for their stadium.

Bob Bradley Back?

Although no human seems capable of turning Swansea City around, former USMNT boss Bob Bradley didn’t get much of a chance to do much while he was with the EPL club. But now it seems that Bradley has some intriguing options. This story from MLSSoccer.com’s Sam Stejskal chronicled that not only does the former U.S. manager have an offer on the table from the Norwegian national team, but incoming MLS club LAFC may also be rekindling its interest in hiring Bradley as the club’s first skipper.

NWSL Champions Moving to North Carolina

The Western New York Flash won the NWSL title in 2016 but the team will defend it elsewhere. According to FourFourTwo, league sources are saying the club is moving to North Carolina prior to the 2017 season. WNYF, which formerly played in Rochester, NY, will be on the move. North Carolina FC (formerly the Carolina Railhawks) owner Stephen Malik raised eyebrows a month ago when he boldly declared he intended to bring an NWSL franchise to North Carolina within six months. Now it appears that has happened. The news led to the saddest soccer tweet ever.  

USL Gets Division II Status

It was a long wait, but the U.S. Soccer Federation has finally ruled on sanctioning. The USSF has elevated the USL to Division II status but, for now anyway, the NASL is also Division II. So when Orlando City B kicks off this season, it will be in the country’s second division rather than the third.

"After an exhaustive process working with both leagues, in the best interest of the sport the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors has decided to grant provisional Division II status to the NASL and USL," said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. "U.S. Soccer will create an internal working group that will work with each league to set a pathway to meet the full requirements for Division II and allow for the larger goal of creating a sustainable future. We look forward to another productive year for professional soccer in this country."

It’s the perfect solution, really, because nobody is 100% happy.

Free Kicks

Las Vegas is making another push to join MLS…Real Salt Lake signed Slovak international Albert Rusnak to a DP deal…D.C. United product Ian Harkes of Wake Forest is your MAC Hermann Trophy winner and DCU is trying to negotiate a Homegrown Player deal with the son of former USMNT star John Harkes…Today’s  birthdays include U.S. president No. 13, Millard Fillmore (1800), Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner (1946), singer Kenny Loggins (1948), NYPD Blue and CSI: Miami star David Caruso (1956), Katie Couric (1957), Go-Go’s bassist Kathy Valentine (1959), Nicolas Cage (1964), Avenger Jeremy Renner (1971), Cleveland Indians slugger Edwin Encarnación (1983), and Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard (1991).

Later today, we’ll drop our January episode of the Mane Land PawedCast on you and our special guest is none other than Orlando City Head Coach Jason Kreis. You’ll definitely want to check out what he had to say about the team, the off-season, new acquisitions Will Johnson and PC, and lots more. We spoke to him Thursday night, so we didn’t get any insight on yesterday’s signings but I’m sure we’ll hear from him soon enough on that subject. Enjoy your weekend!

Oh, and don’t forget that you can get discounted tickets for select Florida Cup matches just by entering the code TML1. Here’s how.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/21/26

Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, MLS playoff changes reportedly coming, Hall of Fame finalists unveiled, and more.

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2 days ago

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August 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a bit of a rough month for all three of Orlando’s soccer teams, but hopefully they can turn things around this weekend. Things haven’t been great, but surely that just means things can only go up from here, right? Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are on the road this weekend for a match against the Washington Spirit on Sunday. It’s been a cruel summer for the Pride, as they’ve lost four of their past five games and are currently 13th in the league standings. Despite being on a three-game winless streak, the Spirit are second in the standings and will be a tough opponent for the Pride to face on the road. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on where the team needs to improve in order to get a result away from home against one of the league’s top teams.

Changes Reportedly Coming to MLS Playoff Format

For the umpteenth time, MLS is reportedly planning on overhauling its playoff format. The changes would go into effect when the league changes its calendar and they include allowing 20 teams to qualify for the playoffs, with the overall league standings being used to determine those top 20 teams. After a play-in round, the remaining 16 teams will play in a double elimination format that also features reseeding between rounds. If these changes do come to pass, hopefully the league decides to stick with it rather than constantly fiddling it with it.

National Soccer Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

The finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2027 were announced, with nine candidates making the list in their first year of eligibility. Former Orlando Pride player Ali Krieger is one of those nine, along with Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore. Central Florida native Graham Zusi was also named as a finalist. The two players who receive the most votes and are on at least half the ballots will make the Hall of Fame, with a third player able to make it if they’re on 75% of ballots.

Storylines Ahead of English Premier League Season

The English Premier League season begins today with Arsenal starting its title defense at home against Coventry City. Arsenal has a talented team once again, but it will be interesting to see how much of a challenge Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City can pose with new managers at the helm. Managers seem to be a focal point this season, as other storylines include whether or not Michael Carrick and Unai Emery can keep succeeding at Manchester United and Aston Villa, respectively. I’m just hoping we have an exciting title race by the time spring rolls around.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann tied with Robert Lewandowski for the second-highest rating of all MLS players in EA Sports FC 27.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links: 8/20/26

Orlando City defeated at home, Simone Jackson loaned to FC Rosengard, U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup roster unveiled, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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August 20, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

I think we can confidently say Orlando City’s Wednesday night excellence has come to an end after last night’s loss. I’m not going to claim the new kits are cursed after just two games, but I’ve bought some sage just in case. Before we get to that match and more in today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman.

Orlando City Falls at Home

The Lions hosted the Chicago Fire and got burned in a 2-1 loss that included a lengthy weather delay that paused things right before halftime. The Fire struck first with an early goal, but Orlando leveled things after the lightning storm passed. However, Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty kick from a needless foul in the box for the winner, with the Lions failing to claw their way back a second time. It’s a disappointing result at home and Orlando will need to figure things out before hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Simone Jackson Heads to Sweden on Loan

The Orlando Pride loaned forward Simone Jackson to FC Rosengard in Sweden through June of 2027. Jackson was signed by the Pride in 2025 after four years playing collegiately at the University of Southern California and she has since made 20 appearances for the club. Hopefully this move gives her some more minutes to develop her game abroad so that she can make an impact with the Pride when she returns next summer.

U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Roster Announced

United States U-20 Women’s National Team Head Coach Vicky Jepson called up 21 players for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month, including eight from NWSL clubs. Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielders Kennedy Fuller and Nyanya Touray, and forward Emeri Adames are a few of the U.S. players to keep an eye out for this tournament.

The team will be without notable eligible players like Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jordyn Bugg though, as youth tournaments take place outside of official FIFA windows when teams are required to release players. United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes also spoke on the importance of tournaments like this one to develop talent while uncertainty looms over the event due to UEFA’s boycott of FIFA competitions. The U.S. is set to start its campaign on Sept. 6 against Italy.

Americans to Watch in the English Premier League

The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend and there are a number of Americans to root for across the league. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson are all still in the league but have new managers at the helm of their respective teams. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United avoided relegation last season and will look to build on that, while Haji Wright and Coventry City will fight to stay after earning promotion last season. Unfortunately, Wright will miss multiple weeks at the start of the season due to a quad injury.

Free Kicks

  • Alhassan Yusuf scored a hat trick in the New England Revolution’s 3-0 win over D.C. United, with Jack Harrison recording three assists.
  • Americans Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty both played every minute of Celtic’s 3-0 win over LASK in the first leg of its matchup against the Austrian club in UEFA Champions League qualifying
  • Bay FC announced that the club and midfielder Tess Boade mutually agreed to terminate her contract, which was set to end after this season. Boade had been with the club since being selected in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft and was the captain last season.
  • Aston Villa signed goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for a reported $40 million transfer fee. Suzuki played for Japan at the recent World Cup and it will be interesting to see what this move means for Emiliano Martinez’s future at the club.
  • Brighton is covering the cost of tickets for its fans who will be making the trip to the Arctic Circle for its UEFA Conference League playoff match against Tromso in Norway.

That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 8/19/26

Orlando City match day, Colin Guske reportedly being loaned to RSL, Banda is an MVP candidate, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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August 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City plays in a midweek match that thankfully isn’t a Leagues Cup match. There are those who will say they’re sad the Lions are out of Don Garber’s cash grab competition, but I’m not one of them. The U.S. Open Cup and the MLS regular season provide plenty of fixtures for now. The schedule congestion is real, as we can see this week. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Match Day

Orlando City hosts Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire tonight in an Eastern Conference clash. Defending against Lewandowski and Philip Zinckernagel will be a tough task for the Lions’ defense. Orlando City will need its offense to keep pace with the Fire if the Lions are going to take any points from the match. It will be interesting to see both Antoine Griezmann and Lewandowski on the pitch at the same time. Here is your official match guide from the club. Our match preview will drop later this morning at 11 a.m. You can also listen to our thoughts on the match on The Mane Land PawedCast.

Go West, Young Guske

It appears that Orlando City is loaning midfielder/defender Colin Guske to Real Salt Lake, according to Tom Bogert. This is not entirely surprising given how crowded Orlando City’s defensive midfield is with Joran Gerbet and Wilder Cartagena healthy and Luis Otavio rounding into form, not to mention Eduard Atuesta and Braian Ojeda once they return. It’s a good opportunity for Guske to get some minutes, given he’s a bit down on the depth chart with the senior team — far enough down to see more minutes recently at center back with the first team than in the midfield.

MVP Candidate Banda

Despite being away for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and not scoring in her first game back, Barbra Banda maintains her slim lead in the Golden Boot competition and is still a League MVP candidate. If she hopes to win either of those accolades, she will need to resume scoring. The upcoming match against the Washington Spirit this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to extend that lead.

U.S. National Team News

USMNT defender Mark McKenzie is reportedly returning to the Philadelphia Union and will occupy a Designated Player spot. Real Salt Lake’s 19-year-old forward Zavier Gozo has been signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace. Of course, there are other USMNT players already playing in Europe, and some are making a quick return to form following the World Cup. USWNT players are also experiencing ups and downs in the NWSL.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini is headed to CE Sabadell FC of the Segunda División in Spain.

That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates and we will also have a recap of the match. Vamos Orlando!

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