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Lion Links: 1/14/17

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8 years ago

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It’s been a whirlwind few days in the soccer world with the NSCAA convention, NWSL College Draft, and the MLS Combine and SuperDraft. We get to relax a little bit this Saturday and recuperate before Orlando City gets to participate in the last two rounds of the SuperDraft on Tuesday. But Orlando might be getting a couple other young players into camp through other means.

I wouldn’t mind becoming like the Galaxy and trading draft picks for assets like Donny Toia while getting our young players through the academy. But that second rounder for half a year of Corey Ashe still stings a little.

With all the hoopla in the soccer world, there’s also plenty of news going around and that means plenty of Lion Links. We’ve got a loaded schedule for you today, full of Orlando City transfer talk and a run down of yesterday’s SuperDraft, so let’s get started.

Minnesota United Hoping to Land Molino

Adrian Heath is apparently trying to land his old star. Ives Galarcep of Goal.com reported that Minnesota United has “made a sizable offer” for the Trinidad & Tobago midfielder, hoping to acquire him from the Lions. Molino was arguably Orlando City’s best player in 2016, with 11 goals and eight assists in league play. According to Alicia DelGallo of the Sentinel, the club is not looking to sell.

The biggest tidbit of information in that article might be that Molino is unhappy with his current compensation, which was $121,400 guaranteed last year, according to the MLS Players’ Union. As one of OCSC’s better attackers, it’s not hard to see why he’s upset with the figures some other players are on.

Pay the man, Orlando. It would be a disappointment to see him in any other color but purple.

Kaká Turns Down Cortiba

One player we definitely know will be here in the coming year is the superstar. With only one year remaining on his contract, Kaká has already been discussing a return to Brazil but Cortiba FC of Brazil’s Serie A wants it to happen a bit sooner. ESPN reports that the Orlando captain turned down the club’s advances, opting to see out his contract in the City Beautiful. It’s good to know that the Lions will have their DP play-maker available for 2017 even though he’s a top target for some clubs in his home country. Enjoy him while he’s here, folks.

Orlando City Executives Win Two Awards

The MLS Year-End Awards took place in Los Angeles this weekend and, just like last year, OCSC took home some hardware, tying for the most awards won in the league. The #OrlandoUnited campaign earned the club the Social Media Activation of the Year. The successful tribute to the deadly Pulse tragedy united the community and the match against San Jose was a special moment.

The team’s vice president of of corporate partnerships, Rob Parker, also won the league’s Corporate Partnerships Executive of the Year. His achievements include partnerships with Disney, Publix, and Orlando Health. Still waiting on confirmation on the stadium name though.

Don Garber Eager to See MLS Grow

MLS has been expanding steadily over the past few years, with cities apparently lining up to get the next franchise, and Commissioner Don Garber has put it on himself to control that growth for the betterment of the league. Key to that has been trying to buck the trend of MLS as a retirement league and sign key players in their prime like Sebastian Giovinco and Nicolas Lodeiro.

To help that mission, a study was conducted to understand U.S. soccer markets and what they like and dislike about the league in an attempt to improve the fan experience and attract more people. Garber has already done a great job creating a stable league with investors lining up and with the explosion of Allocation Money in the last few years and the work going into future improvements, it should be trending farther up from here.

SuperDraft Recap

Orlando City didn’t have a pick in the first two rounds on Friday thanks to trades for Donny Toia and Corey Ashe, but it was still a spectacle. Our own Austin David was on site for full coverage and quotes from the draft room floor from the Orlando City brass. There was all kinds of movement in the top four picks. Adrian Heath’s Minnesota United took UCLA forward Abu Danladi with the first overall pick, followed by fellow expansion side Atlanta United taking Syracuse’s Miles Robinson. The early shocker was New York City FC trading $250,000 in allocation money to trade up to third and not take forward Jeremy Ebobisse. And that was perhaps the biggest news on the day, that MLS is now announcing the amount of allocation money involved in trades. We’re taking baby steps towards transparency.

NWSL to Los Angeles?

With USWNT legend Mia Hamm a part owner of incoming MLS club Los Angeles FC, there’s bound to be talk of a women’s team to the city. NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush confirmed that the league was looking hard at the market in an attempt to “become a more national property.” Vancouver was also mentioned as a likely expansion destination in the near future. The Seattle Reign and Portland Thorns are isolated from the other eight clubs on the west coast, so it would help reduce some travel costs to get more teams out that way.

Those are all of the links we have for you on this post-draft Saturday. Enjoy the breather from drafting before rounds three and four commence early next week. And remember to check back early and often for all of the OCSC coverage you could ask for.

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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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3 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

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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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