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Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. New York City FC

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8 years ago

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Orlando City has won its last two games and New York City FC has lost its last two. None of that really matters when you consider that:

  • Those games occurred last season, and
  • NYCFC’s were playoff contests against Toronto, while Orlando’s were meaningless matches just playing out the string.

The Lions will want to show they are a better team than last year. They’ll want to open their new stadium with a win. And they’ll want to get a passing grade from the rebuilt back line that Jason Kreis constructed in the off-season — anchored by the big winter acquisition, Jonathan Spector.

It’s been a minute since we’ve squared off against New York City FC, so let’s find out more about them. Here to help us scout tomorrow night’s opponents is Jake Gofman from SB Nation’s New York City FC blog, Hudson River Blue. And if you want to see how I responded to their questions, you can head over to their place.

What are New York City FC’s key off-season additions and subtractions that we should know about and how do you expect them to affect the team?

Jake Gofman: Coincidentally, you happened to email me just before NYCFC announced they’d bought out former USMNT and poet laureate Mix Diskerud. While Mix wasn’t an important part of the team last year, his departure sheds New York of the last remnants of the Kreis style of play. Moving forward, Patrick Vieira now has the squad he wants in place.

There were more important departures for the club, namely the retirement of Frank Lampard and Andoni Iraola. Lampard’s NYCFC time will be recalled with mixed reviews, as he struggled to find the pitch and his form under Kreis, was injured and openly booed by fans in the first part of the 2016 season, all before endearing himself to the faithful, scoring 11 times in 21 appearances. No one can replicate Frank’s tenacity and sense for positioning, but he’ll be replaced by more creative and speedy players. 

The loss of Iraola stings more for the club, as he was a constant in the side and was solid in his role in front of the defense. The loan expired for Federico Bravo, who covered at times for Iraola, and their cumulative loss leaves a big hole to cover for NYCFC. 

The club’s biggest addition and the replacement for Frank Lampard is Maximiliano Morales, the club’s third Designated Player. Maxi or “Frasquito,” which translated to “Little Flask” (go figure) is a true number 10 player, and is coming to NYC in his prime, having just turned 30. Frasquito is coming over from Leon in Liga MX, but played the majority of his time in Serie A with Atalanta. 

NYCFC also added some intriguing young talent in Cincinnati FC forward Sean Okoli and third overall pick in the MLS Draft Jonathan Lewis from Akron. Keeper Sean Johnson comes over from the Chicago Fire and should be an upgrade over Josh Saunders (have fun, Orlando!).  

NYCFC took a huge leap forward last year, but the club won’t be able to sneak up on anyone in 2017. Do you expect a step forward or backward in 2017 and how much of that will depend upon David Villa staying healthy?

JG: If you watched this team last year, game in, game out, and you were honest with yourself, you’d have to admit that NYCFC wasn’t the second best team in the Eastern Conference. That’s not to say the team didn’t exceed expectations, but in regards to your question, I think it’s important that we recognize that the team may well improve this year without besting its second-place finish. 

We may finish at the top of the East again, but it’s going to depend on two things. The first, as you appropriately identified, is having David Villa, and many of our other key personnel, stay healthy throughout the season. As any Orlando fan will tell you, you can only go as far as the strength of the players you field, and NYC, like any other team, will struggle if Villa, Pirlo, Harrison, etc. lose time to injury. 

The second key that will define our success is our defense. While New York has no problems scoring, the team has got to get consistent performances out of its defense if it hopes to finish at the top of the conference. 

We’ve now got a preferred center back pairing in Maxime Chanot and Fredric Brillant, but they’ve got to be able to defend as a unit alongside our RJ Allen and Ronald Matarrita — two players that relish playing in the attacking half. Without Andoni Iraola’s consistent cover, NYC will have to provide enough coverage for the CBs as possible without stymying their vaunted attack. 

Are there any players out with preseason injury?

JG: No injuries to report ahead of the match. It’s not an injury, but Jonathan Lewis misses the game as he’s on duty with the USMNT U-20 team. 

What kind of formation and tactics can we expect from New York City FC this weekend against Orlando City, and what do you view as the game’s key match-up?

JG: Vieira settled on the 4-3-3 last season but it’s anyone’s guess sometimes with him. I’m gonna say we line up in this formation to start, to be conservative. Tactically, I wonder how we’ll cover the back four without Iraola. Formations I’ve seen online have had a midfield three of Frasquito, Tommy Mac, and Pirlo, which is very attack-minded, unless Tommy is responsible for providing more cover. 

The match-up to watch will be Cyle Larin running at our two CBs. Larin has a lot of speed and guile in his game, and Chanot and Brillant will have to be on the same page to pick up his runs and play him offside whenever possible. This match-up could define whether or not this one gets out of hand. 

What is your predicted match day lineup and final score?

JG: Sean Johnson; Ronald Matarrita, Maxime Chanot, Frederic Brillant, RJ Allen; Maxi Morales, Andrea Pirlo, Tommy McNamara; Sean Okoli, David Villa, Jack Harrison 

I see this one ending in a hard fought point for each club, 2-2. 

Big thanks to Jake for taking time to answer some questions about this weekend’s visiting foes.

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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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19 hours 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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Orlando City

Striker Suddenly a Position of Need for Orlando City

Departures and a key injury mean Orlando City needs a striker heading into the 2025 MLS season.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image Courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 2024, a milestone for the club. The core of the team was locked up through the 2025 season, so there was no reason to believe it needed to add much this off-season. Unfortunately, injuries and departures have created a serious problem for the team.

The group of forwards last year consisted of Duncan McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn. McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 and was expected to depart for Blackburn Rovers before a clerical error allowed the Lions to keep their target man. The team’s primary striker scored 11 goals in 37 games — the same number as the previous season — but split time starting with Enrique. The Argentinian improved greatly in 2024, increasing his total goal tally from four to 12. Even Lynn showed tremendous improvement last year, playing a greater role in the team and scoring his first two MLS goals.

The future also seemed bright for the Orlando City forwards because of their ages. Lynn is the oldest of the trio at just 25 years old. Meanwhile, McGuire and Enrique are only 23, so there was no reason to believe this group couldn’t produce this coming season.

The problem at striker began in the postseason when McGuire was pulled down by Charlotte FC midfielder Djibril Diani in the final first round game of the playoffs. McGuire suffered a shoulder injury during the challenge that required surgery on Dec. 13. It’s expected that the striker could take four to five months to return to action, possibly leaving him out until May or June.

Another blow to Orlando’s attack occurred Saturday when Lynn surprisingly announced his retirement from professional soccer. In just over a month, Orlando City went from having three strikers to having just one as preseason training starts.

With McGuire injured and Lynn gone, one option would be to have Designated Player Luis Muriel play up top. However, the Colombian prefers to play a more withdrawn position and proved to be effective in that role last year. Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Lions need someone up top to control the ball and involve the midfielders in the attack. That’s not Muriel’s game.

The result of these issues is that nobody is currently behind Enrique when the season begins. If the Argentinian gets tired, hurt, or simply needs rest, Pareja is limited in his options. 

Whether there was a lack of strikers or a lack of goals from the position previously, that problem was resolved by the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Facundo Torres scored 20 goals in 2024, becoming the first player in Orlando City’s MLS history and the second player in club history to do so. He went on to set a new club record for total goals of 47.

However, Orlando City sold its best player to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Dec. 20. It was a gut punch to fans as Torres had signed a new contract on Jan. 10, 2024 that ran through the 2026 season. There had been talk for the last couple of years that the attacker would look for a move to Europe and rumors of a move to South America arose this off-season. Still, it created a huge gap the club has to fill.

There are players on the roster that can make up for the injury and departures. Martin Ojeda had a strong season in 2024, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. His seven goals ranked fourth on the team and his 13 assists topped the squad alongside Nico Lodeiro. Muriel came on strong later in the season, finishing with five goals and eight assists. But those numbers are a long way from the 20 goals that Torres tallied last year.

Even if you consider all goal contributions, Ojeda and Muriel fall well short of Torres. Ojeda had a total of 20 goal contributions in 2024 while Muriel had 13. In addition to Torres’s 20 goals, he added nine assists for a team-leading 29 goal contributions.

All of this information leads to one undeniable fact — Orlando City needs to sign a striker prior to the season. And there’s not much time for Luiz Muzzi to act. The European transfer window closes on Feb. 3 and many MLS teams have already been filling similar needs. With the season starting in just over a month, the options will be limited if the Lions don’t do something soon.

After the best postseason finish in Orlando City’s MLS history, things were looking good heading into 2025. While the back line and most of the midfield is returning, McGuire’s injury and the departure of Torres and Lynn have left the Lions in a tough spot offensively. If they don’t do something in the next couple of weeks, it could be a long 2025.

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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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