Lion Links: 5/23/17

Top of the Tuesday morning, Mane Landers! I know I’m usually greeting you on Monday mornings, but instead I made it down to see the new stadium on Sunday night. I’ve blocked out the results of the match for my mental health. It’s best if I don’t dwell on it, and just revel in the beauty of the Purple Palace. Let’s get to the Links!

Kreis a Bit Miffed at Vieira

Say what you like about Jason Kreis, he is usually very fair in his comments regarding his team’s chances and results. As such, it was telling that the skipper was prickly when commenting on Patrick Vieira’s pre-game assessment that NYCFC was the better team in the first two matches between the two clubs in 2017 that saw Orlando City prevail. It seems the Orlando City boss would like others around the league to show more respect for their opponents.

Cyle Larin Possibilities Explained in Detail

With the transfer window approaching, it’s no surprise that talk would turn to Orlando City’s top scorer, Cyle Larin. The striker has made it known that he’d like to give the European leagues a go at some point in his future. When that would be is up for debate. Kreis has stated several times that Larin is a Lion and will be until Orlando City decides to let him go. Given that Larin isn’t even the highest-paid forward in Orlando, it’s a certainty that a new deal will materialize if all the parties agree. All that aside, there’s quite a bit to all that goes into keeping a player like Larin and FourFourTwo’s Paul Tenorio took a deep dive to explain it all.

Heath May Get Suspended…Again

Orlando City fans may remember when former Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath was suspended a little over a year ago for stepping onto the field of play to throw a ball back. Such actions are a violation of the league’s policy of non-player personnel not stepping onto the field of play during a game. One would think that a professional could learn from such a suspension. However, now Minnesota United FC’s current coach, Heath stepped onto the pitch yet again in Minnesota’s match against the LA Galaxy. We’ll wait to see if Inchy will be at the first match against his former team.

U.S. Young Guns Make Spectacular Comeback

The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team went down two goals to Ecuador in the first seven minutes of the team’s U-20 World Cup match. Goals in the 36th and 54th minutes of play evened up the score for the U.S. Ecuador went back up in the 64th minute, and it seemed they would hold on to that lead to win the game. Fortunately, there were at least four minutes of second-half stoppage time, giving Luca de la Torre a chance to even up the score and give the U.S. a draw rather than a loss. De La Torre put the ball just inside the right post to secure that draw (at the 1:45 mark of the video). Orlando City’s Tommy Redding started at center back.

A Review of the Americans in Bundesliga in 2017

There were nine American players plying their trade in the German Bundesliga this past season. Nine is a record for Yanks in the Bundesliga and as such, they may have had the most impact that American players have ever had in Germany’s top league if it hadn’t been for injuries. Well-known players like Christian Pulisic, Bobby Wood, John Brooks, and Fabian Johnson led the way for the USA in Deutschland.

Orlando City B Volunteers with Frontline Outreach

OCB’s Joe Gallardo and Austin Martz are showing how much the community means to the Orlando City organization.

That’s going to do it for today’s Links. We thank you for stopping by and we encourage you to check out all the Orlando City news as it happens, right here at The Mane Land.