Lion Links
Lion Links: 8/16/17
As you approach another Wednesday and realize that with every minute you spend reading this you are one minute closer minute to the end of the day and one step closer to the weekend, remember to spend a little more time in reading today’s Lion Links.
Playoff Percentages
MLS and FiveThirtyEight released their playoff probabilities after the results of the weekend’s contest and currently Orlando City has only a 12% chance of making the playoffs. However, with new boys Yoshimar Yotún and Dom Dwyer set to make their home debuts, and Carlos Rivas getting better, maybe it isn’t time to discount the men in purple just yet. If, however, you do want to throw in the towel on this season, former Orlando Sentinel writer Paul Tenorio has some good thoughts for you.
Pride Patch
Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan has been back with the Pride for two months now and she is really starting to come into her stride and her partnership with Brazilian GOAT Marta has helped push the Pride into NWSL playoff contention. Marta also got her own accolades this week, winning NWSL Goal of the Week for her one-two play goal with Morgan against the Washington Spirit.
In other Orlando Pride news, goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris is now a brand ambassador for sportswear manufacturer Umbro and will wear their equipment in future USWNT games. Also Backline Soccer gives a great look at Orlando Pride and Australia defender Alanna Kennedy.
Nashville Plans
The bid to bring MLS to Nashville seems to be hitting stride after stride recently and yesterday saw the investment group release preliminary concept designs for a new stadium in Music City, USA. The building of a soccer-specific stadium is “usually” required to gain expansion to MLS (I’m looking at you, ATL and NYC) and this will help strengthen Nashville in its quest for the big leagues and it looks like it would add some nice amenities to the city.
MLS Growing Pains
After Dom Dwyer’s record-breaking trade to Orlando City, the power of General Allocation Money (GAM) and Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) has been brought into the light, but it also shows the problems with MLS in its current business model alongside other acquisition mechanisms such as the allocation order and salary caps and highlights that MLS is trying to navigate a very fine line especially with transfer fees seemingly out of control.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City forward Hadji Barry makes the USL TOTW subs’ bench.
- Colorado Rapids have parted ways with their head coach, Pablo Mastroeni.
- The Premier League and EFL are in discussions to move the summer transfer window.
- The United Bid Committee released the potential host stadiums if North America wins the 2026 World Cup bid.
- Plus this:
That’s it for today, folks. We will be previewing another blockbuster day of Saturday soccer in the days to come and we’ll have full coverage of tonight’s OCB match, so keep it on The Mane Land for your Orlando City news.