Connect with us

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/23/17

Published

7 years ago

on

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! It’s that annual day we Americans like to sit around, eat and drink too much, watch sports on TV, and ignore all the annoying things our families are doing.

No no, the other day we Americans like to sit around, eat and drink too much, watch sports on TV, and ignore all the annoying things our families are doing. Anyway, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, we hope you have a great day.

Before we get into the news, I wanted to let everyone know about a big sale at our Mane Land shop that is good all day from Black Friday (tomorrow) through Cyber Monday (Nov. 27). By using the code SBNCYBER15 you can get a full 15% off your purchase of our various shirts. Here’s a link to our store. We’re working on some new designs but for now we have two. I’m partial to this one, which comes in various styles:

Now, here are some tasty Lion Links for you to chew on while you wait for the main course.

Kaká Could Go Work for AC Milan

According to Todo Mercado Web, former Orlando City captain Kaká was headed to Italy to discuss a possible executive position with AC Milan. According to the site,

A cordial talk between the parties is expected and a mutual collaboration for the future will be discussed.

The former Lion is also due to speak with Sao Paulo after the Brazilian side’s season concludes, so Kaká’s playing days may not necessarily be over. Stay tuned.

Orlando City Has Biggest Rebuilding Job

Old friend Paul Tenorio over at FourFourTwo wrote about the five biggest MLS renovation projects and he’s got Orlando City right at the top of his list. I don’t disagree that there’s a rebuild going on but I think it was a bigger one before 2017 than it is now, after the additions of Yoshimar Yotun, Jonathan Spector, Scott Sutter, and Dom Dwyer. As Tenorio points out, Dwyer is without a long-term contract but I remain convinced it will get done. Some of the dead weight is gone and I think a few more will go before March. How does Tenorio see the rebuild?

So, what does Orlando City have to do? They have some nice core pieces in place – Joe Bendik, Jonathan Spector, Yoshi Yotun, Will Johnson and Dwyer up the spine of this team. Scott Sutter showed well at right back. Donny Toia is a decent MLS left back. Everything else is up for grabs. Four starting jobs still need to be claimed, including a playmaker to replace Kaka, a center back to pair with Spector and two midfielders that can keep the ball and cover ground defensively.

He also points out the team’s depth, which is certainly an issue right now, but it remains to be seen if some players are brought back at a lower price and if Yotun is the kind of DP the club now covets, I think we’ll see a big upgrade at No. 10 for 2018. Of course, that might be my purple-tinted glasses.

Orlando’s Aussies Help Matildas Win Again

Orlando Pride stars Steph Catley and Alanna Kennedy both started for Australia in a 3-0 win over China in Melbourne in the wee hours of Wednesday morning Eastern Time. The Pride duo helped keep a clean sheet, while former Pride forward Lisa De Vanna also started and former Orlando defender Laura Alleway was on the substitute’s bench. Catley came off at halftime with her team ahead, 1-0.

Sam Kerr scored a brace and Tameka Butt added a goal as the Matildas won their sixth consecutive match. The teams will play again on Sunday in Geelong.

Pride Players Shortlisted for CONCACAF Awards

The CONCACAF Awards shortlists were announced yesterday and are available for fan and media voting. There are plenty of Orlando Pride folks to vote for, including Alex Morgan up for Female Player of the Year, Ashlyn Harris for Female Goalkeeper of the Year, Ali Krieger among the defenders, and Tom Sermanni for top coach in the women’s game. But, since CONCACAF included Aussie star Sam Kerr, who plays pro soccer within the CONCACAF footprint in the NWSL, it’s curious that the organization did not include Marta. [/CONCACAF’d] On the men’s side, you can vote for Christian Pulisic and several other MLS and USMNT players for the various awards.

Bradley Throws Shade at Columbus

Following Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw between the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC, midfielder Michael Bradley talked openly about how Columbus just isn’t getting it done and he wouldn’t blame ownership for moving the team to Austin. But sometimes it’s not what you say but how you say it. Bradley, who had spent 90 minutes being booed by a crowd of 21,000+ had this to say:

“On one hand, you feel for the small group of loyal supporters that they have, who have been here since the beginning, who continue to support the team and come out week after week,” Bradley said.

“On the other hand, you can’t deny the fact that things here have really fallen behind in terms of the atmosphere in the stadium, the quality of the stadium, what it’s like to play here. I don’t know who’s at fault for that.

“From what I gather, there’s a lot going on and I get that and as an outsider I don’t know what that falls on, but again the reality is just that, as the league has continued to grow and grow, and this is not the only one, but this is one of a few markets that has not kept pace.”

Hey, everyone’s entitled to their opinion, and in some ways the Crew haven’t grown like some teams have around the league — though you could argue fairly successfully that the man who wants to move the team is firmly to blame for some of that lack of growth — but to use words like “small group of loyal fans” is being intentionally nasty. Bradley’s next reception at Mapfre Stadium is likely to be a little frostier than the boos he got on Tuesday. Should be fun.

Free Kicks

  • Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann wants to follow in David Beckham’s footsteps and play in MLS some day. I’ve got a purple kit for him if he can be here by March.
  • Beverly Hills parents drive a kids’ soccer ref to quit. You don’t want to miss the parting letter to the parents.
  • Australia made the World Cup but manager Ange Postecoglou has stepped down as the team’s coach.
  • Those born on this date include 14th U.S. President, Franklin Pierce (1804), horror film star Boris Karloff (1887), Harpo Marx (1888), baseball’s Luis Tiant (1940), Bruce Hornsby (1954), Grease 2 and Empire Records actor Maxwell Caulfield (1959), Nerdist CEO and Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick (1971), hockey’s Saku Koivu (1974) and Nicklas Backstrom (1987), and Miley Cyrus (1992).

That’s all my time on this festive holiday. Please have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. And if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, you could always celebrate Rex Manning Day.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/22/25

Orlando City transfer rumors, Orlando Pride preseason begins, USMNT at Inter&Co, and more.

Published

6 hours ago

on

January 22, 2025

By

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!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

Published

1 day ago

on

January 21, 2025

By

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!

Continue Reading

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

on

January 20, 2025

By

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.

Continue Reading

Trending