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Lion Links: 12/31/17

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Good morning, Mane Landers. Today is the final day of 2017 before we ring in the new year and all that jazz. It’s certainly been a roller coaster of a year for Orlando soccer fans with the new stadium, Orlando City’s summer collapse, Orlando City B’s unbeaten run, Kaká’s retirement, and the Orlando Pride making the NWSL playoffs.

We said hello to new faces like Marta, Dom Dwyer, and Yoshimar Yotun while bidding farewell to a few faces as well. It was an eventful year and I think we are all better for it. I’m excited for the new year and even more excited about what we here at The Mane Land have prepared for you in 2018. But before we can put up new calendars, let’s get to the links for the last time this year!

Larin to Gladbach?

The silly season moves fast and after the recent rumor of Cyle Larin moving to Besiktas, which was refuted on Twitter by Alex Leitao, the hot gossip has the Canadian striker headed to Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach. The Sun says Cyle is set to snub both Besiktas and Leeds for Gladbach. Germany would probably be a better setting for Larin than Turkey, so maybe it’s not really fair to say it’s a snub. But, once again, rumors are only rumors until they’re not. We’ll keep scouring the interwebs for the latest.

Best of 2017 “Megalink”

In the spirit of New Year’s, every blog and its mother seems to be cranking out “Best of 2017” lists or recaps of this year in soccer. Below, you’ll find some of the best of the “best of” lists I could find.

  • In mlssoccer.com’s top five controversies, you’ll find Jermaine Jones in some rather inappropriate clothing and possible future Lion Sacha Kljestan earning a two-game suspension in a tunnel.
  • The final installment of this list is the top stories from The Toe Poke, a soccer blog devoted to the unusual and light-hearted side of the sport. Ronaldo’s ridiculous bust, knockoff Messi, Zlatan’s Photoshop skills, and the worst open goal miss of the year all land a spot in the 2017 top ten list.

Academy Standout Becomes a Pilot

Sorry for the misleading title. Cutting down on bad jokes is on my resolution list, I promise. Orlando City academy Alejandro Pereira verbally committed to the University of Portland, taking his soccer talents to the other side of the country to become a Portland Pilot. The Florida native may experience a culture shock up in the Pacific Northwest but at least he’ll remain in purple.

2017 Retired XI

In honor of the large number of big-name retirees this year, a whole team of those now former players can be formed. And it’d be quite the force if the players were to decide to come together and go full Avengers. The team includes German legend Philipp Lahm and a trio of Italians in Andrea Pirlo, Francesco Totti, and Antonio Cassano. And of course Kaká, who gets a nice anecdote about his first day in Milan where he impressed coach Carlo Ancelotti in training fresh off the plane from Brazil. It’s a nice look at his beginning after a year of endings for our captain.

U.S. Best 50 Players List Concludes

FourFourTwo’s list of the best USMNT players reaches the top ten, with a mixture of the old guard and the new. Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, and Michael Bradley all made the top five but it should come as no surprise that Christian Pulisic finished on top after a breakout year. Rounding out the top 10 are promising players like Bobby Woods, John Brooks, and Sacha Kljestan, who will hopefully be spending 2018 in Orlando.

MLS Rumors and Dealing

Apparently the new fad in Major League Soccer is to brave the cold and head to Scandinavia for talent. Minnesota FC started the trend last off-season, but I’d like to think Orlando City perfected it by snagging Yoshimar Yotun from Malmo this summer. Now it looks like yet another Malmo player could be headed to MLS.

Elsewhere in the league, the rumors that Iker Casillas could head to Chicago got stronger after a report that the goalkeeper has asked fellow Spaniard and NYCFC forward David Villa about the league and the U.S.

Free Kicks

  • There’s been some rumblings that the Kljestan move could be in doubt and that youngster Pierre Da Silva could be a deal breaker for some reason. Well, we can probably go ahead and blow those doubts out of the water.

  • USSF presidential candidate Paul Caligiuri sent a second open letter to the USSF after breaking down some potential unfairness in the voting structure which would devalue the NWSL’s voting power.

  • Let’s end our links on a fun note. After the USMNT’s collapse and Orlando City missing the playoffs, disappointment has been a running theme in 2017. But chin up, readers! Don’t get caught up in the doom and gloom when this sport remains insanely fun. In Scotland, a heavy snowfall threatened to postpone a soccer match at halftime. But the fans found fun on their own and had a snowball fight between themselves. There was no clear winner of the brawl, but sometimes the results just don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things

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That’s all I’ve got for you guys. I know I’m probably not the most recognizable contributor (heck, my identity in the masthead is just the default image and my name with an underscore), but I’ve really had a great time being a part of this site for my first full season. Stay safe tonight, please. Call an Uber if you need to and dance the night away. See you next year!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/13/24

Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions on International Duty

Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.

The NWSL Playoffs Continue

The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.

NWSL Award Voting Open

The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.

Pepi is Ready

The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.

Free Kicks

  • In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
  • England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
  • The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  • Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
  • We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
  • We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
  • Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/12/24

Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Orlando City’s Playoff Path

It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.

What to Watch For With the USMNT

It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.

Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States

The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.

Free Kicks

  • NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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