Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/13/18
Happy Saturday! I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I’m excited to be working on my first Lion Links and I hope the news is helpful for everyone.
Big news came out Friday about the future of Orlando City B as well as some eSports news. The MLS Combine matches begin today as well.
So let’s get on to the links.
OCB to take a 2018 Hiatus
As reported by uslsoccer.com and then by the club, Orlando City B will not be playing in the USL for the 2018 season. According to the USL, “Orlando City B elected not to participate in the USL at the Division II level in 2018 while it evaluates its future options.” The club went on to say that it will continue its discussions with USL to evaluate its options for the future participation in the league. Time will tell what this will mean for the main team and the organization as a whole. OCB tickets were offered to Orlando City season ticket holders as an incentive but were soon replaced with four Orlando Pride games instead. The Mane Land wrote up an extended piece on the OCB situation, so be sure to check it out for additional details.
NEWS: Orlando City B Elects to Forgo 2018 USL Division II Season.
Details 📰 https://t.co/phYLAQFPkh pic.twitter.com/bq74nR4GpG
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) January 12, 2018
PSV Draws Fluminense in Florida Cup, Then Wins Shootout
PSV Eindhoven had an exciting Florida Cup. Both of the Dutch side’s matches ended in last-second 1-1 draws and finished with 5-4 penalty shootouts. After scoring the equalizer at the death Wednesday and falling one penalty short against Corinthians, PSV flipped the script Friday night at Spectrum Stadium, allowing a last-gasp equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Fluminense. PSV then went on to win the shootout, 5-4, to collect an additional point and end the team’s tournament run on three total points. Sam Lammers, a 20-year-old forward, was the star man for PSV, scoring both normal time goals for the mid-season Dutch Eredivisie leaders.
MLS Launches an eSports League for FIFA 18 World Cup
EA Sports and MLS have partnered together to create an organization that will compete worldwide in FIFA 18’s competition. The group named eMLS (not a real exciting name) will be structured like the NBA 2k league, where competitors will represent real-life sports teams. Of the 23 MLS teams, 19 will be represented, including Orlando City. Here’s another opportunity for Orlando City and MLS to be represented on the world stage.
Pulisic: U.S. Should Copy Germany to “Conquer” Soccer
In an interview with ESPN, Pulisic touted the youth systems in Germany, saying “I would say the youth systems in Germany are the things that have impressed me the most…How they grow their youth players into full professionals… you’re fighting really for a pro contract [and] it’s something we can definitely learn from.” As the young talent of the USMNT, Pulisic’s words may create some ripples in the U.S. Soccer community.
Cyle Larin in Turkey?
According to BeIN Sports Turkey, Cyle Larin has made his way to Istanbul. At this point, we are not certain why Larin is in Istanbul but the Turkish Twitter community has claimed that Besiktas has reached a deal with the 22-year-old striker, but no such word has come from the U.S. side of the pond. As soon as we get more details we will be sure to share it with all of you. It has been rumored this transfer window that Larin could be on his way to Europe as he expressed interest in playing soccer abroad.
Beşiktaş'ın transfer gündemindeki Cyle Larin, İstanbul'a geldi #beinsportshaber pic.twitter.com/jM4TSi966q
— beIN SPORTS Türkiye (@beINSPORTS_TR) January 12, 2018
Translated from Turkish to English via Google Translator
“Besiktas transfer on the agenda, Cyle Larin came to Istanbul.”
MLS Combine Matches Begin Today
The MLS Combine got underway this week but today the matches between the four combine teams kick off. Players were split into four teams: Nemeziz, Predator, X, and Tango. Today will feature two matches, one at 12:30 p.m. and one at 2:30 p.m. Matches will continue Monday and Wednesday as each team will play three times before the end of the combine. Details can be found on mlsoccer.com. Oh and if you wanted some good news about the combine:
Some have been asking, and yes, combine scrimmages are open and free to the public. #VamosOrlando
Schedule: https://t.co/r0GozAgQ8I pic.twitter.com/ROGoMhUkaT
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) January 12, 2018
If you can’t get enough of the combine news coming out, be sure to check out Matt Doyle’s latest article on the five things to look for at the combine. He puts together a few interesting points as to what you should look for when watching the combine matches.
ESPN FC Questions USSF Presidential Candidates
As the USSF presidential election approaches in February, various outlets have been questioning the candidates on soccer positions as well as a variety of issues pertaining to USSF. ESPN FC has the latest responses to their questions but with a bit of a twist. Each candidate was asked to answer the questions but in 150 words or fewer. The candidates interviewed were Paul Caligiuri, Kathy Carter, Carlos Cordeiro, Steve Gans, Kyle Martino, Hope Solo, Michael Winograd, and Eric Wynalda. This election will decide the future of U.S. Soccer for years to come so be sure to check out how each candidate responded to the various questions asked.
Atlanta United Sets MLS-Record Highest Paid Transfer Fee for Barco
It would appear that the Ezequiel Barco saga is now coming to an end. According to ESPN, Independiente and Atlanta United have reached an agreement to send Barco to Atlanta United. Independiente has agreed to sell the 18-year-old for $15 million dollars plus 30% of any future transfer before December 2019. The highest fee an MLS team paid to bring in a player before this deal, was when Toronto FC brought in Michael Bradley for $10 million from Roma. ESPN says neither club will confirm the deal but sources say it’s close to being completed. This move bolsters an already impressive Atlanta United attack. Time will tell how Barco will translate to MLS.
Free Kicks
- Follow up: As was previously reported, Dom Dwyer had left USMNT camp after dealing with a hamstring strain. Mike Gramajo of Orlando Soccer Journal reported that Dom would be undergoing tests on Friday and should be good to go for the preseason. Big sigh of relief.
Status on Dom Dwyer left hamstring (strain) injury, I’m told by OCSC official he will be evaluated and have a diagnostic by the end of the week — seems like a minor injury that will not prevent him from starting preseason camp on Jan. 22. #OCSC #VamosOrlando
— Mike Gramajo (@byMikeGramajo) January 12, 2018
- The Montreal Impact are targeting a 31-year-old French center back, Zakaria Diallo. Diallo made two appearances in Ligue 2 for Stage Brestois.
- Former (or maybe current?) Orlando City target Gregory Sertic has been linked to the Chicago Fire. Sertic was linked to Orlando City last winter window but the agreement fell through and Sertic went to Marseille. There have been rumors claiming that Marseille will be looking to get some players off the books and Sertics’ name has surfaced.
- Though the merger between Orlando City and Montverde was reported a few days ago, Top Drawer Soccer goes a bit more in-depth about the relationship.
- The USL is closer to expanding into D.C. and Baltimore. According to USL President Jake Edwards, the league is looking closely at adding a team in D.C. by the 2019 season. This team would be owned by MLS side D.C. United, who have been looking for a USL side in recent years.
That’s about it for today! Before I go, I leave you all with this wonderful image of Orlando City presenting the Puerto Rican governor with a check from the friendly fundraiser. It’s amazing to see this image, as Orlando City and its supporters have made a great impact on the Puerto Rican community.
We are honored to present a check from our #FuerzaPuertoRico friendly fundraiser to Puerto Rico Governor, Ricardo Rosselló. 🇵🇷 pic.twitter.com/c8BrLdn1NE
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) January 12, 2018
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/20/24
Orlando City’s 2025 MLS season schedule announced, MLS mock drafts, MLS clubs making moves, and more.
Happy Friday, Mane Landers! I finally have everything squared away after a week of hustling and bustling, meaning I can thankfully avoid the stores this weekend and just relax before next week’s chaos. I’m still trying to nail down what I’ll be cooking as my contribution for my family’s holiday dinner, but it should be fun trialing some options over the next few days. For now though, let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Orlando City’s 2025 MLS Schedule Announced
MLS revealed the schedule for the 2025 season and Orlando City’s first game of the season will be at home against the Philadelphia Union on Feb. 22. Orlando has yet to start a season on the road since joining the league back in 2015. The Lions aren’t scheduled to play against expansion club San Diego FC this year, but they will play their first road game against St. Louis City on June 25. While a majority of Orlando’s games will be on Saturdays, they do have a pair of games on Sundays against Inter Miami, including a rivalry week showdown on May 18. Decision Day will be on Oct. 18, with the Lions on the road to take on Toronto FC to close out the regular season.
Predicting the 2025 MLS SuperDraft
The MLS SuperDraft is set to take place today and Top Drawer Soccer did a mock draft to predict how the first two rounds will go. Orlando City currently has the 27th pick in the first round and Top Drawer Soccer has them selecting defensive midfielder Jackson Castro out of Creighton. The pick makes enough sense to me, as Orlando lost some depth in its midfield following the 2024 season and Castro was Duncan McGuire’s teammate on a strong Creighton team a couple of years ago. The Lions were also predicted to take West Virginia winger Sergio Ors Navarro and Kentucky forward Logan Dorsey in the second round.
Travis Clark of MLSsoccer.com also did a mock draft of the first round, with Orlando taking Cornell winger Alioune Ka. Interestingly enough, both mock drafts have NCAA leading scorer Emil Jaaskelainen going in the first round after Orlando’s pick. I’m pretty excited to see how it all shakes out today and learn which players will become the latest Lions on the team.
MLS Transfer News Roundup
The off-season is bringing plenty of change across the league as teams continue wheeling and dealing in preparation for the 2025 season. The New England Revolution made a splash by trading away up to $3.25 million in General Allocation Money (GAM) to Miami in exchange for attacker Leonardo Campana. The 24-year-old should give a needed boost to a New England team that only scored 37 goals this season. As for Miami, it now has an MLS-trade record fee of $2.5 million in guaranteed GAM and an open Designated Player spot at its disposal.
The LA Galaxy traded away 2024 MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman and a conditional $100,000 in GAM to Nashville SC in exchange for midfielder Sean Davis. Brugman will help Nashville fill the gap left by Anibal Godoy, who joined San Diego FC as a free agent. FC Dallas also added a free agent, signing defender Lalas Abubakar to a two-year deal.
GAM Amounts Revealed for Each MLS Club
MLS pulled back the curtain a bit and unveiled the amount of General Allocation Money that each team had as of Dec. 10. Orlando City’s total comes in at $3,990,312, which is a pretty hefty amount that can be used to improve the team. Atlanta United’s $6,503,478 is the most in the league, while the Houston Dynamo are at the other end of the spectrum with just $2,063,538. The Campana trade helps put these amounts into perspective, but there are many uses for GAM and it’s interesting to see where each club stands. It’s also just nice to get some transparency from the league about this and hopefully that trend continues in 2025.
Free Kicks
- Concacaf announced that Saudi Arabia was invited as a guest nation for both the 2025 and 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup.
- The Kansas City Current bid farewell to goalkeepers Adrianna France and Almuth Schult. The club then announced that it signed goalkeeper Laurel Ivory to a one-year contract.
- The National Independent Soccer Association will reportedly no longer be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Foundation next year, which would leave MLS NEXT Pro and USL League One as the third-division leagues in the U.S.
- Tottenham beat Manchester United 4-3 to claim the final semifinal spot in the EFL Cup, with Son Heung-Min scoring directly from a corner kick. Tottenham will face off against Liverpool in the next round, with Newcastle and Arsenal squaring off in the other semifinal.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I wish you all a relaxing weekend and a very happy holidays!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/19/24
Preparing for the MLS SuperDraft, New York Red Bulls sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Tim Weah injured, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve knocked out all of my shopping except for one gift I’m still trying to procure. I have a lead on it though and high hopes that I can get a literal bow on it before traveling to visit my family next week. For now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Getting Ready for the MLS SuperDraft
The 2025 MLS SuperDraft will take place on Friday and the league released the list of 477 eligible players clubs can choose from. This year’s Generation Adidas class includes Cornell forward Alex Harris, North Carolina left back Tate Johnson, Wisconsin forward Dean Boltz, and UC Santa Barbara defensive midfielder Manu Duah. Those players likely won’t be on the board by the time Orlando City’s 27th overall pick rolls around, but the team has proven in the past it isn’t afraid to make a trade for a top prospect.
Here’s a nice position-by-position breakdown of some of the best players available on Friday. I personally think Orlando could use some depth at center back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the team rolls the dice on a center forward given its track record. Unfortunately, we’ll have to follow along with each pick on the league’s website rather than a stream.
MLS Transfer Roundup
After falling in the MLS Cup final earlier this month, the New York Red Bulls have added some firepower by signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as a Designated Player. The 35-year-old heads to MLS after playing for Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Stoke City, and Schalke 04 over the past 10 years. The Red Bulls now have a fairly dangerous trio of Designated Players in Choupo-Moting, Emil Forsberg, and Dante Vanzeir.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the New England Revolution added midfielder Jackson Yueill as a free agent. The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract that includes options for 2028 and 2029. D.C. United traded away $150,000 in General Allocation Money to Nashville SC in exchange for defender Lukas MacNaughton. FC Dallas signed midfielder Ramiro Benetti, who has spent the past two seasons with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in Brazil. Veteran defender Nick Lima has returned to the San Jose Earthquakes, signing a two-year contract with the club.
Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad
The injuries continue to rack up for the Americans, as Tim Weah will miss some time after sustaining a thigh injury earlier this week in Juventus’ win over Cagliari. In better news for Americans plying their trade abroad, forward Ricardo Pepi scored twice in PSV Eindhoven’s 8-0 win against Koninklijke HFC in the KNVB Cup. Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool are all reportedly interested in left back Antonee Robinson, who turned some heads with a pair of assists on Sunday.
EFL Cup Semifinals Nearly Set
The EFL Cup semifinals are setting up to be a heavyweight affair, with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle all advancing from the quarterfinals. The day belonged to Gabriel Jesus, who scored his first hat trick for Arsenal in a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Liverpool extended its unbeaten streak to 20 games across all competitions after a 2-1 win over Southampton, while Newcastle United beat Brentford thanks to a brace from Sandro Tonali. The final semifinalist will come from today’s match between Manchester United and Tottenham, with the draw taking place afterwards.
Free Kicks
- The NWSL Shield and Championship trophy paid a visit to WFTV’s studios, and it’s still a bit surreal that the Orlando Pride secured both pieces of silverware this season.
- The Columbus Crew announced that they will play Inter Miami in Cleveland at Huntington Bank Field rather than its home stadium next season. The “home” game is a good two-hour drive north and reportedly has no opt-out option for season ticket holders, so this decision has not gone over well with some Crew fans.
- Forward Lynn Williams is reportedly expected to be traded from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the Seattle Reign so that she can close out her career on her home coast.
- We now know the eight quarterfinalists for the Women’s Champions League, with the draw set for Feb. 7. The usual suspects like Barcelona, Wolfsburg, and Lyon all made it, which should make for an exciting knockout stage.
- Real Madrid beat Pachuca to win the Intercontinental Cup, giving Carlo Ancelotti his 15th title with the club.
- Here’s a look at the absurd amount of minutes players like Federico Valverde and Jules Kounde have logged this year. Just seeing those numbers makes my legs tired.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/18/24
Another report on the Facundo Torres transfer, Marta wins her own award, Becky Sauerbrunn retires, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. For those that celebrate Christmas, we’re only a week out, so I hope you’ve gotten your shopping done. If not, no judgement from me, just encouragement. I know you can do it! I think we can all do with a little more encouragement these days. For now, let’s get to the links.
Torres Deal Done?
WESH is reporting that the Facundo Torres to Palmeiras deal is done. As of this writing, there has been no confirmation from either club, but it is reasonable to think where there’s this much smoke, there’s fire. Torres may have scored his last goal in purple, and will leave as the club’s all-time leader in that category after three seasons. According to the report, Torres signed a five-year deal with the Brazilian club. We will provide updates as information becomes available.
Marta Wins Marta Award
In the most appropriate award selection in history, Marta has won the inaugural FIFA award for the best goal in women’s soccer, aptly named The FIFA Marta Award.
The award winning goal came in Brazil’s international friendly against Jamaica in June, as the Brazilian made a nice move to clear a defender and then sent in a long-range shot. Check it out.
Marta received the award at FIFA’s “The Best” Award ceremony in Doha, Qatar.
USWNT Legend Becky Sauerbrunn Retires
Former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn is retiring from professional soccer. The legendary defender has played in the NWSL in every year of it’s existence. She retires having won three championships, one NWSL Shield, multiple Women’s World Cups, and Olympic medals. Sauerbrunn is definitively one of the best to ever wear a U.S. jersey.
NWSL, MLS NEXT Pro Expand
The NWSL is entering into exclusive negotiations with a Denver-area group regarding the league’s next expansion franchise. Denver was picked above both Cincinnati and Cleveland. The expansion fee is in the $105-$120 million range.
MLS NEXT Pro is also adding another new team. Until a new name, logo, and brand are settled on, the team will be called West Michigan Soccer. The team will be the sixth independent club in MLS NEXT Pro. Orlando City B won’t have the opportunity to play the new team until 2027.
Free Kicks
- Torres’ goal against Nashville made it into a compilation of volleyed goals from the MLS Twitter account.
- Vitor Pereira will be the new coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers following the departure of former boss Gary O’Neil. Pereira will have his work cut out for him getting Wolves out of the relegation zone.
- Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been suspended after testing positive for a banned substance in a recent drug test. Mudryk stated he has never knowingly used such substances, and hopes an investigation will clear up the matter.
- The Washington Spirit have signed free agent midfielder Narumi Miura to a two-year contract. Miura spent the last two years with the North Carolina Courage.
- The Columbus Crew re-signed goalkeeper Evan Bush through the 2025 season.
- New name, same idea. The European Super League is back as the “Unity League.” A proposal has been submitted to UEFA and FIFA.
That will do it for today. Keep checking in as our Orlando City and Orlando Pride Season in Review pieces continue. Vamos Orlando!
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Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride Announce Roster Decisions Following 2024 NWSL Season
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Orlando City1 week ago
2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Facundo Torres
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Orlando City2 weeks ago
2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Mason Stajduhar
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Podcasts2 weeks ago
PawedCast Episode 459: Orlando City Roster Decisions and Facundo Torres Gone?
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Orlando Pride6 days ago
2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Emily Sams
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Orlando City2 weeks ago
2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Javier Otero
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Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Ally Watt
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Podcasts6 days ago
PawedCast Episode 460: Facundo Torres, Orlando City and OCB News, and More