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Lion Links: 4/29/18

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8 years ago

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Happy match day, Mane Landers! I trust you’ve all had an excellent weekend so far. Between a charity race event, fishing, writing, and the Pride taking home a point last night, my weekend has been quite pleasant. Another positive result today from the boys in purple would most certainly cap off the final weekend of the month of April.

The Lions take on the Rapids in a few hours (depending on when you’re reading this) and if you’re anything like me, you’re counting down the minutes until kickoff. Hopefully the boys can add to their current streak and keep that beautiful April momentum rolling.

While we wait in eager anticipation, I’m here to provide you some Lion Link relief. That said, enjoy your Sunday serving:

Marta’s Curler the Difference in Draw with Reign

The #Legend herself was the difference for the Pride on the evening, as they came back from a one-goal deficit against the Seattle Reign to tie the match and earn a point in a 1-1 draw. This one was truly a battle as the women in purple found themselves in a physical bout that saw 10 fouls in the first half alone. As always, Marta shone brightly, as her equalizer was not only the difference between a loss and a draw, but also the feature highlight of the match. Her curler into the upper right corner was absolutely top drawer, and only serves to further highlight her importance to the squad. Marta, and her attacking counterpart Alex Morgan, have been involved in 29 of the Pride’s last 40 goals. Now that’s what you call influential play from the Pride’s brightest stars.

Also, appreciate the #Legend:

The Search for a USMNT General Manager Narrows

The USMNT needs a new head coach…but first, U.S. Soccer decided it needs a body in the newly-created position of general manager. An experienced search committee comprised of Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director (and former USMNT captain) Carlos Bocanegra, U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn, board member Angela Hucles, and many others will be tasked with selecting the lucky candidate. The first task for the newly appointed GM? Hire a head coach to guide the men’s side out of temporary international irrelevance by changing the culture surrounding the program. Surely no easy task.

“We’re using this now as an opportunity,” he said. “We didn’t want to get to this stage where we missed the World Cup, because everyone would love to be there. But we have to use this now as an opportunity to really self-reflect. What are we doing that’s not working very well? What are we doing that’s going okay but we can improve? And then how are we going to get there? Because now we need to make some changes. We need to really dig in deep and evaluate: Where are we? Let’s have a hard look at ourselves.”

Bocanegra made it a point to emphasize the importance of the younger players in the system that have superstar potential, but stressed that the right GM and head coach would need to be appointed to truly develop these budding athletes. It’s not necessarily a crossroads for the program, but an experienced and qualified appointee would be massive in the country’s fight to claim legitimate victories on a global scale.

MLS vs. Liga MX: The Gap is Closing

The gulf in glass between Mexico’s Liga MX and MLS has been quite vast throughout the past few decades, but it appears that MLS clubs are finally starting to catch up to their Mexican counterparts. Toronto FC, despite falling to Liga MX’s Chivas in the Concacaf Champion’s League final, has been a highlight and fixture in the later stages of the tournament for years now and seems poised to capture the crown at some point in the future. Toronto impressed during this year’s tournament as the Reds beat Mexican champions Tigres and also downed América, one of the most famous clubs in North America. It wasn’t just the Canadian-based side that did well either, as the New York Red Bulls also managed to seize victories on Mexican soil. Why are MLS clubs all of a sudden in the mix? More transfer capital, dedicated front offices, increased talent levels, and the league’s desire to reach parity with our Mexican brethren.

Teams Are Doing What with Targeted Allocation Money (TAM)?

No, seriously, what is TAM? In a nutshell, it’s use-it-or-lose-it money that’s distributed to MLS clubs for use in the transfer market. The difference now, born from the league’s changes last December, is that TAM is broken into two categories; discretionary and non-discretionary. Because discretionary TAM expires after two transfer windows, MLS clubs are forced to spend what they can and then lose the remaining funds during the next playing season. Non-discretionary funds, on the other hand, expire after four transfer windows. This allows teams to spend their discretionary TAM (roughly $2.8 million) and save their non-discretionary funds (around $1.2 million) for the following years, a tactic that many clubs are utilizing today in order to enable bigger transfers down the road. The drawback of spending discretionary TAM? Teams aren’t permitted to receive anything in trades from other sides outside of cap relief for players brought in on that bill. I know, it’s a bit confusing, but Sam Stejskal over at mlssoccer.com wrote a little piece that might help clear things up for you.

Free Kicks

  • The young Lions continue to impress as they took on the renowned IMG Academy this weekend. The U-15s won (3-0), the U-16/17s won (5-0), and the U-18/19s won (6-1). Not too shabby, boys!

  • Former Lion Amobi Okugo is betting on himself as he attempts to land his next professional contract in Europe, going on trial with SC Preußen Münster in Germany’s third tier.
  • A personal favorite of mine growing up, Liverpool legend Stevie G (Steven Gerrard) is headed to Rangers to become manager. He’ll be taking Gary McAllister with him as his assistant coach.
  • Our neighbors to the north have released the official logo of the newly created Canadian Premier League.

  • Into soccer simulation games? Check out my sim of choice, Hattrick! It’s a beautifully crafted, top-to-bottom management game where you control every aspect of your club: the players, transfers, matches, tactics, fans, finances, stadium, youth setup, etc. (the list truly goes on and on). You can check it out by clicking here. Reach out if you’re interested and need a bit of guidance in starting your new club!
  • And last but not least, props to Aston Villa F.C. and Orlando City UK for showin’ the purple love during their match yesterday at Aston Villa Park. It wasn’t for us? Who cares? Still purple.

That’s all I’ve got for you today, folks. Enjoy the Lions’ match in Colorado, and then have an excellent week.

Also Mane Landers, just remember, you may be cool, but you’ll never be sophisticated-black-glasses-Tom-Sermanni-sauntering-into-Orlando-City-Stadium cool. #TheHeightOfChic

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/21/26

Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, MLS playoff changes reportedly coming, Hall of Fame finalists unveiled, and more.

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2 days ago

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August 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a bit of a rough month for all three of Orlando’s soccer teams, but hopefully they can turn things around this weekend. Things haven’t been great, but surely that just means things can only go up from here, right? Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are on the road this weekend for a match against the Washington Spirit on Sunday. It’s been a cruel summer for the Pride, as they’ve lost four of their past five games and are currently 13th in the league standings. Despite being on a three-game winless streak, the Spirit are second in the standings and will be a tough opponent for the Pride to face on the road. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on where the team needs to improve in order to get a result away from home against one of the league’s top teams.

Changes Reportedly Coming to MLS Playoff Format

For the umpteenth time, MLS is reportedly planning on overhauling its playoff format. The changes would go into effect when the league changes its calendar and they include allowing 20 teams to qualify for the playoffs, with the overall league standings being used to determine those top 20 teams. After a play-in round, the remaining 16 teams will play in a double elimination format that also features reseeding between rounds. If these changes do come to pass, hopefully the league decides to stick with it rather than constantly fiddling it with it.

National Soccer Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

The finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2027 were announced, with nine candidates making the list in their first year of eligibility. Former Orlando Pride player Ali Krieger is one of those nine, along with Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore. Central Florida native Graham Zusi was also named as a finalist. The two players who receive the most votes and are on at least half the ballots will make the Hall of Fame, with a third player able to make it if they’re on 75% of ballots.

Storylines Ahead of English Premier League Season

The English Premier League season begins today with Arsenal starting its title defense at home against Coventry City. Arsenal has a talented team once again, but it will be interesting to see how much of a challenge Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City can pose with new managers at the helm. Managers seem to be a focal point this season, as other storylines include whether or not Michael Carrick and Unai Emery can keep succeeding at Manchester United and Aston Villa, respectively. I’m just hoping we have an exciting title race by the time spring rolls around.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann tied with Robert Lewandowski for the second-highest rating of all MLS players in EA Sports FC 27.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links: 8/20/26

Orlando City defeated at home, Simone Jackson loaned to FC Rosengard, U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup roster unveiled, and more.

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3 days ago

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August 20, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

I think we can confidently say Orlando City’s Wednesday night excellence has come to an end after last night’s loss. I’m not going to claim the new kits are cursed after just two games, but I’ve bought some sage just in case. Before we get to that match and more in today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman.

Orlando City Falls at Home

The Lions hosted the Chicago Fire and got burned in a 2-1 loss that included a lengthy weather delay that paused things right before halftime. The Fire struck first with an early goal, but Orlando leveled things after the lightning storm passed. However, Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty kick from a needless foul in the box for the winner, with the Lions failing to claw their way back a second time. It’s a disappointing result at home and Orlando will need to figure things out before hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Simone Jackson Heads to Sweden on Loan

The Orlando Pride loaned forward Simone Jackson to FC Rosengard in Sweden through June of 2027. Jackson was signed by the Pride in 2025 after four years playing collegiately at the University of Southern California and she has since made 20 appearances for the club. Hopefully this move gives her some more minutes to develop her game abroad so that she can make an impact with the Pride when she returns next summer.

U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Roster Announced

United States U-20 Women’s National Team Head Coach Vicky Jepson called up 21 players for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month, including eight from NWSL clubs. Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielders Kennedy Fuller and Nyanya Touray, and forward Emeri Adames are a few of the U.S. players to keep an eye out for this tournament.

The team will be without notable eligible players like Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jordyn Bugg though, as youth tournaments take place outside of official FIFA windows when teams are required to release players. United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes also spoke on the importance of tournaments like this one to develop talent while uncertainty looms over the event due to UEFA’s boycott of FIFA competitions. The U.S. is set to start its campaign on Sept. 6 against Italy.

Americans to Watch in the English Premier League

The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend and there are a number of Americans to root for across the league. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson are all still in the league but have new managers at the helm of their respective teams. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United avoided relegation last season and will look to build on that, while Haji Wright and Coventry City will fight to stay after earning promotion last season. Unfortunately, Wright will miss multiple weeks at the start of the season due to a quad injury.

Free Kicks

  • Alhassan Yusuf scored a hat trick in the New England Revolution’s 3-0 win over D.C. United, with Jack Harrison recording three assists.
  • Americans Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty both played every minute of Celtic’s 3-0 win over LASK in the first leg of its matchup against the Austrian club in UEFA Champions League qualifying
  • Bay FC announced that the club and midfielder Tess Boade mutually agreed to terminate her contract, which was set to end after this season. Boade had been with the club since being selected in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft and was the captain last season.
  • Aston Villa signed goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for a reported $40 million transfer fee. Suzuki played for Japan at the recent World Cup and it will be interesting to see what this move means for Emiliano Martinez’s future at the club.
  • Brighton is covering the cost of tickets for its fans who will be making the trip to the Arctic Circle for its UEFA Conference League playoff match against Tromso in Norway.

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

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Lion Links: 8/19/26

Orlando City match day, Colin Guske reportedly being loaned to RSL, Banda is an MVP candidate, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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August 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City plays in a midweek match that thankfully isn’t a Leagues Cup match. There are those who will say they’re sad the Lions are out of Don Garber’s cash grab competition, but I’m not one of them. The U.S. Open Cup and the MLS regular season provide plenty of fixtures for now. The schedule congestion is real, as we can see this week. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Match Day

Orlando City hosts Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire tonight in an Eastern Conference clash. Defending against Lewandowski and Philip Zinckernagel will be a tough task for the Lions’ defense. Orlando City will need its offense to keep pace with the Fire if the Lions are going to take any points from the match. It will be interesting to see both Antoine Griezmann and Lewandowski on the pitch at the same time. Here is your official match guide from the club. Our match preview will drop later this morning at 11 a.m. You can also listen to our thoughts on the match on The Mane Land PawedCast.

Go West, Young Guske

It appears that Orlando City is loaning midfielder/defender Colin Guske to Real Salt Lake, according to Tom Bogert. This is not entirely surprising given how crowded Orlando City’s defensive midfield is with Joran Gerbet and Wilder Cartagena healthy and Luis Otavio rounding into form, not to mention Eduard Atuesta and Braian Ojeda once they return. It’s a good opportunity for Guske to get some minutes, given he’s a bit down on the depth chart with the senior team — far enough down to see more minutes recently at center back with the first team than in the midfield.

MVP Candidate Banda

Despite being away for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and not scoring in her first game back, Barbra Banda maintains her slim lead in the Golden Boot competition and is still a League MVP candidate. If she hopes to win either of those accolades, she will need to resume scoring. The upcoming match against the Washington Spirit this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to extend that lead.

U.S. National Team News

USMNT defender Mark McKenzie is reportedly returning to the Philadelphia Union and will occupy a Designated Player spot. Real Salt Lake’s 19-year-old forward Zavier Gozo has been signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace. Of course, there are other USMNT players already playing in Europe, and some are making a quick return to form following the World Cup. USWNT players are also experiencing ups and downs in the NWSL.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini is headed to CE Sabadell FC of the Segunda División in Spain.

That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates and we will also have a recap of the match. Vamos Orlando!

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