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Lion Links: 10/28/18

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6 years ago

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Howdy, Mane Landers. This is a special edition of your daily serving of Lion Links, as it marks the finale of the 2018 season. The Lions travel up to the Big Apple to take on the New York Red Bulls as they prepare for their journey into the MLS playoffs. Hats off to them.

Meanwhile, the Lions have a lot of work cut out for them after this final 90 minutes of play, and something tells me Head Coach James O’Connor will get right on it — he’s got one hell of an off-season ahead of him. Regardless, at least we all get to enjoy (or dreadfully mull through) one final match with our boys in purple. I’ll do my best to keep you occupied until that match kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Let’s do this.

Orlando City and James O’Connor Look to End on High Note

There’s no secret that the Lions have experienced an abysmal season. With everyone ready to finish the season and begin the next wave of rebuilding of what should have been a playoff-bound side, the Lions are still looking to claim a positive result from their final match. When asked about his initial ambitious intention of turning the season around and clinching the club’s first-ever MLS playoff berth,O’Connor realized that he may have been asking too much in too little time.

“I think, since we’ve come in, we’ve wanted to look,” O’Connor said. “We feel as if we’ve looked, but I think the season, from our aspect of when we come in midseason, we have high, high expectations of ourselves so we’re obviously disappointed with the way the season has petered out. I think, as a club, obviously we want to make sure that we get the success that we all want. It’s been very intentional about following a process, following a plan, and then making sure that you execute it.”

When asked if he’d take any time away from the club after the season closes, he cited how much work needs to be accomplished to prepare for the the 2019 campaign.

“I think you have to ask questions of yourself. I think you have to ask questions of individuals. And then, I think, you have to create a plan, make sure that there’s a process to the plan and then carry it out.”

Let’s just all hope O’Connor comes up with a winning plan, so that next year at this time we’ll all be celebrating the Lions as they head into the MLS playoffs.

Landon Donovan, MLS, and Liga MX

American footy legend Landon Donovan believes that it’s only logical to have more collaboration between what he labels as the top two leagues in North America. Speaking to ESPN Deportes. the MLS all-time goal scoring and assist leader stated that it would be a wise decision to have more matches between the league, as it would allow the leagues to better compete with their European and South American counterparts.

“For me it is logical, because they’re the best leagues in this part of the world, they have the biggest players, if we want get better compete with Europe and parts of South America, I think it’s important,”

He even went so far as to hypothesize that a league that featured clubs from both MLS and Liga MX would be beneficial to the sport in both countries. With collaboration already underway in the form of the Campeones Cup, a final that pits the winner of each league against each other, further collaboration both on and off the field is possible. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, who knows what’s possible?

Catch All of the Final MLS Match Day Action

With the 2018 MLS regular season coming to a close, you may be wondering how you can stay tuned in to all of the matches. With some pivotal clashes and interesting match-ups, frontrowsoccer.com has provided a brief guide to keeping you up to date as today’s matches play out. There are still two playoff spots up for grabs, so be sure to keep a keen eye on the results and the implications of who makes their way in to the 2018 MLS playoffs, and who doesn’t.

D.C. United’s Wayne Rooney: No Loan or International Duty in the Future

With Rooney coming into D.C. United’s squad in the middle of what looked to be a down year, the club has turned it around and the English legend has had a lot to do with it. He’s netted 12 goals and contributed 9 assists through only 19 league appearances, and his side now sits in a strong position to gain a home match in the MLS playoffs. When asked about the possibility of returning home to England during the off-season to play on loan with another club, Rooney didn’t see it happening, nor does he see a return to the English national team in his future.

“I think [England] are doing fantastic,” he said of the Three Lions, who reached the World Cup semifinals in Russia over the summer. “It was the right time for me to retire with the group of young players. It was the right time to let them come in and flourish in the team. I have no regrets over it.”

In regards to his club’s playoffs hopes, Rooney isn’t taking the chance to play a home match lightly.

“We could feel the playoffs were getting closer and we need to try to kick on,” said Rooney. “We could finish fourth and could get a home tie in the first round of the playoffs, which could be a difference for us.”

Free Kicks

What were you up to last night? Orlando Pride/USWNT striker Alex Morgan went to the World Series.

  • Alphonso Davies has a lot of support coming from his former MLS teammates and competitors. We all hope you succeed in your German adventure, Alphonso! Heck, I’ll be in Munich pretty soon, maybe I’ll have the opportunity to meet you! The program I’m traveling with got to meet Christian Pulisic during their last trip.

  • My alma mater, Florida State University, and its football team is having a rough year. So rough that ardent fans, in this case a professor, have been spotted in the stands reading instead of cheering on their Noles. Yesterday’s demoralizing 59-10 loss to ACC rival Clemson was embarrassing. I’m not sure there’s much else to say about that…except that I’m surprised that we haven’t seen any OCSC supporters do the exact same thing.

  • With no Lionel Messi and no Cristiano Ronaldo, this morning’s edition of the famous El Clásico between Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona will surely feel quite different than previous iterations. Who will step up and lead their side to glory?
  • FIFA’s potential change to the Club World Cup are on hold for now, as the proposed changes have many questioning where the money is coming from and concern over the additional matches that the change would create.
  • Iago Aspas spent the night in a hospital welcoming his daughter to the world…he then went on to net a fine hat trick against Eibar, as his Celta Vigo side won 4-0. He’ll be telling his daughter about this night story forever, I imagine, and surely played inspired due to the occasion.

Well, that’s all I’ve got on tap for you today, folks. Enjoy today’s Decision Day clash with New York, even though there’s not much on the line for the Lions aside from the pride of closing the season with a win. Have a great week and let the 2019 speculation begin.

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Lion Links: 12/20/24

Orlando City’s 2025 MLS season schedule announced, MLS mock drafts, MLS clubs making moves, and more.

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3 days ago

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December 20, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

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.

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  • 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!

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Lion Links: 12/19/24

Preparing for the MLS SuperDraft, New York Red Bulls sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Tim Weah injured, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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December 19, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

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.

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  • 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.

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

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Lion Links: 12/18/24

Another report on the Facundo Torres transfer, Marta wins her own award, Becky Sauerbrunn retires, and more.

Published

5 days ago

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December 18, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

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.

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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