Lion Links: 11/15/18

Good morning, Mane Landers and happy Friday Jr.! Today is a USMNT game day, and it is sure to be an exciting one. Christian Pulisic is finally ready to rep the red, white, and blue again, and Wayne Rooney is prepared to make his last ever England cap. 

Now for some links: 

Orlando City the Eighth Most Valuable MLS Team

Forbes released its annual ranking of the most valuable MLS teams. The Lions fell to eighth on the list, down from fifth in 2017. Orlando City is valued at $275 million, compared to $272 million a year ago. Atlanta United topped the list and LAFC debuted on the list in fourth. The Colorado Rapids are on the bottom of the list, valued at $155 million. Seven of the top 10 and two of the bottom five teams made the 2018 MLS playoffs.

OCB Makes First USL League One Signing

OCB signed midfielder Jordan Bender as its first USL League One player. Bender is an Orlando City Development Academy product and had one call-up to the U-16 USYNT in February 2017.

“This is a really exciting moment for us,” OCB general manager Mike Potempa said. “Our first movement shows that we strongly believe in our Development Academy as Jordan is a player with tremendous ability and we are extremely pleased to have him on board as we build the roster for the upcoming season.”

USMNT Youngster Injured

Promising left back Antonee Robinson suffered a right ankle sprain in the United States Men’s National Team training. Robinson will be out for at least a month and will return to Wigan Athletic tomorrow. He will not be replaced on the USMNT roster. Robinson made his international debut back in May and has six caps under his belt. 

As for the guys that will be there, there is massive hype around the fact that Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams will finally play together at the highest level. These are the three most prominent names in this generation, and it will be great to see them play together finally. The three have played many times before, albeit in the U.S. youth system. 

“It hasn’t happened quite yet and everyone is talking about it a little bit, we are excited to play together. We haven’t played together in a while now,” said Adams. “They played together in the Bolivia game and they did well, so it is going to be exciting to step out on the field with them.”

Baby Nats Win in the U-17 Women’s World Cup

The U.S. U-17 Women’s National team beat Cameroon, 3-0 in the first game of Group C play. Mia Fishel got the scoring off first. Fishel hit the post, got on her own rebound, and placed it into the back of the net. Sunshine Fontes scored from the spot just before halftime and the Baby Nats went into halftime 2-0 up, and a player up. Fontes scored her second of the game in the 81st minute on this beauty:

Free Kicks

• Check out this amazing roundtable featuring Orlando City SC’s Kay Rawlins and other influential women in soccer.
• Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini got a haircut and I do not approve of it.

• Former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has taken over bottom-of-the-table Fulham.
• The Seattle Sounders have a unique way to judge their GM’s performance. Luckily for Garth Lagerwey, the fans like him.
• Former USL Lion Mikey Lopez has a new team.