Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/30/18
Happy final Sunday of 2018, Mane Landers! I hope that you’re all doing well with your plans, if that’s your thing, for the New Year’s Day festivities — if you’re hangin’ in for the evening, enjoy yourself! Relax, kick back, and ring in the new year the way you see fit. Just be safe no matter what you do. For now though, I’m here to feed you a nice heaping serving of Links…so, enjoy!
Report: Orlando City SC to Sign Homegrown Forward Benji Michel
The Lions will soon ink a Homegrown deal with Benji Michel, a forward that grew up training in the Lions’ youth system before moving on to play for the University of Portland, where he excelled, playing for three years and scoring 31 goals across 53 matches. Michel was named to the All-American Second Team in 2018, and also plied his trade in the Monteverde Academy. Hopefully, he can translate his college success to the next level and become a threat for the Lions in time, as he grows and adapts to a new league.
SeaWolves Drop First Indoor Florida Derby
The Orlando SeaWolves went on the road for the first time ever, shooting down I-4 to Lakeland to take on the Florida Tropics. It didn’t go well, as the SeaWolves fell behind 8-1 before clawing back to within two goals late. The Tropics finished them off, however, and Orlando fell, 9-6. Former Orlando City defender Tyler Turner scored his first indoor goal in the game.
Another Off-season, Another Overhaul
The characters were different, but we’ve heard this story before. With the sale of Yoshimar Yotún to Liga MX side Cruz Azul, the Lions have set themselves up, yet again, for an off-season of roster reconstruction. The good news? Head Coach James O’Connor and the front office have done an excellent job of clearing cap space for future additions, and they’ve clearly learned a lesson or two from last year’s acrimonious divorce with striker Cyle Larin, shown in their willingness to let Yotún leave for Mexico. The bad news? We all had to say farewell to one of the best and favorite players on the roster in Yotún. Hopefully, the off-season additions will help cover the team’s holes. We’re going to miss you, Yoshi. Here he is practicing with his new club:
A little bit of Yoshimar Yotun’s first practice with Cruz Azul. Some nice passing from him was what La Maquina saw today.
Also saw he wore #13 at practice. Not sure if that’s his number.#ArribaPerú #LlegóLaMáquina
🎥: @ricardocarino pic.twitter.com/PdqySvkX3c
— Diego Montalvan (@DMontalvan) December 29, 2018
Alphonso Davies is Here
I was actually present, in person, for Davies’ first training with the first team in Munich with Bayern Munich. It was as obvious then as it was when he was tearing up MLS and leaving defenders in his wake that he has the talent and composure required to make a huge impact at the next level. He’s impressed during his brief time in the German powerhouse too, leading manager Niko Kovac to go as far to say that he would consider deploying Davies in first team competitive matches as soon as the Bundesliga returns to play in late January.
“If I compare him with our U23s, then he is already ahead of the others,” Kovac said. “He has to acclimatize, that’s clear. But he has quality and we will not slow him down if he can help us.”
To top that off, Davies was also just named as Canada’s Postmedia Male Athlete of the Year – a recognition that had never before been awarded to a soccer player.
Joe Bendik, Columbus Crew, and the Heavy Competition for a Potential Backup Role
Now that the Crew have been saved, the front office can truly move forward and focus on their search for glory in 2019. A spot that they may address again, even after adding Orlando’s former No. 1 Joe Bendik for $50,000 in allocation money, is the goalkeeping role. With multiple other established professionals on the roster for the crew, including the club’s 2018 first-round draft pick Ben Lungaard, it will be tough for Bendik to win a backup role, let alone the starting job, once superstar Zack Steffen leaves for Manchester City in July. It’ll be an interesting situation to keep an eye on, and Columbus will be an interesting club to play against down the road considering the recent affairs of seasons past.
Free Kicks
- Man, I wish I lived on in Los Angeles for this one.
It's been rumored for awhile but now it's confirmed: @LAFC will play Japan's Vissel Kobe in a Jan. 31 friendly at Banc of California Stadium. Vissel's roster includes Spanish stars David Villa and Andres Iniesta and Germany's Lukas Podolski. Ticket info coming soon
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) December 29, 2018
- MLS’s Charles Boehm released a list of what he thought were the top 10 MLS moments of 2018. Do you agree with his rankings? Here’s a little taste/spoiler: the Lions were included in the list twice, but not for their own accomplishments.
- MLS’s Greg Seltzer also released a list, this one identifying who he thought could be the top 10 MLS players that he felt were poised for a breakout in 2019. Another little taste/spoiler? the Lions’ recently acquired Joao Moutinho ranked in at number five on the list!
- Congratulations, Rangers supporters! #CurseBroken
For the first time in 16 matches, Rangers have beaten Celtic 🔵🔴
2,471 days after their last victory 👏 pic.twitter.com/b1HHn9PwIu
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 29, 2018
- Juventus is just on a different plane right now…but will it translate to European glory?
A Serie A record 53 points ✅
Unbeaten ✅
Only 4 points dropped ✅What a first half of the season for Juventus 💪 pic.twitter.com/6xPbWBEALk
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 29, 2018
Well, that’s all that I’ve got for you this week folks. Like I said earlier, enjoy your New Year’s Day and stay safe! I’ll see you on the other side.
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 City1 week ago
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Podcasts2 weeks ago
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Orlando Pride6 days ago
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Orlando City2 weeks ago
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Podcasts6 days ago
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