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Lion Links: 8/21/19

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6 years ago

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Howdy, Mane Landers. I typically serve up links on Sundays, but today I’ll be your chef du jour. A good friend of mine from college is in town for a big fight (he’s an MMA fighter), and I’m going to show my support and then catch up with him afterward. It should be interesting to say the least, but in the best way possible. Anyway, let’s hop to these Wednesday links, shall we?

Bon appétit!

Welcome to the Majors, St. Louis!

It’s finally official. Don Garber announced yesterday that St. Louis earned the right to enter MLS play come 2022. The announcement follows months of speculation as to which city would be awarded the designation. St. Louis’ ownership group will consist of Carolyn Kindle Betz, the Taylor family, and Jim Kavanaugh — meaning that the club becomes the first team in MLS history to be majority owned by a woman, and one of very few in professional sports. Unfortunately, we don’t yet know the ramifications of how this will affect Saint Louis FC — a team with ties to Orlando City — but the outlook is bleak, at best. But hey, congratulations to St. Louis. There’s only one clause to this award: You’re not allowed to make the MLS playoffs before Orlando City.

U.S. Soccer and Gender Discrimination

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last year, you’re likely well versed on the battle between the U.S. Soccer Federation and the back-to-back World Cup-winning U.S. Women’s National Team. Well, we have a significant development — they’ll be taking their war to the courts, with the two parties set to go to trial on May 5, 2020. In case you were wondering, that’s a mere two and a half months away from the 2020 Summer Olympics, which begin on July 24. The U.S. Soccer Federation has pushed back against the idea of equal pay, declaring that the women’s team has been adequately compensated. This is a sticky one, so I’m going to reserve any judgment until it’s all said and done. There’s too much information that I’m not privy to. Unfortunately, I see both sides of this argument, but empathize with only one. I’m sure you can deduce where I stand on the topic.

Toxic Soil: A Miami Tale

As one of my colleagues aptly put it, “I still don’t believe this club is happening yet.” Hurdle after hurdle, road block after road block, and now, well, toxic soil, has been hindering the development process of incoming MLS club Inter Miami CF, owned by David Beckham. They’ve done a solid job of branding, marketing, and even potentially acquiring a world class talent in Edinson Cavani, but the club just can’t catch a break when it comes to building its new grounds. The latest? The soil where the club is going to build its stadium has a high level of lead, arsenic, and barium — toxins that cause cancer (among countless other ailments). Miami City Manager Emilio Gonzalez announced he was closing the area until further notice for additional analysis of environmental test results. I know they’re going to quickly become a rival of the Lions, so part of me just wants to sit back and giggle at this whole ordeal. The other part of me feels bad. Oh well, they’ll figure it out or something.

Christian Pulisic…as a Red Devil?

Not as long as his father has something to say about it. Pulisic, now with Chelsea, had many options at his disposal before departing Dortmund in Germany for London. Manchester United, apparently, was one of them, but it was never truly on the table. Robin Walker, a former coach of Pulisic, was close with the young phenom’s family.

“He wouldn’t go to Manchester United because of Jose Mourinho,” Walker said. “His father couldn’t stand Mourinho, because he didn’t promote young players. It was at that point I asked: ‘What about London? That’s where it’s at.’ I was trying to sell the city. His agent agreed, saying: ‘When you make these decisions, it’s all about investment and property.’ I was delighted that he did sign [for Chelsea].”

Of course, this is all now history, as Pulisic’s move was sealed months ago (when Mourinho was still at the helm of United), but it’s an interesting thought to imagine a world where the Red Devils captured the young American’s signature. What’s interesting to me, however, is the timing of this revelation. Why is Pulisic’s former coach saying these things publicly? Why mount even more pressure on Pulisic’s shoulders? I just hope young Christian continues to shine for the Blues and then brings that shine on over to the U.S. Men’s National Team. Time will tell.

Free Kicks

  • Good news for Brazilian Pride icon Marta, as the new head coach of the Brazil Women’s National Team, Pia Sundhage, has given her a call-up. Kudos, Marta! I mean, is anyone surprised though?
  • Former Pride defender Lotta Okvist has signed with Manchester United Women. Okvist never played a match with the Pride, so it will be interesting to see how she does in Manchester.

  • Have you heard of Den McSkimming? I sure hadn’t until I came across this insightful piece detailing his exploits as the “only American reporter at the 1950 World Cup.”
  • Speaking of the World Cup, Carli Lloyd may have herself a career in the NFL once she’s finished with the NWSL.

  • Lastly, I really shouldn’t have to say this, but there’s absolutely no place in the beautiful game for racism. The heckling (that’s way too generous of an adjective) aimed at Manchester United’s Paul Pogba pertaining to his race was disgusting and vile.

All right folks, that’s it for today. Enjoy the match on the evening — hopefully the Pride will make us proud. Yikes, that was a bad dad joke. I’m out. Have a good one!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/25/25

Orlando City gets ready for Atlanta United, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira promoted, NWSL MVP candidates, and more.

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2 days ago

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April 25, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Today starts three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. It was a fairly fast week for me, and I was able to read three books somehow. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy 21st birthday to Orlando City winger Nicolas Rodriguez!

Orlando City Gets Ready for Rivalry Match

The Lions are back in action Saturday night against rival Atlanta United in what should be one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Both teams are looking for answers on offense heading into this match, as Orlando is coming off of three straight scoreless draws and Atlanta hasn’t won since March. Taking on a rival at home could be just what’s needed for the Lions to jumpstart their attack and return to the form they had earlier this season. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how it’s an important game to win for Orlando, as well as how the offense needs to exercise some calmness to finish its chances.

Orlando City Promotes Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira

Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira were both promoted by Orlando City, with Moreira taking over as the club’s general manager and sporting director and Muzzi becoming senior advisor to ownership, global soccer ventures. It’s a natural step up for Moreira, who joined the club in 2018 and has helped build a competitive roster that’s made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Muzzi’s new role is a bit of a mouthful, but he’ll be taking on an advisory role focused on the growth of the club while working closely with ownership.

“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Orlando City Soccer Club’s EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager for seven seasons, and I am excited to continue my journey with the club in this new role,” said Luiz Muzzi. “I look forward to working alongside the Wilf family and the leadership team to help shape the future of the club and its continued success, both on and off the field, and I know Orlando City’s Soccer Operations will be in great hands under Ricardo’s leadership.”

Orlando Pride Players in the NWSL MVP Hunt

Now that we’re over a month into the NWSL season, ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf highlighted the league’s early MVP candidates, and there are a couple of familiar faces in his rankings. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is predictably in the mix in sixth on the list, as she has three goals and an assist to her name so far. But a surprise inclusion is midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has impressed on both sides of the ball to earn ninth place in the rankings. While I think the MVP race will ultimately be between scorers like Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Hatch, and Debinha, it’s pretty great to see McCutcheon receive deserved praise for her performance this year.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

The transfer deadline may be over for MLS clubs, but deals that crossed the finish line are still coming in. The Columbus Crew added yet another forward by sending up to $1.2 million to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Aliyu Ibrahim. The 23-year-old will maintain his U22 Initiative Player status in Columbus and recorded 12 goals and nine assists across 90 appearances for Houston. LAFC signed 26-year-old midfielder Ryan Raposo, who spent the past five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a free agent this year. St. Louis City also made things official with Simon Becher by making his loan move a permanent one so that he stays with the club.

Free Kicks

That’s all I have for you this time around. Mother’s Day is less than a month away, just as a warning. If the mothers in your life like romance books and you’re looking for a gift, I can’t recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center enough. Have a great Friday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/24/25

Orlando Pride prepare for Angel City FC, MLS deadline day deals, OCB slips in power rankings, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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April 24, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a few days since a rough weekend for Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Time heals all wounds, but let’s also hope it heals offenses considering both teams were shut out. Let’s go ahead and manifest some good officiating this weekend as well while we’re at it. That might be a tall order, but I’m feeling optimistic. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for Angel City FC

The Orlando Pride will look to bounce back when they welcome Angel City FC to the City Beautiful for a home game Friday night. Orlando lost its first game of the year and first home game since 2023 last week against the Washington Spirit, falling 1-0. Angel City is also coming off of its first loss of the season, falling 4-0 at home to NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. Pride defender Kerry Abello spoke on how the Pride will need to create better chances compared to last week as they prepare to right the ship with a home victory.

Orlando City B Drops a Spot in Power Rankings

Although OCB fell from third to fourth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, the Young Lions are solidly in the top five teams in the league. OCB was on a bye last weekend, so not moving too much in the rankings can be expected. While the Young Lions fell 3-2 in their last league game against Inter Miami II, spirits are likely high with the team due to the Orlando City U-18 team’s success in the Generation Adidas Cup. Let’s hope the Young Lions can ride that momentum into Sunday night’s match with New York Red Bulls II.

MLS Deadline Day Transfer News

The MLS transfer deadline day has come and gone and there were some notable moves to catch up on. Real Salt Lake’s deal with Boavista for forward Robert Bozenik reportedly collapsed, but the club still added striker William Agada from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for $500,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money and another $350,000 in GAM if he re-signs. Inter Miami traded winger Robert Taylor to Austin FC in exchange for up to $750,000 in GAM, with only $50,000 of that being conditional. Atlanta United traded winger Xande Silva to St. Louis City SC for up to $250,000 in GAM as well.

The Houston Dynamo also have a new forward, signing Toyosi Olusanya from Scottish club St. Mirren. The New England Revolution traded Noel Buck to the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $650,000 in cold, hard cash, reuniting the 20-year-old with Bruce Arena. Frankie Amaya is back in MLS, joining LAFC on loan from Toluca. As of this writing, Minnesota United are reportedly in hot pursuit of Miami’s Julian Gressel.

Sources: Minnesota United in advanced talks to acquire Julian Gressel from Inter Miami.Nothing done yet. Still details to figure out. Optimism something gets done, but not there yet.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-04-24T00:25:26.971Z

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

The race for a place in the English Premier League is heating up in the EFL Championship and Americans are right in the thick of it. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have already secured promotion, along with Burnley. Forward Haji Wright has scored 12 goals for Coventry City this season, and his club currently holds the final playoff spot. Midfielder Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are three points behind, while former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will need to win their remaining two matches for a shot at sneaking in.

In Italy, Christian Pulisic started in AC Milan’s 3-0 victory over rival Inter to book a spot in the Italian Cup final on May 14. Fellow American Yunus Musah was an unused substitute. Catarina Macario scored twice and Mia Fishel added a goal as well in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Crystal Palace, helping their team get ever closer to winning its sixth straight Women’s Super League title.

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That’s it for today’s links! Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to summer. Have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/23/25

The Orlando Pride drop, OCSC Academy awards, USMNT characters, and more.

Published

4 days ago

on

April 23, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. This weekend we have the most convenient schedule, with the Orlando Pride playing Friday night, Orlando City on Saturday night, and Orlando City B on Sunday night. It’s nice knowing what I’ll be doing each night. Now, I just need all three teams to get back on the winning side of things. Until then, let’s get to the links.

Bad Pride, Good Pride

It might have been the dumbest way to lose a match against the Washington Spirit, but — actually nevermind, there is no “but” about it. We can, however, decide to move forward rather than dwell on it after today. Unsurprisingly, the Pride dropped in the all-knowing power rankings. All for XI only dropped the Pride one spot to No. 2 since everyone has a bad day now and again. The CBS power ranking dropped the team to No. 3. That was the “bad.” The “good” is that we can revisit the puppies that showed up at Inter&Co Stadium. The loss still hurts, but it’s hard to stay mad after looking at the puppies.

The (OCSC) Academy Awards

Assuming you read Lion Links on Monday morning (or listened to The Mane Land PawedCast this week) you know that the Orlando City SC Academy U-18 team won the Generation Adidas Cup. Now we know that three of the very young Lions — Gustavo Caraballo, Jackson Platts, and Justin Ellis — were named to the U18 Best XI. Additionally, Caraballo and Ellis earned MVP and Top Scorer awards, respectively. It was truly the bright spot of an otherwise forgettable weekend.

Pochettino Prepares

The USMNT did not do well in the Concacaf Nations League, falling to Panama and then Canada in the third place match. Now, U.S. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has to prepare the team for the Gold Cup. Pochettino said that he needs the “right characters” on the squad, whether they are the most talented or not. He also spoke of the need for the players to fight for the badge and the flag. Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said Pochettino may not be the right man for the job because he’s not an American. The USMNT’s next matches are friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland on June 7 and June 10, respectively.

MLS Transfer News

The Columbus Crew are making moves. The club received $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot. The club then sent DeJuan Jones to the San Jose Earthquakes for $425,000 in GAM and a 2025 international roster slot. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Santiago Muñoz on loan from Liga MX side Santos Laguna.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the full slate of matches coming up.

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