Lion Links
Lion Links: 8/26/19
Happy Monday, Mane Landers. If last weekend was rough on Orlando fans then the last few days were even rougher with all three teams in purple failing to take a single point from the weekend’s games. As always though, life must go on. So let’s jump into today’s links.
Disappointed Skinner Speaks Up
Although Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner has urged fans to be patient throughout the season, he couldn’t hide his disappointment in the team’s 2-1 road loss against the Washington Spirit.
“For me, I think they just didn’t execute the game plan well enough tonight,” Skinner said after the loss. “We told them how to beat Washington, we’d worked on it and they knew how to do it.”
It has been a rough season for Skinner and the Pride as they sit last in the league standings, but the 36-year-old is focused on an important off-season where he can shape the team to his liking. This team will likely look very different in 2020, with familiar faces expected to depart while new ones take their place as Skinner makes his mark on the organization. But until then, the Pride have six games left to try clawing out from the bottom of the standings.
Harris Reaches 400 Saves
Ashlyn Harris has notched an important milestone in her professional career. During the Orlando Pride’s 2-1 loss to the Washington Spirit, Harris made her 400th career save. It was a game where Harris did her utmost to help salvage at least a point for the Pride despite making a critical error. She made five saves on the night but the Pride ultimately came up short. The 33-year-old Harris has been with the Pride since 2016, meaning a good number of those 400 saves have come during her tenure with Orlando. Congratulations Ashlyn!
🚨 Milestone Alert 🚨@Ashlyn_Harris reached career save #400 last night. 🙌 #FilledWithPride pic.twitter.com/B1TTRty7p5
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) August 25, 2019
Colorado Hires Fraser
The Colorado Rapids have hired a new coach in the form of a familiar face, with former player Robin Fraser taking over. Fraser joins the Rapids as their ninth permanent head coach and brings a wealth of experience with him to his new post. After starting his coaching career with Real Salt Lake as an assistant, he managed the now defunct Chivas USA for a year in his only head coaching gig before being brought in to do the job for Colorado.
He did serve as an assistant with Toronto FC during the season the team won the domestic treble. Outside of coaching, Fraser played soccer from 1988 to 2005 and spent two years with the Rapids during that time. While the playoffs are likely out of reach for the Rapids, Fraser will look to guide the team out of the Western Conference basement.
Loons Ready for Cup Match
Minnesota United FC will play in its very first cup final as an MLS team on Tuesday when the Loons square off against Atlanta United tomorrow in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final. Former Orlando City and current Loons Head Coach Adrian Heath gave key players time to rest over the weekend to try to ensure that the likes of Darwin Quintero and Ozzie Alonso are in good shape when they take the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Heath was very blunt (and also correct) in his assessment about cup final:
“People go, ‘We’re going to enjoy it.’ Trust me, you only enjoy it when you win and that’s what we’re going to have to try and do.”
While Minnesota was disappointed with a 1-0 loss last week to Sporting Kansas City, it certainly seems that the letdown will be well and truly erased with a win over Atlanta in a day’s time.
Earthquakes Set Record Against Vancouver
Orlando’s next opponents are the San Jose Earthquakes and the Lions will travel to Avaya Stadium Saturday for their annual meeting with the California team. Hopefully the Earthquakes experience a dramatic dip in form and fortune after a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps over the weekend that saw San Jose take a whopping 43 shots, putting 19 of those on goal.
Those 43 shots are an MLS record and the statistical domination didn’t stop there. The Earthquakes also had 75% of the ball and took 16 corner kicks to Vancouver’s one. While the Whitecaps are currently at the bottom of the Western Conference on 27 points, those kind of numbers are still nothing to disregard. The Lions will need to be at the top of their game if they want to keep pace in the race to finish above the line in the Eastern Conference.
Free Kicks
- The Pride’s game against the Spirit led the week in attendance. Despite the loss, Pride players praised the energy of the match and the sellout crowd.
Not the result we wanted, but unbelievable crowd at @AudiField for the @NWSL game @ORLPride v @WashSpirit the atmosphere was electrifying! Love the growing support for women’s soccer! 💜
— Carson Pickett (@Cars_Pickett16) August 25, 2019
Gutted with last night’s result, but what an incredible atmosphere at @AudiField. 19,000+, let’s keep this @NWSL support going. @ORLPride we keep grinding 👊🏼💜
— Shelina Zadorsky (@Shelina4) August 25, 2019
- Sinisa Mihajlovic led Bologna to a draw against Hellas Verona despite his battle with leukemia.
- Sergio Aguero hit a different milestone involving the number 400 over the weekend.
400 career goals for @aguerosergiokun 👏 pic.twitter.com/eeGNR1LXV9
— Goal (@goal) August 26, 2019
- Ansu Fati became the youngest player to suit up and take the field for Barcelona since 1941.
- Las Vegas Lights FC had a fun way to beat the Nevada heat with a massive water balloon fight that had over 1,000 participants.
20,640 🌊🎈
Over 1,000 fans on the pitch 🤽♀️🤽♂️
OUR #LIGHTSFAM HAD A BLAST IN THE WORLD'S LARGEST HALFTIME WATER BALLOON FIGHT!!! #VivaLights pic.twitter.com/tTm68xKSbC
— Las Vegas Lights FC (@lvlightsfc) August 25, 2019
That’ll do it for me today. As always, be sure to check back for all your Orlando soccer needs. Stay safe out there.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/24/24
MLS transfer roundup, Americans in midweek action, NWSL news galore, and more.
Happy Tuesday and merry Christmas Eve, everyone! I hope you’re all having a good start to your week and have some fun stuff planned for the upcoming holidays.
Before we get started with today’s links, we here at The Mane Land want to give a special shout out to Joe (a.k.a. fldatadude) for signing up for a Homegrown Player-level membership on our Buy Me a Coffee page. By signing up at one of our three levels of support, our readers and podcast listeners can enjoy added benefits in addition to keeping our bills paid so we can continue doing what we do.
Now we do have plenty of items to get to today, so let’s get into today’s news.
MLS Transfer News Roundup
There are a number of MLS teams who have been busy at work in the transfer market, so let’s break down the recent moves. LAFC signed free agent forward Jeremy Ebobisse to a three-year deal with an additional option year, further strengthening an already strong squad. The Portland Timbers also got some business done via free agency, as they signed winger Ariel Lassiter. FC Dallas has signed forward Anderson Julio from Real Salt Lake, with defender Sam Junqua and up to $500,000 in General Allocation Money going to RSL in exchange. Finally, Lorenzo Insigne has teased on his Instagram that he will play another season for Toronto FC in 2025.
Americans in Midweek Action
There are a number of Americans playing this week, so get everything marked down and enjoy some festive footy. Thursday’s Boxing Day slate features Americans heavily, with Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace traveling to take on Tyler Adams and Bournemouth in Premier League play. Antonee Robinson and Fulham will play Chelsea that same day, while Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United face an unenviable trip to Stoke City to round things off on Thursday.
Keeping Up With NWSL Happenings
There are several pieces of National Women’s Soccer League news to cover, so why not do it all in one place? We start with the San Diego Wave, which have reportedly hired Jonas Eidevall as their new head coach. The Swede most recently spent time coaching Arsenal and has reportedly been the Wave’s top choice for several weeks now. We now move to the realm of fact, where Angel City FC has signed midfielder Macey Hodge to a two-year deal with an option for the 2027 season. Finally, expansion team BOS Nation FC agreed a lease with Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston that will allow the team to use White Stadium as its home ground starting in 2026.
European Transfer Rumor Mill
Europe’s club teams can’t do business quite yet, but rumors are flying thick and fast with January just around the corner. First up, Manchester United is said to be exploring a deal to sign Victor Osimhen in January, particularly with Marcus Rashford indicating that he wants out of the club. Staying in the Premier League, Christopher Nkunku’s agent has reportedly offered the forward’s services to Barcelona, as the forward hasn’t been starting for the Blues and wants a larger role. Finally, Bayern Munich is said to be closely monitoring Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, which would add him to a long list of Dortmund players snapped up by the Bundesliga giants.
Free Kicks
- Christian Pulisic sees the funny side when people refer to him as the “LeBron James of soccer”.
- FIFPRO has accused FIFA of failing to reach consensus and is against FIFA’s temporary transfer changes following the judgement in Lassana Diarra’s case.
- At a time when more and more emphasis is being placed on dead ball situations, explore what goes into making a good set piece.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas Eve!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/23/24
Orlando City sells Facundo Torres to Palmeiras, Lions draft four players, latest MLS transfer moves, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. My weekend has been busy working at Under Armour, with Christmas just two days away. I also covered high school hockey and went to a Chicago Bulls game. Besides that, I finally got all my Christmas shopping done. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Announces Facundo Torres Transfer to Palmeiras
Orlando City announced on Friday that forward Facundo Torres has been sold to Palmeiras for a club-record fee. Torres leaves Orlando as the Lions all-time goal-scoring leader. He had 123 appearances across all competitions, scored 47 goals, and added 25 assists in three seasons in Orlando. Torres made a big impact as a Lion, helping the club reach the playoffs the last three years and winning the 2022 U.S. Open Cup title.
The Lions will have an open Designated Player spot to fill during the off-season. Their home opener against the Philadelphia Union is less than two months away.
Lions Select Four Players in 2025 MLS SuperDraft
The Lions made four selections during the 2025 MLS SuperDraft on Friday. With the 27th overall pick, they chose midfielder Joran Gerbet out of Clemson. Gerbet had a solid collegiate career, recording 12 goals and 15 assists, and he led Clemson to the 2023 National Championship title as well. In the second round, the Lions added another Clemson Tiger by selecting center back Titus Sandy, Jr. with the 46th overall pick. Sandy played in 48 matches, logging 2,520 minutes, and was also part of the 2023 National Championship team. Later in the same round, the Lions picked forward Collins Oduro out of Indiana. Oduro made 44 appearances for the Hoosiers, scoring eight goals to go with seven assists. The Lions concluded their 2025 MLS SuperDraft by selecting Marshall defender Takahiro Fujita in the third round with the 87th overall pick. MLSSoccer.com unveiled its draft grades for each club, and Orlando City received an A- as its grade.
NJ/NY Gotham FC Trades Lynn Williams to the Seattle Reign
We had a trade that went down in the National Women’s Soccer League as NJ/NY Gotham FC traded forward Lynn Williams and goalkeeper Cassie Miller to the Seattle Reign. In exchange, the Seattle Reign acquired midfielder Jaelin Howell, an international roster slot, and $70,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). Williams spent two seasons with Gotham FC, recording 17 goals and seven assists. She made 75 appearances for the U.S. Women’s National Team and was part of the squad that won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Miller began the 2024 NWSL season as the number one goalkeeper for Gotham but was moved to a backup role once the club acquired Ann-Katrin Berger. Howell made eight appearances for the Reign this season after being acquired from Racing Louisville FC in August.
Latest Transfer Moves in MLS
We have some MLS transfer news to catch you up on from over the weekend. Real Salt Lake acquired forward Elias Manoel and four MLS SuperDraft picks from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for $700,000 in GAM. The Red Bulls maintain a sell-on percentage for Manoel as well. Atlanta United also made a trade, acquiring midfielder Mateusz Klich from D.C. United in exchange for Atlanta’s first round 2025 MLS SuperDraft Pick and up to $50,000 in conditional GAM if Atlanta re-signs Klich. The New England Revolution signed goalkeeper Alex Bono to a contract through the 2026 season. Bono spent the previous two seasons with D.C. United. The Revolution also added defender Tanner Beason, who previously played five seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes. Beason’s deal is through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.
Premier League Weekend Roundup
We had plenty of action in the Premier League over the weekend. Manchester City fell 2-1 to Aston Villa on Saturday and has lost nine out of its last 12 matches across all competitions. Arsenal cruised past Crystal Palace 5-1, Newcastle United defeated Ipswich Town 4-0 with Alexander Isak getting a hat trick, and Nottingham Forest won 2-0 against Brentford. West Ham United and Brighton fought to a 1-1 draw. On Sunday, Manchester United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 6-3, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice. Vitor Pereira won his first match as Wolverhampton’s manager, as his side beat Leicester City 3-0. The Everton and Chelsea and Fulham and Southampton matches ended in a scoreless draw.
Free Kicks
- In an interview with Fast Company, former Orlando Pride player Alex Morgan gave insight into her next chapter since retiring from pro soccer. Morgan discussed how she’s navigating through her post-playing career, investing in other sports, and continuing to support current and future generations of female athletes.
- Atlanta United named Ronny Deila as its next head coach. Deila previously coached Standard Liege, New York City FC, Celtic, and Club Brugge.
- FIFA and Netflix signed an agreement for exclusive broadcast rights in the United States for the 2027 and 2031 editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- In another coaching move, USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC announced former Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Neill Collins as its next head coach after activating his release clause at Raith Rovers.
- Weston McKennie scored a goal in the first half to help Juventus snap its run of four consecutive draws in league play with a 2-1 win against Monza on Sunday.
- Jesus Navas played his final match for Sevilla as his side lost 4-2 to Real Madrid on Sunday. Navas will retire from professional soccer after his contract ends this month after a stellar 21-year career.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
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!
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