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Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. Houston Dynamo

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5 years ago

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While last week’s draw against the New England Revolution didn’t quite doom Orlando City’s playoff hopes, anything less than all three points at this bite of the apple surely will. With that in mind, the Lions will be traveling to Houston tomorrow for their yearly meeting with the Houston Dynamo.

That meant that I spoke with Derek Stowers, editor of SBNation’s Dynamo Theory, and he was kind enough to give us some wonderful insight into Houston’s 2019 season.

It hasn’t been the easiest of years for the Dynamo with the team currently 11th in the West and nine points out of the last playoff spot. What has the team had trouble with this year? Why has Houston struggled?

Derek Stowers: That has been the million dollar question this year and really there are a lot of reasons for blame.  The Dynamo actually started this season off with their best start as a franchise, which is pretty impressive considering this is a team with two MLS Cups and four MLS Cup appearances. However, a congested schedule to start things off with Champions League and then the U.S. Open Cup making double game weeks a regular thing, followed by international call-ups, made lineup consistency impossible and made legs heavy early.

On top of that, it seemed like former head coach Wilmer Cabrera had doubled down on several conservative tactics which put pressure on a lineup that hadn’t had time to develop chemistry. That meant defending deeper at home after taking a lead while in a system that depends heavily on offense to succeed and defending deeper on the road looking to steal or draw away from BBVA Stadium. Essentially the tactics didn’t work with the squad and with the lack of a consistent XI the side never had the chance to grow into the team Cabrera wanted it to be.

On the other side of the coin, what have been the bright spots for Houston this year? What does this team do well?

DS: As an optimist I love that there is this side of question 1 to answer because there is plenty to be happy about if you’re a Dynamo fan — although the current standing in the table is not one of those. To start things off, I think the front office has done a tremendous job of addressing needs. I understand that there is a huge outcry from Dynamo loyalists that can’t stand the FO, but they also realize they’re hamstrung by the ownership group and the front office has done a good job with the resources they have. Making the defensive line better over the off-season by acquiring Maynor Figueroa, Kiki Struna, and recently Jose Bizama all show their ability to target areas the Dynamo need to improve. With Romell Quioto essentially blacklisted due to his emotional approach to the game (it’s complicated with this guy!), acquiring Christian Ramirez was a huge find.

In addition to these roster changes, interim manager Davy Arnaud has shown growth in a short amount of time. I’m not sure he will lead the club next season, but each game has shown improvement and this is his time to show his worth if he wants the job next year. Even though the last game was a loss, it wasn’t a poor performance by his team, which had an unfortunate (and I will say wrong) penalty decision and a brief switch off and that decided the match despite an overall positive outing. Even with a low payroll budget, this is a quality team that has under performed this season which means there is plenty of room to improve.

What is your key match-up for this game? What positional battle do the Dynamo need to win in order to take the three points?

DS: There are a few battles to focus on but I will be looking to see how well the Dynamo can defend, especially given how well they typically play at home. Houston Dynamo as a franchise has forged a reputation as a tough team to play at home and while some of that has eroded in recent years due to health concerns about playing in the heat, making way for later start times during the summer, and us generally not being as good as we used to be, we’re still a difficult opponent to best at home. I expect our side to come out with a lot of offense in front of our fans to potentially get an early lead.

However, the match-up I’m looking at is our defense against your offense to see how we can defend that lead. Dom Dwyer likes to get into tiffs with Houston so his antics with a center back pairing that isn’t used to him will be something to see. Same thing with the brilliance of Nani over the ball. Will the 36-year-old Figueroa be able to stay in front of him? Will Kiki Struna? That’s what I’ll be specifically be looking to improve with international duty over.

Are there any call-ups, injuries or suspensions that will keep players unavailable for selection on Saturday? What is your projected starting lineup and score prediction?

DS: With international duty over we did see some players return last weekend with the rest likely coming back. There are a couple of players that are injured, including 2017 team MVP Juan David Cabezas, who suffered a horrific injury in a midweek game against Minnesota United FC which in my view should have been a red card. Additionally missing out is right back and all around great person A.J. DeLaGarza due to a foot fracture.

My projected XI will be a 4-2-3-1:

Joe Willis;

DaMarcus Beasley, Maynor Figueroa, Kiki Struna, Jose Bizama;

Oscar Boniek Garcia, Matias Vera;

Christian Ramirez, Tomas Martinez, Alberth Elis;

Mauro Manotas

Predicted Score: This is tough because even though I think Elis is arguably one of the team’s best players, he is very one dimensional and hasn’t worked in this offense yet, which has utilized wide players cutting inside to allow space for fullbacks. I think he starts though, and will have the benefit of home field advantage to find success.

We win it 2-1 in a game that looks like the Dynamo are flying ahead before collapsing late, though surviving long enough for the full three points due to the reinforcements from our international players — although a 2-2 draw could certainly be in the works.

Thanks again to Derek for all the great info about the Dynamo.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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22 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City

Striker Suddenly a Position of Need for Orlando City

Departures and a key injury mean Orlando City needs a striker heading into the 2025 MLS season.

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2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image Courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 2024, a milestone for the club. The core of the team was locked up through the 2025 season, so there was no reason to believe it needed to add much this off-season. Unfortunately, injuries and departures have created a serious problem for the team.

The group of forwards last year consisted of Duncan McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn. McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 and was expected to depart for Blackburn Rovers before a clerical error allowed the Lions to keep their target man. The team’s primary striker scored 11 goals in 37 games — the same number as the previous season — but split time starting with Enrique. The Argentinian improved greatly in 2024, increasing his total goal tally from four to 12. Even Lynn showed tremendous improvement last year, playing a greater role in the team and scoring his first two MLS goals.

The future also seemed bright for the Orlando City forwards because of their ages. Lynn is the oldest of the trio at just 25 years old. Meanwhile, McGuire and Enrique are only 23, so there was no reason to believe this group couldn’t produce this coming season.

The problem at striker began in the postseason when McGuire was pulled down by Charlotte FC midfielder Djibril Diani in the final first round game of the playoffs. McGuire suffered a shoulder injury during the challenge that required surgery on Dec. 13. It’s expected that the striker could take four to five months to return to action, possibly leaving him out until May or June.

Another blow to Orlando’s attack occurred Saturday when Lynn surprisingly announced his retirement from professional soccer. In just over a month, Orlando City went from having three strikers to having just one as preseason training starts.

With McGuire injured and Lynn gone, one option would be to have Designated Player Luis Muriel play up top. However, the Colombian prefers to play a more withdrawn position and proved to be effective in that role last year. Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Lions need someone up top to control the ball and involve the midfielders in the attack. That’s not Muriel’s game.

The result of these issues is that nobody is currently behind Enrique when the season begins. If the Argentinian gets tired, hurt, or simply needs rest, Pareja is limited in his options. 

Whether there was a lack of strikers or a lack of goals from the position previously, that problem was resolved by the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Facundo Torres scored 20 goals in 2024, becoming the first player in Orlando City’s MLS history and the second player in club history to do so. He went on to set a new club record for total goals of 47.

However, Orlando City sold its best player to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Dec. 20. It was a gut punch to fans as Torres had signed a new contract on Jan. 10, 2024 that ran through the 2026 season. There had been talk for the last couple of years that the attacker would look for a move to Europe and rumors of a move to South America arose this off-season. Still, it created a huge gap the club has to fill.

There are players on the roster that can make up for the injury and departures. Martin Ojeda had a strong season in 2024, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. His seven goals ranked fourth on the team and his 13 assists topped the squad alongside Nico Lodeiro. Muriel came on strong later in the season, finishing with five goals and eight assists. But those numbers are a long way from the 20 goals that Torres tallied last year.

Even if you consider all goal contributions, Ojeda and Muriel fall well short of Torres. Ojeda had a total of 20 goal contributions in 2024 while Muriel had 13. In addition to Torres’s 20 goals, he added nine assists for a team-leading 29 goal contributions.

All of this information leads to one undeniable fact — Orlando City needs to sign a striker prior to the season. And there’s not much time for Luiz Muzzi to act. The European transfer window closes on Feb. 3 and many MLS teams have already been filling similar needs. With the season starting in just over a month, the options will be limited if the Lions don’t do something soon.

After the best postseason finish in Orlando City’s MLS history, things were looking good heading into 2025. While the back line and most of the midfield is returning, McGuire’s injury and the departure of Torres and Lynn have left the Lions in a tough spot offensively. If they don’t do something in the next couple of weeks, it could be a long 2025.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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