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Lion Links: 1/28/20

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5 years ago

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Happy Tuesday, Mane Landers! That’s weird for me to type, as I usually dish out Links on Sundays, but here we are. We have a full plate today, so let’s skip that small talk and hop right into it, shall we?

Orlando City Honors the Black Mamba

As we all know by now, in a cruel, sudden, and tragic event, basketball icon Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, Sarah and Payton Chester, John, Keri, and Alyssa Altobelli, and Ara Zobayan all passed away following a helicopter crash on Sunday. I grew up watching the Black Mamba, admiring his tenacity and prowess both on and off the court, so this news hit me like a brick to the face as I was walking into Camping World Stadium to catch the NFL Pro Bowl. Truthfully, I couldn’t enjoy the event, because this was the only thing on my mind, but I was grateful that they acknowledged the tragedy and held their own moment of silence. You could see the shock on the faces of the players. It was clear that some of them didn’t know until it was announced to a crowd of about 54,000 people. In a show of solidarity, support, love, and respect, Orlando City held a moment of silence for those affected by the horrific tragedy. I don’t know what else to say, quite frankly. Bryant was an inspiration to millions and I know his legacy will live on.

Lions Look to Improve Fitness, Chemistry in Mexico

Following their aforementioned moment of silence in honor of Kobe, the Lions got in one final training session before they jetted off to Mexico for a nine-day training camp. The club is hoping that this getaway will serve as a catalyst for the players in many ways — most notably in improving the overall fitness of the squad, and probably more importantly, helping the lads in purple jell as a team. The trip, which began yesterday, will include spending time in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and the Lions plan to use this trip as a primer for the 2020 campaign. New OCSC Head Coach Oscar Pareja made it clear that this isn’t a vacation; it’s a business trip.

“We’re going to overload the group,” Pareja said. “We’ll use this week to level many of the players who came in from the off-season. Preseason is like that. We have youngsters that this is going to be the first preseason that we’re very excited to bring on the trip, some others that already have many preseasons on their bodies and they know this time is to overload themselves.”

I’m coming off of a preseason with my own club team (Vamos Orlando United FC), and I can only imagine the difference between the levels of fitness training, quality, and competition for spots in the starting 11. Get ready, lads. It’s going to be a long nine days.

Orlando SeaWolves’ Tom Traxler: A Candid Interview

Let’s be painfully honest; it’s been a disaster for the SeaWolves so far this season. In 10 matches, the boys have only managed a single win, while putting up an embarrassing goal differential of -52. Ouch. But, we should keep in mind that this is a new franchise, and things take time. Tom Traxler, the head coach of the SeaWolves, sat down and explained to the fans what’s been going on behind the scenes with the club. It’s well worth a watch, and the insight does help me empathize with this struggling squad. Hopefully the SeaWolves get this season turned around, but if they don’t, at least it appears that Traxler is laying a foundation for success in the future (fingers crossed).

Gregg Berhalter Provides Updates

We all know that Christian Pulisic has been out for a few weeks now with a thigh injury that he picked up in London with Chelsea, but we haven’t heard much concerning when he’ll return. Fear not, for U.S. Men’s National Team manager Gregg Berhalter is here to provide us with some details. According to Berhalter, Pulisic and his club’s staff have worked closely with the USMNT staff to ensure a proper recovery, and neither expect the American dynamo to be out for an extended period of time (well, moving forward at least). Meanwhile, Zack Steffen’s knee held him out of Fortuna Dusseldorf’s first match back after the winter break, but Berhalter also stated that they’re working closely with his club, much like they are with Chelsea, to aid in the goalkeeper’s return. Keep an eye on that. Tyler Adams, recovering from a groin injury, has made his return, playing right back for Red Bull Leipzig. That’s interesting to say the least. And finally, and unfortunately, Josh Sargent hasn’t quite been up to snuff for Werder Bremen, last scoring in October of last year. I mean Werder Bremen hasn’t been up to snuff in general as they sit near the bottom of the Bundesliga table, but Sargent’s struggles have been well documented as of late. That’s another situation to keep an eye on as the Summer Olympics creep up on us.

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  • Former UCF Knight and Jamaican National Team captain Konya Plummer, only 22 years of age, helped her country reach its first World Cup in 2019, and she believes that the experience gained during that triumphant appearance will push the Reggae Girlz even further. Keep an eye on these ladies. Something tells me they’re on the come up.
  • We heard rumblings of how much allocation money the Pride used in the deal that sent Rachel Hill to Chicago and brought back the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft. Now the NWSL has (correctly) made the amounts public and will do so moving forward in the name of transparency. It’s a good decision by the league and the only one that should have been considered. The Pride parted with $50,000 in the aforementioned deal.

  • Speaking of the Pride…in case anyone was wondering, yes, Alex Morgan is still putting her boots on and getting training in while pregnant, much like Sydney Leroux did last year. If yesterday’s session was anything like the last one we saw via social media, then she’s still burying balls into the upper 90. Sheesh.

  • Fanendo Adi is headed from southwest Ohio to central Ohio, where he’ll reunite with his former head coach, Caleb Porter.
  • I touched on this on Sunday, but I need to give props where they’re due — Espanyol, a club with supporters who hurled racist insults at Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao, has identified nine “club members” who will immediately be punished for their part in this disgusting incident. Good on you, Espanyol, and let this be a lesson to others who have sadistic urges to spew racist garbage from their face holes.
  • In closing, I don’t often feel old — I’m only 27. But this? This made me feel old.

All right, that’s about it from me today, folks. Have yourselves an excellent day, and enjoy the USWNT match tonight. I fully expect a rout (no offense, Haiti).

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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.

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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

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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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