Lion Links: 5/6/20

Good morning, Mane Landers! I hope this morning finds everyone well. Let’s go ahead and jump right into the links.

Orlando City Not Yet Among Teams Returning to On-Site Training

Some MLS clubs will be returning to individual workouts starting today. As of this writing, Orlando City hasn’t yet announced its plans for players to return to workouts at team facilities, but Atlanta United, Inter Miami, and Sporting Kansas City have. Atlanta’s training sessions will include six to seven players at a time to ensure maximum space for players to comply with safety protocols. Inter Miami consulted with infectious diseases professionals and Baptist Health to create safety protocols. Sporting Kansas City will introduce voluntary individual workouts while adhering to social distancing measures.

Former Lion Cyle Larin Among Top Candidates to Join MLS via Allocation

With play still on hold you’re either not thinking much about the next transfer window, or you’re completely obsessed with it. Greg Seltzer took a look at who some of the top candidates could be to join MLS through the allocation process. His list includes former Lion Cyle Larin, USMNT defender Geoff Cameron, former FC Dallas winger Fabian Castillo, USMNT forward Josh Sargent, Victor Vazquez, and DeAndre Yedlin. Who would you like to see OCSC sign from that list?

Kicking it Back Coaches Start New Series

If you have children at home you’ve likely seen how teachers are working around the clock to help learners continue growing and bring a bit of comfort and normalcy to their lives during such a strange time. Well, the Kicking it Back coaches have started a short video series to bring some training tips to kids while they can’t train together.

City Players Aren’t off the Hook

We may be in quarantine and Major League Soccer may just be starting to allow individual training for players, but that doesn’t mean that City players have been off the hook this whole time. Players have a tracking system that syncs with their phones and the coaching staff have been keeping an eye on them. We shared the video in yesterday’s Lion Links of Miguel Gallardo talking to OCSC Strength and Conditioning Coach Fabian Bazan, but since many of you don’t speak Spanish or perhaps simply don’t like subtitles, the story linked above has more details.

“Fabian [Bazan] has been very proactive in planning drills and exercises to keep us fit during this time,” said Alex De John. “Every Sunday he sends out a very detailed plan for the week that includes prehab, running, yoga, strength, and ball work exercises. Players have been sending some of their workouts and training exercises to the group to help motivate one another. The workouts have been great and keeping us all ready for when the time comes.”

Free Kicks

• Orlando City drew the Montreal Impact in the Week 10 simulation, with Benji Michel scoring the equalizer late in the second half.
• Evan Weston and Miguel Gallardo recount their favorite bangers from Nani.

• Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner breaks down a favorite goal from 2019.

• Be sure to vote for which City Classic you’d like to see next.

• Megan Rapinoe says the coronavirus delay could mean the end of her Olympic career with the United States Women’s National Team.
• Bundesliga and German second-tier teams continue to find players who test positive for COVID-19 as that country prepares to allow soccer to resume. Borussia Monchengladbach is one of those teams (note: you’ll need to translate this page via Chrome or some other means).

That’ll do it for me today, everyone. Have a great week and stay safe!