Lion Links: 10/6/20

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Orlando City’s unbeaten streak continues, and the Lions are back in action tomorrow with games starting to fly thick and fast to finish the season. As always, we have plenty to talk about today so let’s have at it.

Orlando City’s Confidence is High

Orlando did very well to take care of business on Saturday against a Red Bulls team that had beaten its two previous opponents by 4-1 score lines. Unsurprisingly, the Lions are feeling themselves, and Kyle Smith talked about the team’s confidence after his best performance for the club to date.

“I think that we know that we could beat any team in this league and I think that personally, this is a new feeling for me. I go into every game knowing that we have a great chance of winning the game and that we should win the game”.

Oscar Pareja also noted that while things will only get tougher with a congested run of games to close out the season, the team is simply going to keep going out and trying to get results, saying, “I don’t see it any other way.”

Lions Earn Team of the Week Honorees

Orlando had three inclusions in the latest edition of the MLS Team of the Week. Pareja was named the manager, while Junior Urso and Andres Perea were named to the bench. Urso bagged the team’s second goal and Perea had an excellent game performing some of the dirty work in midfield while Sebas Mendez served his suspension. Personally, I’m a little jaded that Smith didn’t get a spot in the TotW, since he was simply spectacular in Saturday’s victories. But, I suppose it’s a nice gripe to have.

Orlando City’s Young Core of Players Recognized

Orlando City was named as one of MLSsoccer.com’s 10 best teams with a young core. To be precise, the club came in third behind only FC Dallas and LAFC. The high ranking isn’t a misplaced one either. Chris Mueller, Daryl Dike, and Benji Michel are all 24 or younger. In midfield, Sebas Mendez and Andres Perea are 23 or younger, and as far as defenders are concerned Kamal Miller and Joao Moutinho are 23 and 22, respectively. Hell, even Ruan is only 25. As long as the Lions can hold onto those players the future does indeed look fairly rosy.

MLS Transfer Happenings

Several notable transfers either took or look to soon be taking place that involve Major League Soccer teams. First, the Columbus Crew have signed forward Krisztian Nemeth. Nemeth spent time with both Sporting Kansas City and the New England Revolution, and is a proven quantity as far as MLS is concerned. Moving to more global news, Philadelphia Union youngster Brenden Aaronson is reportedly close to a move to Red Bull Salzburg. Aaronson has reportedly completed his medical, and once the deal goes through he will join the Austrian champions in January. The 19-year-old will join a team coached by former New York Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch, and will likely be involved in European competition this season for the club.

Free Kicks

• Urso has returned to contact training, and there’s also some more footage from Orlando City training.

• Orlando got the win against NYRB by playing the style of soccer that it wanted to, rather than adjusting to its opponent.
• Arsenal did the absolutely unthinkable and laid off Gunnersaurus.

That’ll be all for me today. Y’all stay safe out there.