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Lion Links: 1/22/21

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4 years ago

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? Personally, this week felt like an eternity and I’m glad the weekend is right around the corner. I don’t really have any plans for it beyond work, but hopefully the next few days go smoothly. Now, let’s hop into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Selects Four Players in MLS SuperDraft

Before the draft got started, Orlando forked over a total of $100,00 in General Allocation Money (GAM) to the Portland Timbers to move up to the eighth pick in the draft. With that pick, the Lions selected forward Derek Dodson, who scored 30 goals and had 11 assists across three seasons at Georgetown. With Dom Dwyer no longer with the team and Daryl Dike getting attention in Europe, Dodson helps give the offense some depth and won’t be thrown to the wolves from the start. Given Orlando’s track record with forwards whose first and last names both start with the letter D, I like the pick.

Later in the first round, Orlando strengthened its defensive depth by selecting Georgetown’s Rio Hope-Gund and Penn State’s Brandon Hackenberg with the 19th and 22nd picks, respectively. The pair of center backs helps replace the departures of both Alex De John and Kamal Miller and shore up part of the back line.

The Lions ended their draft day by selecting Wake Forest goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg in the second round. Although there is still uncertainty regarding Brian Rowe’s future with Orlando, Pannenberg would likely be with Orlando City B if the team plays in 2021 or he could be loaned out.

Alex Morgan Back in Training as USWNT Prepares for Friendly

United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski confirmed that Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan is back in training after recovering from COVID-19. Morgan won’t be playing in the USWNT’s friendly against Colombia today at Exploria Stadium, but it’s nice knowing she’s back on the field. As for today’s match, the Pride’s Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris could both play as Andonovski spoke about “significant” rotation to the roster and neither played in the previous match between the two nations earlier this week.

Krieger has fought hard to earn her spot on the USWNT roster and use her position to speak out against social injustice. Andonovski is focused on improving the USWNT’s defense and Krieger is making the most of her training at the January camp.

“It’s been a breath of fresh air honestly,” Krieger said. “I’ve learned a lot, even at my age and with my experience. I try to get better every single day and improve to help this team be successful. I really cherish the time that I’ve been able to be in camp and learn new things.”

How the Rest of the SuperDraft Shook Out

Austin FC selected Virginia Tech midfielder Daniel Pereira with first overall pick, a move that even surprised Pereira. Clemson midfielder Philip Mayaka was largely expected to be chosen first but went to the Colorado Rapids with the third pick after FC Cincinnati selected Wake Forest forward Calvin Harris with the second. In back-to-back picks after a trade with Atlanta United, D.C. United chose Clemson forward Kimarni Smith and Wake Forest defender Michael DeShields to round out the top five picks of the draft.

Make sure to check out the rest of the draft results and MLSsoccer.com’s Travis Clark took a stab at grading each club’s draft, although he gave Orlando a C+ for taking Dodson “too high” while the Philadelphia Union received an A+ for trading all their picks away. What do you all think about Orlando’s 2021 draft class? I’m personally a fan of selecting the players you want and not worrying about reaching or when players “should” be drafted.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber Pens Letter to Fans

Prior to this year’s draft, Garber released a “letter to fans” regarding the past season and the year ahead. Garber congratulated the Columbus Crew and thanked fans for their support during a difficult season due to the pandemic. Looking forward, he talked about the effect the pandemic will have on the upcoming season as well as the negotiations between the league and the MLS Players Association.

A good portion of the letter is spent talking about the proposal the league gave the MLSPA and future meetings to reach an agreement. Garber noted the difficulties players faced with last year’s condensed schedule and being away from their families, but also spoke about the financial losses MLS ownership had and made sure to point out the league has been awaiting a response to a proposal made two weeks ago. The MLSPA had its own response to the letter and the not-so-subtle jab about the lack of response so far.

Conflicting Reports Arise About the Olympics

You’ll need to get past the paywall for all of the details, but the Tokyo Olympics may be canceled due to COVID-19 according to The Times. This news conflicts with a statement made by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who had the following to say on Kyodo News in Japan about the reports of cancellation.

“We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo,” Bach said. “This is why there is no plan B and this is why we are fully committed to make these games safe and successful.”

While it would be disappointing for the Olympics not to take place for the second-straight year, at least the Orlando Pride wouldn’t be as shorthanded during the summer. If the Olympics are indeed cancelled, it will be interesting to see if that will affect the summer scheduling for sports leagues across the country.

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That’s going to do it for me, Mane Landers. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and rest of your weekend.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/22/25

Orlando City transfer rumors, Orlando Pride preseason begins, USMNT at Inter&Co, and more.

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6 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The ManeLand

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Up here in Tallahassee, I’m waking up to snow/sleet, closed schools, closed government offices, and potentially icy roads. Many people will get an extra day off of work, however, I still get to go to work. I’m sure you can imagine how happy I am about that. Enough of my winter grumbling. Let’s get to the links but not until after we wish Orlando City fullback Michael Halliday a happy 22nd birthday.

Orlando City Reportedly Targeting Croatian International

While I can no longer say that Orlando City hasn’t signed any new players, the club is still moving at its traditionally slow speed as compared to other MLS clubs. We had the signing of Nicolas Rodriguez last week. Now, we have Tom Bogert report of yet another winger prospect for the club in Croatian Marco Pasalic from HNK Rijeka, though it is not a done deal. Hopefully the other targets Bogert mentions are of the striker variety.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881755961125449765?s=46&t=pMoq7Wulqfb35D7C8ydroA

Pride Preseason Begins

The 2024 NWSL champions are back to defend their title. The Orlando Pride returned to training on Tuesday. The club hasn’t needed to add many pieces, though some of the players already here, like Simone Charley and Grace Chanda, haven’t actually played any minutes for the Pride yet. Most of the chemistry is in place for Seb Hines, but reinforcing those bonds will be the challenge as the Pride look to repeat.

USMNT at Inter&Co Tonight

Hopefully you have tickets to the USMNT friendly match versus Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The match starts at 7 p.m. and there are television and streaming options if you’re not going in person. Despite the squad having 14 players with three or fewer caps, Mauricio Pochettino does not consider this an “alternative” squad, nor does he want the players to think of themselves like that.

Girma Reportedly Nearing Completion of Chelsea Move

USWNT defender Naomi Girma is reportedly headed to Chelsea FC Women for a record $1.1 million transfer fee. That is a very big chunk of change for San Diego FC to use to try to replace one of the best defenders in the world. The deal is not complete as of Tuesday evening, but according to the original report from The Athletic, it is close to being done. Girma would be the first women’s soccer player to earn a transfer fee of over $1 million.

MLS Transfer Updates

Other MLS clubs keep on putting pen to paper when it comes to new players. The Chicago Fire are bringing in Jonathan Bamba on a Designated Player deal from La Liga side Celta de Vigo. The Luca de la Torre loan from Spain’s RC Celta de Vigo to San Diego FC is also official.

https://twitter.com/sandiegofc/status/1881741042904350864

Cucho Hernandez evidently wants to stay with the Columbus Crew, though he is still waiting on a new offer.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881786193693823104

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https://twitter.com/weareangelcity/status/1881749040863588770?s=12&t=_WZBNG4ILAyRLdwBeB4mpQ
  • Keep your eyes peeled later today for the NWSL schedule drop.
https://twitter.com/nwsl/status/1881749035218042954?s=46&t=pN-YJp3s7ZQlCXqnTAgSfw

That will do it for today. Stay warm out there, my friends. Vamos Orlando!

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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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1 day 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.

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  • 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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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.

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  • 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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