A few weeks ago I wrote about how the Orlando Pride were bringing back the players who scored all of their goals and played nearly all of their minutes from their amazing 2024 season. Subsequent to that article, the Pride transferred Adriana to a club in Saudi Arabia, blowing up the statistics I had cited, but still leaving the premise intact.

I was thinking about that premise when I saw an article on the MLS website about the biggest roster questions facing Eastern Conference teams, and saw a chart in that article that showed Orlando City is bringing back the fifth-highest percentage of minutes played of any club in MLS.

The Lions had 16 players who played at least 1,500 minutes in 2024 (including all competitions), and 15 of those 16 players are returning. There was a steep dropoff to the 17th player on that list, Felipe, who played only 505 minutes across all competitions, and then every other player played fewer than 500 minutes. Looking at this data purely as numbers makes it seem like there is a lot of continuity, and that a team that was successful in 2024 should be primed for success again in 2025. Here are all the players who played last year, their minutes played, and whether they are with the club in 2025:

Aggregating all the minutes together we get a team that is bringing back 88.8% of its minutes, although not the player (Felipe) who wore number 8 on his jersey. However, there are two “Yes, but” players listed, and that is because both Wilder Cartagena and Duncan McGuire have injuries that seem like will keep them off the field for at least the opening months of the season. While the club’s timeline would put McGuire back in training around May or so, Cartagena’s injury has not been officially announced by Orlando City, so there is no timeline on the Peruvian’s return.

Cartagena and McGuire are going to be out for a while, so that 88.8% is likely inflated, and probably closer to something like 85%, if each player is only able to play around two-thirds of the season and we pro-rate their returning status to 67% returning instead of 100% returning. Hopefully they can play more than 67% of the season, but there is also the chance that each could play less than that as well, depending on how they heal, and reports on Cartagena’s status are less favorable even than that. As a result, it feels like 85% is still a high percentage, but please allow me to put little cold water on that idea.

During the 2024 season, the Lions scored 76 goals, putting 73 in the net themselves and benefitting from three own goals by their opposition. Facundo Torres was on the field for 66 of those 76 goals, scoring 20 himself, adding nine assists, and being actively involved in the buildup for many of the other 37. One player does not make an offense in soccer, and if another player had been out on the right wing, Orlando City still would have scored some of those goals, but after three years with the club and establishing himself clearly as “The Man” for the Lions, it will be a major change to play without Torres on the field.

Being that Torres played 3,580 minutes last season, there were few offensive lineups without him, and in fact, only five offensive groupings played more than 40 minutes together on the field without Torres, and those groups scored just three total goals:

Of those five lineups, only the first and third could be used in 2025, since Lynn retired and Felipe left the club. Cartagena’s injury puts a crimp into the third, though if he does return healthy at some point in the season, I do not mind that grouping playing together. The lineup that played the most from this table is the first (McGuire, Ivan Angulo, Luis Muriel, Martin Ojeda, Nico Lodeiro, and Kyle Smith), but with Cesar Araújo as the first-choice defensive midfielder, I hope Orlando City does not have a lot of minutes when he is not on the field. It does bring me some joy to see a lineup with Smith in the midfield, though. He really is a “Smith Army Knife” out there with his ability to line up in so many different places.

I poured some cold water on the returning lineups and their effectiveness, but my expectation is that when the 2025 season ends and we are looking back, it will be an offensive lineup that did not play together in 2024 that ends up having played the most minutes in 2025. The most used offensive lineup for Orlando City in 2024 was the pairing of Araújo and Cartagena in the defensive midfield, and attacking midfield of Angulo, Ojeda, and Torres from left to right with Enrique at striker. I was not tracking the lineups in 2023 but I don’t think that lineup played together at all that season, yet by the second half of 2024 they started together in nearly every game, playing 928 minutes as a group and ending up +8 in goal differential.

There are battles taking place all over the field in preseason, and I expect that only Araújo, Ojeda, and Enrique can be confident that they have starting positions locked in for the offensive group. Angulo may as well, but I think we need to see more preseason lineups first. Multiple players will be eyeing the second defensive midfield role next to Araújo and an attacking midfield role replacing Torres, and it is possible that one or maybe even both of those roles will be filled by someone not on the roster right now, especially if Cartagena’s injury is a long-term one. The rumor mill is back on again about a wing player coming in from Croatia in a Designated Player role, but as always in MLS, nothing is official until it is announced by the club.

Orlando City also has a pipeline of young players the staff believes in and who may have shown enough improvement that they merit more first-team minutes. Colin Guske, a defensive midfielder, was selected to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game in 2024, so perhaps some of Cartagena’s minutes go to him. Tsukada played 25 minutes with the first-team in 2024 and made Honorable Mention for the 2024 MLS NEXT Best XI, and perhaps he has taken a step forward since last season. During the recent preseason FC Series match against Atletico Mineiro, the Lions started 16-year old Gustavo Caraballo out on the wing, and perhaps he is preternaturally skilled and is actually threatening to earn a place on the full roster, or perhaps they just wanted to see how he would do playing with full professionals in a game environment. First-round pick Joran Gerbet has also shown promise in the limited minutes we saw of him in the midfield.

Young players who have yet to play are easy to overhype and assume they are the next big thing, but at the same time, the club has shown belief in these players by signing them to contracts and investing in their development (except Gerbet, but rookies often sign during preseason camp once they’ve proven themselves worthy of a roster spot). We will know pretty quickly who the club really values once the games start, and it would be great if the talent pipeline is producing new starters or key reserves. Óscar Pareja’s history tells us he’s willing to give chances to young players, but as with Michael Halliday and others, the leash can be short if the performance isn’t sustained.

With the coming schedule congestion during the summer months, Pareja may have no choice but to rely on youth at times, as Orlando City will be playing in the Leagues Cup and U.S. Open Cup as well as the MLS regular season, and soccer in the summer months is a draining sport. At one point in July and August the Lions will play eight games in 29 days, or about a game every three to four days, and no matter how fit some of the starting players are, they will need a break in there to come off the bench at least once or twice.

At this point, we know that the team is bringing back a lot of players who played a good amount of minutes last season, but with two significant-looking injuries and one major departure, there are still a lot of questions around how those minutes will be replaced. A new Designated Player signing and the already completed MLS U22 Initiative signing of Nico Rodriguez may answer some of those questions, but I think there are still more questions than answers as of today at striker, winger, and defensive midfield.

Looking back at 2024’s minutes is somewhat instructive as to how 2025’s minutes will play out, especially with so many veteran players returning, but I think when the dust settles on the 2025 season there will be several players high on the list of minutes played who were not at the top in 2024. Between replacing the club’s all-time leading scorer, covering for injuries, and players improving or declining from last season, 2025 will likely look a lot different than 2024, even with so many players returning. Different does not mean bad, it just means different, and I am excited to see the lineups used in the next few preseason games and then to see the big reveal on opening night.

To paraphrase Rick Pitino and his famous quote about the Boston Celtics, “Facundo Torres will not be walking through that door. Mauricio Pereyra will not be walking through that door. Cyle Larin will not be walking through that door.” An Orlando City starting lineup will be walking through that door though, and I cannot wait to cheer them on.

Vamos Orlando!

We have another week of Orlando City’s preseason in the books, and while it seems hard to believe, it’s been almost three weeks since the Lions got back in the lab and started preparing for the 2025 campaign. There have been lots of new talking points this week too, and its been a bit of a mixed bag. Let’s have a look at some of the good and bad from this past week.

Likes

Victory (Kind of) vs. Atletico Mineiro

Okay, so it technically wasn’t a victory since the game ended in a scoreless draw. The Lions did get the job done from the penalty spot though, as they won the shootout 6-5 to claim whatever the Inter&Co Trophy is. More important than the result though, was the fact that OCSC played pretty well. Orlando created a good amount of opportunities, but as seems to be the fatal flaw with this team, the finishing was definitely on the rusty side. It was perhaps unlucky that some of the Lions’ best chances fell to youngsters, but the good news is that the chances were being created. It was a positive first showing that the team can hopefully build on.

Back in the U.S. Open Cup

A lot of fans, myself included, had big issues with the Lions not being a participant in the U.S. Open Cup last year. It’s a tournament that is near and dear to a lot of Orlando fans, given that OCSC has won the whole damn thing once, had other special moments like The Running of the Wall, and has generally made decent runs in the competition. It was welcome news to hear that Orlando will be back in the competition this year, along with 15 other MLS teams that will enter the competition during the Round of 32. The tournament has a charm and a special place in my heart, and it’s exactly where the Lions should be.

Two Games, Two Clean Sheets

Nic Josey has gone on the record stating that Orlando City will need strong, steady performances from its defense if the team wants to avoid a slow start to the season like we saw in 2024. It’s only preseason, and we shouldn’t get too carried away, but so far so good, as the Lions have recorded a clean sheet in each of their two preseason games. Whether that will mean a damn thing once the regular season starts is anyone’s guess, but it’s a hell of a lot better than giving up buckets of goals in the preseason.

Dislikes

Wilder Cartagena’s Injury

We still don’t have official confirmation on the injury that Wilder Cartagena suffered during Saturday’s preseason match, but all the reports point to an Achilles Tendon injury, with ESPN’s Diego Montalvan going as far to say that he’ll be undergoing surgery. If that proves to be the case then it’s a doomsday scenario indeed for the Lions, as Cartagena could miss anywhere from six months to a whole year. He’s proven to be a vital part of what makes Orlando City tick, and replacing him is going to be far from an easy task.

Summer Fixture Frenzy

Along with the U.S. Open Cup, the Lions will once again be participating in Leagues Cup, and that’s presented them with a hellish slate of matches to finish out the summer. In a stretch from mid-July to mid-August OCSC will play a positively hellish eight games in 29 days, with that number potentially rising even higher if the club goes deep in the Open Cup (unless the two competitions decide to play nice and work with each other on scheduling). Not to mention that six of those eight games will take place at home in the punishing Florida heat and humidity. Either some guys are going to need to get signed, the kids are going to get some good experience, or something is going to give. Speaking of…

The Continued Wait for Reinforcements

Orlando City has made a couple signings in the last two weeks, with the most notable of those being winger Nicolas Rodriguez, with goalkeeper Carlos Mercado getting re-signed on Thursday. That’s a start, but Cartagena needs to be replaced, Jack Lynn’s retirement and Duncan McGuire’s shoulder injury mean the striker corps is dangerously thin, and the team could use help with depth at midfield and fullback. That’s a hell of a lot of business that needs to get done, and there hasn’t been much in the way of substantive chatter in the transfer rumor mill lately. The sooner signings are made, the more time they have to get integrated with their new surroundings before the season starts, but time is fast running out for that to happen.

There you have it folks. Life is full of peaks and valleys, and this week for Orlando City was a good reflection of that. What things jumped out to you this week, and what are you hoping to see as we move into the fourth week of preseason? Be sure to have your say down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! Today ends the first month of 2025 and my resolutions are mostly intact. I’d like to walk a bit more in the afternoons than I currently am, but I’ll take what I can get. I don’t have too many plans lined up this weekend beyond working, catching some sports, and board games with friends. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Adriana Transferred For Orlando Pride Record Fee

The Orlando Pride have transferred Adriana to Al Qadsiah FC in the Saudi Women’s Premier League for a club record fee of reportedly $500,000. Adriana requested the move after two seasons with the Pride since joining in January of 2023. The versatile attacker recorded 12 goals and five assists in 46 regular-season appearances with the Pride. This move opens up an opportunity for more minutes for the team’s young players, and that transfer fee should help improve the Pride’s roster.

Carlos Mercado Re-Signs With Orlando City

Orlando City signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract through the upcoming 2025 season, with club options for 2026 and 2027. The club declined the option on his previous contract following the 2024 season, but he’s back in purple after Mason Stajduhar’s trade to Real Salt Lake. The 25-year-old will likely feature as Orlando City B’s starting goalkeeper this season, with Javier Otero backing up Pedro Gallese on the first team. Mercado started 20 games for the Young Lions last season, so he has some playing time and familiarity with the team under his belt ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Leagues Cup Reveals New Format for 2025

Orlando City was one of only 18 MLS clubs to qualify for this summer’s Leagues Cup and we now know what the new format for the tournament will be. The group stage is gone and in its place is a convoluted first phase that can be simplified as there being six sets of six teams —three from MLS and three from Liga MX. Each team will play one match against the three teams from the opposing league, and then only the top four teams overall from each league will advance to the quarterfinals. This means that there will be MLS vs. Liga MX matchups every game until possibly the semifinals. One rule that stuck around though is that there will still be a penalty shootout for an additional point if two teams draw.

NWSL Awards Franchise to Denver

The NWSL officially announced that the league’s 16th franchise will be in Denver. The new club will take the field in 2026 and is finalizing plans to build a stadium for the team. Rob Cohen, who founded the Denver Sports Commission to help bring major sporting events to the city, will serve as the club’s controlling owner and governor, while Mellody Hobson will be the alternate governor. Denver’s team doesn’t have a name, colors, or a logo just yet, but I think anything other than DEN Nation FC would be a good idea.

Free Kicks

• Former Pride player Emily van Egmond joined Birmingham City on a two-and-a-half-year contract after three years with the San Diego Wave. Birmingham is at the top of the Women’s Championship in a tight race for promotion to the Women’s Super League.
• Manuel Cocca, whose contract with Orlando City B expired after last season, has joined Arsenal de Sarandi in Argentina’s second division.

• Miguel Almiron officially returned to Atlanta United from Newcastle United for a reported $10 million transfer fee, signing a contract through 2027 with an option for 2028. Atlanta also sent $400,000 in General Allocation Money to Charlotte FC for his discovery rights, which is peak MLS.
• Minnesota United signed center back Nicolas Romero as an MLS U22 Initiative Player.
• American forward Ricardo Pepi’s knee injury suffered in PSV Eindhoven’s win against Liverpool may keep him sidelined for two months. Hopefully that’s not the case, as he would miss out on the Concacaf Nations League games in March.
• Temwa Chawinga signed a three-year contract extension with the Kansas City Current. She scored 20 goals last season and was named NWSL MVP in her first year in the league.
• Manchester United, Tottenham, and Olympiacos all secured a spot in the Europa League’s round of 16 after winning on the final matchday of the league phase. The draw for the knockout phase is today, and there should be some interesting matchups with teams like Roma, Porto, and Galatasaray eager to make the round of 16.
• Chelsea has reportedly agreed to sign English midfielder Keira Walsh from Barcelona.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!