Orlando City
2023 Orlando City Season in Review: Michael Halliday
The Homegrown fullback saw his season sidelined by injury despite a promising start.
Orlando City signed right back Michael Halliday to a Homegrown Player contract on July 15, 2020. Halliday was an academy product who spent his first year after signing with OCB before making the jump to the first team during the 2021 season. He didn’t get many minutes that season or even in 2022, but earned the starting spot to begin the 2023 season.
A summertime injury took Halliday out of the lineup, allowing Dagur Dan Thorhallsson to take over. Thorhallsson never gave the starting spot back. Let’s take a look at Halliday’s 2023 season with Orlando City.
Statistical Breakdown
Halliday took part in 18 regular-season games, with nine starts, and recorded 847 minutes. He did not score a goal, but did take three shots with none on target. Halliday provided two assists on the season, completed 76.7% of his 288 pass attempts, and completed nine key passes. Defensively, he won 58.5% of his duels and 26.2% of his headed duels. Halliday also tallied 20 tackles, 26 clearances, three blocks, and nine interceptions. He committed seven fouls, suffered three fouls, and earned two yellow cards.
The young fullback did not play in the MLS Cup playoffs or Leagues Cup matches, however the defender started both of the Concacaf Champions Cup games against Tigres UANL, playing 198 minutes. He didn’t record any goals or assists, nor did he take any shots. He completed 38 of his 52 pass attempts (73%) and recorded one interception.
Halliday started the U.S. Open Cup match against Charlotte and played 82 minutes. He did not score, provide an assist, or take a shot. He was 25 of 28 on his passes for an 89% rate with three long balls. Defensively, he added three interceptions.
Best Game
Halliday’s best game came in the 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy on April 29. The young defender had recently returned from injury but played 89 minutes and provided one of his two assists on the season. Halliday got on the end of a long pass from Antonio Carlos and found Ercan Kara in front of goal with his low cross to give Orlando City the early lead.
He did not score but his assist/cross got the Lions on the scoreboard. Halliday was 22 of 29 passing (75.9%), with one long ball, and suffered no fouls. Defensively, he made one interception, won 50% of his duels, committed no fouls, and was not booked.
2023 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff gave Halliday a grade of 5.5 out of 10 for the 2023 MLS season. This is the first time the right back has played enough minutes to earn a grade, as he didn’t log enough time in either 2021 or 2022.
Halliday improved in 2023, but ultimately wasn’t good enough to earn the starting spot back when he returned from injury. Oscar Pareja expects his fullbacks to get into the attack, and Halliday is inconsistent with his crossing. At 20 years old he has time to continue to develop.
2024 Outlook
Orlando City exercised Halliday’s option for the 2024 season. It is likely he will start as the backup to Thorhallsson, but there are numerous competitions for him to get some minutes, and if something happens to Thorhallsson then Halliday is the next man up. Regardless, Halliday will be playing for a contract either with Orlando City or for an opportunity at another club.