Opinion
Preseason Orlando City Position Battles: Right Back
Who has the edge at right back prior to the start of the year?

Preseason preparations are in full swing as the start of the Major League Soccer regular season is a mere 36 days away, and Orlando City’s first match to be played against Cavalry FC is just three days before that on Feb. 21. Players reported to training camp earlier in the week after completing preseason physicals and have begun working and training under the coaching staff in the hopes of cracking the starting 11 for the opening day match. A good majority of the roster already seems set in stone based upon returning players and off-season signings, but the right back position is one which may be up for grabs and is the role I am going to break down today.
Last year, two players — Michael Halliday and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson — both logged significant minutes at right back, with the former logging significant playing time and appearances in the starting lineup during the first third of the 2023 season and the latter assuming the role throughout the summer and playoff push. Both players contributed from the right flank in 2023 and bring different advantages and disadvantages to a starting lineup that looks to keep its outside backs engaged as a critical part of the game plan.
The Homegrown
Michael Halliday signed a Homegrown Player contract with Orlando City on July 15, 2020 and was an OCB standout for a year before joining the first team in 2021. Halliday found himself behind former starter Ruan, who was firmly entrenched as the agent of chaos on the right side, but Halliday consistently improved on the training grounds and earned a starting spot to start the 2023 season. In 2023, Halliday appeared in 18 matches and logged nine starts before a summertime injury, a prolonged rehab period, and international duty took him out of the lineup. In 847 minutes, he logged two assists, completed 76.7% of his passing attempts and tallied 20 tackles, 26 clearances, and nine interceptions. Halliday also appeared in both matches against Liga MX giants Tigres, holding his own against some of the best competition that Orlando has faced in club history.
The Icelandic
Dagur Dan Thorhallsson was signed almost a year ago on Jan. 31, 2023, making his way to MLS via Breidablik in Iceland’s top flight. In the first half of his inaugural season in the City Beautiful, the majority of his appearances on the pitch came in a reserve role, although he did log three starts across the first full month of matches back in March of 2023. It wasn’t truly until the MLS regular season resumed after the Leagues Cup competition that Thorhallsson ascended into a new role as starting right back. Initially billed as a midfielder, there were some growing pains to adjust to a new position, but as the season wound down, Thorhallsson’s presence and, more importantly, chemistry with his teammates was a strong factor in Orlando’s superb run of form to see out the 2023 season.
Thorhallsson finished the season with 30 appearances and 12 starts while logging 1,195 minutes. He contributed three assists and two goals on the year while completing 88% of his passing attempts. Defensively, as Thorhallsson grew into his position, opponents were less likely to try to exploit his side of the field and he logged 11 tackles, 18 clearances and nine interceptions.
Starting Predicition
For my money, I feel that Thorhallsson performed well enough over the second half of the season to project that he will be the starting right back for the first game this year, and frankly, it might be so cold in Victoria, BC that Thorhallsson’s icy roots are welcomed. While Halliday has certainly been more of a natural defender, Thorhallsson elevated the Orlando attack in a way that we had not seen since Ruan was doing Ruan things. The main difference is that when Thorhallsson sent in a cross, there was a better chance of it finding someone in purple. Halliday certainly has the chance to push Thorhallsson in training camp, which will only benefit both players’ developmental tracks, but personally I feel that if the Icelandic international was able to step into a new position in the middle of the season last year and contribute the way that he did, then it should be his position to lose, and I would imagine that his ability to defend will only grow with time.
Let us know in the comments below who you think will win the main starting position at right back and let us know if there are any other position battles that you would like broken down before the start of the 2024 season. Vamos Orlando!
Opinion
Likes and Dislikes from this Week of Orlando City’s Preseason
Let’s break down some good and bad things from this past week of preseason preparations.

It’s Friday once again, and just like that we find ourselves barely over a week away from the start of the 2025 Major League Soccer season. It feels like this off-season has passed by in a blur, and somehow the Lions are already about to play their final preseason match later today. This week was another busy one for Orlando City, so let’s run through some things that I liked from this week and some things that I didn’t.
Likes
Eduard Atuesta Arrives
It took awhile, and the transfer saga had some twists and turns, but Orlando City landed Eduard Atuesta to replace the injured Wilder Cartagena. Given the league’s budget constraints and the fact that he isn’t a Designated Player, Atuesta is about as good a replacement as fans could have hoped for. Not only is he familiar with the league, but he knows what it takes to win here, as he helped LAFC win the Supporters’ Shield and U.S. Open Cup during his time with the California club. Plus, he theoretically offers more going forward than Cartagena typically does, which could add a much-needed extra punch to the Lions’ offense. The structuring of a one-year deal with an additional club option also gives OCSC some flexibility at the end of the season if the Lions decide they want to move on, but if he replicates the form he typically showed at LAFC, then that option year can be triggered.
New Kit Looks Sharp
The club also debuted its new home jersey this week. Dubbed the “Perfect Storm” kit, no two are supposedly alike, as it pays tribute to the intensity and unpredictability of Central Florida’s weather. For my money, it isn’t anything revolutionary, but there’s a lot to like about it. The pattern is interesting without being too overwhelming, the collar adds a pop of welcome gold to the purple and white motif, and the 407 lightning bolt and doppler radar storm patches are nice, vibrant touches. Teams were also permitted to customize the Apple logo on the sleeves this year, and Orlando chose to do so by incorporating the lion’s mane/sun element of the club crest into the logo. My biggest gripe is that the pattern is only on the front of the jersey while the back is plain purple, but overall I really like it.
Dislikes
Thin Cupboards at Striker and Fullback
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Orlando City is still looking short on bodies at striker and fullback. Granted, the striker position will look better once Duncan McGuire returns, but that’s likely to be at least six to eight weeks away. Fullback isn’t quite as dire, as the Lions have Kyle Smith, Mikey Halliday, and Alex Freeman, who are all in contention to come off the bench. There are caveats though, as Halliday has struggled with injuries the last two seasons, and while Freeman was outstanding with Orlando City B last year, he’s almost completely untested at the MLS level. Plus, all three of Smith, Halliday, and Freeman are most comfortable on the right side. You obviously don’t want to take minutes away from the young guys, but I’d feel a lot better if there was a proven vet in the fold.
Final Preseason Match Prices
At the time of writing, the cheapest ticket listed for today’s preseason match against Inter Miami is $49 plus fees. That gets you in the door and up in the 300 level of Raymond James Stadium; any lower down than that and you’re looking at $65 plus fees and higher. It isn’t the most egregious pricing I’ve ever seen, but at the same time, when my season ticket in The Wall breaks down to being about $19 a game, it’s hard to not feel a little put off. I’m not saying that this is the club’s fault as I don’t know who set the pricing for the event, but I just don’t have much interest in paying over $100 for two people to go to a preseason match. It’s a shame, since Ray-J is about a five-minute drive from my house, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
What stood out to you from this week of Orlando City’s preseason preparations? Be sure to have your say down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!
Opinion
Likes and Dislikes from this Week of Orlando City’s Preseason
Let’s talk through some of the good and bad from this week of the Lions’ preseason preparations.

Just like that, another week of Orlando City’s preseason is in the books. We’ll be staring down the barrel of the season opener before we know it, but let’s make sure we take the time to stop and reflect on some good and some not-so-good things that took place this week.
Likes
Marco Pasalic Arrives
Orlando City is back up to three Designated Players after the club completed the signing of Croatian winger Marco Pasalic. It’s a piece of business that has been rumored for awhile now but took some time to get done and across the line. Between Pasalic and the previous signing of Nicolas Rodriguez, the Lions have got bodies to fill the right wing position. While neither is likely to be able to immediately replace the production of Facundo Torres on their own, they’re both young and will have the chance to grow their games and show what they can do.
Season Ticket Member Match
OCSC will take on CF Montreal Saturday in a preseason scrimmage which is an event exclusive to season ticket holders. This is the sort of thing that I, along with my fellow season ticket members on staff, love to see. An event that rewards you for that membership and does so by giving you an extra peek at the team before everyone else. It might not be some wildly extravagant event, but it doesn’t need to be. The club has formed a habit of designating one of the preseason scrimmages a season-ticket-members-only event, and for my money, it’s been a good call.
Dislikes
Closed Door Scrimmage Radio Silence
This feels a little nitpicky, as closed-door scrimmages are by their very nature, closed door. The whole point of them is to not have a ton of access and insight about what’s going on, and teams will often agree beforehand about what level of information, if any, will make its way out to the public afterwards. We know that Orlando took on Atlanta United in a preseason scrimmage Wednesday, and we know that Alex Freeman put in a goal from a header, thanks to a post from the club on the website formerly known as Twitter, but that’s about it. It feels greedy to ask for information from something we weren’t guaranteed to get any from in the first place, but the brief taste has me wanting more, damnit.
Depth Still a Worry at Several Positions
As stated above, getting Pasalic in the door means that the Lions now have the winger slots fairly well stocked, but there are still other areas on the field that could use some reinforcement. The most crucial of those remains defensive midfielder, and although the rumored arrival of Eduard Atuesta would help considerably, I’m not counting him as a Lion until pen has been put to paper. If he does get signed, that still leaves striker and fullback perilously thin when it comes to guys who are proven MLS-caliber players, and the first game of the season is just shy of two weeks from now. There’s still time to do business, but the clock continues to tick.
What jumped out at you from this week of OCSC’s preseason? Be sure to have your say down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!
Opinion
Likes and Dislikes from this Week of Orlando City’s Preseason
Orlando City’s third week of preparation had some good things and some not so good things.

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!
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