Preseason Orlando City Position Battles: Right Back

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!