Orlando City signed Icelandic midfielder Dagur Dan Thórhallsson on Jan. 31, 2023. The then-23-year-old was signed to a two-year deal with two additional option years for 2025 and 2026, but on July 18, 2024, the club announced that they had re-signed him to a new contract, which runs through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027. Unlike last season, when he was used in multiple positions to open the season, the Icelandic international came into 2024 as a right back and he played there nearly exclusively throughout the season.

Let’s have a look back at Thórhallsson’s second season with Orlando City.

Statistical Breakdown

Thórhallson participated in all four of the competitions Orlando City played in during 2024, starting at right back in nearly every match and playing more than 3,300 total minutes. While his most frequent partner at left back, Rafael Santos, was known more for his crosses and long passes, Thórhallson could more often be found playing quick one-twos with the midfield and trying to cut the ball back into the middle off the dribble, giving the Orlando City two completely different types of looks from their normal starting pair of outside backs.

In MLS regular-season play, Thórhallson appeared in 31 matches, starting 29 and playing 2,412 minutes — the sixth most on the team. He scored two goals and added four assists. He took 23 shots, putting five on target, and he completed 83.5% of his passes with 25 key passes, eight successful crosses, and 13 completed long balls. On the defensive side, he recorded 47 tackles, 21 interceptions, 56 clearances, and six blocks. He committed 20 fouls, suffered 22 fouls, and received three yellow cards.

During the MLS playoffs, the Icelandic right back started all five matches, playing 381 minutes with no goals or assists. He took three shots, placing none on target, and he completed 84.6% of his passes with four key passes. Defensively, he recorded four tackles, four interceptions, and 15 clearances, including a season-high seven in the final game. He drew two fouls and committed two, and he was not booked.

Thórhallson played in three of Orlando City’s four Concacaf Champions Cup matches, starting all three times and playing 270 minutes. He did not take any shots, so he did not score any goals, but he did contribute one assist. He completed 86.1% of his passes, including two key passes. Defensively, he tallied two tackles, two interceptions, two clearances, and one block, and he committed two fouls, while suffering four. He was booked once, earning a yellow card.

During Leagues Cup play, Thórhallson started all three games, playing the full 270 minutes and scoring one goal with no assists. He took two shots, placing both on target, and completed 81.3% of his passes with two key passes. He added two tackles, seven clearances, and one block on defense, and he committed one foul and drew none. He did not receive any cards.

Best Game

Right backs do not often have games where they log multiple goal contributions, but on June 22, Thórhallsson did just that, assisting on two goals in Orlando City’s 4-2 victory over the Chicago Fire. He got going early in this game, playing a ball in the fourth minute that led Facundo Torres perfectly into his patented cutback into the middle. The resulting shot put Orlando City up 1-0.

Slightly more than 20 minutes later, Torres returned the favor, playing a leading ball to Thórhallsson that took him right into one of his patented moves, turning the corner on his defender inside the 18 and playing a searching ball into the middle of the box. In this case, there was a bit of a scuffle for the ball on his pass, but the ball popped out right in front of Iván Angulo, who tapped it home. Thórhallsson did not receive credit for the assist, but he made that play happen.

Thórhallsson’s actual second assist came on Orlando City’s fourth goal, as he took a ball that Duncan McGuire popped up in the air and brought it down to his feet near the right sideline. He then sliced through the middle of Chicago’s defense before finding Torres, who hit one of the shots of the season for his second goal of the game and the second Thórhallsson-Torres goal of the evening.

That goal capped off a three goal-creating actions match for the Icelandic defender, one of only four games like that by Orlando City players during the 2024 MLS regular season. Thórhallsson also contributed two tackles, two interceptions, and three clearances on the defensive side, one of the best all-around games by anyone on Orlando City all season.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land awarded Thórhallsson a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 for the 2024 season, the same rating we gave him for the 2023 season. He looked comfortable in the right back role, and made some improvements on both sides of the ball, but there was not a leap forward from last season to this season. As a former midfielder, there is more offense in his game than many right backs, but even though he increased his goal contributions from five in 2023 to eight in 2024, he did so in more than double the minutes, decreasing his goal contributions per 90 minutes by 25%, while also creating the exact same number of shots per game for his teammates, 2.1, in 2024 as he did in 2023. He improved his defending and positioning on that side of the ball, but there was a slight dip in his offensive production, though with Thórhallsson, it’s never for lack of effort as his work rate is excellent.

2025 Outlook

I think 2025 may look a little different than 2024 for the Icelandic international, as there will be some serious competition for minutes at right back from young players Alex Freeman and Michael Halliday and the old reliable Kyle Smith, and of those three players and Thórhallsson, I think it is the man from where they filmed the scenes from north of The Wall in Game of Thrones who has the skillset most applicable to other areas of the field.

That is not to say that I think Thórhallsson needs to move to a new position, but Head Coach Óscar Pareja may consider that his ability to adapt to other positions could turn him into a younger and even more versatile version of Smith, and we could see Thórhallsson playing some as a left back, right back, defensive midfielder, or even winger. He is one of the few players on the roster who I believe has that adaptability, and Pareja has shown that he likes to use the beginning of a season to find his preferred lineup, before locking that in and keeping it static in the latter half.

I expect that when the season opens, Thórhallsson will be the starting right back, and he may well play there at the end of the season as well, but unlike in 2024, I expect that in 2025 we will see him playing minutes in many different positions.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

• Alex Freeman (12/5/24)
• Michael Halliday (12/6/24)
• Yutaro Tsukada (12/7/24)
• Mason Stajduhar (12/8/24)
• Javier Otero (12/9/24)

• Jack Lynn (12/11/24)
• Shakur Mohammed (12/12/24)
• Luis Muriel (12/13/24)
• David Brekalo (12/14/24)
• Facundo Torres (12/14/24)
• Rodrigo Schlegel (12/15/24)
• Rafael Santos (12/16/24)
• Kyle Smith (12/17/24)
• Martín Ojeda (12/18/24)

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve knocked out all of my shopping except for one gift I’m still trying to procure. I have a lead on it though and high hopes that I can get a literal bow on it before traveling to visit my family next week. For now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Getting Ready for the MLS SuperDraft

The 2025 MLS SuperDraft will take place on Friday and the league released the list of 477 eligible players clubs can choose from. This year’s Generation Adidas class includes Cornell forward Alex Harris, North Carolina left back Tate Johnson, Wisconsin forward Dean Boltz, and UC Santa Barbara defensive midfielder Manu Duah. Those players likely won’t be on the board by the time Orlando City’s 27th overall pick rolls around, but the team has proven in the past it isn’t afraid to make a trade for a top prospect.

Here’s a nice position-by-position breakdown of some of the best players available on Friday. I personally think Orlando could use some depth at center back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the team rolls the dice on a center forward given its track record. Unfortunately, we’ll have to follow along with each pick on the league’s website rather than a stream.

MLS Transfer Roundup

After falling in the MLS Cup final earlier this month, the New York Red Bulls have added some firepower by signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as a Designated Player. The 35-year-old heads to MLS after playing for Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Stoke City, and Schalke 04 over the past 10 years. The Red Bulls now have a fairly dangerous trio of Designated Players in Choupo-Moting, Emil Forsberg, and Dante Vanzeir.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the New England Revolution added midfielder Jackson Yueill as a free agent. The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract that includes options for 2028 and 2029. D.C. United traded away $150,000 in General Allocation Money to Nashville SC in exchange for defender Lukas MacNaughton. FC Dallas signed midfielder Ramiro Benetti, who has spent the past two seasons with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in Brazil. Veteran defender Nick Lima has returned to the San Jose Earthquakes, signing a two-year contract with the club.

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

The injuries continue to rack up for the Americans, as Tim Weah will miss some time after sustaining a thigh injury earlier this week in Juventus’ win over Cagliari. In better news for Americans plying their trade abroad, forward Ricardo Pepi scored twice in PSV Eindhoven’s 8-0 win against Koninklijke HFC in the KNVB Cup. Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool are all reportedly interested in left back Antonee Robinson, who turned some heads with a pair of assists on Sunday.

EFL Cup Semifinals Nearly Set

The EFL Cup semifinals are setting up to be a heavyweight affair, with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle all advancing from the quarterfinals. The day belonged to Gabriel Jesus, who scored his first hat trick for Arsenal in a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Liverpool extended its unbeaten streak to 20 games across all competitions after a 2-1 win over Southampton, while Newcastle United beat Brentford thanks to a brace from Sandro Tonali. The final semifinalist will come from today’s match between Manchester United and Tottenham, with the draw taking place afterwards.

Free Kicks

• The NWSL Shield and Championship trophy paid a visit to WFTV’s studios, and it’s still a bit surreal that the Orlando Pride secured both pieces of silverware this season.

• The Columbus Crew announced that they will play Inter Miami in Cleveland at Huntington Bank Field rather than its home stadium next season. The “home” game is a good two-hour drive north and reportedly has no opt-out option for season ticket holders, so this decision has not gone over well with some Crew fans.
• Forward Lynn Williams is reportedly expected to be traded from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the Seattle Reign so that she can close out her career on her home coast.
• We now know the eight quarterfinalists for the Women’s Champions League, with the draw set for Feb. 7. The usual suspects like Barcelona, Wolfsburg, and Lyon all made it, which should make for an exciting knockout stage.
• Real Madrid beat Pachuca to win the Intercontinental Cup, giving Carlo Ancelotti his 15th title with the club.
• Here’s a look at the absurd amount of minutes players like Federico Valverde and Jules Kounde have logged this year. Just seeing those numbers makes my legs tired.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

Orlando City signed Martin Ojeda to a three-year deal with two additional option years on Jan. 9, 2023. In each of the past two seasons he has been one of the team’s three Designated Players — along with Facundo Torres and Ercan Kara in 2023, and with Torres and Luis Muriel in 2024. The Argentinean midfielder is a player with a strong motor and a high work rate, and after mostly settling in to a bench role in his first season in Orlando, he found his way into the starting lineup for Oscar Pareja’s Lions in 2024.

Let’s take a look back at Ojeda’s second season with Orlando City.

Statistical Breakdown

Ojeda participated in all four of the competitions Orlando City played in during 2024, and started at least two matches in each competition, scoring in every one. During the beginning of the season, he bounced around at a few different attacking positions, but as the season went along, he served as the No. 10 for the Orlando City offense.

In MLS regular-season play, Ojeda appeared in all 34 matches — one of only three Lions to do so, along with Iván Angulo and Nico Lodeiro — starting 23 games and playing a total of 1,914 minutes. He scored four goals and added a team-leading 12 assists. He took 61 shots, putting 22 on target, and he completed 84.5% of his passes with 58 key passes, 61 successful crosses, and 31 completed long balls. On the defensive side, he recorded 18 tackles, eight interceptions, six clearances, and one block. He committed 12 fouls, suffered 21 fouls, and received two yellow cards.

During the MLS playoffs, the Designated Player started all five matches, playing 391 minutes and scoring one goal with no assists. He took six shots, placing two on target, and he completed 78.8% of his passes with a team-leading 11 key passes. Defensively, he recorded one tackle and two clearances. He drew one foul and committed three, and he was not booked.

Ojeda played in all four of Orlando City’s Concacaf Champions Cup matches, starting two and coming in off the bench in the other two games, playing a total of 178 minutes. He scored one goal and added one assist, taking six shots and placing all three on target. He completed 75.6% of his passes, including a team-leading eight key passes. Defensively, he tallied one tackle, two interceptions, and two blocks, and he did not commit any fouls, though he did suffer two. He was not booked.

During Leagues Cup play, the Argentine started all three games, playing a total of 233 minutes and scoring one goal with no assists. He took three shots, placing all three on target, and completed 83.5% of his passes with — stop me if you have heard this before — a team-leading eight key passes. He chipped in with two tackles and two interceptions on defense, and he committed two fouls and drew one. He did not receive any cards.

Best Game

Despite being one of the team’s leaders in goal contributions, there was only one game all season when Ojeda had more than one goal contribution in the same game, and that was his two-assist night against FC Dallas in a 3-1 victory. Ojeda had a secondary assist on Orlando City’s first goal of the game, playing a perfectly timed and weighted ball out to Rafael Santos on the left wing, and Santos then delivered a well-placed cross to Ramiro Enrique for a headed goal.

Early in the second half, the Lions earned a corner, and Ojeda this time dropped his own cross right into the perfect location, allowing Rodrigo Schlegel to power a header home and give the team a 2-0 lead.

Ojeda finished with a 100% passing success rate on the night, going 32 for 32 with three key passes, and he also added one interception and three recoveries on defense in 64 minutes of work, leaving the game with the Lions winning 3-0.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land awarded Ojeda a composite rating of 7 out of 10 for the 2024 season, an increase on the 6.5 we gave him last season. His statistical performance was pretty similar this year as compared to last season during MLS play, with 16 goal contributions in each regular season, but Ojeda had four goal contributions during the other competitions in 2024 as compared to zero in 2023, and he also played a much more critical role in the offense this season as opposed to last season.

2025 Outlook

Ojeda increased his overall goal contributions by four in 2024, though he did it in nearly 600 additional minutes played as compared to 2023, which means his goal contributions per 90 minutes actually slightly decreased from 0.68 to 0.66. A goal contribution in two out of every three games is solid, but not spectacular, and with the possible departure of Facundo Torres for the 2025 season, I expect that there will be pressure on Ojeda to directly deliver more offense in order for Orlando City to extend his Designated Player contract beyond next season.

I believe that Ojeda will make a leap in 2025, as he really settled into his role as the hub of the offense around the midpoint of the season, and that coincided with the best run of form the team had all year. For Orlando City to surpass its performance from this season, Ojeda will need to outperform his last two seasons, and I am excited to see what he adds to his game for 2025.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

• Alex Freeman (12/5/24)
• Michael Halliday (12/6/24)
• Yutaro Tsukada (12/7/24)
• Mason Stajduhar (12/8/24)
• Javier Otero (12/9/24)

• Jack Lynn (12/11/24)
• Shakur Mohammed (12/12/24)
• Luis Muriel (12/13/24)
• David Brekalo (12/14/24)
• Facundo Torres (12/14/24)
• Rodrigo Schlegel (12/15/24)
• Rafael Santos (12/16/24)
• Kyle Smith (12/17/2024)