Likes and Dislikes from the Third Week of Orlando City Preseason

Just like that, the third week of Orlando City’s preseason preparations is almost in the books. As we’ve done at the end of each of the two previous weeks, let’s take a look back at some things I liked and some things I didn’t from this past week.

Likes

A New Signing Rumor

Technically this happened last Friday, but it was after my previous preseason story had already published, so we run with it this week. Tom Bogert has reported that Orlando is close to signing center back Dusan Stojinovic from Jagiellonia Białystok in the Polish first division.

If signed, Stojinovic would become the second Slovenian on the team alongside David Brekalo and would also help to reinforce a position of need for the Lions. Bogert’s blurb is also notable for mentioning that the team is still working on signing Brazilian center back Iago, but he profiles as more of a younger piece that won’t be expected to start right away, while Stojinovic’s experience seems to point to him being in serious contention for a starting spot.

Glimpses of Goals

A drawback of this preseason that I spoke about a couple weeks ago was the lack of preseason friendlies that are open to the public. That means that while I wouldn’t ordinarily take any extra notice when it comes to footage of a preseason goal, I dissected this one a fair amount.

The clip came from a tilt against Forge FC down in Cancun that hadn’t been previously announced on the team’s preseason schedule, and there’s plenty to like here. Ivan Angulo shows some quick feet and makes the right decision in the final third with an accurate ball into the box, which Duncan McGuire dummies and Marco Pasalic slots home. You can only glean so much from a preseason game, but it’s nice to see a goal being scored from open play, and frankly it’s just nice to see the Lions in action. Perhaps it says something that I’m this happy to see video of a goal from a closed-door preseason friendly, but I’m choosing to look on the bright side and be happy that we get to see it to begin with.

Dislikes

Alex Freeman’s Farewell

The news that Orlando City fans have dreaded for months has now come to pass, as it was announced on Thursday afternoon that the Lions have sold Alex Freeman to Villarreal. The writing has been growing clearer on the wall for awhile now, with reports that the fullback didn’t want to sign a new contract, and that OCSC’s last remaining MLS U22 Initiative slot would be used elsewhere. It was hard not to hold out hope that he’d stay until at least the summer window, but he joins the Spanish side immediately. I, like presumably the majority of Orlando fans, am thrilled for the player, but hate it for the team. The Lions are now extremely thin at right back following the earlier exits of Kyle Smith and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. The upside is that the reported initial fee of $4 million gives the Lions plenty of cash to play with when it comes to signing not just a replacement right back, but strengthening other areas of the team as well. Regardless, it sucks to have gotten only one year of an excellent player that is by all accounts, just as pleasant a person off the field. I wish him all the best, but I can’t say I’m happy to have him go.

That’s all I’ve got for you this week, everyone. Stay warm with the cold(er) weather that’s due to come through this weekend, and I’ll see you back here next Friday. Vamos Orlando!