Orlando City and the Orlando Pride: Positions Available

As we eagerly await the arrival of Antoine Griezmann, I got to thinking about positions of need for Orlando City. That led to doing the same for the Orlando Pride, and I came to a realization. The two Orlando sides have very similar positions of need. I’m not saying they are identical, but perhaps a joint shopping trip isn’t the worst idea. Let’s take a look at where the two clubs need some help.

Got Any More of Those Center Backs?

Orlando City has rotated plenty along the back line this season and it’s a big reason why the club is on a record-breaking pace when it comes to conceding goals. Robin Jansson was missing due to injury for the first part of the season, and his return certainly helped, but he is getting older and won’t be around forever. Iago started pretty shakily, and while his performance has improved, he’s not where he needs to be yet. David Brekalo keeps getting moved between center back and left back, depending on the situation, and Nolan Miller is barely seeing time.

The Orlando Pride lost Emily Sams and understandably haven’t been able to replace her yet. I continue to believe that Hailie Mace was the intended replacement, but that experiment has run its course and we’re mostly seeing her at right back. Rafaelle seems to finally be healthy and is the stabilizing force on the back line, but she can’t do it alone. Cori Dyke has been playing in the middle and has been serviceable, but is she a long-term answer at center back?

What both teams have is an experienced, if older, center back paired with a young or out-of -position partner. That is not a recipe for success. When the Pride won the double, they had an excellent pair of center backs. I think both teams need to add another veteran center back to shore up the back line to stop bleeding goals. The Lions are more guilty than the Pride, but both need help.

Same Coin/Different Sides

When it comes to the attack, both squads need another attacker, but the need is the opposite of the other. Orlando City has Martin Ojeda playing well and scoring plenty of goals. The arrival of Griezmann will help Ojeda and the other players create space and get more opportunities. Where the Lions need another body is at striker. In the past, Duncan McGuire looked like he could be that guy, but he hasn’t gotten back to consistent form ever since his back-to-back shoulder injuries. Orlando City needs McGuire to get his mojo back or to add another target striker.

The Pride have a different problem. Barbra Banda is leading the Golden Boot race in 2026 and is often unstoppable. The problem is she isn’t getting much help. We have yet to see Banda, Marta, and Jacquie Ovalle play together. That was supposed to become the Pride’s deadly attacking trio, but it hasn’t happened thanks to injuries. If Seb Hines can get all of those players on the pitch together consistently it will crack open defenses. Of course, Marta is unlikely to continue much longer, and even now seems to only be able to provide a limited number of minutes. Her replacement is needed so that the team can have continuity.

Midfield Identity

For a long time, Orlando City counted on Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena to provide one of the best defensive midfields in MLS. Either could go forward or be a destroyer at the back, though I’ll give Cartagena the nod on the destroying end. Braian Ojeda has been serviceable and I’d say improving as of late. Eduard Atuesta has gotten worse in his time with the Lions. The team may need to find another destroyer if Cartagena can’t get back into form — and will need a partner for him even if he does.

I think the midfield issues for the Pride run even deeper. Setting aside Marta, her Brazilian teammate Angelina hasn’t been as effective as years past. Ally Lemos gets all the minutes she wants, but she isn’t producing enough to warrant it in my opinion, and out on the wing, Solai Washington is young and has been injured in recent weeks. Haley McCutcheon is a solid player who has the (very) occasional great game, chipping in a goal here and there. The team is missing the connection between the defense and the offense, and that is why we’ve seen so much route one service to Banda. If Angelina can’t return to form, or if the younger players don’t make the leap, then adding an experienced playmaker to the midfield is crucial if the Pride want more hardware.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!