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Lion Links: 10/11/17

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7 years ago

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Wow. I want to start with something much stronger than that; something that would basically be a bunch of symbols. I’m in utter shock and disbelief. I never actually thought this would happen. So many emotions. Absolutely sick to my stomach. I’m just going to breathe at this point and give you all the updates.

On a very positive note, we definitely want to wish Orlando Pride midfielder Jordan O’Brien a very happy birthday today! On to the links.

USMNT Out of World Cup for the First Time Since 1986

Playing a last-place Trinidad & Tobago team with nothing to play for, the United States — fresh off a 4-0 win against Panama — lost 2-1 on Tuesday night. Simultaneously, the Yanks got no help from top seeds Mexico and Costa Rica, which both lost to keep the U.S. men out of the World Cup since 1986.

The night screamed of a team that continually struggled during this Hex with shaky center back and goalkeeper play, and a lack of urgency that saw the U.S. in one of its worst qualifying cycles to date.

If you want my feelings Taylor Twellman sums them up pretty well:

Morgan and Catley Make NWSL Second XI

Alex Morgan and Steph Catley earned NWSL Second XI team honors. This is the second time for each of them as members of the Orlando Pride.

The NWSL awards are voted on by club officials, players, and media that cover the league on a consistent basis, as well as fans.

Check back in later in the week as NWSL’s Best XI gets announced Thursday afternoon.

Congrats, ladies!

Body Cam video Released Following Epcot Debacle

A recent body cam video of the unfortunate dismissal of Orlando players Alex Morgan, Giles Barnes, and Donny Toia has been released showing Morgan, Toia, and Toia’s wife in an interview room.

Frankly, I think it’s about time we all move past this. This is clearly a mistake by a few people drinking, and appears to be a bit of he-said, she-said situation at this point in which no one wins.

As evidenced by Alex Morgan’s response today after the video was released:

“Although I regret my actions last Sunday while attending the Epcot Food and Wine Festival with my family and friends, the video released today shows that while we were all caught up in the tension of the moment, I was not out of control or highly impaired,” Morgan said. “I used bad judgment and I was simply trying to support my friends.”

Higuita Most Likely Out for the Season

The Orlando Sentinel’s Alicia DelGallo reported Tuesday that Orlando City midfielder Cristian Higuita is unlikely to play in the Lions’ final two games of the season due to a calf injury.

“He is still not healthy,” Lions coach Jason Kreis said. “Really had hoped that by now we would have him back on the training field. We actually had a little bit of a misdiagnosis, where the first scan that we took didn’t show too much information, too much damage. We put him through a training protocol, a rehab protocol, and he was feeling pretty good but we just wanted to do another scan just to be safe.”

Higuita has recorded three assists on the year, but per the Sentinel, the injury he suffered in September vs. D.C. United turned out to be worse than originally thought, as Kreis indicated.

Noce Wants 3-4 More Years, Kaká Offered One More

Midfielder Antonio Nocerino, Orlando’s second-highest-paid player, wants to stay for the foreseeable future:

“My intention is to finish my career here, the priority is Orlando,” Nocerino said in broken English. “But, I don’t know yet.”

“If it’s not possible to stay here, I play…three years maybe another four years, because I stay good, I like soccer. [If I] close the door here, I will try another option, but the priority for me is to stay in Orlando.”

I have to say, while he has his fans, I’m definitely not one of them. If he wants to come back on the cheap, then it should be under consideration. But I think most would agree that in his time in Orlando he has struggled with the the league’s pace and, despite a good run of recent form, we’ll need to see a lot more out of Noce to be shelling out that level of commitment at or near his current $850,000 salary.

That Orlando Sentinel report also indicates Kaká was offered a one-year contract extension, per Orlando City CEO Alex Leitão. While no details were given, I would echo my above sentiments about Noce here as well. Some of us at The Mane Land have written things of similar effect as well. Kaká has been reporting that his declining speed in recovery is draining him, and to be honest it’s starting to drain us as well.

An Outsider’s View of Orlando’s Civic Soccer Duty

We talk all the time of how Orlando City has the best fans in MLS. Friday night showed that even more with constant praise from U.S. Soccer and pundits alike. But here we have The Philly Soccer Page giving Orlando some of the highest praise an outsider could:

“Somehow Orlando City has convinced their neighbors that MLS isn’t supposed to be a punchline. It isn’t a consolation prize since you can’t get ‘real’ soccer in the States. It isn’t something you do ironically or so you can pretend to be European. Orlando City has convinced people to be their fans because it’s a part of their civic identity.”

People are recognizing Orlando as an amazing soccer city. It will only lead to bigger and better things.

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So, after a night that left all of us in a flurry of emotion, all I can say is check here for a piece that I wrote about what we could happen if we missed out on Russia 2018. Before the hate mail comes out, I didn't want this to happen (check out the counter, by me, here). At all. And I’m very distraught that the game we all love so much took a really bad step backwards.

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Lion Links: 12/20/24

Orlando City’s 2025 MLS season schedule announced, MLS mock drafts, MLS clubs making moves, and more.

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1 day ago

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December 20, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! I finally have everything squared away after a week of hustling and bustling, meaning I can thankfully avoid the stores this weekend and just relax before next week’s chaos. I’m still trying to nail down what I’ll be cooking as my contribution for my family’s holiday dinner, but it should be fun trialing some options over the next few days. For now though, let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City’s 2025 MLS Schedule Announced

MLS revealed the schedule for the 2025 season and Orlando City’s first game of the season will be at home against the Philadelphia Union on Feb. 22. Orlando has yet to start a season on the road since joining the league back in 2015. The Lions aren’t scheduled to play against expansion club San Diego FC this year, but they will play their first road game against St. Louis City on June 25. While a majority of Orlando’s games will be on Saturdays, they do have a pair of games on Sundays against Inter Miami, including a rivalry week showdown on May 18. Decision Day will be on Oct. 18, with the Lions on the road to take on Toronto FC to close out the regular season.

Predicting the 2025 MLS SuperDraft

The MLS SuperDraft is set to take place today and Top Drawer Soccer did a mock draft to predict how the first two rounds will go. Orlando City currently has the 27th pick in the first round and Top Drawer Soccer has them selecting defensive midfielder Jackson Castro out of Creighton. The pick makes enough sense to me, as Orlando lost some depth in its midfield following the 2024 season and Castro was Duncan McGuire’s teammate on a strong Creighton team a couple of years ago. The Lions were also predicted to take West Virginia winger Sergio Ors Navarro and Kentucky forward Logan Dorsey in the second round.

Travis Clark of MLSsoccer.com also did a mock draft of the first round, with Orlando taking Cornell winger Alioune Ka. Interestingly enough, both mock drafts have NCAA leading scorer Emil Jaaskelainen going in the first round after Orlando’s pick. I’m pretty excited to see how it all shakes out today and learn which players will become the latest Lions on the team.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

The off-season is bringing plenty of change across the league as teams continue wheeling and dealing in preparation for the 2025 season. The New England Revolution made a splash by trading away up to $3.25 million in General Allocation Money (GAM) to Miami in exchange for attacker Leonardo Campana. The 24-year-old should give a needed boost to a New England team that only scored 37 goals this season. As for Miami, it now has an MLS-trade record fee of $2.5 million in guaranteed GAM and an open Designated Player spot at its disposal.

The LA Galaxy traded away 2024 MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman and a conditional $100,000 in GAM to Nashville SC in exchange for midfielder Sean Davis. Brugman will help Nashville fill the gap left by Anibal Godoy, who joined San Diego FC as a free agent. FC Dallas also added a free agent, signing defender Lalas Abubakar to a two-year deal.

GAM Amounts Revealed for Each MLS Club

MLS pulled back the curtain a bit and unveiled the amount of General Allocation Money that each team had as of Dec. 10. Orlando City’s total comes in at $3,990,312, which is a pretty hefty amount that can be used to improve the team. Atlanta United’s $6,503,478 is the most in the league, while the Houston Dynamo are at the other end of the spectrum with just $2,063,538. The Campana trade helps put these amounts into perspective, but there are many uses for GAM and it’s interesting to see where each club stands. It’s also just nice to get some transparency from the league about this and hopefully that trend continues in 2025.

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  • The National Independent Soccer Association will reportedly no longer be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Foundation next year, which would leave MLS NEXT Pro and USL League One as the third-division leagues in the U.S.
  • Tottenham beat Manchester United 4-3 to claim the final semifinal spot in the EFL Cup, with Son Heung-Min scoring directly from a corner kick. Tottenham will face off against Liverpool in the next round, with Newcastle and Arsenal squaring off in the other semifinal.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I wish you all a relaxing weekend and a very happy holidays!

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Lion Links: 12/19/24

Preparing for the MLS SuperDraft, New York Red Bulls sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Tim Weah injured, and more.

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2 days ago

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December 19, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

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.

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  • 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.

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

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Lion Links: 12/18/24

Another report on the Facundo Torres transfer, Marta wins her own award, Becky Sauerbrunn retires, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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December 18, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. For those that celebrate Christmas, we’re only a week out, so I hope you’ve gotten your shopping done. If not, no judgement from me, just encouragement. I know you can do it! I think we can all do with a little more encouragement these days. For now, let’s get to the links.

Torres Deal Done?

WESH is reporting that the Facundo Torres to Palmeiras deal is done. As of this writing, there has been no confirmation from either club, but it is reasonable to think where there’s this much smoke, there’s fire. Torres may have scored his last goal in purple, and will leave as the club’s all-time leader in that category after three seasons. According to the report, Torres signed a five-year deal with the Brazilian club. We will provide updates as information becomes available.

Marta Wins Marta Award

In the most appropriate award selection in history, Marta has won the inaugural FIFA award for the best goal in women’s soccer, aptly named The FIFA Marta Award.

The award winning goal came in Brazil’s international friendly against Jamaica in June, as the Brazilian made a nice move to clear a defender and then sent in a long-range shot. Check it out.

Marta received the award at FIFA’s “The Best” Award ceremony in Doha, Qatar.

USWNT Legend Becky Sauerbrunn Retires

Former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn is retiring from professional soccer. The legendary defender has played in the NWSL in every year of it’s existence. She retires having won three championships, one NWSL Shield, multiple Women’s World Cups, and Olympic medals. Sauerbrunn is definitively one of the best to ever wear a U.S. jersey.

NWSL, MLS NEXT Pro Expand

The NWSL is entering into exclusive negotiations with a Denver-area group regarding the league’s next expansion franchise. Denver was picked above both Cincinnati and Cleveland. The expansion fee is in the $105-$120 million range.

MLS NEXT Pro is also adding another new team. Until a new name, logo, and brand are settled on, the team will be called West Michigan Soccer. The team will be the sixth independent club in MLS NEXT Pro. Orlando City B won’t have the opportunity to play the new team until 2027.

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  • Torres’ goal against Nashville made it into a compilation of volleyed goals from the MLS Twitter account.

That will do it for today. Keep checking in as our Orlando City and Orlando Pride Season in Review pieces continue. Vamos Orlando!

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