Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/1/21
Hello, Mane Landers. I hope everyone is doing well down in Florida as we enter September. It’s going to be busy this week with World Cup qualifiers and then Orlando City and the Orlando Pride in action this weekend. Before we jump into today’s links from around the soccer world, lets all wish a happy birthday to former Orlando City player and head coach James O’Connor!
Orlando City Prepares for the Columbus Crew
The Lions will take on the Columbus Crew on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Exploria Stadium. Orlando is second in the Eastern Conference standings while Columbus sits in eighth. This will be the first of two meetings between the two clubs this season, with the Lions set to play in Columbus on Oct. 27. The Crew are coming off of a 3-2 win over FC Cincinnati that snapped a six-game losing streak. As for the Lions, they will be without Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and Ecuadorian midfielder Sebas Mendez as both players are in South America for World Cup qualifiers.
Just wrapped up at Orlando City training — didn’t see Pato or Andrés Perea, but Uri Rosell is back to training. Sebas and Pedro are both with their national teams ahead of WC qualifiers.
Mason Stajduhar was also working limited on the side rather than with the keepers unit.
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) August 31, 2021
Nani Reflects on His Time Playing With Ronaldo
With Cristiano Ronaldo back with Manchester United, Orlando City captain Nani discussed what it was like to have him as a teammate. Nani joined United in 2007 just as Ronaldo was proving himself to be one of the top players in the world. The two Portuguese teammates lived together and Nani pushed himself to improve while playing in Ronaldo’s shadow. When Ronaldo left the club in 2009, Nani stepped up to become one of the team’s more dangerous players on offense. Now in MLS, Nani is still scoring great goals and using years of experience to become a leader for the Lions.
“The experience of different challenges over the years at different clubs, you take a little bit from each experience you have in your career and put it all together. That’s what helps me lead the team,” Nani says.
“I have respect from the club and all my team-mates, and I feel at home. The responsibility I have is good for me to give me the motivation I need every single day to continue to work hard and improve and make sure I can help the players around me develop.”
Racing Louisville FC Fires Its Head Coach
Christy Holly had his contract terminated by Racing Louisville. The reasoning for Holly’s firing was not given in the club’s statement and the head of Soccer Holdings’ youth academy system, Mario Sanchez, will serve as the team’s interim head coach.
A statement from the club: pic.twitter.com/t9hoFpCBvt
— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) September 1, 2021
Holly’s firing is the latest in many coaching changes during this NWSL season. NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that Scott Parkinson will become its next head coach to replace Freya Coombe. Parkinson was an assistant coach for Utah Royals FC and the Chicago Red Stars and former NWSL player Beverly Goebel Yanez will join the club as an assistant coach as well.
Transfer Deadline Day Wraps Up
Europe’s transfer window closed in exciting fashion as clubs raced to finalize deals and add players. The biggest news was FC Barcelona loaning Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid for the rest of the La Liga season. There were reportedly discussions of swapping Griezmann for Atletico’s Joao Felix, but the Portuguese forward will remain in Madrid. Atletico also loaned midfielder Saul Niguez to Chelsea for the rest of the season.
Paris Saint-Germain rejected Real Madrid’s advances and decided not to sell forward Kylian Mbappe. It’s a bold move from the French club considering Mbappe could leave for free in the future, but PSG will preserve the trio of Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi for now. Real Madrid did manage to acquire one of the top young talents in Europe by signing 18-year-old midfielder Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes.
Ronaldo’s move to Manchester United from Juventus was finalized and his contract will last two years with an option for a third. With Jadon Sancho and Ronaldo now in Manchester, the club dealt winger Daniel James to Leeds United.
Americans on the Move
Europe’s biggest names weren’t the only players moving to new clubs in Europe as multiple Americans joined new teams as well. Forward Matthew Hoppe is leaving Schalke 04 to join RCD Mallorca in La Liga. Tottenham Hotspur loaned defender Cameron Carter-Vickers to Celtic FC in a move that will certainly help the 23-year-old receive some playing time.
The Philadelphia Union loaned Jack de Vries to Serie A’s Venezia FC and the 19-year-old will play for the Italian side’s U-19 squad. Chris Richards’ contract with Bayern Munich was extended through 2025 and the center back will go back on loan with Hoffenheim after a successful spell there last season. Erik Palmer-Brown was loaned out by Manchester City to Troyes in France’s Ligue 1 as well.
Colorado Rapids midfielder Cole Bassett turned down a deal that would’ve landed him with Benfica in Portugal. Instead, Bassett chose to stay with the Rapids for the time being as he wants to help his hometown club win silverware.
Free Kicks
- Although the free tickets may be claimed by the time you’re reading this, tickets are discounted for the Pride’s match against the Houston Dash this Sunday. With the season entering its final stretch, now’s a great time to come out and support Ashlyn Harris and the rest of the Pride.
469 saves = 469 free tickets courtesy of @Ashlyn_Harris! 🎟️
Let's celebrate the @NWSL's All-Time Saves leader together this Sunday at the #SpaceRace as we host the @HoustonDash!
Your free ticket: https://t.co/pGOqrK0c6l pic.twitter.com/agCPnGNMCb
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) August 31, 2021
- Marta was called up for Brazil’s matches against Argentina later this month. She likely won’t miss any matches for the Pride as a result due to an international break, with the Pride facing OL Reign on the road on Sept. 26.
Riiiiing riiiiing! ☎️
Marta has been called up by the @SelecaoFeminina to face Argentina on September 18th & 21st! 👏🇧🇷 #AdAstra https://t.co/2nF3NJD6wR pic.twitter.com/Fg3OerkjS7
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) August 31, 2021
- After a 0-0 draw against Inter Miami this past weekend, Orlando City SC dropped one spot to seventh in the MLS power rankings.
- The United States Men’s National Team begins its World Cup qualifying campaign tomorrow night in El Salvador. Midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams are determined to not only qualify for the World Cup, but also to show that the USMNT is the top team in Concacaf.
That will do it for me, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/23/24
Orlando City sells Facundo Torres to Palmeiras, Lions draft four players, latest MLS transfer moves, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. My weekend has been busy working at Under Armour, with Christmas just two days away. I also covered high school hockey and went to a Chicago Bulls game. Besides that, I finally got all my Christmas shopping done. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Announces Facundo Torres Transfer to Palmeiras
Orlando City announced on Friday that forward Facundo Torres has been sold to Palmeiras for a club-record fee. Torres leaves Orlando as the Lions all-time goal-scoring leader. He had 123 appearances across all competitions, scored 47 goals, and added 25 assists in three seasons in Orlando. Torres made a big impact as a Lion, helping the club reach the playoffs the last three years and winning the 2022 U.S. Open Cup title.
The Lions will have an open Designated Player spot to fill during the off-season. Their home opener against the Philadelphia Union is less than two months away.
Lions Select Four Players in 2025 MLS SuperDraft
The Lions made four selections during the 2025 MLS SuperDraft on Friday. With the 27th overall pick, they chose midfielder Joran Gerbet out of Clemson. Gerbet had a solid collegiate career, recording 12 goals and 15 assists, and he led Clemson to the 2023 National Championship title as well. In the second round, the Lions added another Clemson Tiger by selecting center back Titus Sandy, Jr. with the 46th overall pick. Sandy played in 48 matches, logging 2,520 minutes, and was also part of the 2023 National Championship team. Later in the same round, the Lions picked forward Collins Oduro out of Indiana. Oduro made 44 appearances for the Hoosiers, scoring eight goals to go with seven assists. The Lions concluded their 2025 MLS SuperDraft by selecting Marshall defender Takahiro Fujita in the third round with the 87th overall pick. MLSSoccer.com unveiled its draft grades for each club, and Orlando City received an A- as its grade.
NJ/NY Gotham FC Trades Lynn Williams to the Seattle Reign
We had a trade that went down in the National Women’s Soccer League as NJ/NY Gotham FC traded forward Lynn Williams and goalkeeper Cassie Miller to the Seattle Reign. In exchange, the Seattle Reign acquired midfielder Jaelin Howell, an international roster slot, and $70,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). Williams spent two seasons with Gotham FC, recording 17 goals and seven assists. She made 75 appearances for the U.S. Women’s National Team and was part of the squad that won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Miller began the 2024 NWSL season as the number one goalkeeper for Gotham but was moved to a backup role once the club acquired Ann-Katrin Berger. Howell made eight appearances for the Reign this season after being acquired from Racing Louisville FC in August.
Latest Transfer Moves in MLS
We have some MLS transfer news to catch you up on from over the weekend. Real Salt Lake acquired forward Elias Manoel and four MLS SuperDraft picks from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for $700,000 in GAM. The Red Bulls maintain a sell-on percentage for Manoel as well. Atlanta United also made a trade, acquiring midfielder Mateusz Klich from D.C. United in exchange for Atlanta’s first round 2025 MLS SuperDraft Pick and up to $50,000 in conditional GAM if Atlanta re-signs Klich. The New England Revolution signed goalkeeper Alex Bono to a contract through the 2026 season. Bono spent the previous two seasons with D.C. United. The Revolution also added defender Tanner Beason, who previously played five seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes. Beason’s deal is through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.
Premier League Weekend Roundup
We had plenty of action in the Premier League over the weekend. Manchester City fell 2-1 to Aston Villa on Saturday and has lost nine out of its last 12 matches across all competitions. Arsenal cruised past Crystal Palace 5-1, Newcastle United defeated Ipswich Town 4-0 with Alexander Isak getting a hat trick, and Nottingham Forest won 2-0 against Brentford. West Ham United and Brighton fought to a 1-1 draw. On Sunday, Manchester United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 6-3, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice. Vitor Pereira won his first match as Wolverhampton’s manager, as his side beat Leicester City 3-0. The Everton and Chelsea and Fulham and Southampton matches ended in a scoreless draw.
Free Kicks
- In an interview with Fast Company, former Orlando Pride player Alex Morgan gave insight into her next chapter since retiring from pro soccer. Morgan discussed how she’s navigating through her post-playing career, investing in other sports, and continuing to support current and future generations of female athletes.
- Atlanta United named Ronny Deila as its next head coach. Deila previously coached Standard Liege, New York City FC, Celtic, and Club Brugge.
- FIFA and Netflix signed an agreement for exclusive broadcast rights in the United States for the 2027 and 2031 editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- In another coaching move, USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC announced former Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Neill Collins as its next head coach after activating his release clause at Raith Rovers.
- Weston McKennie scored a goal in the first half to help Juventus snap its run of four consecutive draws in league play with a 2-1 win against Monza on Sunday.
- Jesus Navas played his final match for Sevilla as his side lost 4-2 to Real Madrid on Sunday. Navas will retire from professional soccer after his contract ends this month after a stellar 21-year career.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/20/24
Orlando City’s 2025 MLS season schedule announced, MLS mock drafts, MLS clubs making moves, and more.
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.
Free Kicks
- Concacaf announced that Saudi Arabia was invited as a guest nation for both the 2025 and 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup.
- The Kansas City Current bid farewell to goalkeepers Adrianna France and Almuth Schult. The club then announced that it signed goalkeeper Laurel Ivory to a one-year contract.
- 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!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/19/24
Preparing for the MLS SuperDraft, New York Red Bulls sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Tim Weah injured, and more.
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!
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