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Lion Links: 1/27/19

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6 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. I hope you’re all doing well this fine Sunday. It’s a bit nippy, but it’s always nice to stay inside of a warm home and kick back with your pets or kids and watch some movies. Or maybe you made it out to your local kickarounds? It’s actually the ideal time to get out there, as the mosquito hordes are rebuffed by the cool weather. No matter what you’ve been up to, I’ve been preparing your Sunday helping of Lion Links; I hope you’re hungry. Extra salt, right?

Loanee Danilo Acosta Focused On Becoming Starter

It appears that the recent loan move sending Danilo Acosta to Sunshine State from Real Salt Lake has lit a fire under his season’s ambitions, with the defender vying for a starting spot. Training camp is well underway, and that means that battles are waging on a daily basis to win coveted spots in the club’s starting 11. Acosta, while young at just 21 years of age, isn’t afraid of the task at hand — nor is he ill equipped for it. Acosta has tremendous experience already at both the professional and international levels, highlighting one of the many reasons why he was brought to the club.

“It’s day-by-day. It’s whatever you put on the field that’s what you’re going to get,” said Acosta. “At the end of the day, it’s how much you want it. If you want it really bad you have to work really hard for it, and that’s what I’m going to do. It’s day-by-day because at the end of the day it’s all about competition, so I’m trying to do anything I possibly can to win this spot.”

It’s clear Acosta is here to play. And that’ll only push his teammates to work harder as well. Something to admire about Acosta? His versatility, tenacity in the defensive third, and fighting spirit.

“I’m just here to do anything that I can do for the team to help them out,” said Acosta. “Whatever possible position I can be, it can be on the left side, it can be at center back, whatever the coach wants me to play I’ll try my best.”

JOC Pleased with Start to Camp at IMG Academy

Coaches say this every year, but James O’Connor is generally pleased with what he’s seen from his team after just one week of preseason training at IMG Academy in Bradenton.

“We’ve been really pleased,” O’Connor told Pro Soccer USA. “I think the attitude and the application has been very good. I think the intensity has been great. I think we’ve seen some good glimpses of camaraderie, which is important. We’ve been working really hard and we’ve been pleased with what we’re seeing.”

OCSC Releases 2019 Second Round Pick Tommy Madden

Well…that was short. After being drafted with the 38th overall pick in the second round by the Lions in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, midfielder Tommy Madden has been released. It’s an unfortunate speed bump in the career of the young, talented midfielder, but there’s always opportunities with Orlando City B or with another club elsewhere. Something tells me he’ll find work sooner rather than later, as Tommy was a stalwart in the midfield for UNC-Charlotte, where he made 72 appearances over an illustrious collegiate career. We wish you the best, Tommy!

David Beckham’s Miami MLS Franchise Faces New Lawsuits

Apparently, a Miami attorney has filed two lawsuits aiming to prevent the club from building its new stadium on a city-owned golf course and complex. Yet another wrench in the seemingly never-ending drama that is Inter Miami, this first raises questions regarding whether or not the city appropriately described the land that would be leased for the construction of the stadium and grounds. The second focuses on laws requiring Beckham and his business associates to disclose the ownership of the corporation being represented. It’s getting hairy down in Miami…be sure to keep an eye on the developing hurricane (pun intended, but go Noles).

Gregg Berhalter Defends Michael Bradley’s USMNT Inclusion

Despite a run of poor form for, well, for a while, Berhalter didn’t hesitate in naming Toronto FC stalwart and USMNT regular Michael Bradley to his roster for today’s match against Panama. Berhalter believes “it’s clear that he has the quality.” This may be true, but it’s also a decision that many have criticized, considering the emergence of young talents both domestically and internationally, and the decline of a midfielder that is clearly in the twilight of an amazing career.

“It’s hard for me to understand how people gather that opinion, because when I see [Bradley] up close, it’s clear that he has quality,” Berhalter said. “When you look at his quality level in this group, it’s high.”

It’s clear that Berhalter respects what Bradley still has left in the tank.

”If [a player is] good enough to perform and he can fit and execute in the roles and responsibilities that we have for that position then he should be able to play, whether that’s old or young,” he said. “Michael is a good example of that. He’s been doing well in camp. His leadership has been good, but also his execution has been excellent.”

Free Kicks

  • Want you or your youngin’ to be a badass goalkeeper like Ashlyn Harris? Great news. She’s hosting some goalkeeper training sessions with Ali Kreiger Football Camps!

  • New U.S. Men’s National Team manager Gregg Berhalter addressed the media ahead of today’s match against Panama.
  • Speaking of that match against Panama…the turnout isn’t looking too great so far. Maybe some emphatic wins through exciting play can start turning these numbers around?

That’s all I’ve got for you today folks…footy-wise. I do want leave you with a personal recommendation on a podcast that I’ve really grown to enjoy. It’s a true crime podcast called My Favorite Murder, hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. It has an acquired taste, and it can be quite explicit, but the humor along with the intrigue that comes with the excellent story-telling of horrifying tales by these two ladies makes the time fly — whether it be during exercising, at work, or just driving around during errands. I highly recommend you give them a listen, if you can take it.

Anyway, have a great week folks. Stay sexy and don’t get murdered.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/23/24

Orlando City sells Facundo Torres to Palmeiras, Lions draft four players, latest MLS transfer moves, and more.

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3 hours ago

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December 23, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

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.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/20/24

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

Published

3 days ago

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December 20, 2024

By

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.

Free Kicks

  • 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

Lion Links: 12/19/24

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

Published

4 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.

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.

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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