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Lion Links: 10/21/18

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6 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. Chances are you’re here to bide your time while you await Orlando’s clash with the Columbus Crew, so I’ll do my best to keep your spirits high while you wait. Today’s match should be an entertaining affair, with Justin Meram making a potential eventful return to Orlando City Stadium. I would imagine that it’ll be an emotional one for him…and for the supporters in attendance. Just remember to keep it classy; that’s how you Mane Landers do it.

That said, I’ll do what I can to keep today’s serving of Links classy for you! Let’s dive right in.

Orlando City SC’s Home Finale

There’s bound to be some drama. With the Lions hosting the Crew for their last home match of the 2018 campaign, Meram, if present, will likely be front and center, but that’s not what Head Coach James O’Connor is focused on. He’s acknowledged the event, but certainly will have other things to work on. Namely: winning.

“It’s the same as any other player who comes back,” O’Connor said. “You shake his hand, you wish him all the best and it’ll have no bearing on what we’re trying to do. I think, for us, we’ve been very intentional about trying to make sure that whoever it is that comes here, we focus on what we need to do.”

Clearly, O’Connor doesn’t want the return of Meram to overshadow what’s really at stake for his side — ensuring that his team executes his game plan and ends the home finale with three points in hand. That’s been a difficult thing to do for the Lions since the appointment of O’Connor, and to be frank, there’s no guarantee that Meram will make the trip. Even Orlando’s star players, like Yoshimar Yotún, likely still in contact with their former teammate, have no inkling of whether or not Meram will travel with the Crew.

“If he does come, it’ll be nice,” Yotún said. “It’ll be nice to play against him. They’re a good club that includes an ex-teammate from Orlando City. It’s always good to play against ex-teammates.”

Regardless, O’Connor is well aware of the opposition’s strong season, and need for a positive result to potentially break into the MLS Playoff picture. He anticipates a challenging affair.

“Columbus, obviously, a very experienced team and having a very strong year, as well,” O’Connor said. “So, it’ll be a tough game for us.”

It should be a good one, Mane Landers. So make sure you’re tuned in!

Meram Reflects on his Orlando Tenure, Gives Supporters Credit

Speaking of the controversial former Lion, regardless of whether we see him today or not, he’s certainly reflected upon his time in Orlando. He’s happier now that he’s with the Crew again, and finally provided some insight into the trials and tribulations that he experienced as a Lion.

“Some negative things that happened when I was there made me mentally stronger, so that was a positive,” he said. “[Learning] how to handle situations better – that was positive. I wasn’t perfect; I can be a man about it. I could have done things a little better.”

Meram goes on to express regret over his then-controversial goal celebration of closing his eyes and putting his fingers in his ears; alluding that he’s blocking out the criticism of the supporters. He does, however, give the Lions supporters some credit.

“The fans kind of blow things up, but they’re passionate, and I respect their passion,” he said. “To have a fan base when results aren’t going well and they’re still out there every game, I give them credit…and I’m thankful for a lot of them who were supporting me even when I was in a slump.”

Unfortunately, that’s not where the interview ended. He also took a swipe at his former side, implying that while there was a high level of quality on the pitch, there was a lack of a strong culture that cultivates results.

“There’s a lot of quality in that locker room, and they spent a lot of money to bring in a lot of quality,” he said. “But just putting quality on the field isn’t going to win you games. You have to have a collectiveness, a family mindset. I think that might have been lacking a bit.”

That said, Meram also stated that he doesn’t feel that there’s any beef between he and the club. My opinion? I find that hard to believe. His response when asked if he would celebrate if he scored against his former side: “We’ll see when the time comes, I guess.” Prepare for fireworks, folks.

The Journey: Ashlyn Harris

We all know and love Pride goalkeeping stalwart Ashlyn Harris, but perhaps we all didn’t know of her humble beginnings. Harris began her meteoric rise from Satellite High School here in Florida, and was tabbed as a future goalkeeping prospect at the tender age of 16. In a series from U.S. Soccer, Harris is the feature of a The Journey, detailing the lives, both on and off the field, of USWNT stars as they work towards potential 2019 World Cup glory. Check it out, she’s got quite the story…and you’d never guess who inspired her the most during her formative years.

FC Cincinnati Looks to Enter MLS as Champions X2

Similar to Orlando City SC and its entrance into MLS play, FC Cincinnati is looking to take down the USL Cup before becoming an official MLS club in 2019. The club has already won the regular-season title, and will now attempt to add one more championship notch to its proverbial belt before leaving the league. The Ohio club needed penalties last night to advance. The Lions, who won the USL in 2011 and 2013 while also taking down the Commissioner's Cup in 2014, reveled in glory before entering MLS play to much fanfare. Unfortunately, as we all know, that success has yet to translate to the next level and the Lions have yet to break into the MLS playoffs.

Free Kicks

  • Friendly reminder: be sure to stick around after today’s match to cheer on the Orlando City Special Olympic squad!

  • Ready to catch a glimpse of the Orlando SeaWolves against the Brazil National Minifootball team…with a bonus match? Check this out.

  • Yesterday brought good news for USMNT and Schalke starlet Weston McKennie, as he was back in action as the German side hosted Werder Bremen.

  • Check out a sneak peak of USMNT legend Paul Caligiuri’s (and others’) induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, courtesy of Major League Soccer!

  • Don Garber, another Hall of Famer, has done a lot for MLS over the years. And I mean a lot.
  • Wayne Rooney has adjusted quite well to D.C. United and MLS play, as he tells the famed Men in Blazers.
  • The fears have been confirmed…walking icon Lionel Messi broke a bone in his right arm after a collision during the opening stages of yesterday’s match against Sevilla, and will miss three weeks, keeping the Barcelona talisman out of the famed El Clásico against Real Madrid next weekend. That’ll be good news for Madrid, which just recently ended a 465 minute goalless drought courtesy of a strike from (my personal favorite player of all time) Marcelo.

That’s all I’ve got for you today, Mane Landers. Enjoy the 3 p.m. kickoff against the Crew! Hopefully the Lions bring the heat…because lord knows the supporters deserve it for braving this Florida weather to see them play. It’d be one hell of a showing to see the Lions down a Meram-led crew, but it could happen, so do your best to remain positive and show out for your boys in purple.

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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

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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: 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

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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.

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: 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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