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In the week that Luke Boden confirmed his Orlando City SC exit by thanking Lions fans for six years of support, Jason Kreis‘ Lions signed extra cover at left back yesterday.
Indeed, 22-year-old Brazilian Victor Giro – otherwise known as ‘PC‘ – became Orlando City SC‘s fourth off-season arrival, penning a four-year contract at Orlando City Stadium.
No stranger to Florida having previously represented Orlando City SC‘s state rivals Fort Lauderdale Strikers and more recently Tampa Bay Rowdies, PC will hope to win Lions fans over sooner rather than later given these connections.
Described as a versatile player who can operate at left back, left midfield and left wing, we wonder just where PC will be lining up for Orlando City SC?
Donny Toia the first choice?
Given PC boasts plenty of NASL experience but not in Major League Soccer compared to fellow off-season arrival Donny Toia, you’d have to think the latter player will be Jason Kreis‘ first choice at left back.
Having made 75 MLS appearances across two separate spells at Chivas USA and Montreal Impact, Toia’s experience should mean he’s relied upon initially.
A depth addition?
While us Orlando City SC fans don’t like to recall the fact that Fort Lauderdale Strikers knocked us out of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at the fifth round stage in June last year, it was actually PC‘s last gasp extra-time equaliser that forced penalty kicks.
With Strikers going on to inflict defeat on Orlando City SC in a stormy game at Camping World Stadium, it’s worth noting that PC actually lined up in midfield as opposed to defence during that game.
That said, Jason Kreis is blessed with an abundance of options down the left wing, namely Kevin Molino, Matías Pérez García, Carlos Rivas, Kaká and Brek Shea.
This should mean PC will play most of his games at left back but it’s handy to know he can fill in when injury strikes as a depth addition.
What’s more, PC chipped in with six goals in 37 appearances during his 2015/16 association with Fort Lauderdale Strikers so he can certainly produce going forward.
What about Brek Shea?
With both Mikey Ambrose and Luke Boden having moved on from Orlando City SC this winter with Donny Toia and now PC arriving as replacements, you’d have to imagine the experiment of playing Brek Shea at left back is now over.
With Adrian Heath having persevered with the former Stoke City man in defence during his tenure, it seems increasingly clear that Jason Kreis will deploy Shea as an attacking asset going forward.