STATS PREVIEW: New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City SC – 23.03.2019

Embed from Getty Images

Following a hugely disappointing limp 1-3 home loss to Montreal Impact last weekend, James O’Connor‘s Orlando City SC need to pick themselves up quickly for a tough road test at New York Red Bulls.

Travelling to Red Bull Arena with two points from the first nine available, Lions supporters endured that all too familiar sinking feeling in a really poor and wasteful showing against the Impact. Continue reading

Is THIS how Nani could fit into Orlando City SC’s starting XI?

Embed from Getty Images

Friday was quite the day to be an Orlando City SC supporter with widespread reports emerging that the Lions are on the brink of sealing a transfer for experienced Portuguese international star Nani.

On Friday evening (UK time), journalist Paul Tenorio confirmed that James O’Connor‘s side are “in the final stages of negotiations” to sign the Sporting Lisbon forward as a Designated Player on a free transfer. Continue reading

New 2019 Orlando City SC squad numbers revealed

Embed from Getty Images

With just 24 days until our MLS home opener against New York City FC and just 10 days until the Orlando City Invitational fixture against the same opposition, Orlando City SC has now revealed their squad numbers for 2019.

With James O’Connor‘s Lions extremely active in the transfer market this off-season having brought in over 10 new faces, here’s what numbers our new-look Lions squad will be wearing this year. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s 2018 protected player list

Embed from Getty Images

As is customary in Major League Soccer, the league requests that clubs release protected player lists at the end of each campaign, and Orlando City SC did just that today.

With the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft taking place tomorrow, new boys FC Cincinnati start construction of their inaugural 2019 roster, but the Ohio franchise won’t be able to sign these 11 Lions stars. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Tesho Akindele

Embed from Getty Images

While many were sceptical whether Orlando City SC would actually take advantage of Major League Soccer’s half-day trade window that opened for four hours yesterday, there’s already a new man in the building for 2019 – Tesho Akindele.

Orlando City SC announced the signing of the 26-year-old Canadian international forward from FC Dallas yesterday in exchange for $100,000 of Targeted Allocation Money in 2019 and $50,000 of General Allocation Money in 2020. Continue reading

14 bargain buys Orlando City SC should be closely monitoring this off-season

Embed from Getty Images

Orlando City SC endured their worst season in MLS in 2018 and will be looking at the transfer window to at the very least continue the rebuild that began under Jason Kreis last off-season, and at most, completely start over again.

Last week we discovered who had been retained by the club and who is exiting Orlando City Stadium with gaps appearing in certain positions, particularly at goalkeeper and right back. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s 2018 end-of-season roster update

Embed from Getty Images

This evening (UK time), Orlando City SC officially announced their updated first team roster following the end of the 2018 Major League Soccer campaign.

The first comprehensive evidence as to who is staying, potentially remaining and departing Orlando City Stadium before 2019, there were a few surprise names in the ‘option not exercised’ column. Continue reading

Five Orlando City SC takeaways from the 2018 MLS Players Salary Guide

Embed from Getty Images

This week the MLS Players Association published an updated version of the 2018 player salaries, the first since the close secondary transfer window and final roster freeze in September.

Headlines included high-profile D.C. United acquisition Wayne Rooney becoming the league’s ninth highest paid player at $2.78m, one of a record 53 millionaires now plying their trade in North America. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City SC – 28.10.2018

Embed from Getty Images

After the pick me up of a dramatic 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew and our first Major League Soccer win since July 14, Orlando City SC now travel to New York Red Bulls on MLS Decision Day 2018.

The final fixture of a campaign to forget, this fixture has massive implications for who is crowned 2018 Eastern Conference champions with just one point separating first-placed Atlanta United and second-placed New York Red Bulls heading into game 34. Continue reading