Tom Bogert

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Charlotte FC – 27.10.2024

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It’s that time of year again, folks! Buckle up for a bumpy ride because the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs are here, and Orlando City SC are gearing up for what we all hope is ultimate 2024 MLS Cup glory! Could this finally be our year? By appearing in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs as fourth seed in the East, Orlando City SC are one of just three active MLS teams to reach the post-season in five consecutive seasons – an impressive feat achieved every single year under Oscar Pareja’s leadership. Things were all looking rosy prior to October’s FIFA international break. However, Papi’s men enter the playoffs with a seed of doubt in their minds following a disappointing 1-2 loss to Atlanta United at Inter&Co Stadium on 2024 MLS Decision Day.

I know what you’re thinking. It was only our third defeat in 14 MLS matches, with New York City FC’s 2-0 defeat at CF Montréal securing us fourth place and home field advantage anyway. But I couldn’t help feeling frustrated. We missed a chance to end the regular season on a high note, failing to eliminate our fierce rivals on our home turf, despite referee Rubiel Vazquez’s harsh intervention, but we’ll get to that later. Maybe I’m overreacting, but I believe it was a missed opportunity to solidify a battle-ready mindset for the post-season.

Now the playoffs are here, it’s time to puff out our chests and forget last weekend. In this year’s Round One Best-of-3 Series, Orlando City SC will face Charlotte FC and not New York City FC who we all expected. In truth, avoiding a game at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field is probably a blessing! Reflecting on the 2024 MLS regular season, Orlando City SC scored 59 goals, breaking our club record (55 in 2023 and 2016) for the most goals in a single season. We’re also unbeaten against Charlotte FC this year, drawing 2-2 at Bank of America Stadium on June 19 before defeating The Crown 2-0 at Inter&Co Stadium on September 18. Having only ever lost once to the Mint City side (2-0-1) in Central Florida, our home advantage will make us favourites to progress, but make no mistake – Charlotte FC are no mugs.

Going 14-9-11 in Dean Smith’s inaugural season as Charlotte FC head coach, The Crown ended upon on 51 points in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind Orlando City SC (52). Finishing the MLS regular season with three straight victories, Charlotte FC will be feeling mighty confident. However, having only contested just one MLS Wild Card match (2023) before, game one will be Charlotte FC’s first playoff game proper. Sure, Orlando City SC have the most wins (10) and most points (31) in MLS since July 1, making us Major League Soccer’s most in-form team heading into the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. But we all know about the elephant in the room!

Rash decisions, hot-headedness, and allowing our emotions to get the better of us in the playoffs when it’s previously mattered most. Believe me; I’m still haunted by Mauricio Pereyra’s 2020 red card against New England Revolution and Rodrigo Schlegel’s 2023 red card against Columbus Crew, and not just because it’s almost Halloween! Orlando City SC really need to prove they’ve truly learned from these past mistakes. Ultimately, Orlando City SC supporters will not tolerate overly reckless or kamikaze performances, both individually and collectively, this time around. It’s time to show we’re #AllTeeth, and deliver that elusive MLS Cup that our city demands and craves. Let’s do this thing. Vamos Orlando! Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Duncan McGuire’s new Orlando City SC contract through 2027

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Drafted 6th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, star striker and USMNT player Duncan McGuire has now signed a new contract through 2027 with a club option in 2028. This keeps Big Dunc at Inter&Co Stadium for at least the next three-and-a-bit seasons. Should McGuire move on during this period, at least the Lions can now command a higher fee for him.

A story first broken by Tom Bogert on August 14, McGuire’s new deal has been music to City supporters’ ears. A hugely popular player and undoubtedly one of the best players Orlando City SC have ever drafted, McGuire will not be moving to Europe as many expected. Instead, he will now stay in Central Florida to help the Lions try and achieve their MLS Cup dreams! Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Heine Gikling Bruseth

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Linked with Orlando City SC since early August, the Lions have today announced the signing of central midfielder Heine Gikling Bruseth from Kristiansund. Joining MLS as a U22 Initiative player, the 20-year-old has signed a contract through 2026 at Inter&Co Stadium for a fee believed to be worth €1.7 million including bonuses.

On August 7, it seemed the deal had fallen through when Tom Bogert tweeted that “Orlando could not agree a fee”. Despite Kristiansund rejecting several offers from the Lions, the Orlando City SC Front Office persisted in negotiations and ultimately secured their target. In a quiet MLS Secondary Transfer Window, Norway Under-21 international Bruseth will now bring more natural balance to City’s central midfield with his left footed play. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target Heine Gikling Bruseth?

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Just when it looked as if this MLS Secondary Transfer Window was passing the Lions by, a tweet from @NordiskNorvege yesterday said that Orlando City SC are ramping up their efforts to sign Kristiansund midfielder Heine Gikling Bruseth.

In a translated version of @NordiskNorvege’s tweet – a tweet that credited Norwegian source @NettavisenSport – it said: “Despite several advances rejected by Kristiansund, Orlando City SC is going all out by offering €1.45 million including bonuses.” Continue reading →

Orlando City SC reject $8 million Red Star Belgrade offer for Facundo Torres

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Today, North American transfer expert Tom Bogert tweeted that Orlando City SC have rejected a bid of around $8 million from Red Star Belgrade for our Designated Player, Facundo Torres.

A story first reported by Adam Leventhal of The Athletic, Bogert tweeted he: “Would assume that’s not close to Orlando’s valuation” with Alonso Contreras tweeting that El Cuervo’s preference is a transfer to either La Liga or the Premier League. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Chicago Fire – 22.06.2024

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Orlando City SC could only manage a 2-2 draw at Charlotte FC on Wednesday despite playing a man up for 57 minutes after Scott Arfield’s first-half red card. The Lions were even facing the prospect of a disastrous defeat when Brandt Bronico put Dean Smith’s 10-man side 2-1 ahead in the second-half. However, Facundo Torres‘ 81st minute equaliser saved Oscar Pareja’s Lions further embarrassment in what is turning out to be an awful outlier season.

Right now, City need wins, not draws to climb up from second bottom in the Eastern Conference. However, scoring two goals in a single game is a positive sign, something we haven’t accomplished since our 2-3 win against Philadelphia Union on May 11. Now contesting a must-win game against thirteenth-placed Chicago Fire at Inter&Co Stadium, we have a crucial opportunity to leapfrog the team directly ahead of us.

Speaking of Chicago Fire, they defeated Toronto FC 1-4 last Saturday, achieving back-to-back victories for the first time this season after a terrible nine-game winless streak. Entering this game fresher than Orlando City SC having not played in midweek, Frank Klopas’ side will be encouraged by the Lions’ poor home record (1-3-5) which is currently the joint-worst in Major League Soccer.

In Saturday’s game, City will be wearing rainbow jersey numbers instead of gold to commemorate Pride In Our City Night at Inter&Co Stadium. Continue reading →

Duncan McGuire to return to Orlando City SC as Blackburn Rovers loan collapses

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(Credit: Blackburn Rovers)

After an EFL Board meeting today, Duncan McGuire’s six-month loan move to Blackburn Rovers has now officially collapsed due to an ‘administrative error’ by the EFL Championship side. In other words, the move has fallen through because McGuire’s registration paperwork was submitted after England’s January transfer window deadline of 11pm back on Thursday, February 1. On Tuesday, Tom Bogert even went as far to tweet that Rovers only clicked “save” and not “submit paperwork” before the deadline in what is truly a farcical clerical error. Turning 23 on Monday, this has been no way to spend a birthday with McGuire now having to return to Orlando City SC with immediate effect.

This dramatic transfer saga peaked last Wednesday when McGuire took a flight to England, only for Rovers to call Orlando City SC and our striker’s agent to inform us that they were pulling out of a deal. McGuire then remained grounded in England as fellow suitors Sheffield Wednesday re-entered the race, only for Rovers to then remarkably re-enter negotiations themselves, finally announcing Duncan McGuire’s six-month loan arrival on social media at 23:02, minutes after the January transfer window deadline had passed.

Orlando City UK now understands that Blackburn will fly over to the United States over the coming weeks to try to conclude a pre-contract agreement with Orlando City SC, so that Duncan McGuire can officially become a Rovers player in the summer. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing David Brekalo

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Heavily linked with Orlando City SC since early January, the Lions have today announced the signing of centre back David Brekalo from Viking Stavanger with the 25-year-old signing a contract through 2027 (with a club option in 2028) at Inter&Co Stadium for a fee believed to be worth $2.5 million.

After City overcame a cheeky beat-the-deadline loan bid from Blackburn Rovers, the 6 ft 1 in Slovenian international of 11 caps now fills the void left by former City favourite Antônio Carlos who departed Central Florida this winter, returning to his native Brazil when joining Fluminense back in December. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s Duncan McGuire joining Blackburn Rovers on loan

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With England’s January transfer window deadline having just closed at 11pm (GMT), Orlando City SC have now announced that Duncan McGuire has joined EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers on a six-month loan. With Tom Bogert confirming that the loan fee is worth $700,000 with a purchase option of around $7 million, plus $2.5 million in add-ons, McGuire’s move across the pond comes after he reportedly rejected a contract extension in Central Florida. This alone is merely half the story however!

A high drama situation that has been unravelling all week, Blackburn looked all set to wrap up the deal yesterday. However, despite McGuire flying to England on Wednesday to seal his transfer to Ewood Park, Rovers then pulled out of a rumoured $4 million deal for the recently capped USMNT striker at the eleventh hour due to ‘financial reasons’. This not only left McGuire – on his transatlantic flight at the time – in limbo but also the Orlando City SC Front Office and City supporters who all faced an unprecedented transfer saga, or should we say soap opera, that has truly had supporters, journalists, and pundits transfixed since last weekend. News of the Blackburn deal collapsing then alerted McGuire’s other suitors Sheffield Wednesday with the striker spotted at Kenwood Park Hotel in Sheffield this morning.

Are you still following? From here, after cheekily attempting to hijack Orlando City SC’s move for David Brekalo, Blackburn remarkably re-entered negotiations for Duncan McGuire, and at 4:15pm this afternoon, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano put everybody out of their misery by tweeting that McGuire was “on his way to Blackburn to sign on loan with an option to buy clause.”

A saga that has had more twists and turns than the VelociCoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure, it’s been one of the craziest weeks in Orlando City SC‘s MLS history. With Duncan McGuire joining Rovers on loan until July, City must now wait to cash in on the 22-year-old with the start of our 2024 campaign looming large. A shock for some and an inevitability for others, City have now been forced back into the transfer market to find a starting centre forward replacement for the recently capped USMNT striker with Colombian international Luis Muriel looking the most likely candidate as we speak. Continue reading →

Orlando City SC reject Sheffield Wednesday offer for Duncan McGuire

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In the early hours of Sunday morning, North American transfer expert Tom Bogert tweeted that Orlando City SC have rejected an offer from EFL Championship side Sheffield Wednesday for recently capped USMNT striker Duncan McGuire.

With Bogert’s tweet stating that “Orlando view the offer not close to their valuation”, the Owls are the latest side looking to prise McGuire away from Inter&Co Stadium after previous reported interest Anderlecht, R.W.D. Molenbeek, Blackburn Rovers, and Stoke City. Continue reading →