This is one in a series of team previews preparing fans for the 2023 MLS season. Check out the full list; teams will be revealed in predicted order of finish from Feb. 10-24.
What Orlando City SC did last year
The Lions slogged their way through some pretty major changes in attack and put it together enough times in the regular season to make the playoffs. It was far from pretty at times, but Oscar Pareja and company got the job done. They also earned Orlando’s first trophy, winning the U.S. Open Cup.
Key additions
Midfielder Felipe Martins (signing), Forward Martín Ojeda (transfer from Godoy Cruz), defender Luca Petrasso (trade from Toronto), defender Rafael Santos (transfer from Cruzeiro), midfielder Dagur Dan Thórhallsson (transfer from Breiðablik UBK)
Key departures
Forward Tesho Akindele (option declined), midfielder Jake Mulraney (transfer to St. Patrick’s Athletic), defender João Moutinho (out of contract), midfielder Andrés Perea (rade to Philadelphia), defender Ruan (trade to D.C. United), midfielder Júnior Urso (mutual contract termination)
Making the case for Orlando City SC
The Lions are about to be one of the most popular picks in the East. And for good reason. They had an objectively outstanding outseason, shedding unwanted pieces, holding onto core players like attacking midfielder Mauricio Pereyra and goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, and making moves that not only bolstered their depth but theoretically lifted their ceiling to its highest point in a long time.
In particular, new DP winger Martin Ojeda could be the real deal. If he’s as effective in attack as the Lions think he could be, then Orlando’s attack could shift from plodding and occasionally successful to dynamic and consistently threatening. Orlando’s move to re-sign Pereyra on a non-DP deal and turn that spot into Ojeda is one of the single best moves of the offseason.
That being said, there’s reason for skepticism. Doing a lot of things doesn’t necessarily mean all the things you did were good. It just means you did a lot of things.
In all, Orlando probably added just two locked-on starters to a team that couldn’t find its groove last year. Is that enough of a shakeup to turn them into a contender? I don’t know. But you do have to applaud them for recognizing the need for and executing that shakeup.
Players to watch
We haven’t even mentioned them yet, but DP forward Ercan Kara and DP winger Facundo Torres will be critical. Kara disappointed at times last year, while Torres found his groove late and had a legitimate claim to Newcomer of the Year in MLS. If both take major steps forward with Ojeda on the other side, this Orlando attack could be even more effective than the front three of Nani, Daryl Dike and Chris Mueller.
At that point, they should have enough stability across the board to field a midfield that should have the ability to control games and a back line that does enough to avoid too many critical errors. Just having Gallese and center back Antonio Carlos should be plenty.
A nerdy tidbit
The Lions finished 11th in the east in American Soccer Analysis’ expected points metric last year. Even a big jump forward in that regard would make them just a playoff team, not a contender.
A fun tidbit
Pedro Gallese won save of the year last year and I saw it in person from directly behind the shot and I still have absolutely no idea how he got to that ball.
Projected finish
6th in the East
A lot of other predictions will understandably have them higher, but I actually like this projection, even if it does skew a bit pessimistic.
Again, they’ve done great work. They’ve also added just two starters on paper. Does that really fix some of their most glaring problems? Maybe. But it’s tough to bank on. Ojeda will be the key to all of it. If he’s immediately great, then Orlando could be a contender. If he’s just good, the Lions might end up as an improved but not trophy-hunting playoff team.