Orlando City asked its team and its fans to defy expectations in it inaugural year. The focus was very clearly on making the playoffs even as an expansion team with plenty of flaws and holes to fill (particularly with experience) and the newness of a new league.
No matter how much the Lions tried to make the pieces fit together it just did not come together for a playoff berth in that first year in MLS.
There was disappointment from the front office — and coaching staff and front office changes to boot — from missing the playoffs. It was really the first measure of failure for Orlando City as an organization since arriving in Orlando.
There is plenty of money invested in several key players — Kaka is one of the highest paid players in MLS — and there is still that desire to “defy expectations” yet again.
Even with few major changes to the roster entering this season, expectations are high for Orlando City. The feeling as they gathered for a media day before Monday’s opening to practice, is that this season is Playoffs or bust. Another year of struggling will not be accepted.
Brek Shea told Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel this is a playoff team or the year is a failure:
“I think if we don’t reach the playoffs, it’s a failure in my eyes,” Shea said. “I think there’s no doubt we have a good enough team, good enough camaraderie and good enough players and staff to get us there.”
Orlando City will benefit from some much-needed health. Midfielder Kevin Molino was tearing up MLS before a torn ACL cut his season short. There were also several injuries that forced a constant shuffling to the lineup. Along with just tons of youth along the roster, there was a lot to overcome in that first year.
Maybe the high expectations were just marketing.
Certainly the team was capable. A mid-season swoon knocked them down pretty hard, forcing a wild scramble to get back into the playoff conversation. The team is likely somewhere in the middle as far as its actual play and ability.
The Lions were close to the playoffs as it was. Now they are expecting to put it all together and take the next step up.
