Orlando City played its first real friendly (sorry, Eastern Florida State College) on Saturday with its first full complement of players and its first look at the potential starting lineup.
Here it is essentially Orlando City’s starting lineup for the 2016 season:
Your Starting XI for tonight's preseason friendly versus @JaxArmadaFC. 6pm start. #NeverHuntAlone pic.twitter.com/CND6sW8Y0I
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 13, 2016
The only changes you would expect to see are Aurelien Collin at center back instead of Seb Hines and Kevin Molino or Carlos Rivas in the midfield instead of Tony Rocha (likely headed to Orlando City B), with the possibility of rookies Hadji Berry or Richie Laryea sliding in or for Brek Shea to move up with defenders like Tommy Redding or Luke Boden sliding into Shea’s spot.
There is more flexibility and options within the lineup and within the team. There is enough promising talent to feel some measure of confidence regarding the state of the team.
Of course, that can change throughout the season. Orlando City had the same feeling last year and then injuries began ravaging the team. Some of the young players, like Bryan Rochez and Carlos Rivas took longer to develop and get fit for this level of play. Then there was the international call ups that gutted the roster for several games.
Orlando City was piecing together a lineup almost every week it seemed. That went double, it seemed for the defense.
The Lions used 17 different starting combinations on the back line in the 34-game season. Yellow card accumulations, Brek Shea moving back to the midfield and transfers all reshaped the back line throughout the year. Collin was a constant in the backline as was Rafael Ramos when he was able to play (the young defender often got in trouble with yellow card accumulation) and eventually Luke Boden was a solid option on the left side behind Shea. But little else was.
Orlando City worked to improve its defensive midfield in bringing in Adrian Winter and Servando Carrasco at the summer transfer window. But there was still a bit of a mix and match going on.
Add on top of that Orlando City being an expansion team with little experience together and Orlando City was put at a huge disadvantage. It is part of the reason Orlando City gave up 56 goals last year, the fifth most in MLS.
“Last year we didn’t know each other and this year we begin from the first day knowing each other,” Collin told Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel. “So we’ve been growing faster and the more simple thing was getting back in shape. Physically I think now everyone is ready, so right now we can focus on strategy and tactics and make sure we arrive ready for the [first game].”
With a new goalkeeper in the mix now too in Joe Bendik, Orlando City has to get bound together pretty quickly. The good news is only David Mateos is new to the roster, and Mateos comes with plenty of gravitas having played for Real Madrid and potential this year too.
Some consistency at these positions will be key to Orlando City’s season, not to mention realizing potential and showing a bit of skill.
There is depth. Hines, Collin and Mateos will compete for time in the middle with Tommy Redding waiting in the wings. Recent acquisition Kevin Alston, stalwart Luke Boden and youngster Connor Donovan will have chances too off the bench on the wings.
What Orlando City wants though is to find a combination for that backline it can rely on consistently throughout the season. No where on the field is that chemistry and consistency more important.
A striker can make many mistakes and miss runs, defenders are not afforded that leniency. Defenders have to be near perfect. When they are — anyone remember Shea’s goalline save against D.C. United that was up for save of the week last season? — it is tough for teams to mount any type of offensive.
Orlando City has a lot it can improve upon after its first season. The defense is a big part of it undoubtedly. It was one of the team’s major weaknesses in that inaugural MLS season.
The Lions have talent in these positions undoubtedly. It is just about keeping them on the field and finding the right combination now.
