With no Kaka and no Cyle Larin Dom Dwyer (right) will be the focal point of the Orlando City SC attack in 2018 (photo credit: Kari Heistad)
2017 Record: 10-15-9, 39 points, Tenth in the Eastern Conference
Coach: Jason Kreis
Key Additions: DEF RJ Allen (NYCFC), DEF Lamine Sane (Werder Bremen), MID Sacha Kljestan (Orlando City SC), MID Justin Meram (Columbus Crew SC), MID Cam Lindley (Homegrown Player via trade from Chicago Fire), MID Oriol Rosell (Sporting CP), CB Amro Abdel Aziz (Wadi Delga-Loan)
Key Departures: FWD Cyle Larin (Besiktas), MID Kaka (retired), FWD Carlos Rivas (New York Red Bulls), DEF Jose Aja (Vancouver Whitecaps)
The Big Question: Can Kreis survive the season?
When Jason Kreis was brought in during the 2016 season the expectation was that he could turn things around in Orlando and take a side with plenty of talent into the playoffs. In a season and a half that hasn’t happened yet and one has to wonder how close the club is to a full rebuild.
In the offseason the club made the decision to rebuild a midfield with the hope of getting the club closer to a diamond midfield, something Kreis used effectively at Real Salt Lake. Adding Oriol Rosell, who filled the center midfield role effectively at Sporting Kansas City, and Sacha Kjlestan as a center-attacking midfielder will give Orlando some balance and a chance to build attacks. With Justin Meram and Dom Dwyer up top the Lions will have no issues finding the back of the net. So at least on the surface everything looks like it could be a successful season for Orlando.
But that is on the surface. In reality Kreis has yet to really prove himself as a coach outside of RSL (which was a veteran-heavy side at the time). Given the problems this club has at defender and the difficulties that may arise in switching a midfield formation it is not exactly a given that this side will be a success. Kreis is going to have to show some flexibility in this adjustment process or he may face an early exit.
Area to keep an eye on: Center-Back
Jonathon Spector was expected to be the piece last season that would pull the defense together and get into the playoffs. That didn’t happen and Orlando’s defense suffered for it. The addition of Lamine Sane should help alleviate some of the pressure and allow Spector to take more of a role in the attack. Goalkeeper Joe Bendik, despite the 59 goals allowed last season, showed that he can be a consistent everyday starter provided that he gets a little more help from his center-backs. He should get that this season with Sane-Spector.
Outcome: 4th-7th in the Eastern Conference
The additions of Meram and Kljestan not only give Dwyer some help in the attack but also allow Kreis the ability to create attacking chances rather than force them. Removing the Cyle Larin issue will also help with the inner harmony of this club, which seemed at times to be falling apart. Now it is really a matter of finding the right lineup to develop a rhythm and figuring out the center-back issue. If Orlando can pull things together early they will find themselves in the playoffs for the first time in their history. But if it is another season of disharmony and disorganization it will be an early exit for the Purple Lions.
San Jose Earthquakes
MLS Western
