By DAN KARELL
The MLS offseason opened on Monday morning with a flurry of activity.
Orlando City SC completed two moves early in the morning to add a couple of bonafide starters to their lineup as they look to compete in their first year in MLS. Orlando City acquired both centerback Aurelien Collin and defensive midfielder Amobi Okugo in trades from Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union, respectively. Both players were out of contract, but are expected to sign contracts with their new club this week.
Collin, a three-time MLS All-Star and a fierce competitor that turned Sporting KC into a feared team on their way to the 2013 MLS Cup title, was acquired for future considerations and an undisclosed amount of allocation money.
Okugo, who was expected to test the waters in Europe, was acquired for a package that included allocation money and a 2016 MLS second-round draft pick.
The duo join goalkeeper Tally Hall, who’s deal to Orlando City in exchange for allocation money and an international spot was finally made official.
What do you think of these deals?
Share your thoughts below.
I’ve said it beofore and I’ll say it again: Aurelien Colin is one of the worst defenders I’ve seen with the ball at his feet. I can’t imagine why anyone would pay him big money to hoof the ball out of bounds or 20 yards past his forwards. It’s SHOCKINGLY bad.
Go home…you’re drunk
Anyone know when all the MLS teams have to announce who they are protecting and who they are not for the upcoming drafts?
Supposed to be 5 PM today.
some good acquisitions by OCFC.
Seriously. They could already field probably the best expasion team starting lineup (minus a striker) ever assembled, and they haven’t even gone through the expansion draft or an entire transfer window yet.
Landy Cakes was seen this morning in the Orlando airport.
Gotta go through there to get to Disney World.
FYI…Disney World isn’t in Orlando
How do you trade a player that you don’t have under contract?
If they made a bona fide offer to him, they still have his rights within MLS (not outside of course). Hence, they are traing their rights to him.
Google “MLS” and “CBA”
He is just trolling/whining.
I wasn’t, apologies. I was genuinely curious how that works.
No need to apologize. Most people could see it was a bona fide question.
wow quite a pick up.
is Okugo going to play CB or CDM?
Okugo would 99% sure be a CDM.
With these moves I would expect KC to go younger next season…any academy products on the horizon?
Erick Palmer brown is an extremely highly rated CB prospect…but he may go abroad very soon.
yeah, just a few weeks ago it was reported KC was going to accept the offer from Juve for EPB. so we’ll see what happens.
one reporter that has said the deal is done for the last year now, no one else reporting it, its just one guy, all other mentions are a mention of his reporting.
first of all mouf, i didn’t say multiple reports. i said it was reported. it’s a simple statement that does not need to be read into any more than that.
secondly, i am very well aware of the reports a year ago and specifically said the one i am referring to was a few weeks ago because it IS different than the old reports. that report said SKC had finally decided to move forward with the Juve bid after rejecting many offers that came before that.
i also didn’t say it was a done deal or that the report was accurate. simply adding to the comment that EPB could very well end up abroad soon.
here is another one from the 5th of this month:
http://www.spaziojuve.it/2014/esclusiva-sj-alessandro-orlandi-vi-presento-palmer-brown-mls-campionato-affascinante-ed-costante-crescita-perche/
here is the original report i referenced:
http://alfredopedulla.com/articoli/56856-esclusiva-palmer-brown-la-juve-lo-aspetta-a-torino
and MLS’ report on that report:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/11/29/report-italian-powerhouse-juventus-closing-sporting-kcs-erik-palmer-brown
here is the original report i referenced:
alfredopedulla DOT com/articoli/56856-esclusiva-palmer-brown-la-juve-lo-aspetta-a-torino
and MLS’ report on that report:
http://www DOT mlssoccer DOT com/news/article/2014/11/29/report-italian-powerhouse-juventus-closing-sporting-kcs-erik-palmer-brown
Maybe SKC are looking to pair Kevin Ellis and Erick Palmer-Brown???
No way. Ellis is purely depth.
Aren’t you forgetting a little known center-half by the name of Matt Besler?
Don’t forget, Ike Opara is back from injury as well.
opps! Besler was so bad after the WC I simply forgot about him.
Orlando’s defensive line is looking better than most MLS teams already!
Yeah, you gotta think others were interested in Collin. I wish Seattle had him. Him and Marshall would be nice, to put it midly.
I wonder if the expansion draft keeps other teams from moving on him. Every player you bring in, means not protecting one more.
Man, KC’s great D that won it all, has changed. I saw that some had KC not protecting Meyer either ?