We’re six weeks into this year’s MLS season, and Orlando City is feeling pretty good. The Lions have won three of their four matches, earning a total of nine points. They sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, behind the Columbus Crew, who handed the team their only loss this year.
Tommy Redding has been with the team they first joined MLS. And he noticed that there were a lot of differences between this year and last year. While Redding missed most of preseason competing in the U-20 CONCACAF Championship with the United States, the team feels much more connected and complete this year than it did last year.
“I feel like this year we’re much more of a team on and off the field,” Redding said. “When I came in, I just felt a completely different vibe. I think it’’s a great thing to have Will Johnson, guys like Will and Giles [Barnes], because they’re leaders. They shaped our team into what it is now.”
Both Giles Barnes and Will Johnson have proved their leadership and soccer skills in the first few weeks. When Kaká went down in the home opener, Barnes had been with the team for less than a week. Yet he stepped up, and came out onto the pitch, and assisted on the only goal of the night. With Kaká out with injury, Johnson has stepped up as captain. He’s proved his versatility as a player, playing both in the midfield and the defense. He’s helped lead the team to three victories at home.
Togetherness has been an important point for Kreis throughout the preseason and the start of the regular season. He’s credited their success with the unity through which the team plays.
“I’ve always felt in this league that it’s not the teams that have the black and white, the most talent,” Kreis said earlier in the season. “It’s the team that has the most gray, and the most togetherness, that often times wins in this league.”
To read the full story on Kreis’ emphasis on team unity, click here.
