Orlando City Feature
Monday, January 2, 2011
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando City Assistant Coach Ian Fuller is optimistic about the 2012 regular season. The preseason, though, is a time to learn and grow.
“If you look at the numbers on our team at the beginning of last year’s preseason compared to the end of it, it’s a different team,” Fuller said in a sit-down interview. “You need it to get your club ready for the season.”
So what has the Orlando City coaching staff been up to over the holidays? One answer is looking at new talent and identifying players who they want to bring in to repeat as USL PRO champions. The first signing was of forward Matt Luzunaris, formerly of the San Jose Earthquakes. Luzunaris played for the Lions in the middle of the season in 2011 and made enough of an impression to warrant a signing of the former UCF Knights standout. Luzunaris joins an already formidable front line for the Lions, who also have Max Griffin returning after a strong second professional season.
Many of the signings will come during the preseason, but Fuller made it clear that there is always work to be done when it comes to evaluating players.
“You always need to see the player you targeted is the right fit for the team,” Fuller said. “The preseason provides an opportunity to do that.”
So how important does that make the exhibition game against the Philadelphia Union on February 18th and the Disney Pro Soccer Classic tournament, where the Lions will face Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas, Toronto FC and Swedish side BK Hacken?
“Very,” Fuller said. “We will try to get better and better each game. We might not have our best team in the middle of February, but we will get better each match so that by the time the season starts our club will be ready.”
So as the game against the Union at the Florida Citrus Bowl approaches and the buzz of the 2012 USL PRO season begins, it’s important to remember the preseason is a time to learn and grow.