With a final record of 6-13-1, the Orlando Pride admittedly didn’t have the season that they had hoped for. But it was their inaugural season, and some bumps in the road were expected, especially in an Olympic year. Here are some of the ways that the Pride will improve for their next season:
1. No International Competitions
The Pride will benefit tremendously next season from the lack of major international tournaments. The only tournament schedule for next season is the European Championship, and the Pride do not currently have any European internationals. Having the full roster available for almost the entire season will help give the Pride better depth and more options.
2. More Time Together
With a year under their belt, the Pride will have more cohesion and better understand each other’s style of play. One of the keys to developing a new squad is time, and these types of difficulties are expected in the inaugural season of a club. When players spend more time together, it is easier to get results.
3. Better Roster Development
With the inaugural year finished, Tom Sermanni and his staff will have a better idea of what type of team they would like to put together. They want to keep a core group of players from the first year that understand each other’s style of play and the goals of the club. And then they will have the opportunity to bring in outside other players that complement those goals and that team style of play.
4. Offseason Development Opportunity
As mentioned previously, time is a crucial factor for any club. But it isn’t just important for the players during the season-- it’s also important for the staff in the offseason. A full offseason gives the team time to develop new ideas, bring in new players, and better analyze their options. Last year, Sermanni and his team were a bit rushed for time as they had to put a team together on such short notice. This year, they’ll have more time to develop a strategy for next season.
5. New Stadium
Next year, the Orlando Pride will be playing in a brand new, soccer-specific stadium that will create an amazing atmosphere for players and fans alike. That atmosphere will add to the competition-- it will help the team win games, and it will be an intimidating structure for any visiting players. The stadium is a boost for the club as a whole, and will be a great place for the Pride to win next season.
