Oh the joy that comes with the start of the MLS season. Months of waiting has finally paid off and the season is almost here. However, the start of this season has been looked forward to more by the players, staff and fans of Orlando City Soccer Club more than most, largely because this is a season which is two years in the making. Yes, it has now been two years since it was confirmed that Orlando City would join MLS, and they are now just days away from realizing that dream.

Orlando fans will be hoping the sneak peek provided by preseason isn't indicative of what's to come in the league as they finished their first preseason in MLS with a 1-1-5 record.

The biggest positive they can draw from preseason? Having their first ever Designated Player signing Ricardo Kaka finishing top scorer with three goals.

Theirs was a preseason filled with both highs and lows, including a 4-0 thrashing of FC Dallas and a bloody 3-0 loss against the Houston Dynamo, and Orlando will be hoping for a more stable and consistent season. Chances are the Lions will be looking toward their first MLS season with cautious optimism. Having sold approximately 15,000 season tickets, and expecting 65,000 fans to fill the Citrus Bowl (as per MLSsoccer.com) for their opener versus New York City Football Club, it's safe to say there is a great deal of excitement among fans in the area for the return of MLS to Florida. Having assembled a good group of both MLS veterans and exciting young players they're poised to do well. However, with expansion sides sharing mixed results in their first seasons in MLS, Orlando will look to learn from their mistakes.

With that in the back of their minds, they'll look to emulate sides such as the Houston Dynamo and Seattle Sounders, rather than Toronto FC or Montreal Impact. Orlando are led by head coach Adrian Heath, who's been with them since their start in USL back in 2011. Having just signed a deal through 2017, expect for him to be at the club for the foreseeable future even if things turn sour. The man known as 'Inchy' back in his playing days for Everton has brought real coaching class to USL and will look to bring it again to MLS. Heath has brought his USL coaching staff with him to MLS, including former Orlando players Anthony Pulis and Ian Fuller, as well as former San Jose manager Mark Watson all as assistants. The ownership group/ front office appear to be the same as last season.

Orlando have retained much of their core from their last season in USL including starting and back up right backs Tyler Turner and Rafael Ramos, starting left back Luke Boden, defensive midfielders Harrison Heath, Estrela, and Darwin Ceren, center back Tommy Redding, and winger Kevin Molino. Given it's their first season in MLS, there aren't exactly any notable players going out, although their trading of Jairo Arrieta could prove to have been a bad idea with only 1st overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft Cyle Larin, and Danny Mwanga (out of form), behind the young Bryan Rochez in the strikers pecking order, assuming that Pedro Ribiero is used as an attacking midfielder.

Orlando will be looking to make a statement of intent as they face off against fellow expansion side New York City FC in their opening match of the season. Other key match-ups include April's home match versus Toronto FC, who will be looking to prove they're contenders early on. April sees them close out the month having also played last year's Eastern Conference winner, DC United and playoff team Columbus Crew. Orlando should be weary of shell-shock early on. Overall, April and May's fixtures will likely prove crucial to how Orlando set the tone of their season, with a face off against MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy also in the mix. Past that point, the importance of the following months' fixtures will largely depend on where Orlando sit in the East. As is typical in MLS, no game is easy and Orlando will find that out very quickly.

Here is the projected line-up for Orlando against New York City on opening day.

GK- Donovan Ricketts
RB- Rafael Ramos
CB- Aurelien Collin
CB- Seb Hines
LB- Brek Shea
CM- Amobi Okugo
CM- Darwin Ceren
CAM- Kaka
RW- Kevin Molino
ST- Bryan Rochez
LW- Carlos Rivas

Despite his best position being in the number ten role, Kaka may see time on the wing against New York City, given the nature of New York's play. Heath could choose to go with more defensive options in central midfield in order to combat NYC's diamond in midfield that's aimed at letting them dominate possession and the ball.

Heads were turned when Adrian Heath announced his intention to play offseason acquisition Brek Shea at left back, but the move makes sense given Shea's size and Orlando's affinity for attacking wide backs. Should that experiment go south, Heath has last year's starter Luke Boden readily available.

Orlando's lineup has been fairly consistent throughout preseason with Ricketts filling in for the injured Tally Hall alongside Kaka, Shea, Molino, and fellow offseason acquisition Collin.

Having been the starter at right back last year in USL, Tyler Turner faces competition from Rafael Ramos who's featured extensively this offseason. Collin is assured the start at center back with some questions over who'll partner him. Hines and fromer Ireland international Sean St. Ledger featured in preseason with Tommy Redding or young Conor Donovan likely to go out on loan. 

April and May will be a key months for Orlando as they face off against Eastern conference opponents expecting to be challenging for playoff spots. A good set of results could set the tone for the rest of the season and give them some momentum early on.

PREDICTIONS: 

Best case scenario: Given Houston and Kansas City's move to the West, Orlando's mixture of veterans and exciting young talent makes them one of the hottest teams in MLS- playing attractive passing soccer while remaining solid at the back and finishing in the top three in the East. Rochez and Molino score bucket loads of goals, Kaka wins MVP, and Molino wins best youngster. Orlando make a run to the cup but fall in the Eastern Semi-finals to New England or Toronto.

Worst case scenario: Hall and Ricketts' age and injury history get the better of them, Collin misses out often for card accumulation or one of their outside backs goes down injured and Orlando's defense becomes porous. Some of Orlando's hot young players find they can't cut it in MLS and or Bryan Rochez goes down injured or doesn't light up the league and they're forced to play with Danny Mwanga up front, who continues his drought in front of goal. Heath is let go at the end of the season and replaced with a coach with more MLS experience and Orlando miss out on a playoff spot by finishing 7th.    

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