This past weekend, Orlando City hosted an event where players and coaches alike answered questions posed by their most important critics-- their fans. The Orlando City Fan Forum also served as the reveal for Orlando City’s 2017 Primary Kits and created a fun atmosphere where fans could grab a drink and talk to some of their favorite people.
“I’d just like to say a very much heartfelt thank you for what the fans have done for this team and for this club over the several years of it’s existence,” Kreis said to start. “Since I’ve been here just several short months I would tell you that you guys have represented yourself as one of the best fan groups in the entire country.”
Kreis fielded a lot of different questions over the night, ranging from offensive development to video-assistant refereeing. Each time, Kreis answered with an intelligent analysis of where Orlando City is at, where they are going, and how they are going to get there.
When asked about changes in the offseason, Kreis said that he felt the changes had been small. “I feel like what we’ve done over this offseason has been minimal. There have been some very important changes, but it has been minimal for a reason,” Kreis said. “We believe with minimal change and with more coaching with the players that we can get out what we want, which is clearly to make the playoffs this year.”
Kreis said he feels good about where the team will be in 2017. He insisted that the playoffs are not far off-- and the fact that this team has finished just below the playoff line the last two years is a sign of their potential.
“My feeling going into the offseason was that we were in a good place. We were in a good place because we had a good number of very good players, we had a good number of players that have now played together for two years, and we have a good number of people in the locker room that should feel like we have not quite made it. So, I went into the offseason feeling like this should be a very hungry group,” Kreis said. “We’ve seen a very, very hungry group, and we’ve seen a more fit group, and a more committed group, and I think with that, that should put us in a really, really good place for 2017.”
One fan asked Kreis who he was most afraid to play, and who he was the most confident in playing. His answer was simple.
“I’m not afraid of anybody,” Kreis said with a laugh. “I’m confident playing anybody.”
Brek Shea expressed similar sentiments when the players took the stage. “I think teams will be scared to come here. It was a hard place to play before, and I think now with the stadium fans right on top of them… I wouldn’t want to be a player from another team, I’ll tell you that.”
The players section of the night was a bit more lighthearted, with the players talking about who was the funniest guy on the team (maybe Antonio Nocerino?) and who they wouldn’t want to go fishing with (Cyle Larin). The players also talked about their new kits, and they all agreed that they were fans of all the detail that went into the new design, especially the new stadium coordinates found on the sleeve.
In the end, the event was about the fans. The fans have always been a powerful force in soccer, especially for this team. Kreis wanted the fans to walk away knowing that they were valued and they made a difference every single game day.
“I do think that you can gain us points,” Kreis said. “Over a season, I’ve seen fans before and groups of fans before urge teams on to win and urge teams on to more and more points over a season. So, bring it for us this year.”
