Orlando City has been quite busy in the summer transfer window this season. After acquiring Dom Dwyer in a blockbuster trade just a few weeks ago, the team acquired Yoshi Yotun and, most recently, Dillon Powers from Colorado. Orlando veteran midfielder Will Johnson spoke in regards to the moves the front office has made to this point, and he’s excited for the influx of talent joining the Lions.
“Anytime you have an ambitious front office that's trying to bring in players no matter if you're in first place or last place,” Johnson said after training Thursday, “I think it's important that you always try to improve and so our front office and coaching staff have shown that they're not afraid to make moves and put themselves out there and try to get better players than what we already have. So, obviously, results speak for themselves if you don’t get the results, things have to change. That's the business we're in and we understand that as players. We support the guys leaving, wish them the best of luck and we also understand the new guys coming in are here to help us win and help us do a job.
Whenever a new player joins a new team, there’s always going to be a learning curve. Learning the tendencies of teammates and coaches is always a challenge, especially in a short period of time. Johnson, who has played for six different teams and five different coaches in his MLS career, is all too familiar with the learning curve, but with that curve comes excitement for the new opportunities.
“Integrating new guys and into the squad in the middle of the season is somewhat difficult but it also gives you a boost,” Johnson said, “I think when Dom Dwyer came in he gave us a boost a nice energy something different trainings a little different, so that’s part of it. We’re still gonna have to learn the tendencies of Dom and Yoshi Yotun and Dillon Powers,but for the most part I think long term it's gonna be a real positive impact on this club.”
