The Special One

When Orlando City had the first pick in last year's MLS Superdraft there was no question on who they were taking. That player was than 20 year old UConn and Canadian striker Cyle Larin. The only question was how good Larin would be. Sure he would benefit from playing with the likes of  Kaka, but many thought he would just be a piece to compliment the Brazlian star. No one expected him to become a superstar in the MLS in his own right. Hell forget supplanting Kaka as Orlando's biggest threat in games. He was never supposed to become the face of the MLS' rising stars or set record. Cyle Larin was just supposed to be a very good player that would score goals, but never become a special player. Sure he was a Canadian International, but he had become infamous for his missed goal that has become a widely circulated gif. 

Yet Cyle Larin has exceeded all expectations. Last season he set the rookie record for goals(17 on 64 shots) and won rookie of the year. Larin had a astonishing 4 multiple goal games last season. He was the Orlando offense for most of the season. With the Lions riddled with injuries last season, including Kaka, they needed someone to step up. That was Cyle Larin. Could you imagine how bad they would have been if they did not have Larin? The man helped to carry the team to almost making the playoffs last season. Larin quickly established himself as one of the bigger homegrown stars in the MLS. Larin's success last season made Orlando City one of the most exciting teams to watch last year. Sure the team did not have a full squad for the majority of the season, but whenever they were on they were appointment viewing. That was because fans wanted to see what Larin would do next. What spectacular goal he would score. 

Some worried this year that he would go into the infamous second year slump that most players experience. After all fellow Canadian international teammate Tesho Akindele won rookie of the year before Larin did. So on paper Larin should struggle. Yet through 2 games, small sample I know, Larin does not appear to be slowing down. He has 2 goals and an assist, though a wrongly awarded offsides call screwed him out of a third goal. With Kaka out due to injury, the team again falls in Larin's shoulders and he is answering that call. Yes it is early in the season, yet Larin has shown knew adaptations to his game. The holes that were in his game(lack of assists), seem to be eliminated. Again go back to opening day against RSL and see the where with all he had to find Winter for the tying goal. That is an improved version of Cyle Larin.

So what makes Larin so successful? Well he is a combination of both power and agility. When you watch Larin you are impressed by his size, as he stands at 6'2. He has used his size to bully defenders that were smaller than him. He has pushed them off the ball in order to get himself into a favorable position on the offensive end. You can see this in his goals against New York City FC last season. For a man his size, Larin is also very agile. Just go watch his goal vs Chicago last week. Larin raced along side the play and positioned himself at a awkward angle. Larin was then able to try and shoot the ball between the two defenders. Of course the ball was deflected, but Larin had the quick reflexes to fire the shot again, this time splitting the defenders and putting it into the net. The NFL often talks about the evolution of positions. Well for the MLS that evoultion has come in Cyle Larin. The strength, size, power, intelligence, and again it's all rolled into one player. 

 So the question becomes why hasn't Larin become a bigger name? I mean he has everything going for him. He is coming off a record setting first season, is probably one of the best strikers in the MLS, and is one if the best markets for the MLS. So why the hell is the league not promoting Cyle Larin. Not making him the face of the league? Some will argue that it is because Larin is only 2 games into his second season. That he needs to have another year under his belt for him to become the face of the league. Yet Don Garber, the president of the MLS, and other MLS authorities have been pushing Jordan Morris to the moon and he's only played 2 league games so far. Maybe that has to do with Morris being the "future of the usmnt". That's another issue. But there is another theory to consider: Larin has not played in Europe. The MLS seems to be obsessed with promoting the former European stars that arrive in the states. Look at who the marketing focuses on: Gerrard, Pirlo, etc. Hell even Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey had European club connections. That is a problem. The MLS needs to build up one of these young stars as the face of the league. So why not Larin who plays in one of the best markets in the league? 

In soccer/football, the term Special One is usually reserved for former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. But now I want to app,y that to the Orlando City striker Cyle Larin. Larin is the future of the MLS. He has redefined the mold of the striking position in the league in only 2 seasons. Larin has already exceeded all of the expectations that people had set for him. The sky is the limit for Larin and it will be fun to follow his career.