Sutter fitting in well with Lions
It hasn’t taken long for defender Scott Sutter to get comfortable in Orlando — three days actually.
Sutter joined Orlando City from Switzerland last weekend and began training in full with the team on Wednesday.
After three sessions, everyone agrees: he fits in.
“You can see he’s a very experienced professional,” Lions coach Jason Kreis said. “He’s spent a lot of time in the game and he’s been quite a few different places, so to be here with us, I think, is not a big adjustment for him. He’s fitting in quite well.”
After one 90-minute practice with Sutter, midfielder Servando Carrasco said, “He looks great,” and similar to injured right backs Rafael Ramos and Kevin Alston, who Sutter was brought in to replace.
“He’s a guy who looks very, very mobile, very quick in tight spaces,” Carrasco said. “He’s gotten comfortable very quickly, which is a great thing. He doesn't hesitate to talk to his back line, and we want guys like that.”
Sutter said joining Orlando City felt like the first day of school, full of excitement, anticipation and feeling the need to make a good impression. So far, he has. “Things are going well,” Sutter said. “It doesn’t matter what background or games you played, ya know, you start from scratch and I’m up for that. The guys have made it really easy for me, so it’s not a big transition to be honest.
“The guys work hard, and Jason expects a lot from them. Obviously, it’s early, so I can’t really go into too much detail, but he works the guys hard and the guys are willing to put in the effort. That fits right with me as well.”
Sutter said coming in during an off week for the MLS team helped him catch up and learn what’s expected of him.
The one thing he may not be prepared for is the weather.
He mentioned Wednesday was warmer than Thursday, though it’s been a relatively mild week with cool winds and some rain. So, the impending heat of Florida’s summer may come as a shock to Sutter compared to Switzerland.
Security for Toia
“This is my first new contract,” Orlando City left back Donny Toia said as he spoke to media a day after the club announced he signed a threeyear contract.
Toia, 24, made his MLS debut in 2014 but after his initial contract with Chivas USA, which no longer exists, he’s played on options. The Montreal Impact picked up Toia in the 2014 Dispersal Draft after Chivas disbanded and then exercised his contract option ahead of last season.
Atlanta United took Toia in December’s Expansion Draft and promptly traded him to Orlando.
“We had some negotiations going on for a while,” Toia said of the contract, which also includes options each year. “It feels really good. I mean, you’re trying to perform and all you want is security. Now, all I can do is perform my best every single day.
“But, it’s definitely gratifying. I’m thankful for every opportunity, and this is is a big one so now I’ve got to run with it.”
Toia felt at ease in Orlando as soon as he arrived during the offseason. That chemistry translated on the field — playing a full 90 minutes in both opening matches — and off.
Teammates gathered around to watch and joke with him during Friday’s interview.
“I felt like as soon as I got here, I was super comfortable and I knew that my wife was going to love it here,” Toia said. “Just trying to do my best thing for us and our future, and so far it’s been great.”
New injury
Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was not among nine MLS players loaned to Orlando City B for the season due to injury, according to a spokesman for the club.
Details of the injury were not provided.
Stajduhar, 19, spent last year with OCB and is considered a developmental talent as the Lions’ fourth-string keeper behind starter Joe Bendik, backup Josh Saunders and Earl Edwards Jr., who was loaned for OCB this season.