Wow, Sacha Kljestan just hit the nail on the head

Sacha Kljestan isn't best known for his rational takes on Orlando City, who almost certainly rank among the least favourite of his former employers.

But on the eve of Inter Miami's winner-takes-all clash with Vancouver Whitecaps, a full six weeks since Orlando's own silverware hopes went up in flames for another year, the pundit spoke nothing but the truth when asked about his former club's late-season collapse.

Replying to a question on X (formerly Twitter) asking his take on the root of Orlando's drastic drop-off in form, Kljestan simply said: "Too inconsistent at the striker position. Burnout by the end of the season? Too many mistakes at goalkeeper."

I'm glad it's not just me that feels this way.

A disaster all of our own making

Amid Luis Muriel's recent antics, flirting with no less than two of his former clubs, I feel I've been guilty of banging on non-stop about how Orlando should just grant him his wish and allow him to leave as soon as possible.

17 goals in 84 appearances is a pathetic return for a player earning a guaranteed $2.5 million a year, but it's the 34-year-old's all-round performances that have been most concerning. Still somehow looking sluggish in an otherwise dynamic attack, it's clear he isn't the way forward.

But it's not just Muriel that should take the blame. Orlando's front office deemed the $3.3 million bid for Ramiro Enrique from Saudi Arabia's Al-Kholood too good to turn down, but no amount of money would ever have made up for the damage the 24-year-old's departure would do to the team's attacking threat throughout the rest of the season.

I haven't been critical as such about Pedro Gallese, but I do feel that, unfortunately, now was the right time for the two parties to go their separate ways. The 35-year-old can't be thanked enough for his immense contributions over six storied years in purple, even if his late form was but a shadow of its former self.

Fresh beginnings

Kljestan's comments provide a handy, impartial insight into recent affairs in Central Florida. But the good news is, this is all in the past.

However gaping a hole Gallese's departure leaves, Orlando have every chance of identifying and recruiting the perfect replacement with all the goalkeeping talent, your Carlos Coronels and Dayne St. Clairs of the world, that's available even via free agency this off-season.

And, with Muriel practically begging for his move away, there's every chance Orlando will rid themselves of their highest earner and free up a Designated Player spot to be filled this winter, too.

Identifying his replacement, though, will be no easy feat. Duncan McGuire, who is a proven goalscorer at this level, hasn't played consistent football in almost two years thanks to back-to-back freak shoulder injuries, so it's unclear whether he will be ready to lead the line immediately. That being said, Orlando's track record of recruiting big-money strikers doesn't exactly fill me with much confidence, either.

Just hours before Miami's era-defining clash with Vancouver, there remains a huge sense of what could've been for Orlando this season. Get these next moves right, though, and next year could really be ours.