This Orlando City player renewal makes more sense than you may think | OneFootball

Alright, I'll admit it. I am usually the first to criticise Iván Angulo as soon as he has a poor game. Which, last season, usually meant every week.

12 goals and 26 assists in 140 games throughout his Orlando City career just isn't good enough for a winger, especially one playing in a team that has equalled or surpassed its own annual goalscoring record in each of the last two seasons.

Not only that, but Angulo seems to be regressing. Helping himself to a respectable five goals and nine assists during league play in 2024, he only managed a combined four goal contributions last time out across a total 2,325 league minutes.

Despite the 26-year-old's critical lack of form, the club announced earlier this week - to some surprise among the Orlando fanbase - that his contract option for 2026 had been exercised.

Monday's revelation, though, only confirmed what was glaringly obvious to most: Óscar Pareja likes Angulo, a lot.

This decision could, if the player endures yet another miserable year in front of goal, come back to bite Orlando, who just haven't made the right call in similar, huge decisions in an often enough fashion since that watershed Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup triumph in 2022 to truly capitalise on their momentum.

However, if utilised effectively, Angulo can be a real threat in Major League Soccer. Here is what Pareja must do to make the most out of his winger in 2026:

Actually rotate him with Tyrese Spicer

If 2025 made one thing clear, it's that Angulo lacks end product. He just isn't comfortable in front of goal.

Since arriving in the summer, on the other hand, Tyrese Spicer has been anything but. Two goals and two assists for Orlando since then represents a goal contribution every 90 minutes on average - a far cry from Angulo's struggles.

The first of those strikes was a real poacher's finish, smashing in a first-time volley beyond two defenders to open the scoring against Sporting Kansas City in mid-August. And this isn't even to mention his stellar form for his national team, Trinidad and Tobago, for whom he netted another two goals in October during qualification for next year's FIFA World Cup.

Despite such contrasting fortunes, Angulo hasn't really lost out. He featured in all but one league game in 2025, starting all but two of Orlando's 15 outings across all competitions since his teammate's arrival.

Spicer has only started two himself. That's just not fair on someone who's impressed so much in such a short space of time.

Both players have their own strengths, so use them

Yes, Angulo really didn't enjoy a productive 2025. But his skillset is crucial to the way Pareja has set up his team over these past few years.

As we all know by now, his speed and work rate are second to none. Winning 56 tackles, successfully contesting 118 duels, and making 116 defensive recoveries in league play throughout 2025, Angulo is a coach's dream. He is so important to the way Orlando defend, even if he lacks up the other end of the pitch.

Spicer is also more than happy to contribute to his team's defensive efforts, but he excels at beating his man and delivering accurate crosses into the penalty area for his teammates to attack. At 6' 1" tall, he is also a threat in the air, too.

The two players clearly have different skillsets. For games in which Pareja expects his team to control most of the possession, he must start Spicer, before bringing on Angulo in the second half when the opposition are tiring.

Against some of the league's more formidable opponents, when Pareja will probably employ his favoured counter-attacking philosophy, opting for Angulo will be key both to the team's defensive and offensive efforts.

Be tough on him

We are incredibly lucky to have a coach who is so likeable among supporters and players alike. But that doesn't mean that he can't be tough on his players if the time calls.

One of those times was after our trip to St. Louis CITY in June. Thanks to Ramiro Enrique, Martín Ojeda, and Marco Pašalić, the sizeable travelling contingent of Orlando fans tucked away in the far corner of Energizer Park were sent home with all three points and an unlikely attacking performance to be proud of.

The only real downer to that Wednesday night was Angulo's performance. Sent through on goal by Ojeda in the 44th minute, all he had to do was square to Enrique and Orlando would've been 4-1 to the good at the half. Instead, he hesitated, and was easily smothered by Roman Bürki.

However, Pareja managed to turn such disappointment into a force for good. Benching Angulo for two consecutive games early the following month, the 26-year-old responded by delivering three game-changing assists in wins over New England Revolution and Columbus Crew.

Pareja is a brilliant man-manager when he wants to be. Benching Angulo for the first time all season brought the very best out of him, even if such form wasn't to last.

With Spicer showing real quality, Angulo has, for the first time, true competition for minutes at left wing. If Pareja plays his cards right, Orlando could have two fantastic options in that position in 2026.