After coming back from what looked like the end, the New York Cosmos have already begun making roster changes for the uncertain future.
It’s been a wild ride for the New York Cosmos over the last few years. Their uncertain offseason was well followed and publicized, but less so has been the hangover that lingered following a rushed roster construction and a shortened preseason. While many Cosmos regulars were signed on short notice, most of their key contributors had already moved onto to other clubs.
The difficulty of the roster overhaul became apparent early on. While the Cosmos went undefeated on their quick preseason run through the Caribbean, the club’s performances against the island clubs along with the Bermuda and Dominican’s national teams didn’t instill much confidence for their second consecutive title defending season. When the New York side opened NASL league play on the road against Puerto Rico FC, only five players had started in the league final just a few months before. Of those five players, Andres Flores was the only attacking piece who carried over, while Carlos Mendes, Ryan Richter, and Ayoze deployed as part of the back line in front of Jimmy Maurer (Danny Szetela started against PRFC, but came off the bench in the final).
It took the new-look attack three matches before even registering a shot on goal. Even the club’s first win, which came on the road against Miami FC, saw the Cosmos get out-shot 24-5 as they weathered the Miami attack en route to a 2-0 victory. Their slow start culminated in an Open Cup loss to amateur side Reading United. With their Open Cup elimination and disappointing title defense underway, it seems the Cosmos are already retooling for their fourth NASL title in five seasons, and potentially a roster that is able to make a cup run next season.
Building for the future
The Cosmos, who are remembered for some of the historic names that donned the green and white in days gone by, had kept up their flashy approach to building a team until this season. Gone are modern era legends Marcos Senna, Raul, and Juan Arango, and the Cosmos opened up league play relying on their veteran role players to blend in with other NASL veterans. The “biggest” name on the squad is Javi Marquez. The former Granada captain had only signed a deal for the NASL Spring Season but has since agreed to an extension. Emmanuel Ledesma has also signed a contract extension. Ledesma has been a dominant force in the attack, having scored two golazos along with registering two assists in his five appearances. More importantly, the Cosmos are an undefeated 3-0-2 when the Argentine attacker sees the field. Emmanuel played a major part in the Cosmos comeback win against Puerto Rico, as he entered the match when the Cosmos were down 1-2, then led the team back to a 4-2 win.
Both moves are intriguing. It seemed when Marquez first signed with the club that he was using the NASL Spring Season to stay in shape and prove he could still play at a high level, despite falling out of favor with his now relegated La Liga club. While he has played at a high level, his experience in New York thus far seems to have been enough to make him stay. As for Ledesma, the electric winger has had a bit of a nomadic career, crossing the globe season after season, save a three-year stay at Middlesborough in the English Championship. Keeping both players gives a small glimpse of the club’s recent ambitions and plans for the uncertain future.
Reinforcements
Along with Marquez and Ledesma, the Cosmos have announced several signings as they prepare for the NASL Fall Season. Fan favorite Lucky Mkosana has returned to the Cosmos despite having a chance to play in UEFA Champions League Qualification in Finland. Argentine forward Pablo Vranjican has also been signed with the club, and already has one goal to his count. Coupled with the forwards, the club also announced the signing of Kobi Moyal, a defensive midfielder with an expressive career in Israel.
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These new puzzle pieces should angle the Cosmos to yet another run at the NASL title. While the fourth title in five seasons is nothing to scoff at, fans and supporters can’t help but feel jaded by the lack of further competition earned for the league champion. It remains to be seen how long each player is signed for, but it seems all five players would provide a solid core for the next US Open Cup, where the Cosmos will look to redeem themselves along with getting past the Round of 16 for the first time in club history.
The uncertainty of the NASL is another issue altogether, but it seems the Cosmos are looking to forge ahead, encouraged by the league’s progress. First things first, the club has to take care of business against Miami FC at home Saturday. Miami’s Open Cup run has created some buzz and excitement for followers, and for now, the Cosmos are forced to sit it out. They’ll be looking to change that with their roster next time around.