Season Outlook | New York Cosmos
Venue: Shuart Stadium
Coach: Giovanni Savarese (third year)
Last Season’s Finish: 3rd – Combined Standings, The Championship Semifinals
Key Players: F Mads Stokkelien, M Danny Szetela
While there is plenty of anticipation swirling around Raúl’s first season in New York, it could be his strike partner that ultimately proves the most pivotal on the forward line. Mads Stokkelien led the Cosmos in goals a season ago with seven but could be even better in 2015. Now more settled in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the Norwegian’s goalscoring count could quite easily hit double-digits. With plenty of new creative midfielders in the mix, the 25-year-old won’t have a lack of opportunities to find the back of the net. If he finishes at a slightly better clip than he did in 2014, the Cosmos will turn several of the draws from last season into victories in 2015.
Another player that doesn’t always get the credit but certainly deserves it is Danny Szetela. Heading into this third season after injuries nearly ended his career, the midfielder has been ever-present in the middle of the park for the Cosmos. Typically doing the dirty work to let players like Marcos Senna push further forward, Szetela chipped in with three goals a season ago. Looking to get on the score sheet more often in 2015, Szetela should have a big impact once again on the Cosmos season. If he can stay healthy, the 27-year-old could move even closer to his best, which saw him represent the United States Men's National Team in the past.
What They’re Saying: “We have a very strong group, a group that has strong competition in every position, and this is what we want for this year. The roster is smaller, but I feel we have better quality this year to compete.” – Giovanni Savarese
“I think we have added a lot of really good players this year. It’s good competition in every spot, so I think it’s going to be an interesting year. Everyone, including me, is very excited to get the season started. It’s been a long preseason. It’s been hard, a lot of traveling, but it’s been fun. This is what we train for, for the season to start and the games that matter.” - Mads Stokkelien
Season Outlook: The Cosmos won a championship in 2013 and fell one game short of getting back to a final in their attempt to repeat. In 2015, the Cosmos have assembled a squad that is certainly capable of reaching the pinnacle of the NASL once more. Stacking the middle of the park with Adam Moffat, 2014 Best XI selection and title winner with the San Antonio Scorpions Walter Restrepo, and Leo Fernandes, the club may have the deepest midfield in the league. Not to mention Andrés Flores returns for a full season and up top the club has added Spanish legend Raúl. The one question is with the defense that is relatively unchanged from a year ago. While the club had the best backline in the 2014 Spring Season, they fell off a bit in the second half of the split-season format. If they can play closer to the former, the Cosmos will be one of the favorites to win The Championship Final.
