It’s not his first time, either. Jimmy Ockford was just sent to the New York Cosmos as a loaner for the season again from the Seattle Sounders. This will be Ockford’s third time being loaned to the Cosmos, leading fans to question whether he should just join the team. In some ways, after all, it seems as if New York has seen more of Ockford than Seattle has.

Cosmos Head Coach and Sporting Director Giovanni Savarese said that he was pleased about the loan. “His energy and competitiveness make him a great option for us defensively. Jimmy fit in well with this team a couple seasons ago, and we’re happy to have him back at the club.” If you had to choose where a loaner came from, picking Seattle would definitely be a top five choice for any team—and selecting someone who’s already been with your team not once but twice is also ideal. It is the best way to ensure the player fits in well with the team as well as the coaching staff with the most seamless adjustments made for all parties involved.

That said, when the loaner comes back home to play for his actual team, it can create a huge disconnect as a result. When Ockford came back to Seattle to play after being on loan during the 2014 season, for example, he was only able to play in one game—not an ideal circumstance for any player. Ockford did perform well with the Cosmos last time, scoring two goals and starting in seven games with the team.

Ockford himself is keeping his spirits positive about the loan, saying, “I learned so much here in my first pro season. Having an opportunity to return to the Cosmos is tremendous. I can’t wait to reunite with the players and coaches.” Attitude is often everything and with an outlook like that, it’s no wonder why the Cosmos want him. The Sounders drafted Ockford into the FC team as the 21^st selection during the 2014 SuperDraft but he has yet to even score a goal with the team. Last season, he went on loan to the FC 2 team, making 13 appearances and scoring one goal.

What do you think of Ockford’s loan status? Should he be sent to the Cosmos again or is it time for Seattle to see him play with the team he was actually drafted into?

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia