Maxim Tissot is Pretty Good, and Other Observations

I really like Maxim Tissot. First off, he's from Gatineau - just across the river from where I live - and secondly, he's finally found his niche. He's a good winger, and he's also a quick and speedy defender. Most importantly, he tends to blend those roles together, and for a guy his age, is doing very well within that role. He is going to develop into a formidable player.

He has had quite the month as well. He featured prominently for the Canadian Men's National team, earning several shots, having some deadly crosses into the box and always being ready to move back on a counter attack. While he was only a substitute in both games, he proved effective in his role and has shown that he is clearly a part of the best players this country has to offer.

However, it is his league performances that stand out. Tissot single handedly broke the away-wins curse when he slipped behind a ball watching Columbus Crew backline, and punished them accordingly. Montréal would go on to win that game 2-0, their first road win since 2013. It was a performance that immediately put Tissot back on the radar for coach Frank Klopas, and Montréal fans, who had grown used to Dilly Duka, Andrés Romero and Dominic Oduro as wingers.

He earned another start on Saturday, his second of the season, where he was deadly throughout the entire game. He played well against US National Team veteran Brek Shea and even had a few good challenges against fellow Canadian teammate Cyle Larin. He absolutely terrorized Orlando City FC defender Ramos. Offensively, he was good, able dribble into the attacking third of the pitch with relative ease, and shoot when necessary.

I'm not convinced that Maxim Tissot will move ahead of Duka, Romero or Mapp on the depth chart with his performances of late, but he has shown Montréal that we're capable of producing talented players. We will certainly see more of Tissot in the coming games.

Other observations

1. Marco Donadel is the best option Montréal has for free kicks, corners and even offensive throw-ins. He's easily the best taker of set-pieces we've had since Hernan Bernadello left.

2. Dominic Oduro is back, and while he still isn't the best shooter in the league, he is probably the fastest forward in the MLS, and speed is often enough.

3. The Montréal Impact have 17 points, and are two points behind third place in the East - with games in hand. This is the best position we have been in since September 2013, and is above the red line that determines who is (and isn't) in the play-offs. Hopefully, the streak continues into the future. IMFC are now the 3rd best home team in the MLS, taking 72% of all points on offer at Stade Saputo.

4. Le bleu-blanc-noir will face Toronto FC on Wednesday for MLS rivalry week. TFC recently lost to NYCFC, and are only 2 points ahead of the Impact. To say this match will be interesting would be a total understatement.