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IMPACT AFTER SIX ...

Nothing to write home about yet, but not a disaster either …

MLS: Toronto FC at Montreal Impact
Remi Garde has overseen more change than any other Impact coach in MLS-history. Yet his early season record has probably only been bettered twice.
Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

So how well is Remi’s Revolution going after half a dozen games?

Well, actually, not too bad in comparison with how Montreal Impact has traditionally embarked on previous MLS campaigns. And given the tumultuous winds of change at both management and playing levels, and that previously no Impact side has ever before, faced five road trips in its opening six fixtures, arguably this is Montreal’s 3rd best-ever start to an MLS-season.

After Schallibaum’s and Biello’s, 2013 and 2016 seasons, Remi Garde’s start to 2018, bears favourable comparison to any other. Here’s all the records year by year after 6 matches.

Undoubtedly the team has looked unorganized and lacklustre at times, and played poorly, particularly in New York, Foxborough and during the first-half in Columbus, but is that so surprising given all the changes?

Changing management in any sphere needs meticulous planning, great communication and a degree of patience. You don’t get from A to B, or in the case of the Impact, 9th place to become a Play-off contender, overnight. It takes time!

Montreal Impact v DC United
Marco Schallibaum’s 2013 Impact side set off at a blistering pace, winning all of it’s first four matches.
Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

A few things have happened to raise the expectancy level beyond what it probably should be. Hiring a renowned coach is one, the influx of several new signings another, and possibly more than anything, positive results against travel-weary, Toronto and depleted, Seattle.

Calmness personified, Remi Garde would probably admit his first few months in the job as being akin to walking into a whirlwind. European coaches often don’t slot into MLS smoothly. There’s a steep learning curve, it’s a league like no other, if just for the amount of travelling alone. Then there’s the different time-zones, and the widely varying styles of play from club to club.

Picking up on all of that is a challenge to any coach not so familiar with North American surroundings. Would Pep Guardiola struggle in the situation Remi Garde finds himself in? You bet your bottom dollar he would!

Manchester City Training and Press Conference
Even Pep would’ve struggled with the rebuilding job that confronted Remi Garde on his arrival in Montreal. Maybe even moreso.
Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Same goes for Garde’s management team, then there’s all the new players needing to integrate into a new city and gel with unfamiliar teammates and coaches.

There was the centre-back crisis to deal with, a mixture of bad luck and poor planning. Following on from that, a realization that the squad wasn’t strong enough, so Silva and Camacho were added, possibly against original planning, which leant towards waiting for summer reinforcement.

Judgement at this point on the latest additions, as well as on the team and coaching set-up is pointless, not to say unfair. There’s likely to be a few more, poor performances and results, before things improve. Perhaps not though, hopefully not, but that’s what reason and history tell us about wholesale changes relative to new squad development.

Patience is the key, and coming home is bound to help the squad, even if playing at Stade Saputo for some, will be shrouded in unfamiliarity. But that’s the newness of it all. Montreal’s soccer public should embrace the transformation, one which still has every chance of success.

If there is an obvious concern for this writer, it’s the apparent lack of leaders on the field. Rod Fanni is stand-out in this regard, Saphir Taider and Samuel Piette show similar tendencies, but beyond those three it’s difficult to nominate others.

MLS: Montreal Impact at New England Revolution
Sam Piette - Leader!
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

This won’t be invisible to the coach. He’s already made noises after the first couple of games on how the players need to be brave, be prepared to want the ball and to take responsibility.

He wants his team to possess the ball more than the opposition. That aspiration looks some way in the distance for now, but the new Montreal Impact needs and deserves time to develop.

The question on most fans’ lips for now is, can the side develop quickly enough to remain in contention for a play-off spot?

Well, it’s a long season, folks …… and there’ll be a few twists and turns before it’s over!

Poll

How would you rate Rémi Garde's performance so far this season?

This poll is closed

  • 2%
    A+
    (1 vote)
  • 29%
    A
    (11 votes)
  • 56%
    B
    (21 votes)
  • 10%
    C
    (4 votes)
37 votes total Vote Now