Mount Royal Soccer: All Posts by Brandon Bay

Mock Draft 2017: Impact pick Brian Nana-Sinkam and Michael Amick

2017-01-11T10:31:51-05:00

On Sunday, all the SBNation MLS blogs got together (virtually) for the annual MLS Mock Draft. Trades are not allowed and as Don Garber was not available to announce the mock picks via Skype, picks were made, banter was shared and mock hopes were crushed.

As the Montreal Impact made it to the conference finals, the team is seeded near the bottom of the pile in both rounds. Given the late picks. the likelihood to find a MLS starter is slim. Still, with Montreal picking 19th in the first round, there might be hope for a surprise - Dom Dwyer was drafted 16th back in 2012.

We just hope that Dom Dwyer made himself available for this draft.

Pick #19: Brian Nana-Sinkam

A former Philadelphia Union academy centre back and 2015 NCAA Champion with Stanford University, Nana-Sinkam gives youth and depth in the weakest point in the Impact’s 2016 lineup - the back four. While youth isn’t as lacking in the back as the midfield - Oyongo, Cabrera, and now Chris Duvall are all 25 or younger - the depth is important.

Nana-Sinkam is a reasonably large and physical player at 6’0” and 180lbs, which is something the Impact back line could use a little more of. He has started 63 games over the last three seasons, and only missed some time in his first season due to injury.

His Pennsylvania upbringing should make adjustment to the Montreal winters easier too.

Pick #41: Michael Amick

In classic Montreal drafting style (the Impact picked up three forwards and nothing else in the 2015 Superdraft, including club legend Cameron Porter), Amick is also a 6’0” centre back. He has been the team captain at UCLA the past three seasons, and won numerous individual achievement awards including the Pac-12 Men’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-America first team selection in 2016.

Amick is a native of Sunnyvale, California, and studies at nearby UCLA, so he might not take as quickly to Montreal as Nana-Sinkam, but he is a talented player who is definitely worth trying out.

Additional Thoughts

With Ciman and Oyongo likely to miss time for international duty, an injury to Cabrera or Lefevre would leave the current roster in a tough spot. Still, it’s worth noting that Oyongo is the team’s only rostered left back, and I wanted to pick one up in draft but all the top choices were gone by the time the 19th pick came around.

Besides the previously mentioned Porter, notable Impact SuperDraft picks include Calum Mallace, Michael Salazar, and Kyle Fisher, who are still with the team; Eric Miller, who started nearly every game for the second-place Colorado Rapids this season; and Andrew Wenger, who was the #1 overall pick in 2012 and is currently playing for the Houston Dynamo.

We’ll find out who the Impact front office picks up for real this Friday in the first two rounds of the MLS SuperDraft.

San Lorenzo to repatriate Piatti from the Impact?

2016-12-22T00:39:40-05:00

Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images

San Lorenzo has Piatti on its shopping list

Rencontre entre San Lorenzo et Nick de Santis. Est-ce le début du #PiattiWatch ?https://t.co/jmnWBL4TAd #IMFC @KanFootClub pic.twitter.com/IUSslObgtq
— Nilton Jorge (@NiltonJorge) December 20, 2016

The Argentinean club, San Lorenzo, is in full preparation for the 2017 Copa Libertadores. Initial reports have been pointing to the fact that Ignacio Piatti would be leaving the Montreal Impact for San Lorenzo sooner than later.

#SanLorenzo sueña con #Piatti. En los próximos días, la CD se reunirá con el director deportivo del Montreal Impact https://t.co/lBWR29Ljzv
— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) December 20, 2016

Nick de Santis has travelled to Argentina for recruitment, and will be meeting with San Lorenzo, Piatti's former club. According to Olé, this may be a sign that Piatti will be returning to his homeland as soon as January 2017.

À la radio en Argentine.
Piatti: "Retourner à SL est un rêve. J'ai encore un an de contrat mais on sait jamais."#IMFC @KanFootClub https://t.co/mmATFGQwlc
— Nilton Jorge (@NiltonJorge) November 8, 2016

After the Impact playoff victory over the Red Bulls, Ignacio Piatti gave an interview with an Argentine radio station to talk about his spectacular season in MLS and what the future may hold for him.

For his part, Ignacio Piatti has been clear that he wants to remain in Montreal.

"A mitad de año Boca se contactó con Nacho #Piatti, en ese momento era IMPOSIBLE. No la veo tan fácil" Costa @ClossAM590 pic.twitter.com/FJEfs3fhBN
— La12tuittera ⑫ (@La12tuittera) December 13, 2016

Last week, a report came out that another Argentinian club, Boca Juniors, tried to make an offer for Piatti mid-season, and the Impact told them it was impossible.

I don’'t personally expect him to leave, but if the Impact do sell Nacho, expect him to go at a very, very high price.

TFC Fan Shakes Sounders' Supporters Hands

2016-12-14T16:30:15-05:00

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A Toronto FC fan made the news:

This @torontofc fan stayed after the game to congratulate every fan in the @SoundersFC section #MLSCup https://t.co/HE0BC4BOht
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 11, 2016

Look, I know what you’re going to say.

"What about the guys who harrassed that newswoman?"

Sure, but some of my childhood best friends are TFC fans now. They’re not bad people.

"What about the clowns who made the rape banner and burned that kid’s IMFC scarf?"

I know, but now we have this guy being a gracious loser and showing some real Canadian kindness to travelling supporters.

I'm happy to report that - just maybe - they're not all bad.

Kudos, Sam Saunders.

TFC haters, if it’s any consolation, at least the players still suck.

Two Solitudes Derby: Playoff Scenarios

2016-10-19T10:00:02-04:00

Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Could the Montreal Impact meet Toronto FC in the playoffs?

	Since 2012			All Time			USL Teams
	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR
Games	8	8	10	8	9	15	3	1	3
Goals	32		35	34		47	10		12

The Montreal Impact have qualified for the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, thanks to their 2-2 draw against Toronto FC and some help from the Chicago Fire, who downed the New England Revolution 2-1 to secure Montreal’s seat in the playoffs.

Toronto had previously qualified, but their failure to win over Montreal means they may still have to fight their way through the knockout round.

October 23rd is the final regular season match day, with playoff seeds yet to be decided. While somewhat unlikely at this stage, the Two Solitudes Derby could again rear its head in the race for the MLS Cup. Which scenarios would see Montreal face Toronto in the playoffs for the second year running?

Knockout Round

Toronto FC will host the Montreal Impact in the knockout round on October 26th if:

The Montreal Impact lose to the New England Revolution, AND
The Philadelphia Union defeat the New York Red Bulls, AND
New York City FC beat Columbus Crew SC OR the Chicago Fire take an upset win over Toronto FC OR both of those games end in ties

Conference Semifinal

Montreal Impact will play Toronto FC in a home-and-home series for the conference semifinal on October 30th and November 6th if:

The Montreal Impact lose to the New England Revolution, AND
Toronto FC beat the Chicago Fire, AND
The Philadelphia Union defeat the New York Red Bulls, AND
Columbus Crew SC defeat or draw New York City FC, AND
The Montreal Impact defeat the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium in the knockout round

Conference Final

Any other combination of results will mean the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC will not face each other again in 2016 unless both teams manage to qualify for the eastern conference finals.

The eastern conference finals are to be held on November 22nd and 30th.

Two Solitudes Derby: Closing the Season

2016-10-16T14:14:20-04:00

Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

A preview of the final (?) meeting between the two clubs

The Two Solitudes Derby is one of the most exciting rivalries in Major League Soccer. Today we take an in-depth look at what might be the last grudge match of the season.

This is the fifth part in a series covering the Montreal Impact - Toronto FC rivalry. (See previous parts: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Table

	Since 2012			All Time			USL Teams
	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR
Games	8	7	10	8	8	15	3	1	3
Goals	30		33	32		45	10		12

Montreal hosts Toronto FC this afternoon to close out their home games for 2016. The two teams have met in the final two weeks of the regular season every year that Montreal has been an MLS side, with the first three matches in Toronto (0-0, 1-0 TFC, 1-1) and last year’s at Stade Saputo (2-1 Impact). The last two years brought the rivalry out strong, with the 2014 edition being particularly dramatic.

Earlier this season, Toronto beat Montreal in Stade Saputo, and then the Impact followed it up with a road win of their own.

In today’s match, TFC star striker Sebastian Giovinco, who was injured in the last meeting between the two teams, has returned to the Reds lineup. The home side is missing Didier Drogba from the match day 18 with a stiff back.

Didier Drogba absent cet après midi. Inconfort au dos.
Didier Drogba is not available this afternoon. Stiff back.#IMFC #MTLvTOR
— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) October 16, 2016

The Impact still have playoffs to fight for, though a win today will secure their place. Toronto, on the other hand, are still in striking distance of a first round bye, or perhaps even a first place finish in the conference.

In all likelihood, Toronto and Montreal will not meet again this season unless they both make it to the conference finals. However, with playoff standings still so uncertain, even a repeat of last year’s knockout round match is possible.

In advance of the match, Dominic Oduro, one of just three active MLS players who has spent time with both teams, fired some shots in Toronto’s direction:

"No lie, we have a good fan base over here. You come to games, you hear them. They're really loud and we have that bell that sounds all the time when we score. And they're loud. You can't compare that to Toronto. I mean, Toronto, they only have one section. With us, we have two sections and they're just amazing. They come to games no matter what. Even when things are not falling in place in terms of games winning and all that, they still come out to support and that's really important."

Expect a vibrant game this afternoon.

FC Montreal 4-3 TFC II

2016-08-29T10:11:00-04:00

Toronto FC II

Montreal sweep Two Solitudes Derby

Montreal

	Since 2012			All Time			USL Teams
	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR
Games	8	7	10	8	8	15	3	1	3
Goals	30		33	32		45	10		12

Both Montreal teams defeated their rivals in Toronto this weekend. After the Impact win one day earlier, FC Montreal defeated Toronto FC II at their home stadium in Vaughan four goals to three on Sunday.

The game was back and forth, with both teams holding the lead on two separate occasions. Toronto took the lead on a Martin Davis goal in the fifth minute, and Louis Béland-Goyette answered in the sixth.

Ricardo John again gave the home side the advantage in the tenth, but Montreal took the lead before half on goals from Anthony Jackson-Hamel and Alessandro Riggi.

John completed a brace to tie the game in the 63rd minute, but Heikel Jarras grabbed the win for Montreal in the 86th.

Much like the first team game over at BMO Field the day before, it was a chippy rivalry affair. Four players were cautioned, and Mitchel Taintor (TFCII) and Marco Dominguez (FCMTL) were ejected late in the game for a brawl.

It was a little more aggressive and drawn out than the shenanigans that saw Calum Mallace ejected on Saturday, so rather than GIF it, I’ll just link directly to the video.

Highlights from BMO Field

2016-08-27T22:15:56-04:00

Brandon Bay

All you need to see from the Two Solitudes Derby

Back in April, supporters group 1642 Montreal flew this tifo for Toronto:

Brandon Bay

April 23, 2016. Supporters group 1642 Montreal flies a tifo featuring the Impact fox and Krusty the Clown, reading “Clowns au menu.” (Brandon Bay)

Toronto supporters responded tonight with a very impressive display.

TSN

August 27, 2016. Toronto supporters display an elaborate tifo reading “Our funhouse, your nightmare. Welcome to the circus.” (TSN)

Just before halftime, Marco Delgado tripped Dominic Oduro, and in response, Calum Mallace body checked Steven Beitashour. All hell broke loose after that, with Delgado earning a yellow card and Mallace a straight red:

View post on imgur.com

Eventually, Piatti scored the only goal of the game, bringing Montreal its first ever win at BMO Field.

View post on imgur.com

It’s a great time to be alive, Impact fans. This derby has never been so intense.

Three Questions on Toronto FC

2016-08-27T12:37:50-04:00

Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images

Waking the Red answers our questions about Toronto

Toronto FC is in the best run of form of their existence, sitting atop the eastern conference with a real shot at the Supporters Shield. The Montreal Impact are looking today to knock them down a peg and claim their first-ever win at BMO Field.

I caught up with Mitchell Tierney at Waking the Red with a few questions before this afternoon's game in the Two Solitudes Derby.

You can see our answers to their questions here.

BB: Fans must be excited about TFC's hot state right now. What would you say is TFC's biggest weakness in what appears to be their best-ever run of form?

MT: Toronto's biggest weakness continues to be teams who can stay compact and organised defensively and sit behind the ball. Their lone dropped points of a recent three-game road trip came against the Houston Dynamo, who only had 10 men for half of the match. Why? Because the Dynamo were forced to sit back and absorb Toronto's pressure, putting all of their men behind the ball. As many creative players as Toronto FC has, they are more built for counterattacking when other teams are putting the pressure on them.

The struggle to break down an opponent who is compact defensively boiled over in the team's last loss, when a nine-man San Jose Earthquakes side scored late to beat them. That could have happened in Houston again, but keeper Alex Bono made some big saves. So if Montreal can sit back and defend for ninety minutes, they could well get a result, albeit an ugly one.

The one counterpoint to this, however, is that Jozy Altidore did not start either of those two aforementioned matches, or really many of the matches all year where Toronto FC has struggled to score. Altidore can be the x-factor for Toronto's attack, and whether a back line is stretched or compact he is a constant threat.

BB: Do you think Toronto players might underestimate this match, given our recent slump and the fact that, so far this year, we've been swept in the series?

MT: Not a chance, this is a huge match for Toronto that they have had circled on their schedule for some time. Now that they are top of the Eastern Conference, they will want to announce it to the city by beating their rival team. After last year's playoffs, don't expect them to underestimate the Impact anytime soon.

All of Toronto's talk this week has been about not letting their foot off of the pedal. They now have the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but they want to retain it until October. Now they also have a very good shot at the Supporter's Shield, especially considering the fact that six of their last eight games will be played at home.

BB: Designated Players aside, who is the top threat the Impact should watch for this weekend?

MT: Will Johnson has just returned from injury, and will be looking to cement his place back in the midfield with a good performance in front of the home fans. Johnson never needs any motivation, but perhaps a recent snub from the Canadian Men's national team will provide that. Whatever the case, expect Johnson to be a thorn in the Montreal Impact's side all game long.

Toronto has really missed Johnson during the time he was out with a broken leg, suffered scoring the Voyageurs Cup winning goal. Johnson is one of the only Toronto midfielders who is actually willing to shoot the ball in the attacking third. It doesn't go in all that much, but at least he isn't goal shy like some of Toronto's other midfielders.

BB: Bonus question, what do you think is holding Toronto media back from getting in on the Two Solitudes Derby name bandwagon? Is it more distaste or lack of exposure?

MT: Honestly, I like the name Two Solitudes better than 401 Derby, but that's the name which has truly stuck in the Toronto FC community. It isn't great, but it is going to be really hard to change now. I think Toronto FC fans have generally embraced that name, and the media knows it well now. It's going to be hard to get rid of it, I don't really see that happening.

TFC Expected Starting XI

Two Solitudes Derby: Becoming a Rivalry

2016-08-26T14:15:06-04:00

Toronto FC's Gilberto, top, leaps over Montreal Impact's Hassoun Camara after being tackled by the Montreal defender during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, in Toronto. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese) | AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese

Relive perhaps the biggest game in Two Solitudes Derby history

The Two Solitudes Derby is one of the most exciting rivalries in Major League Soccer. Today we take an in-depth look at what was, for many, the day it truly became so thrilling.

This is the fourth part in a series covering the Montreal Impact - Toronto FC rivalry. (See previous parts: 1, 2, 3)

Table

	Since 2012			All Time			USL Teams
	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR
Games	7	7	10	7	7	15	2	1	3
Goals	29		33	31		45	6		9

A Match for the Ages

Patrice Bernier and Hassoun Camara weren’t selected for the player profile solely for their passion. They also played a big role in one particularly important Two Solitudes Derby game.

The date was October 18th, 2014, at BMO Field. Toronto had two games remaining in the season, and needed to win both to even have a shot at making the playoffs. With their very first postseason berth on the line, and their biggest rival in town, you can imagine the stakes were high for Toronto FC in this game.

Montreal, on the other hand, were just looking at this match as a consolation prize. They had already all but assured their dead-last finish in the league by this point - #frankklopas - but had stolen the Voyageurs Cup from Toronto on an away goal, coming in a 1-1 draw at BMO Field in June. It would have been a satisfying end to a disappointing season to kick Toronto while they were down, so the Impact, too, were out for blood.

Bernier, ever the hometown boy, said before the match:

THE CANADIAN IN ME WANTS A CANADIAN TEAM TO QUALIFY [FOR THE PLAYOFFS]. BUT THE MONTREAL GUY, THE QUEBECER, WOULDN’T MIND STOPPING THEM FROM MAKING THE PLAYOFFS.

Still, if you asked fans that morning if there was a strong, fiery rivalry between the two teams, they probably would have said no.

A Chippy Start

Camara was given an early yellow card after just four minutes of play for a rough tackle against Toronto DP Gilberto. This was Camara’s tenth yellow on the season, and he drew 7 the year before, which earned him a reputation.

La mort, les taxes et un jaune pour Camara! #IMFC
— Felipe Ponce (@frozenpuma) February 25, 2015

Fifteen minutes later, Warren Creavalle opened the scoring for Toronto, with Camara and Bush sharing the blame for it. Both misread a deflected ball that went high into the air inside the 18 yard box and were not in place to defend Creavalle’s shot.

For a moment, Toronto’s playoff dream seemed like it wasn’t quite dead. Then, in the thirty ninth minute, Bernier and Andres Romero combined to set up Felipe Martins for the equalizer. Bernier’s perfect long ball from midfield to the 18 was highlight reel material, up there Calum Mallace’s ball for Cameron Porter in the CCL semifinals.

The half finished without much incident, and the second half started similarly. Matteo Ferrari earned a yellow card in the 55th minute for a tackle that looked a lot like Camara’s early shenanigans, but it was generally your standard rivalry game fare until the last ten minutes of play.

At that point, the game descended into complete madness.

An Absence of Sanity

Heath Pearce tackled then-Toronto FC player Dominic Oduro and got a straight red with 8 minutes left of regulation time. Players from both teams were shoving each other in the aftermath, and the referree could barely contain them.

In the 86th minute, after struggling to clear the ball away from both Oduro and Doneil Henry, Montreal turned over one too many times and Dwayne De Rosario got a clear shot on net. Luckily for the Impact, he shot it high over the goal.

Just after that, Jackson was given a yellow for what can really only be described as a body check against Eric Miller. Again, both teams swarmed the ref and shoved each other.

Evan Bush was given a yellow card for time wasting in the 90th minute.

After a half-hearted Toronto attempt at goal, Issey Nakajima-Farran and Marco Di Vaio nearly put one away in the 93rd minute on a Montreal counterattack, but were thwarted by TFC ‘keeper Joe Bendik, and that’s when all hell broke loose.

On the resulting corner, Jonathan Osorio tackled Felipe. In his classic style, Felipe embellished, and Osorio and was given a straight red card. Bendik shouted at the ref, and then picked Felipe up off the ground to prove he was faking.

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.

Bendik took a yellow for his actions (in the books as “dissent”), and with tensions high, De Rosario and Camara both picked up a yellow in the 95th and final minute of the game after tripping one another during a TFC attacking run. Camara’s second yellow saw him off the field, and the game ended in chaotic disaster, fitting after both teams’ disappointing seasons.

Toronto was out of the playoffs, defeated again by a 1-1 draw at home. Three players were sent off the field and suspended for the end of their seasons.

This was the day that the Two Solitudes Derby was truly born.

Two Solitudes Derby: Player Profiles, Part Two

2016-08-26T14:00:02-04:00

Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

A pair of Impact legends making derby history

The Two Solitudes Derby is one of the most exciting rivalries in Major League Soccer. For some players, this rivalry runs even deeper. Today we take an in-depth look at some of the players who have seen some of their most passionate moments in the Two Solitudes Derby. This time, the spotlight is on Patrice Bernier and Hassoun Camara.

This is the third part in a series covering the Montreal Impact - Toronto FC rivalry. (See previous parts: 1, 2)

Table

	Since 2012			All Time			USL Teams
	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR	MTL	X	TOR
Games	7	7	10	7	7	15	2	1	3
Goals	29		33	31		45	6		9

Patrice Bernier

Notre capitaine, Bernier is a native of Brossard and an Impact legend. True to his Canadian roots, Bernier actually spent some time in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before switching to the beautiful game.

He got his soccer start with the Montreal Impact way back in 2000, and played three seasons before leaving to ply his trade in Scandinavia. While there, he became a regular member of the Canadian national team, seeing 53 caps since November 2003. When the Impact joined MLS in 2012, Bernier returned to his hometown club.

Bernier is definitely the most passionate of all Two Solitues Derby players on either side of the pitch. He has scored two goals against Toronto FC, a feat that twenty players have achieved. Including Bernier, just 9 are still active and able to increase their tally

Additionally, his red card in the Voyageurs Cup semifinal game on June 1st 2016 makes him the most disciplined derby player in history, with 4 yellows and that red. Montreal is historically the chippier side, with 57 cards to Toronto's 36, and Bernier is the biggest offender.

His deeper understanding of the rivalry, being a Montreal area native, is likely what leads to a more passionate (if occasionally reckless) game for Bernier in Two Solitudes Derby matches, and it is something that I as a fan very much appreciate.

Hassoun Camara

Like Bernier, Hassoun Camara is among the most aggressive of the derby players, having earned four yellow cards and one second-offense red back in 2014.

Camara is a native of Paris suburb Noisy-le-Sec, and played in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 before joining the Impact in 2011, the club’s final year in the lower divisions. Camara was named the team’s MVP that season, and was one of just four players (another being current first-choice goalkeeper Evan Bush) to stay on the roster for the leap to MLS.

Camara is often a chippy player, but his love for the city has grown. As reported in the Gazette recently, Camara wants to remain in Montreal after he retires and open a restaurant. He would also like to continue working with the Impact, if possible. His love for all things Montrealais definitely shows when TFC is the opponent.

Other players

Sanna Nyassi, who left the Impact after the 2014 season, sits just behind Camara with four yellow cards. Toronto's most disciplined player is former full back Richard Eckersley, now playing for Oldham Athletic in England’s League One, with one red card and three yellows.

Active players who could still overtake these two in the derby disciplinary record include Laurent Ciman, who has earned two yellow cards and one straight red, and Wandrille Lefevre, with three yellows. Jonathan Osorio’s lone red card is the highest disciplinary count among active Toronto FC players.