Mount Royal Soccer: All Posts by Bryan Thomas

Oduro should get more credit for his play

2015-08-11T10:00:03-04:00

Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

A look at why I think Impact speedster Dominic Oduro should be getting more love.

As Montreal Impact fans anxiously await the debut of superstar striker Didier Drogba, the debate continues over last week's decision to trade Jack McInerney to the Columbus Crew in exchange for a draft pick. There is a large percentage of the fan base that would have preferred that the club keep the young striker as his best years may still be ahead of him.

I may not be in the majority, but I think that the club made a good decision. Let me start by saying that I believe McInerney is a good player, and he may find his form and go on to score bundles of goals for Columbus or another club. I was actually of the opinion at the beginning of the year that Jack could help shoulder the load up front.

As we begin the second half of the season however, for me, Dominic Oduro has shown us why he is the player that the club decided to keep. The biggest reason why I believe the speedster managed to dethrone Jack Mac was because of his no quit attitude on the field.

While McInerney had a nose for goal, there were always stretches during games where I would be wondering where he was on the field. It was no secrete that Jack felt he was never given a fair shake however stats may prove otherwise. He featured in 17 games before being traded, 13 as a starter, in those 17 games only five times did he play fewer than 70 minutes.

He left Montreal after scoring 4 goals this year in 1,188 minutes that works out to a goal every 297 minutes (or 3.3 games). For someone collecting the kind of money he was making that is not very convincing.

Praise for Oduro

Dominic Oduro takes a lot of heat from fans and media for having a heavy first touch, and leaving chances unfinished but I for one would have him on any team of mine in a heart beat. Every time I see Oduro on the field he is giving his all, if he loses possession he tries to win it back, there is just no quit in him.

I for one, love what he brings to the line up, and although I like them, it has nothing to do with his cool hair cuts either or goal celebrations. Sure there are times when I see him make a break away from a defender and start to celebrate prematurely but at least I know he will do what he can to create another opportunity for himself or a teammate.

People might be surprised to see that statistics are also in his favor. He has only played 913 minutes so far this year (16 games), and yet he has already found the target six times. He has only started 10 games, in his last six starts he has four goals. Overall, so far this year, he is scoring at a rate of a goal every 152 minutes (or 1.6 games). If you were to have a look back at his most successful season (2013) when he found the target 13 times (in 2,854 minutes), he was scoring at a rate of a goal every 219 minutes.

Yes, he probably should have more goals this season when you think of some of the chances that went for not. However, for someone that has a so called bad first touch his 6 goals are only 2 behind leader Ignacio Piatti (8 goals), who scored four from the penalty spot.

Many people at the start of the year were writing Oduro off because of his lack of scoring last season splitting time between Columbus and Toronto but he is on pace to set a personal season high in goals if he keeps up with his current pace. Another reason why I prefer Oduro over Jack McInerney : his versatility. Whether Klopas was right or wrong in his decision making, we have also seen the Oduro play at right midfield. On the wing he's almost able to use his speed even more because he has more space to maneuver.

He never complained when he was pushed to the wing instead he went out and did whatever he could to help the team. The thing with Oduro is that he knows his strength, and will use it all day long to take advantage of his opponent whether he is attacking or defending. While he makes almost as much as McInerney, he certainly brings an encouraging work ethic on the field, something that can't always be said about the latter. If anyone can complain about a lack of playing time it would be Oduro, but instead of complaining he has taken his chances by the horns and ran with it.

One thing that I find interesting when reading fan comments is the leeway other players get when things don't go as planned. Piatti, or Romero are allowed to over-dribble or fire it wide but Oduro's touch is a little heavy and an opportunity is lost, and fans want him off the field.

I say give Oduro a break as he is putting away his fair share of chances. For the record, during Marco Di Vaio's 20 goal season, his rate was roughly a goal every 137 minutes. For someone that does not have anywhere near the same technical ability, Oduro's pace is not far off that of the Italian legend. Even when the Ghanaian does not have the ball, he is always trying to make runs to draw defenders near, or give his teammates an outlet. He is always working hard.

The Drogba Effect

Only Frank Klopas, Mauro Biello, and Enzo Concina know what formation they are going to use going forward, but it goes without saying that if the formation stays the same Oduro will get less starts over the remainder of the year once Drogba is ready.

The Ivorian legend will be bringing a calmness and poise in front of goal, that killer instinct that Impact fans have not witnessed since Marco Di Vaio retired. I am sure that he has already started sharing his experiences and expertise to his teammates at training.

Everyone will be expected to raise their games to another level with Drogba in town. He is a champion, and one thing champions hate more than anything is losing. Like Di Vaio, I expect Drogba to be consistent in front of goal and bury his fair share of goals. Without a doubt he will be the main focus for defenders when he is on the pitch, leaving chances for others to get in on the scoring.

The good news for Oduro is that Drogba is 37, and likely won't be able to play a full 90 minutes every match. He will surely have his share of opportunities going forward and I am willing to be that whenever he's summoned to get on the field he will make the most of it. One this is certain, Oduro is doing his best to make it hard for Klopas to remove him from the starting eleven.

Even if I am in the minority, I am glad Oduro is a member of the Impact, he wants to be here and will play from the first whistle till the last with the same intensity.

Can Klopas take the Impact on a postseason run?

2015-08-05T06:51:09-04:00

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

With new additions to the roster, coaching staff have some important decisions to make

To say that last week was a big one for the Montreal Impact would be an understatement. It might just have been of the biggest in club history.

Impact Finally Replace Marco Di Vaio

It began with bang, on Monday July 27th, as the club announced the acquisition of former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba via trade from the Chicago Fire. The day he arrived in Montreal, hundreds of fans converged at the airport to show their support. Almost instantly the club began reaping the rewards, as reports started surfacing that ticket sales started to increase and the club's boutique was running out of jerseys.

MLS All-Star - Laurent Ciman

It also just happened to be the same night fan favorite Laurent Ciman suited up for the annual MLS All-Star game. For Impact fans, it is no surprise that he was selected as he has been a rock on the club's back line. He made his appearance for the second half and helped the MLS All-Stars to 2-1 victory. He has truly shown that he is an elite talent in the league, and footy fans in Montreal should enjoy his presence while he is here.

The following day there was more good news, as Costa Rican midfielder Johan Venegas arrived in Montreal and the club officially announced his signing to begin the new week.

In case there were any doubts that the week could not get any better for the club, they managed to come away with a full three points on the road. The win came against star studded expansion side, NYCFC a team chasing the Impact for that final playoff spot. It was not the perfect road game, but they managed to get what they needed the most, the full three points and create some distance between themselves and NYCFC. It was the perfect way to kick start the second half of the season.

Roster Decisions Loom

The good news is many of the players that have been sidelined with injuries are either ready to return or are close. We saw Eric Alexander, return to the starting lineup this past weekend, and Justin Mapp is inching closer and closer to a return. Not counting Saturday afternoon's win in NY, the club has 6 more games this month including the home and away, Canadian Championships, versus Vancouver.

All games will be at home with the exception of the second leg of that Championship match (Aug. 26th) and a visit to BMO Field to close out the month (Aug. 29h) all of them will be in the friendly confines of Saputo Stadium.

With the additions of Venegas, and of course Drogba, Frank Klopas now has his work cut out for him. Not only does he have to figure out what his best XI will be, he will also have to find a way to juggle his line-up to keep everyone fresh, and happy.

Recently, the club traded a disgruntled Baky Soumare, for Canadian international Kyle Bekker, because the Malian was unhappy about his decreased minutes. Even before the trade, Reo-Coker appeared to have fallen out of favor with Klopas, as he has been relegated to the bench over the past few weeks. With the arrival of Bekker, and the continued solid play of Mallace and Donadel playing time might be even harder to come by, although he did manage to feature briefly versus NYCFC on the weekend. He is not alone however as fan favorite Patrice Bernier also continues his struggles to get into games more regularly.

With so many games this month, Klopas will have no choice but to rotate his squad.

Will he find a way to give Laurent Ciman a break? Will Miller, Tissot, Lefevre and some of the other homegrown youngsters feature in the Canadian Championships?

When will Camara, or Eric Miller have the opportunity to log some minutes? What works in Klopas' favor is that for the first time the team has serious depth, especially in the middle of the park. Mapp, who would have been an undisputed starter had he not been injured. Eric Alexander was a regular for NYRB last season, and you could argue that Bernier, Duka and Jack Mac would all be regulars on many teams in the league, but they have been mostly used off the bench.

Even another fan favorite, Dominic Oduro, who on the weekend notched his 5th goal of the year, is at risk of losing his starting role. If Klopas decides to continue with his preferred 4-2-3-1, you would have to think the two changes will be Drogba up top with Venegas playing on the left, leaving Piatti in the middle and Romero on the right.

Weaknesses

Now that the club has found their legit striker, and filled the middle of the park with a plethora of attacking options, will the club entertain the possibility of dangling one or two players as trade bait to lock down another defender. I found it a bit curious that the club chose to take another midfielder back in the trade for Soumare although unloading his contract was a good idea.

Clearly the club has not finished tinkering with the lineup, as we saw another move today, the club moved Jack Mcinerney, to Columbus, in exchange for a draft pick. What is interesting to note is that there was more to this deal but Adam Braz was not able to elaborate just yet. Could Cambiasso be a target? He is on Columbus' discovery list....we'll see.

Time will tell how Klopas will handle all the decisions he has to make, but unlike the previous coaches the club has had in MLS, he will be out of excuses if things go wrong. He has elite talent players, it is now up to him to find a way to make it work.

Personally, I feel this team is deep enough to make a long playoff push if they can keep the momentum going. Over the next couple of months Saputo Stadium will no doubt be the place to be.

Drogba can bring more casual fans to Stade Saputo

2015-07-25T17:08:05-04:00

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

There is no denying it now! The Montreal Impact have their sights set on Didier Drogba. Joey Saputo confirmed in a recent interview with Noel Butler on TSN 690 (Oranges at Half Time) to address the rumors of Didier Drogba. Although there has been no official word one way or the other, the lastest rumor has the Impact giving up a young player and $50,000.00 to Chicago to finalize the transaction. Officially however, the waiting game continues.

Here is what we know, the Montreal Impact WANT Didier Drogba! During the interview, Saputo made it abundantly clear that he felt Drogba would be a perfect fit for the club and the city. He has personally spoken to Drogba, which just goes to show just how badly he wants this to happen. The bad news is, the Chicago Fire are also keen to sign the Ivory Coast legend. Hopefully, for Impact fans if Drogba does come to MLS it will be in Impact colours! For Impact fans the wait is painful! During the January transfer window, ownership made a push to sign Alberto Gilardino, but he chose China. Then an attempt was made to bring in former TFC striker Gilberto but that didn't work out either. With all due respect to the two previously mentioned strikers, if the Impact are able to swing a deal for the former Chelsea hit man, the effects will be massive both on and off the field.

Just who is Didier Drogba?

For those of you who don't know, he is a champion! He is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Ivory Coast National Team scoring 65 goals in 104 appearances. At the club level he has amassed 178 goals in his career! He has won the Premiere League & FA Cup four times each & League Cup three times with Chelsea. He was also on the winning side with Chelsea twice for the FA Community Shield. He was man of the match UEFA Champions League back in 2012 when Chelsea won. He has so many accolades to his name it would take me way too much time to list them all! The important thing to know is that even though he 37 years of age he still has game and can help the Impact in more ways than one. Last season, although he only played 14 games with Chelsea he still managed to score seven times.

On the field

He is an internationally known world class striker so automatically he will garner attention whenever he is on the field. Just like when Piatti came in, and found chemistry with Marco Di Vaio, I believe that Piatti, Romero, Duka and the rest of the attacking core of players on the team would benefit greatly from his presence! He will undoubtedly draw multiple defenders at a time leaving spaces for others to exploit. At the moment, there is a real lack of consistency from Impact attackers so to have someone of Drogba's caliber who can finish chances the way Di Vaio used to would be a massive upgrade. He is very strong in the air, and that is a something that really lacks on this current squad. None of the clubs' current strikers are very good in the air. Imagine Donadel being able to have Drogba challenging for balls in the air on his set piece deliveries or on Oyongo's long throw in's. He is also very good at taking set-pieces, again something that Impact lack right now. Donadel is usually pretty accurate with his crossing abilities, but having a player like Drogba that can put it directly in the back of the net, will give the Impact something they've never really had.

Just like when Di Vaio was here, the learning experiences he can pass along to the younger players is huge! He would be able to provide leadership and guidance to youngsters Anthony Jackson-Hamel and Romario Williams.

Off The Field

It is no secret that the Impact have been on a slow decline at the gates and attendance figures have been dropping steadily. Die hard fans will always show their loyalty to the team and be there week in week out, but having a player of Drogba's stature could finally help the Impact draw more casual fans. For the casual fan, many want to see a world class star, and although those who are familiar with the game will know that Ciman, and Piatti are extremely talented those less convinced may come out in greater numbers to see Drogba. I for one don't agree with bringing in a 'name' for the sake of it, but let's be honest Drogba is more than a name! I am positive that his signature would bring more fans than we witnessed during Di Vaio & Nesta's stay. Unfortunately, I could not find and numbers to support this, but I do believe that he would sell more jerseys as well. It is obvious that the clubs recent CCL success has helped bring more exposure to the organization, which should help attract more players in the future.

I have never been in favor of trying to sign anyone just because of their nationality or language but, in a French speaking city, I am sure it would be a big deal for the club to add a French speaking star to their roster. If this plays out in the Impact's favor, it will be important for the club to take advantage of his stardom. They can't afford to not have him become a face of the franchise, even though he may only be here for a year or two. They should no longer market games based on who is coming on the visitor's lineup. They must make a point of selling Drogba to the public, especially the casual fan.

In the mean time....tick tock, tick tock...let's hope he trades Chelsea blue for Impact blue!

Are the Impact spending their cap money wisely?

2015-07-21T17:20:05-04:00

Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

My look at the money the club is dishing out to players.

With the recent release of MLS players salaries list made public, I thought it would be fun to see where the Impact are getting the most bang for their buck. For those who may have yet to look at the salary list what is important to keep in mind is that they don't take into consideration sponsorships, or allocation money and other side deal earnings.

In a league where clubs are competing against each other with restraints of salary cap, this list does offer up the opportunity for debate on who's contracts are the best and who's are the worst. I know when discussing salaries it can be a touchy subject but this is more just for the sake of discussions. What matters to me is the team's success, not really who's making how much.

Looking back, if there were some people that were upset with the way the Bakary Soumare ordeal went down, it might make it easier to deal with when you look at how much cap room the club just created. With his departure the Impact save $165K!

That is huge especially for a player that lost their starting spot. I for one felt that Klopas gave him more than enough time to win and keep his spot, he just had too many off nights, and in a results oriented business it made more sense this way. They also bring in another Canadian opening up another international spot that the team seems to like to use.

Here is a quick look at a few players that stand out the most (good and bad) looking at their contributions compared to their salary. For the purpose of the article I will be using their base salary.

The Good!

Evan Bush, has been very solid this year. With the exception of the game where he let in a couple of soft goals versus NYCFC, he has provide the club with steady keeping. It can be argued that if he was available in the CCL final the outcome would have been very different. Sitting fifth in the league in saves (63), one thing is for sure, on most nights, he has given the team a chance to win. When you look at the amount of money Eastern conference leaders DC United are paying Hamid ($360K), Bush's salary is a steal.

Reigning club MVP Andres Romero's salary is also very good, coming in at an even $100K, the dynamic midfielder for me is worth the money! He is proving that last year was not a fluke. He has been one of the most consistent players this summer. One thing that I have enjoyed watching is that he has been tracking back a lot to help on the defensive side. Considering the team is paying him the same amount of money that former Impact midfielder Daniele Paponi was making its an upgrade for the same price.

It's no secret that I was pretty harsh on Donadel the first part of the season, but as he has become more used to the league his production on the field has been vastly improved. His salary for me is pretty good, especially when you look at some of the salaries that other teams are paying their holding midfielders, for example Juninho ($350K) Maurice Edu of the Philadelphia Union in making a whopping $700K & even former captain Davy Arnaud (now with DC United) is pulling in $212K. I think for what Donadel brings he more than justifies his salary.

A lot was made about the fact that Laurent Ciman took a pay cut to come to Montreal, and that had it not been for the care for his daughter he would not be here. Although he is one of the highest paid on the team, if you look at former defenders Matteo Ferrai's salary who made $300K in 2014, and Italian legend Alessandro Nesta $260K in 2013, both who were obviously past their prime, to give Ciman a non DP salary of $370K is not a bad deal. He has been nothing short of a rock star for the club.

The Bad!

Now it can be debated that the contracts of Dominic Oduro and Jack McInerney are not that bad, but for me when you are paying a combined salary of $520K for your top two strikers I expect a little be more consistency and production from both players. If you were to break down the salary per goal, that is $65,000 per goal. I know it is not always a case of dollars and cents but when you've reached the half way mark of the season and your strikers have 4 goals a piece, it is troubling. It is no wonder this past week has been full of rumors about the Impact looking for a top level striker.

The Ugly!

As I mentioned earlier, the Soumare trade made a lot of sense, because it is just too much money to be spending on a player that is sitting on the bench, especially a disgruntled one. That being said, if his contract was bad, you would have to agree that the contracts of both veteran Hassoun Camara ($235K) and journey man Nigel Reo-Coker's ($275K) are horrible! In a salary cap world $510K combined on two players that have not featured very often in the starting 11 let alone off the bench is mind blowing. I understand that Camara has been battling injuries, but with new comers Toia and Oyongo impressing as we approach the mid-way point of the season, one has to wonder how much longer the team can afford to have Camara's salary on the bench.

The good news for Camara is that with Soumare gone he can now be slipped in for minutes beside Ciman or Cabrera in the middle or on the right side where he has been penciled in when the starters need a break. I've already talked about Nigel Reo-Coker and his visibly diminishing role with the team, and again in a salary cap world his contract is far too high to be a role player. I do feel that there are far too many bodies in the middle now, and something will have to give soon.

Now that I have had my say, who's contracts do you like? Who's contracts are not? Any surprises?

Has Nigel Reo-Coker run out of favor with Klopas

2015-07-13T11:56:29-04:00

Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Has Frank Klopas given up on English-man Reo-Coker?

At the beginning of the season. I was really looking forward to seeing what Nigel Reo-Coker could do to help the Montreal Impact's midfield. Sadly, 16 games into the MLS calendar I have to say, I am not really impressed. I have tried really hard to appreciate what he brings, but my problem is finding just what it is.

I understand that he has played at the highest level in the Premiership, but in a league where the pace is quicker and more physical I have a hard time seeing where he fits in. There has been widespread debate as to who should be in the starting XI, especially since he is in direct competition with hometown favorite and team captain Patrice Bernier, as well as Mallace and Marco Donadel.

As a long time fan, and supporter of the club, I always expect the most out of each of the players, every night! I expect that when they put on their jerseys and come out onto the field they will give their all! I do not remember which opponent it was but the game that stood out for me where Reo-Coker is concerned was a match that he started in his normal position and then was pushed back to the right side of the defense to finish the game.

Unfortunately, on that night, he was actually better playing as a defender that he was in his normal spot. Maybe, if this was last season, he could get away with being plugged in various spots on the field as quality depth was a major issue, but this year it is a much different story. With the exception of at the attacker's position there are many options for Klopas to use on defense and in the middle. It is one thing to be asked to drop back on defense because of injuries like he was during the Champion's League but if you are a midfielder and you are not strong in your right position, there is a problem.

Marco Donadel

It almost seems unfair to talk about the Italian midfielder after his weekend golazo but the truth is he has slowly been winning me over. Originally, I was just as unimpressed with Donadel as I was with Reo-Coker. I found him to be slow and seeing him continuously being cautioned by the officials, was frustrating! I wonder if the turning point for Donadel was the night he was sent off after picking up a couple yellow cards.

I was not sure I would ever say this but I have come to appreciate what he brings to the table. He has brought life to set pieces and corner kicks for the Impact. Prior to his arrival, there was no reason to get excited on set plays in the attacking third because the club didn't have anyone that could deliver a ball that could trouble opposing teams. Now I am not saying his deliveries are perfect or that he's one of the best, but on this Impact team he certainly delivers consistently. I am willing to bet that before the season is over, we will see him score on one too!

Piatti the new unofficial captain?

Several weeks ago Frank Klopas mentioned that he had decided to give the captain's armband to designated player Ignacio Piatti as a motivational tool. At the time he said he wanted to light a spark for the Argentinian, as he was going head to head against fellow Argentine DP Higuain of Columbus. Looking back, one has to wonder if there was more to it than he was letting on.

It was an easy answer, because on the surface one could think...okay, seems a little strange to do something like this in the Pro ranks, but maybe it makes sense. However, since that match much has changed for both Piatti and Reo-Coker. Piatti has been finding his way on to the score sheet more often and Reo-Coker has been finding minutes much harder to come by. Since playing the full ninety minutes in that dreadful loss to arch-rivals TFC, he has managed to see only 13 minutes of action over the last 3 matches.

Choices and departures?

Frank Klopas has made some head scratching decisions in his tenure as head coach of the Impact but at least he seems to be finding it easier to make adjustments as needed. It will be very important as players return from injury and he has a full squad to choose from. Picking up points will always be the priority and he will need to lean on those who are in good form.

It wasn't all that long ago that rumors started to surface that English side Crystal Palace interested in Reo-Coker?

Whether there was any truth to that rumor or not I don't know but with the summer transfer window open, I would not be at all surprised if management decide to sell Reo-Coker if there is another team interested in his services. Maybe if there was more media attention to all the little details where the Impact are concerned we would know if there is more to this story, but with the way things look right now, it does not look good for Nigel Reo-Coker. At the start of the year it seemed that he had a guaranteed spot on the field, but that appears to have changed, and he will now have to try and claw his way back into the line-up.

At the start of the year, Klopas decided to leave Patrice Bernier as the official captain, while Reo-Coker was the symbolic 'on the field' captain. Some fans will feel that Bernier will always be the captain until he is no longer with the club.

Others will say that new-comer Laurent Ciman should be given the armband, or maybe Piatti should keep it now. Personally, whoever is captain official or not, I want them to be committed to the team, and be ready to play every time they step on the field. I know there is a core of leaders on the team, but can't be a good feeling to have the responsibility of being team captain taken away from you.

It will be interesting to see how he responds on and off the field in the coming weeks.

Impact must build on road victory in Columbus

2015-06-09T09:00:02-04:00

Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

The club will need to continue to pick up points away from home with a heavy road schedule in the month of June.

The Montreal Impact collected their all important 1st road win of the 2015 season on Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio. To say the team is relieved would be an understatement! Frank Klopas and company put an end to an excruciatingly long 25-game winless streak. Finally, the team can prepare for road games without having wonder if and when they would break the winless spell.

Saturday night's result was great for a number or reasons. Since Cameron Porter went down with an injury during the Champions League run it seems as though every match since, another player has joined the injured list. The good news is this year the club is much deeper at most positions and some of recent academy grads have been able to find some extra playing time. Players such as Wandrille Lefevre and Maxim Tissot were given starts and looked very comfortable in Columbus. Their performance will surely give coach Frank Klopas something to think about over the coming weeks.

Needless to say, it was a big boost of confidence for a team that has been playing well at home again, but not being able to put together a strong 90 minutes on the road. While there were areas on concern against the Columbus Crew, the end result is what mattered most on the night.

Games in hand and tight schedule

The team found a way to pick up their first 3 points, on the road, and have begun to climb back into the mix, and out of the MLS cellar in the standings. With 14 points through 10 games the Impact now find themselves in 8th place in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Chicago Fire and the big spending expansion club NYCFC. The big factor here is the team still has 4 games in hand on Columbus, who sit just two points ahead of Montreal for the final playoff spot, and 6 games in hand on conference leaders DC United.

During the month of June, the Impact will be on the road for the next 3 out 4 matches, with the first coming up against David Villa and NYCFC at Yankee Stadium, in the Bronx. A familiar foe who will most likely be in the lineup for NYCFC to face the Impact, is one time fan favorite, Jeb Brovsky who has featured in all but one match for his new team.

Throughout the rest of the month, the Impact will also have travel dates to arch rival Toronto FC, and Philadelphia, two teams that seem to be finding their ways in recent weeks. It will be crucial that Montreal find a way to grind out results during these road games in order to continue closing the gap between themselves and that final playoff spot.

It might sound crazy now, but looking ahead at the rest of the schedule, you could argue that the away games this month could have massive implications on whether or not the Impact make the post season. With so many injuries to key players right now if the team can be successful on the road, when players begin to make their way back into the line up it will only make them stronger and tougher to beat.

Finish strong

Next month the Impact will play four matches, three of which will be at Saputo Stadium. The month of August will be a massive test as the team will be faced with a total of seven matches including two (home & away) versus Vancouver for the Canadian Championships, luckily four of those will again be at home. September is also another travel friendly month for the club as they will have four of six at home.

To close out the MLS season Montreal will have 4 of 5 on the road, and of the 5 games 4 will be against teams that will most probably be in the hunt for post season play with match-ups versus the likes of NYRB, OCFC and the Revs.

Obviously the team will have to pick up points on the road throughout the rest of the season, and one win will not be the 'be all and end all' but it can go a long way in building momentum and confidence that they will surely need down the road. Following Saturday's win TSN 690 analyst Grant Needham said that he felt this team is built for success on the road due to their style of play and I have to say I completely agree. There is no reason why the Impact cannot continue to find success on the road.

Frank Klopas has taken a lot of heat (some very deserving) when it comes to roster selections and in game adjustments and substitutions but one thing that I was pleased to see was his inclusion of Tissot and Lefevre getting time on the field.

I don't know if he would have been as eager to give them minutes if everyone was healthy, but it gave the players a chance to prove their worth. As I pointed out earlier the month of August and September are going to be jam packed with games so the more players that can get involved the better.

The best thing for the Impact is to focus on the next game, which is a visit to the legendary Yankee stadium to play against NYCFC who have been struggling to find their way so far this season. I believe that if the players can keep their focus for 90 minutes they can record back to back road wins!

Also, a win would see the Impact move to 17 points on the year and draw level with NYRB in 5th spot. This is definitely a game that is winnable.

Impact score early and often against RSL

2015-05-18T18:23:00-04:00

Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

With Klopas suspended, Montreal Impact put in their most complete game in a very long time.

Fans of the Montreal Impact finally have something to celebrate! Saturday afternoon the team picked up their first win in MLS for 2015. Since the start of the new season, aside from their Champions League journey, the club has been having a rough time in league play. Heading into the match versus Real Salt Lake, they were still searching for their 1st league win.

They had been outscored 8-4 over their first five games going 0-3-2 sitting dead last in the MLS standings. It's a place that has become all too familiar with the Impact since last season. To make matters worse, after the midweek Amway Cup semi-final against rival TFC the club announced more bad news, as newly acquired striker Kenny Cooper suffered a knee injury that will most likely require surgery and is set to miss significant time. He would join, Justin Mapp, Cameron Porter, Donny Toia, Hassoun Camara and Victor Cabrera on the injured list. A team that was once called deep with talent has quickly thinned due to injuries to key players.

The doom and gloom surrounding the Montreal Impact was cast aside for the day, as the home side pounded Real Salt Lake, winning 4-1 in front of 12,158 fans at Stade Saputo, sending the crowd home happy. Although, there were some cracks, the back four of Coker, Soumare, Ciman and Miller did a very good job at limiting RSL's chances.

Here are few things that stood out the most for me

Laurent Ciman

When it comes to Ciman, I find myself confused. For someone with so much skill and talent, it seems when he makes a mistake the club pays dearly. The experience he brings is undeniable, you can see by his actions on the pitch that he is committed and he cares. What baffles me is how his errors always seem to end up with the Impact conceding a goal. We all remember his tug on Pachuca's German Cano, in the quarter-finals of the CCL, that almost cost the Impact dearly.

Last week versus Portland a missed challenge on Nagbe forced Bush into a diving save. Midweek the team he was twice exposed once when he half heartedly tried to pressure Altidore only to let him get by and put his chance away and then again with a missed challenge on Giovinco who also buried the ball in the back of the net moments later. Yesterday a missed tackle on Luis Gil, was the root cause of Real Salt Lake's only goal. Of course I am not trying to say that Ciman is a liability, because I do believe that the defence is better with him in the back.

I also am convinced that his partnership with Baky Soumare will become one of the best in MLS. I realize that MLS is a different game from European football and it may just be a learning curve, getting to know his teammates, and a new system. Maybe he is just trying to hard, and needs to see that sometimes less is more. I love Ciman's will to start up the attack out of the back and his searching long balls are very often right on the money. He brings a dynamic to the back line that was sorely missing last year, his physical presence is a welcomed one. Also like I mentioned earlier, he did get the opening goal for the Impact on the corner kick, and I am sure it won't be his last.

Goals! Goals! Goals!

For all the flack that Joey Saputo has taken for not being able to find a true number 9 DP to replace Marco Di Vaio, Montreal's attack was firing on all cylinders yesterday. Since the beginning of the year, everyone knew that in order for the club to be successful they would have to find a way to generate more goals from the midfield, and today, they did just that. I have not been much of a fan of Marco Donadel, and I found myself worrying if the early booking would come back to haunt the team, but he seemed to settle down.

Since his arrival though, the one aspect of his game that I have come to appreciate is his dead ball deliveries. With Donadel behind the ball taking corners and free kicks, it was only a matter of time before the Impact would find the back of the net. It is something that the team had been lacking. Last week, Donadel almost found the back of the net on a free kick. On Saturday, the Impact finally found a set piece goal. It was just what they needed an early goal to get the crowd on their feet, on a beautifully delivered corner kick from Donadel, that Belgian international Laurent Ciman got on the end of to open the scoring.

In the opening half, to say that last year's team MVP Andres Romero was lively would be an understatement! His combination with Piatti on his first goal was sublime, and could very well be a goal of the week candidate. The club also got another great game out of speedster Dominic Oduro. He could have had a couple of goals on the day, if not for some fine saves from Rimando. It was his patience with the ball at his feet that gave Piatti a chance to get on the score sheet with a penalty shot late in the first half but the Argentine was denied by a diving Rimando.

Although it was very slight, he also helped create space on Romero's first goal by starting to continue his run along the wing. It caused Olave to take a couple of steps in his direction just as Piatti chipped the ball overhead in to the path Romero, by the time Olave saw what was happening it was too late, and Romero was not going to be denied. Overall, I found the Impact's attack was relentless, and it was refreshing to see. Even after being ahead 3-0, they did not sit back and wait for the final whistle, they kept looking for ways to expose RSL.

Team Depth

I mentioned it off the top that injuries seem to be adding up fast for the Impact and it has to be concerning for the medical staff. While I don't know the extent of Dominic Oduro's injury, if he is forced to miss an extended period of time, it will not go un-noticed! I feel that he has found his groove, carving out opportunities for himself and has improved on his passing. He is not perfect but he has been a steady and reliable force on the right side of the midfield as well as up top as the lone striker.

The good news for Klopas is that now that the Amway Canadian Cup is on a break, he can have the players all focused and ready for MLS games. There will be midweek games coming up, and the coaching staff will have to make sure that the right mix of players are rotated in and out, and at the correct time. Klopas at least showed a willingness to rotate players during midweek versus TFC so, I am sure this will not be an issue. Players will just have to make sure that when they are called upon they delivery!

FC Dallas up next!

Saturday's win should go a long way in proving to the players that if they buy in and continue to put the work in they can be very successful. Yes, RSL has been struggling so far this yeat, but let's be honest they are a strong team and have the talent to punish any team in the league. The Impact got what they needed, both from a moral standpoint as well as the big 3 points.

While still last in the Eastern Conference they are now 5 points back of Toronto FC for the final playoff spot and have 3 games in hand. As we all know, games in hand are only worth something if you win them! Next up for Montreal another home game versus Supporter's Shield leaders FC Dallas, who battled to a nil-nil draw at home, with the NYRB. Needless to say, if the Impact can get a win next weekend it would huge! One thing is certain, they will have to be as stingy at the back and as clinical in front of goal as they were against RSL.

Can the Impact seize the momentum?

2015-05-06T08:54:49-04:00

Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

The city of Montreal was clearly on board for the CONCACAF Champions League ride, now it is up to the Montreal Impact to seize the moment and run with it.

The Montreal Impact have now had a week to digest the rollercoaster highs and lows that came with competing in the CONCACAF Champions League Finals. As disappointed as I was that the club fell just short of winning it all and becoming the 1st MLS club to win the tournament and qualifying for the Club World Cup, I am so proud of what the team did accomplish.

Even though they lost, they proved they could hang around with the big boys. For those who are new followers of the team, this club has come a long way, from the early days of playing in front of 200-300 people at Centre Claude-Robillard. Much was made about Joey Saputo's comments that the buzz surrounding the team was gone, with 61,004 people in the stands, it is clear, the buzz is back.

Marquons l'histoire was the slogan and mission and although they came up short of the ultimate prize I believe it was mission accomplished! The players, and coaches saw first hand how much love and support they city is ready to give them. Now the biggest test is seeing if the team can keep the momentum going.

The first chance the Impact will get comes tonight, against their cross-border rivals Toronto FC. Funny enough it is the opening Semi-Final leg of the Amway Canadian Championship.

What is at stake? Of course, as always a chance to stick it to their big-spending rivals but also a chance book a place in the final and an opportunity for bragging rights as the 2015 Canadian Champions.

It was announced yesterday that TFC were going to leave their big guns (Altidore & Giovinco) at home. So how will Klopas decide to approach this game? That remains to be seen, but we already know that he will not have everyone at his disposal with Cabrera, Camara and Toia all joining the Mapp and Porter on injured list.

Will hometown hero Patrice Bernier and Calum Mallace find a way back into the middle of the field? Serving as back up Bush, was always given the CCL matches as his, will Klopas give Eric Kronberg the same opportunity? Will we possibly see Romario Williams or Kenny Cooper get playing time up top?

One thing is certain, if the Impact want to be successful in the ACC and MLS this year Frank Klopas will have to make sure he keeps everyone fresh so that when the dog days of the summer come around, the players are not gassed.

With the MLS having re-arranged league games several times in an effort to help out the Impact during their Champions League run the club will have many regular season mid-week games. For the team, MLS play will resume this Saturday afternoon at Stade Saputo when the Portland Timbers will come to town. The usually strong Timbers are currently 8th in the Western Conference having picked up 10 points in 9 games.

In comparison, the Impact have picked up 2 points in 4 games. Yes, Montreal have a lot of ground to cover, but even with a slow start to the MLS season they find themselves 7 points out of the final playoff spot with 3 games in hand. One aspect working in their favor is, after having road trips in Mexico and Costa Rica, the Impact will be playing all but 1 league game (for the month of May) in the friendly confines of Stade Saputo. The club will have to find a way to get positive results with games against solid visiting clubs such as Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas, later in the month.

I have not been a fan of many decisions that Frank Klopas has made, but if he is winning and nobody will complain. But he cannot afford to let the team crumble like last season. I gave him a pass last year, for the most part because he inherited a horrible team. This year, it is his team, he has to find a way to get everyone to buy into what he is selling and make it work.

I never like bringing up the subject of the Montreal Canadiens when speaking of the Impact but I will break the rule this one time. With the Habs on the verge of collapse versus the Tampa Bay Lightning , if the Impact can find success in the early stages of the ACC and/or have a strong month of May and get themselves in the middle of the pack by the end of the month I believe that the love affair the city had with the Impact during their magical Champions League run will continue.

I think it is important for the team to find a way to seize the momentum. If the team is getting good results having games twice a week will help keep the spotlight on them, and will be encouraging for the casual or non-fan to maybe check out a few more games.

One thing is certain starting tonight against TFC, the Montreal Impact will be having games come at them fast and furious, and will have to be ready to capture the moment.

The Champions League run was magical, now the real work begins!

Impact looking to topple America

2015-04-21T09:42:44-04:00

With home field advantage in the CONCACAF Champions League Final the Montreal Impact look to end the final chapter of their magical journey on a high.

Marquons l'histoire - Let's Make History!

That was the Montreal Impact's message to fans!

After a disappointing loss on the road to FC Edmonton back on May 7th, 2014 to start their quest for Champions league glory, along with a brutal MLS season in 2014 few could have predicted what was to come for the Montreal Impact.

On January 19th 2015, the Montreal Impact launched a micro website to help promote the start of their Champions League journey marquonslhistoire.com. At the time, the hope for the club was to make history by advancing to the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals and erasing the painful memories of the club's heart breaking 5-4 loss to Mexican side Santos Laguna back in the 2009 CCL quarter-finals.

It is safe to say the club has succeeded in those exorcising those demons. With the season that the Impact had last year, and the early season struggles that have continued in MLS play it is hard to imagine that they are now a couple of positive results away from winning the ultimate prize, the CONCACAF Champions League title and a spot amongst the cream of the crop at the next FIFA Club World Cup.

So who exactly is Club America?

Established in 1916, They are 5 time winners of the CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League tournaments, most recently winning in 2006, when they beat fellow Mexican side Toluca in the final. They are also 12 time Liga MX winners (8 times runner up). They are currently sitting in 6th place in the Liga MX standings after 14 games (3 pts out behind leaders Chivas de Guadalajara).

Their home, the mighty Azteca stadium that can hold roughly 104,000 fans. C.A. officials have announced that the stadium is sold out meaning 105,000 screaming fans will be on hand to make life difficult for the Impact. Montreal can expect the same treatment (if not worse) as they got last round versus Alajuelense. It will be an experience of a lifetime for the club. Excuses were made when Montreal defeated Pachuca, and Alajuelense, haters felt that the Impact were getting weakened opponents. The same cannot be said with Club America. To get to the final they turned a 2-0 deficit into 6-2 aggregate win over Costa Rican side Herediano, thanks to a 6-0 2nd leg home victory. Fans in attendance that night at Azteca which saw the home side pound 5 first half goals in the the back of Herediano's net. Montreal will have to be very sound defensively and withstand the urge to sit back and defend!

This club is one of the best, like Barcelona, Madrid, or Manchester United. Club America have a rich history of success in Liga MX and on the international stage! By the time the Montreal Impact were established in 1993, Club America already had 8 Liga MX titles in their trophy case! They say...To be the best you have to beat the best, well the Impact will have a chance to do just that.

Good News For Montreal?

While every bit of this match up screams a David versus Goliath scenario, I feel the Montreal Impact have the potential to pull of what would be one of the biggest upsets in history. Yes, the Impact will have to contend with adversity from the crowd, an experience that will be like none other the team has ever faced, but they got a taste of it in the last round versus Alajuelense.

The altitude will probably factor in once again as well but thanks to cooperation from MLS, they were able to leave for Mexico a lot earlier to help readjust to the climate, and extra time to rest and prepare while their opponents had to play on the weekend. Also, having already played in adverse conditions they will know what to expect. It is hard to predict what line-up Club America will throw at Montreal, having been embarrassed at home this past weekend thanks to Ronaldinho and Querétaro 4-0, they could face pressure from the fans the longer the Impact hang around.

In the loss to Querétaro, America fielded 9 of the 11 starters that provided the club with that come from behind win against Herediano, in the 2nd leg of their semi-final round. While the Impact are dealing with their own injury troubles having not had to play since their loss to Houston on the 11th it should mean that players are well rested for the grueling task ahead. MLS teams have rarely fared well in CCL play and this can be something that Montreal may be able to use to their advantage.

Approach

As much as I would love to see the club get the victory, I feel that they should approach the game with the focus of being tidy at the back and try to catch them on the counter. As in most road games the importance of absorbing the pressure in the opening 15-20 minutes will be huge. The holding midfielders and defenders will have to do a much better job of limiting time and space when America has possession in the defensive third of the field.

If striker Oribe Peralta is fit to play, Laurent Ciman and Bakary Soumare will have to be sure of where he is at all times as well as keeping close tabs on Dario Benedetto and Pablo Aguilar. Montreal needs to be disciplined, but physical, they can't afford to give away silly fouls in dangerous areas, and risk being booked or sent off. Emotions will be running high and they have to find a way to keep them in check.

When on the attack the Impact should use their speed on the wings through Dominic Oduro, Andres Romero and Ignacio Piatti as much as possible. We saw how Oduro's pace kept Pachuca's defense second guessing a lot, so if he can provide the same intensity it will be great for the team. It remains to be seen how Montreal will line up but now with the recent addition of Kenny Cooper, the team will have different options to throw at America.

I want to see what kind of leadership and example Piatti will present, as he has been here before, and knows what it will take to win it all. The stakes are higher than they have ever been before for Montreal, I look to him to lead the way.

The Impact have been very successful at home during their run, and with home field advantage in this Champion's League final, if the club can get a positive result in this opening leg there might just be enough magic left in the tank to have a storybook ending. We have already seen how important road goals have been to Montreal, if they can steal a goal or 2 on the road, it might just be the difference between glory and or defeat.

Biggest Game in Club's History

It seems as though we have been hearing this phrase a lot during this Champion's League run, but it is true the opening leg of this final will be without a doubt the BIGGEST GAME in club history! Make no mistake about it, the Montreal Impact deserve to be in the final! A sold out crowd of over 58,000 fans is waiting to cheer on the Impact in the second leg of this final. The city is ready to celebrate!

Impact on the verge of history

2015-04-07T08:17:38-04:00

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Can the Montreal Impact seal the deal and become the first Canadian side to play in the Concacaf Champions League Final?

The Montreal Impact are set to face Costa Rican club Alajuelense tonight at Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium in Costa Rica for the right to play in the Concacaf Champions League Final. Is their yet another chapter to the story for the Impact? The club is on the verge of doing something no Canadian team has ever done before and play in the champions league final!

To put this in perspective, only 4 times has an MLS team ever advanced to the final and none have ever won it, needless to say this would be a major boost to the Impact, and MLS if Montreal can pull this off! Imagine what it would be like...Montreal Impact facing off against this year's UEFA Champions League winner, that is ultimately what is a stake here. A place in CONCACAF CCL final and the Impact can go for glory and try earn a spot at the Club World Cup as the CONCACAF CCL winner.

The club finds themselves heading into the final leg with a 2 goal cushion thanks to goals by newcomer Victor Cabrera and star midfielder Ignacio Piatti during their home match at the Olympic Stadium March 18th. Almost more important than the win for the Impact was the fact that they also were able to keep the visitors off the score sheet adding more pressure on their Costa Rican opponents.

For fans, while nothing is more satisfying than a victory, the 2-0 win the Impact posted a couple weeks ago means that the club that can advance to the final with a draw of any kind or even a 1-0 loss. This is not to say that I believe the club should go down their and play for a goalless draw, or play not to lose, because any pro or analyst will confirm it is the worst way to approach a game.

You should never go into a game looking for a draw, but it does allow the Impact the luxury to go into enemy territory knowing that they do not have to take the risks that Alajuelense need to take.

Here are my keys to success for the Montreal Impact

Although references have been made to the 2009 edition of the Impact that blew a 2-0 lead to Santos Laguna, Mexico, clearly this club is different. You need to look no further than the opening leg of the quarter-final versus Pachuca, when the club jumped out to a 2-0 lead, and wound up coming home tied at 2.

Or then again, that 2009 edition, or even last year`s team would have crumpled like an old newspaper. If the team was anything like those they would not be anywhere near where they are today. I have no doubt in my mind that Alejuelense will come out flying in front of their home fans to try and grab an early goal and put the pressure on the Impact. It will be vital for Montreal to stay compact at the back and weather the storm especially in the opening 15-20 minutes. If they can successfully manage their emotions at the start it will go a long way in determining the outcome.

The longer the game remains scoreless, for Alejuelense especially, the more the pressure will build on the home side. I don't expect Alejeulense's players to spend too much time, time wasting, on the turf since they are in need of goals.

Discipline Discipline Discipline!

While I am confident that the club can and will progress into the final, it goes without saying that if they find themselves down a man for any extended period of time they will be playing with fire. Concacaf officiating has always appeared to be very dubious at times and the crew will be under extreme pressure in what is expected to be a very hostile environment. The Impact must keep it clean and not give the officials any reason to point to the spot or pull out cards. The back line and holding midfielders will have to anticipate plays early and get their timing on challenges spot on. You can be sure that Alejeulense's players will go to ground every chance they get in order to try an sway the referee's choices, the Impact must be ready for that.

Counter Attack with speed

It is no secret that Alejeulense is in need of goals and will be coming at the Impact in waves but that will mean there will be gaps that can and should be exploited on the counter attack. With the speed and skills of Oduro, Piatti, Romero, Duka and Jack Mac, the Impact have enough quality in the final third to be able to capitalize on their chances. Needless to say, if the Impact can find a goal before their opponents, they should be able to put the final nails in the coffin and advance.

A lot of pressure was on Jack McInerney when Porter went down with his season ending injury, thankfully for the club and himself he answered his critics in the best way, with an impressive goal against Orlando. Hopefully, that goal gives him the confidence and focus necessary to be more lethal in front of the goal, and he will be able to take advantage of his chances. If Montreal use their speed and skill in the wide areas especially, I don't believe Alejeulense will be able to find an answer to solve the Impact's attack.

Support the Right

If the game plays out anything like the first leg, the right side of the Impact is where Alejeulense will be looking to capitalize. Of the 28 crosses that were attempted by Alejeulense 19 were from the right side and 22 were from inside the penalty area. Bush will have to be on his toes ready to come out and challenge for balls and have a strong command of his area. He will also have to work with his back line to make sure that everyone remains in sync and nothing is left to chance.

Klopas may prove me wrong but I do believe that Cabrera will be given the start over Camara in this game because although he is still fairly inexperienced, so far, he has shown that does not let emotions get the better of him. In such an emotionally charged game Camara may not be the best option at right back. With the tandem of Soumare and Ciman back together it should have a calming effect on the rest of the back line

Don't look now but...

If the Montreal Impact can find a way to close this out, they could very well be heading back down to Costa Rica in a couple weeks to face another first division side in Herediano, that is in a wild battle with Mexican power house Club America. Herediano will find out their fate tomorrow night as they play their second leg in Mexico holding a 3-0 aggregate lead.

Finally, I have to give a shout out to all MLS fans that have been singing praises to Montreal for this magical ride! I know if it hard to show love for an opposing side but it has been truly amazing to read comments from Galaxy, Sounders, RSL, FCD, etc, fans of clubs from across the league showing support. Clearly, the Impact are not alone for this match, they now have the support of an entire league behind them cheering for success!