Mount Royal Soccer: All Posts by Peter Alper

Ignacio Piatti has signed a new deal with the Montreal Impact

2017-09-28T13:22:59-04:00

Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

The Argentine midfielder is staying with the club for another year

MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact announced on Thursday that the club has reached an agreement with Argentine midfielder and Designated Player Ignacio Piatti to extend his stay with the Impact after June 2018.

"We are very excited that Nacho has decided to stay in Montreal," said Impact president Joey Saputo. "He is a world-class player who belongs among the league's elite. Our supporters will have the opportunity to continue to enjoy his great qualities, which will help us reach our objectives."

"My family and I are very happy with this agreement," added Piatti. "I wanted to stay in Montreal, with a club, a city and fans that I appreciate immensely."

The Impact will hold a press conference on this matter during the international break, in October.

Montreal Impact signs Anthony Jackson-Hamel to a two-year deal

2017-09-14T14:49:00-04:00

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Homegrown talent AJH is staying for another two years

MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact announced on Thursday that it has come to terms on a new two-year deal, with an option for 2020, with Quebec-born and homegrown striker Anthony Jackson-Hamel.

"We are happy to have reached an agreement with Anthony to re-sign with us," said Impact technical director Adam Braz. "Anthony has continued to progress and improve in the last few years with the club, while showing he has the ability to play and score goals at the MLS level. We look forward to seeing him continue to grow with our club."

"I am very happy to continue my career with the Impact and to help the club reach its goals," said Jackson-Hamel. "I am also very happy to be a model for young players from Quebec. It is with great pride that I will continue to sweat in my city's jersey."

Jackson-Hamel, 24, ranks second within the team in 2017 with seven goals, while adding three assists in 15 MLS games, including six starts, and 678 minutes. He also recorded one goal and an assist in the Canadian Championship.

He became the seventh Academy player to sign an MLS pro deal on August 1, 2014. He scored his first goal with the first team on August 12, 2015, against Vancouver, in the first leg of the Canadian Championship final, and his first career MLS goal on March 12, 2016, against the New York Red Bulls. He also featured in the 2015 MLS Homegrown Game.

Originally from Limoilou, in Quebec City, Jackson-Hamel joined the Impact Academy in 2010, playing for the U21s before the team entered the PDL and evolved into the U23 side. He helped the Impact U21s reach the final of the CSL in 2012.

At the international level, Jackson-Hamel has three goals and two assists in eight games with the Canadian national team, making his senior debut in a friendly game against Mauritania on October 6, 2016. He made three appearances at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He scored his first international goal on January 22, 2017, in a friendly against Bermuda, and recently recorded one goal and one assist in a 2-0 win over Jamaica in an international friendly, in Toronto. He previously played five games with the Canadian U23 national team, including four starts, at the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Transaction:

Alberto Gilardino wants to finish his carrer in Montreal

2017-09-12T12:46:51-04:00

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

The Italian vet wants to finish his soccer carrer in the MLS

Alberto Gilardino has till Friday to sign with the Montreal Impact if he wants to play this season rather then next season.

The Italian vet has played hundreds of games in the Serie A and will bring some high end soccer experience to the MLS and the Montreal Impact.

L'italien @GilaGilardino se dit prêt à aider l'@impactmontreal très bientôt. Il veut signer ici et terminer sa carrière en #MLS
— jeremy filosa (@JeremyFilosa) September 12, 2017

Gilardino says he wants to help the Montreal Impact and end his carrer in MLS with the Montreal Impact.

Jeremy Filosa also mentioned that Marco Donadel sold the idea to Gilardino that Montreal is a good place to end his carrer, a friendship that dates back 15-years-ago.

Gilardino could be a decent offensive piece for the Montreal Impact, although he is a tad on the older side he could still do some damage in the MLS and the Impact could use that.

Playoffs may be out of reach for Impact

2017-09-11T23:30:27-04:00

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Peter Alper joined the TSN 690 morning crew to talk Montreal Impact soccer

Peter Alper joined Matthew Ross, Dave Trentadue and Sean Coleman to talk Montreal Impact soccer and talk about Montreal’s chance at hosting a game at the 2026 World Cup.

Click the link to listen:

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690/alper-playoffs-may-be-out-of-reach-for-impact-1.852246

Alberto Gilardino Training With Montreal

2017-09-11T23:12:42-04:00

Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

Alberto Gilardino to be practicing with the Montreal Impact

The Montreal Impact recently announced that former AC Milan striker and Italian international, Alberto Gilardino will start practicing with the Montreal Impact at It's Centre Nutrilait facility, starting Tuesday.

Gilardino has been wanting to get back into shape in Montreal. It is not known if Alberto Gilardino will, in fact, receive a contract from the Impact. However, if the time comes, the former 2006 World Cup winner with Italy will have to battle for a spot in the starting 11 against the likes of Dominic Oduro, Michael Salazar, Matteo Mancosu and Anthony Jackson-Hamel.

Alberto Gilardino has been through thick and thin as he has earned a plethora of accolades throughout his prestigious career. With AC Milan, Gilardino has won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2007. He has also won the FIFA World Cup in 2006 as well as a Bronze Medal in the 2004 Olympics.

Alberto Gilardino's exceptional goal scoring abilities could be advantageous as the Impact are in search of a playoff spot. Mauro Biello's men are currently 7th in the Eastern Conference, 3 points back from Atlanta United.

IMPACT ACQUIRES GENERAL ALLOCATION MONEY FROM VANCOUVER

2017-08-16T14:33:49-04:00

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

The Montreal Impact announced on Friday that the club has acquired $50,000

MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact announced on Friday that the club has acquired $50,000 in General Allocation Money from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for an international roster spot for the 2017 season.

Manner and form. Impact in the middle of a playoff race.
Here are your advanced stats >> https://t.co/HcsBjhKpdO #IMFC pic.twitter.com/AUg5XQHaxk
— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) August 14, 2017

Is a Golden Generation On The Horizon For Canadian Men's Soccer?

2017-07-23T10:00:01-04:00

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

After years in the abyss is a possible Golden Generation among us

The 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Jamaicans was certainly a tough pill to swallow. Even though us fans were instantly hit with disappointment, we cannot look past that this tournament was refreshing to the eyes of several as we were accustomed to a defense first system under the regime of Benito Floro. Thankfully, we witnessed a complete turnaround from offense to defense under newly appointed coach, Octavio Zambrano. If you were to mix an attacking style of play created by Zambrano with exciting players like Alphonso Davies and Anthony Jackson-Hamel, we can proceed to the easy conclusion that this tournament was certainly the best Gold Cup performance by Canada since 2009. Let alone, it was the first time CANADA SCORED A GOAL IN THE GOLD CUP since 2011.

Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

What makes this tournament a resounding success is that Canada's squad was mainly composed of players aged 20-25. Octavio Zambrano was willingly providing an opportunity for his young kids by opting not to select veterans like 30-year-old midfielder Will Johnson and 32-year-old defender, Nik Ledgerwood. It's obviously too early to even bring up the subject, but how can we not salivate over the possibility of a fathomable Canada's golden generation? It’s certainly not out of reach considering the crop of player Canada currently maintains. For the people who don't know about the term "Golden Generation", the Golden Generation is a group of exceptionally gifted players of similar age, who are expected to reach a certain level of success compared to previous generations of players.

Nothing to be ashamed about for #canMNT. They have made progress under Octavio. Some positive signs. Real test comes in 2022 WCQ, though.
— John Molinaro (@JohnMolinaro) July 21, 2017

Nonetheless, with our current crop of players soaring through the ranks. There is a reason to believe that our very own Golden Generation is on the Horizon. Players like, Alphonso Davies(16), Sam Adekugbe(22), Raheem Edwards (22), Samuel Piette(22), Michael Petrasso(22), Fraser Aird(22), Luca Gasparotto(22), Juan Cordova(22), Cyle Larin(22) Anthony Jackson-Hamel(23), Manjrekar James(23) and Lucas Cavallini(24) highlight Canada’s future. With the exception of Gasparotto and Cordova, all the aforementioned players participated in the 2017 Gold Cup. To make this current nucleus of players, even more, the better would be adding Ballou Tabla to the squad. The Ivorian born Canadian would only bolster Canada's talent pool, however, a decision awaits from him between Canada or Ivory Coast.

Where do you think Ballou Tabla will play for Internationally?#IMFC #CanMNT
— Robert Brown (@TheStandardBob) July 21, 2017

Purely based on depth, our attacking players are in good order as Cavallini, Larin, and Jackson-Hamel will joyfully spread the goals galore. Canada also maintains Edwards, Piette, and Davies to control the midfield. Finally, Adekugbe, Petrasso, Aird, Gasparotto, Cordova, and James are all at Zambrano’s disposal at the defense position.

I may be overreacting, but after years in the abyss, we finally have hope for the future of Cana

Montreal Impact acquires general allocation money from the Whitecaps

2017-07-21T16:50:29-04:00

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Montreal has acquired $50,000 in General Allocation Money from the Vancouver Whitecaps

The Montreal Impact announced on Friday that the club has acquired $50,000 in General Allocation Money from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for an international roster spot for the 2017 season.

TRANSACTION | The Montreal Impact has acquired $50,000 in General Allocation Money from the @WhitecapsFC >> https://t.co/Z50s0Kg00E #IMFC pic.twitter.com/uRYHTppyFr
— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) July 21, 2017

This could be the sign of a new signing in the next couple of days for the Montreal Impact, there have been many small rumors of players that might be on the way to Montreal but we will have to wait and see.

Chelsea have their eyes on Montreal Impact's Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla

2017-07-21T12:29:54-04:00

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Premier League champions Chelsea have their eyes on Montreal talent Ballou

According to Peter O’Rourke from ESPN FC, Chelsea F.C., and a couple top European clubs are monitoring Montreal Impact young talent Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla for a possible move to Europe.

Chelsea FC and the Montreal Impact do have some sort of connection together as former soccer legend Didier Drogba played for both teams in the past, Drogba mentioned to Chelsea FC the talent and potential in Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla.

Chelsea are keen on signing Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla after a glowing report from Didier Drogba.

ESPN sources: https://t.co/1ErMgldEVt pic.twitter.com/V9h2Qin5ER
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 21, 2017

Ligue 1 side Lille and Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg are also considering acquiring Tabla, who is under contract until December 2018 with the Impact.

The Montreal Impact know they have a huge talent in Ballou and letting go of him to a top European club for a good sum of money leaves a good image for the team.

Canada’s road to the Gold Cup Final

2017-07-20T13:00:01-04:00

Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

How Canada can make it to the 2017 Gold Cup Final

The Canadian men's national team will play the Jamaican men’s national team in the 2017 Gold Cup Final on July 20th at the Univerity of Phoenix in Glendale Arizona at 7:30 PM EST. This will be a huge game for Canada and it will determine who will play in the semi-finals of the Gold Cup versus either Mexico or Houndours.

Quarter-Finals:

If Canada were to win a knockout game at the 2017 Gold Cup I would put my money on the Canada versus Jamacia game. Shaun Francis, the full-back who the Montreal Impact just acquired should be starting the game vs Canada where he will meet his Impact team-mates Jackson-Hamel, Beriner, and Crepeau for the first time on the other side of the pitch. Jamacia has done pretty well at the Gold Cup so far beating Curaçao 2-0, which Canada beat Curaçao also in a friendly at Stade Saputo back in June. Jamacia held a 0-0 draw versus Mexico which was huge for them and also drew 1-1 v versus El Salvador it could be a tough game for Canada but with Larin coming into the squad I could see Canada winning this one.

Semi-Finals:

If Canada does beat Jamacia in the Quarterfinals they will most likely play Mexico in the Semi-Finals as Mexico is one of the top favorites to will the whole thing and to beat Houndorus in the quarterfinals. The Semi-Finals would be played on July 23rd at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California.

Finals:

if Canada were to go to the Semi-Finals versus Mexico it would be a huge upset and surprise if Canada somehow beat Mexico who is one of the top soccer nations in all of the world. Mexico has a stacked team and would be a very tough and hard game for Canada. Kyle Larin has been called up for the Quater finals for Canada and with the game, Davies has been playing it might be in question to see a huge upset with Canada versus Mexico. If Canada were to reach the final we would most likely see them play their border neighbors the United States as they seem to be a very high favorite out of the other side of the bracket over the likes of Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador. A Canada USA final would be a clash of the MLS and would be a fantastic game to watch.

"We have what it takes to beat Jamaica."

An in-depth chat with Octavio Zambrano now that our QF opponent is confirmed.#GoldCup2017 pic.twitter.com/g49QgWdLaN
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) July 17, 2017