Mount Royal Soccer - Game 1 of Preseason: Montreal Impact vs Sporting Kansas CityLa Vie en Bleuhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50925/mrs-fav.png2013-02-12T08:52:52-05:00http://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/rss/stream/37358532013-02-12T08:52:52-05:002013-02-12T08:52:52-05:00Preseason Post Game GM1: Notes & Formations
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It was only a preseason game but Marco Schällibaum quickly wanted to implement his vision, tactics and intensity. </p> <p>You play like you practice and the Impact immediately tested a new formation that Marco Schällibaum used in Montreal (during training camp). The club started in a 4-1-4-1 formation against <a href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sporting Kansas City</a> as we can see below</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2145111/641139_Montreal_Impact.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="641139_montreal_impact_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2145111/641139_Montreal_Impact_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p>As previously mentioned <a href="http://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2013/2/10/3972464/montreal-impact-sporting-kc-post-game-preseason" target="_blank">in the post-game post</a>, it was a difficult start for Montreal during the first 20 minutes. Whether or not one should put a lot of weight on actual performance is another debate. But so early in the preseason games process, the actual play, movements and intentions could be as important or more than the actual score.</p>
<p>The biggest change in game 1 of preseason was <span>Hassoun Camara</span> patrolling the space right in front of the central defense, what I used to call in 2012, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2012/5/22/3034212/post-game-hangover-the-good-the-bad-and-the-rest">'' The Joel Lindpere Zone''</a>. Was this positioning to give more offensive freedom to <span>Patrice Bernier</span> or gap that defensive zone with a physical presence?</p>
<p>The answer could easily be both as Schällibaum has advertised ,since his first press conference , that offense will prevail. Recognizing Bernier's talent ( what a pass to <span>Marco Di Vaio</span>) and Felipe offensive potential will be key to the club's success.</p>
<p>That success will also come from the sides and we saw against Sporting KC, a much more accrued intention to implicate both right and left backs throughout the game. But let's not lie to ourselves and claim that the new coach metamorphosed the club right away. It will be a work in progress and a lot of work is waiting the club to mature into a more complete style of game, like Sporting KC has shown.</p>
<h4>
<span>Matteo Ferrari</span>, The Rock At The Back</h4>
<p>The Italian defender has been the most pleasant surprise of all of the <a href="https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Montreal Impact</a> signings, for someone who sneaked in the middle of the night at training camp in LA back in 2012. Outside an unlucky injury against the Seattle Sounders, Ferrari contributed in minutes and games played bringing credibility to the Montreal defense.</p>
<p>Against Sporting Kansas City, he was the most active player, taking away the ball aggressively but cleanly on more than one occasion. Yes, there is the Italian legend named <span>Alessandro Nesta</span> but the more important of the two will be Ferrari. Combining a sweet spot of age, experience and fitness, he is definitively a big piece in the club's chess game.</p>
<h4>Call An Audible: 4-2-3-1</h4>
<p>The formation and team that we have known when the club went for the 4-2-3-1 in mid-season (2012)</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2145393/641244_Montreal_Impact.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2145393/641244_Montreal_Impact_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="641244_montreal_impact_medium"></a></p>
<p>That would be a ''back to default settings'' formation for the Montreal Impact. Whether we will see those exact players is another story but it represent a more ''conservative'' formation compared to the 4-1-4-1 in which more defensive responsibility is put on the shoulders of Camara.</p>
<p>Outside formations, the good news is that both the main strikers of the club, Marco Di Vaio and <span>Andrew Wenger</span>, scored in the team's first preseason game. It's important to have Di Vaio in top shape to start the season and going through a full preseason with the club for the first time could prove crucial for both player and club.</p>
https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2013/2/12/3974212/montreal-impact-vs-sporting-kc-post-game-talk-formationsSofiane Benzaza2013-02-10T09:00:03-05:002013-02-10T09:00:03-05:00Impact 2 - KC 1 : Post-Game Stats, Quotes & Notes
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<figcaption>Al Messerschmidt</figcaption>
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<p>Like in most games, it was a tale of two halves, substitutions and clutch play. The Impact start its preseason on the right foot even if it's only preseason.</p> <p>A sub-par performance in the first half put the <a href="https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Montreal Impact</a> in trouble pretty early. Approximation in passes, timings of runs are all part of typical package you would expect in preseason. Though, Sporting KC showed being ready for the challenge and very much in sync. The Montreal Impact fielded what could be possible 90% of the starting XI for the season opener on March 2nd against the Seattle Sounders.</p>
<h4>Game Review</h4>
<p><span>Graham Zusi</span> drew first blood with an amazing shot from about 20-23 meters at the 18th minute.The highly skilled midfielder unleashed a shot that beat <span>Troy Perkins</span>, who did not expect that kind of power and precision. A bit of lose marking did not help but it's still work in progress for Montreal.</p>
<p>From one star player to another, <span>Marco Di Vaio</span> scores a '' Di Vaio'' special bringing back memories of his Serie A days: simple but sweet. A confusion in the KC midfield was welcomed by <span>Patrice Bernier</span> who intercepted a Zusi pass that was intended to Nagamura. Bernier, the maestro of Montreal, releases a one touch pass to Marco Di Vaio who ties the game at 1-1, right before half-time. <b>Did I say that Bernier's pass was a masterpiece...again<span style="line-height: 9px;">?</span></b></p>
<p>It was not a ''deserved'' 1-1- at half-time but the team played better after a difficult first 20 minutes. The second half was marked by a few substitutions that Marco Schällibaum announced he would do before-hand. Those changes paid off as Maxime Tissot found Andrew Wenger in the box with a nice through ball. Wenger did not lose his finishing touch and scored the winning goal in the 61st minute.</p>
<h4>Some Observations</h4>
<p><b>(*) </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hassoun Camara playing in front of the defense was interesting but not fully convincing yet. Camara knows that position having played it in 2011 with the Impact in the USL. He switched back to CB after Nesta was subbed off early in the second season. I expect him to switch regularly between both positions but has an underrated game vision and passing quality.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 1em;"><b>(*)</b> </span><span style="line-height: 9px; font-weight: normal;">Troy Perkins is ready to start the season. He would take back that shot from Zusi but it still was an excellent shot.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 1em;"><b>(*)</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">More movement on the sides for Montreal with more intent from the fullbacks. Even before this game, I was<br></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">never convinced of a guaranteed spot for Iapichino and Valentin as the starters on each side. There is a<br></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> more aggressive mentality in those sectors but with young guns like Tissot and Smith, the left side might<br></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> still be open</span></p>
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<p><b>(*) </b>Disciplined defending from the center backs during the game. Notably, Matteo Ferrari is imposing himself again as the rock if this defense with many aggressive but clean defensive interventions.</p>
<p><b>(*) </b>Currently on trial, Eber played 30 minutes and showed soccer skills. Where he stands in the eyes of the club is another story but he did manage a Ronaldinho no-look pass to Wenger at the 78th minute and a shot on goal at the 81st minute.</p>
<p><b>(*) </b>Youth movement: Maxime Tissot and Wandrille Lefevre played respectively 30 and 20 minutes (approx.). Tissot delivered a nice pass to Wenger for the winning goal. Lefevre filled in Bernier's big shoes and played precious minutes as a CMF/DMF.</p>
<p><b>(*) </b>Justin Mapp is still with the club and had a decent showing. Even he got the stare of death from Di Vaio, we could expect a stronger season from the left-footed midfielder. Not starting the preseason injured like in 2012 will definitively be good news for both player and club.</p>
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<h4>Game Stats</h4>
<p>ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex | Kissimmee, F.L.<span style="line-height: 9px;"> -- </span>Weather: Partly cloudy and 73</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sporting Kansas City</a>:</p>
<p><span>Jimmy Nielsen</span> (Kronberg 62); <span>Seth Sinovic</span> (<span>Josh Gardner</span> 62), <span>Matt Besler</span> (<span>Yann Songo'o</span> 62), <span>Aurelien Collin</span> (<span>Ike Opara</span> 46), Mechack Jerome* (<span>Kyle Miller</span> 62); Orioll Rosell (<span>Lawrence Olum</span> 62), <span>Paulo Nagamura</span> (Christian Duke** 62), <span>Benny Feilhaber</span> (<span>Peterson Joseph</span> 62); Graham Zusi (C.J. Sapong 62), <span>Claudio Bieler</span> (<span>Soony Saad</span> 62), <span>Bobby Convey</span> (Adama Mbengue* 62)</p>
<p>Montreal Impact:</p>
<p>Troy Perkins, <span>Zarek Valentin</span> (<span>Jeb Brovsky</span> 46), <span>Alessandro Nesta</span> (<span>Collen Warner</span> 46), <span>Matteo Ferrari</span>, <span>Dennis Iapichino</span> (Maxim Tissot 60); <span>Davy Arnaud</span> (Andrea Pisanu 69), Patrice Bernier (Wandrille Lefevre 72), Hassoun Camara, Felipe (Eber* 60), <span>Sanna Nyassi</span> (<span>Justin Mapp</span> 46), Marco Di Vaio (<span>Andrew Wenger</span> 60, <span>Calum Mallace</span> 83')</p>
<p>* - Guest/Trialist Player</p>
<p>** - Supplemental Draft Pick</p>
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<table class="tableizer-table"><tbody>
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<th>Stats</th> <th>KC</th> <th>MTL</th>
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<td>Shots</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>7</td>
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<td>Shots on goal</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>4</td>
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<td>Saves</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>3</td>
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<td>Fouls</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>9</td>
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<td>Offside</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>5</td>
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<td>Corner Kicks</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>4</td>
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<p><br><b>Misconduct Summary:</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>MTL - Davy Arnaud 31 (caution)</p>
<p>MTL - Wandrille Lefevre 90 (caution)</p>
<p><b>Scoring Summary:</b></p>
<p>KC - Graham Zusi (Paulo Nagamura) 18</p>
<p>MTL - Marco Di Vaio (Patrice Bernier) 45, Andrew Wenger (Maxim Tissot) 61</p>
<h4>Post-Game Comments</h4>
<p><b>Montreal Impact</b></p>
<p><b>Head coach Marco Schällibaum</b></p>
<p><i>About the team's first game of the year...</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>It's the first game in three months for this group. The important thing is we won the game. There are things we need to work on as we had some difficulty in the first 20 minutes. But we never gave up on going for the win. In the second half, after the second goal, we continued to show that we wanted to win this game. I saw a lot of players who were ready to suffer for this team."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Midfielder Patrice Bernier</b></p>
<p><i>About adjusting to the field...</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We were happy to finally play a game after three long weeks of training. We didn't dominate the game but came out with the win. We need to play as quickly as possible with the ball and move a lot on the field. It took some time to adjust to the field, but we got better and better as the game went.</p>
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<p><b>Defender Maxim Tissot</b></p>
<p><i>About his first game...</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>When I got in the game in the second half, I tried to take advantage of some of the tired players on the other side. I have to keep working and continue to have good performances to gain more confidence.</p>
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<p><b></b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b><b>Sporting Kansas City</b></b></p>
<p><span>Peter Vermes</span>, Sporting Kansas City Head Coach</p>
<p><i>On conceding the first goal...</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The goal that they scored was some non-chalantness at that point. Great pass, great run, great goal from their perspective. Just too easy of an opportunity for us to give up. That's the biggest part.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i>On conceding two goals for the first time this preseason...</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>You've got to make sure you put your foot on it now. And make sure that defensively it doesn't raise it's ugly head. Giving up the other goal, I think we just tired out a little bit. And that was the biggest thing, we realized we still have some work to do in regards to fitness.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i>On the second group of players that finished the match...</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I thought they were good. They actually kept the level high and didn't give too much away. Good movement of the ball, as well. It was good to see that they had a lot of the qualities and tendencies that we see in the other group.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i>On having two Orlando City trialists...</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We talked about different things we would like to do back and forth. Yesterday, Adrian (Heath) was out at our training watching. The day before he was out at our training watching. I told him to keep an eye on a bunch of guys. Then we'll be talking about which guys would come here on loan. Obviously, there's still a lot to be worked on but its good that we have a positive relationship already started.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i>On getting the starters extended minutes...</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Everybody got 60 minutes and that was a good piece of it. The last piece is that we have to get those guys 75 minutes in the next game.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i>On Zusi's return...</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Big time goal. We had some good chances as a team, but it was big for us to have (Graham) Zusi, Benny (Feilhaber) and Matt Besler back on the field together.</p>
</blockquote>
https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2013/2/10/3972464/montreal-impact-sporting-kc-post-game-preseasonSofiane Benzaza