2017 Record: 11-17-6, 39 points, ninth in the Eastern Conference
Coach: Remi Garde
Key Additions: DEF Michael Petrasso (Queens Park Rangers), DEF Raheem Edwards (Toronto FC by way of LAFC), MID Jeisson Vargas (Universidad Catolica), MID Saphir Taider (Bologna)
Key Departures: DEF Hassoun Camara (retired), DEF Ambroise Oyongo (Montpelier SC), DEF Lauren Ciman (LAFC), MID Patrice Bernier (retired), MID Blerim Dzemaili (Bologna FC), MID Ballou Tabla (FC Barcelona)
The Big Question: Can Garde rebuild Montreal’s spine?
With the retirement of club stalwarts Patrice Bernier and Hassoun Camara an era of Montreal’s footballing history has ended. Two of the last three players who featured for the club during their USL days, Bernier and Camara held together Montreal’s defense for a combined 381 matches. Losing those two coupled with Laurent Ciman being traded to LAFC left the Impact looking for positions that they are not used to shopping for. Adding Saphir Taider to replace Bernier was a sound move as he plays a very physical style to that of Bernier and has the ability, as he has shown in the preseason, to move into the attack and link up with midfielder Ignacio Piatti.
Having Marco Donadel, an expert defender, spell him in the defensive midfield position helps. So too does the addition of Raheem Edwards, whose speed and first touch gave opponent fits at Toronto (that he is a former member of The Reds will be a cherry on top for many Impact supporters).
The big question mark is whether Garde trusts Homegrown Product Thomas Meilleur Giguere at the age of 20 to take over for Camara. Garde is not exactly known for starting younger players so one could see him go with Zakaria Diallo and Kyle Fisher early on. But Giguere showed last season with the Ottawa Fury that he could be a difference-maker for the Impact.It is just a matter of time and opportunity.
Area to keep an eye on: Forward
Montreal are in a weird position up top because Piatti is such a dominating attacking midfielder that their two forwards are often used to set up the talisman Argentine. Dominic Oduro at 32 has not shown any sign of slowing down and Garde will need his pace to break up defenses from the outside. But the other position is wide open. Matteo Mancosu had a terrible 2017 season and may be on his way out if he cannot get back to his 2016 MLS Cup Playoff form. Impact management would like to see Anthony Jackson-Hamel to make that next step as a second option in the attack. He showed flashes of it last season but at times seemed to get lost in the shuffle at the end of 2017.
Outcome: 5th-7th
This is very much a transition year for the Impact with the club saying goodbye to the likes of Camara, Bernier, and Ciman and saying hello to Garde and a host of young Academy players. The constant is Piatti who has proven through his brief time with Montreal that he can make bad teams good and good teams great. If he can form a partnership with Taider like the one he had with Bernier and get a little bit of help up top Montreal may be a dark horse for the Eastern Conference crown. But given the number of changes it is difficult seeing how this club can make a deep run in the playoffs.
Montreal Impact
MLS
