Montreal Impact stays the course and bets on internal improvement
After a solid playoff season in 2016, the Impact haven’t made any huge moves. They think what they have is good enough to compete in MLS.
There’s an argument that the Impact are the most interesting team in MLS. Yes, they’ve lost Didier Drogba this season, but an owner willing to spend to get big stars? Check. An academy that produces more pro players than they know what to do with? Yep. A style of play that is pretty entertaining? You got it. And, oh yeah, the potential for bizarre press conferences or weird drama to crop up at any time? Definitely.
Of course, as the Impact have quietly improved the past few years, the penchant for drama has diminished. But the fact remains they are fascinating, on and off the field. Superstar Ignacio Piatti is back despite some rumors he would depart. And with the unassuming Mauro Biello in charge, finally providing some stability in the head coach role, the Impact are probably going to be in the playoff mix again.
Key facts
2016 record: 11-11-12, fifth place in the Eastern Conference
2016 playoffs: Lost in the Eastern Conference finals to Toronto FC
Head coach: Mauro Biello
Key additions: Chris Duvall
Key losses: Didier Drogba
Projected starting XI (4-3-3): Evan Bush; Chris Duvall, Laurent Ciman, Victor Cabrera, Ambroise Oyongo; Marco Donadel, Hernan Bernardello, Patrice Bernier; Dominic Oduro, Matteo Mancosu, Ignacio Piatti
Major trophies won all-time: 2013, 2014 Canadian Championship (2008 as non-MLS club)
What we think of our team: The Impact has offensive flair and a distinct identity that resembles its fan base: Local, Francophone, and multiethnic.
What outsiders think of our team: “The Impact seem to aim to be more European than perhaps the rest of MLS, and that means we’ve seen some interesting players in their ranks — but can they separate themselves from the image of a group of largely has-been players and transition into a team with a unique identity?”
Montreal Impact’s biggest rival: Toronto FC. Back-to-back playoff confrontations have cemented the rivalry as one of the best (maybe even the very best) in MLS.
Our season hinges on … goal scoring. Drogba has left, and even if Piatti scores more than 15 goals this season, more depth is needed up front to help out Matteo Mancosu, who needs to get into double-digits.
Why this year won’t be like last year: The team is on a mission to win MLS Cup for the city and for Bernier, who will retire at the end of the season.
Key player: Piatti is the key to unlock the offensive potential of this squad. The Argentine doesn’t get the headlines he deserves, but he’s a legitimate MLS MVP candidate and could very much carry the Impact for months at a time if he gets hot.
Projected finish in 2017: Fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Wild prediction: A world-class striker will sign with the Impact during the summer transfer window.
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