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Major League Soccer is ready to welcome its nineteenth franchise on March 10. The Montreal Impact have already had an eventful preseason and are looking to begin their inaugural MLS season on the right foot.
With an offseason filled with drafts, trades and transfers, the Montreal Impact feel they have the right squad going into their first match against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Impact has played 16 preseason matches, finishing with six wins, seven draws and three losses.
2011 record and finish
MLS: Not Applicable
NASL: Seventh place - 28 GP, 35 PTS (9 W, 8 D, 11 L)
The Montreal Impact struggled in the beginning of the 2011 NASL season. By June 28, 2011, a record of two wins, three draws and seven losses, led to the resignation of Marc Dos Santos, who is now Youth Academy Director and U15 manager at Palmeiras in Brazil.
Nick De Santis, former Impact manager and current Sporting Director, took over the club and finished the season with a 7-5-4 record. A strong late push, starting July 31, 2011 with a 1-0 win against Puerto Rico Islanders, triggered team to go 7-2-2 in their final matches. The push was not enough as the Impact missed the playoffs by one point, finishing in seventh place out of eight teams.
Player coming and goings
Like all previous MLS expansion teams, the Montreal Impact built their squad through the Expansion Draft, trades and signings. The outgoing players were all part of the squad at one point in the offseason.
Incoming:
Goalkeepers - Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy), Evan Bush (Montreal Impact), Greg Sutton (NY Red Bulls)
Defenders - Jeb Brovsky (Vancouver Whitecaps), Hassoun Camara (Montreal Impact), Matteo Ferrari (Besiktas JK), Gienir García (Cruz Azul), Josh Gardner (Columbus Crew), Nelson Rivas (Inter Milan), Shavar Thomas (Sporting Kansas City), Zarek Valentin (Chivas USA), Tyson Wahl (Seattle Sounders), Andrew Wenger (Duke - NCAA)
Midfielders - Bryan Arguez (Fort Lauderdale Strikers), Davy Arnaud (Sporting Kansas City), Patrice Bernier (Lyngby BK), Calum Mallace (Marquette - NCAA), Justin Mapp (Philadelphia Union), Felipe Martins (FC Lugano), Lamar Neagle (Seattle Sounders), Sanna Nyassi (Colorado Rapids), Siniša Ubiparipović (Montreal Impact), Collen Warner (Real Salt Lake)
Forwards - Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Mike Fucito (Seattle Sounders), Evan James (UNC Charlotte - NCAA), Miguel Montaño (Seattle Sounders), Eduardo Sebrango (Montreal Impact)
Outgoing:
Defenders - Seth Sinovic (Sporting Kansas City)
Midfielders - Gerson Mayen (Waivers), James Riley (Chivas USA), Ian Westlake (Waivers)
Forwards - Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)
Five Key Questions facing Montreal Impact FC
1. How successful will this expansion be?
It is not impossible for expansion sides to be successful in their inaugural season. In 2006, the Houston Dynamo won the MLS Cup and repeated in 2007. The Seattle Sounders have won three consecutive U.S. Open Cups since their inaugural season back in 2009.
2. How will the team fare without having a Designated Player?
Fans were hoping to have a Designated Player signed going into the season. President Joey Saputo has mentioned the team is working on signing one. Toronto FC signed their first DP, Julian De Guzman, in 2009. The Whitecaps had two DPs in 2011, Eric Hassli and Mustapha Jarju.
3. Will Montreal be the first Canadian side to make the MLS Playoffs?
In each of their expansion years, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps finished last place in the MLS table. Toronto FC has never qualified for the MLS Playoffs, but came close in 2009. Montreal will join a very competitive Eastern Conference. Only five points separated first from fifth in 2011.
4. Is building from the back the key for MLS success?
The Impact have been making their intensions clear with a defensively-based squad. In goal, Montreal will have an MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in Donovan Ricketts, a veteran in Greg Sutton and young talent in Evan Bush. On the back line, Matteo Ferrari and Nelson Rivas will bring a tone of European experience to Montreal. Hassoun Camara and Shavar Thomas will be constant threats for a starting center back role. 20 year-old, right back Zarek Valentin made 25 appearances, 24 as a starter, last year in his rookie season with Chivas USA and will look to crack the Impact starting XI.
5. Does the Impact have enough firepower up front?
Justin Braun seems to be the favorite up front for Jesse Marsch so far. It is unclear whether Montreal will play with two strikers up front, or have two wingers supporting a striker. Miguel Montano has not tasted success so far at the MLS level, but is capable of scoring goals judging from his time at Quilmes. Eduardo Sebrango's hard work earned him an MLS contract and perhaps a starting striker role.
Key Players
The Montreal Impact has done well by building a squad with a good balance of experience and youth. The club has been able to sign four players from Europe, without using a Designated Player spot.
Nelson Rivas
The Colombian centerback was Montreal's first MLS signing. Having played for Deportivo Cali, River Plate and Inter Milan, the 28 year-old will have to stay healthy to be successful for the Impact.
Matteo Ferrari
Another experienced centerback, the Algerian-born, Italian defender will be relied on for consistency by the Impact. He has played for six Serie A teams in the past, Inter Milan, Parma, AS Roma and Genoa among them, and has been capped for Italy 11 times.
Patrice Bernier
Perhaps the most successful footballer from Montreal, Bernier will be an instant fan favorite. He will have to balance his on-field performance with his off-field media attention. Manager Jesse Marsch will look to Bernier to lead the team on and off the pitch.
Davy Arnaud
With the most MLS experience under his belt, Davy Arnaud's 11 years of experience will add stability to Montreal's midfield. The 31 year-old central midfielder has only represented Sporting Kansas City during his football career.
Biggest X-Factor
Dominance in the Center
The Montreal Impact's core is built through the middle. Starting with the goalkeepers, Montreal has three goalkeepers capable of being MLS starters. The squad has lots of depth at centerback. Matteo Ferrari, Nelson Rivas, Shavar Thomas and Hassoun Camara are big presences who can be frustrating to some opposing teams. In the center midfield, the Impact has many options and will need to decide whether or not to play with a defensive and attacking midfielder or just two center midfielders playing flat.
Breakout Player To Watch
Felipe Martins
The Brazilian has been very impressive in the preseason. The 21 year-old plays a more attacking midfield role. His vision and footwork can make him a promising playmaker for the team. After playing in Switzerland for the past few years, Montreal is hoping Martins can have the same playmaking influence Davide Chiumiento had for Vancouver last year.
Prediction
Seventh in the Eastern Conference
Judging from past expansion sides, it is hard to tell if Montreal will struggle or enjoy instant success. With over 300 appearances in the MLS as a player, Jesse Marsch will manage a team for the first time. He has coaching experience, acting as an assistant coach under Bob Bradley at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Montreal Impact have a very defensive squad, with a lot of experience in the center of the pitch. If Montreal is able to control the center, opposing MLS teams should have a hard time playing the league's nineteenth franchise.
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