The Montreal Impact is looking to rebound from an abysmal 2014 season. With only six wins and 34 goals, they have nowhere to go but up. Montreal has added several castoffs from other teams hoping they will find a fresh start and turn the Impact into competitors in the East. With the departure of Houston and Kansas City to the Western Conference and the expansion of the playoffs, post-season play is a definite possibility for the Impact in 2015.
Roster Additions
Nigel Reo-Coker: After bouncing around England, Reo-Coker landed with Vancouver where he experienced some success. He was traded to Chivas for Mauro Rosales after his production dropped. Montreal has found a talented midfielder primed for resurgence in MLS. If he can turn things around, he is the biggest signing of 2015.
Dominic Oduro: The former Columbus forward was traded to Toronto where he never quite fit in. The Impact picked him up in exchange for allocation money. The 29 year old forward has bounced around the league and never quite lived up to his potential. Like Reo-Coker, if Oduro pays off, this is a great potential signing.
Laurent Ciman: Ciman is a Belgian international coming from Standard Liege in the Belgian league. A solid defender that won the Belgian Cup in the 2010-11 season, he will help anchor the defense in 2015.
Bakary Soumare: Another experienced veteran acquired this off season. Soumare has spent time with Chicago and Philadelphia as well as playing in France and Germany. Soumare adds needed experience to the defensive line.
Marco Donadel: Donadel got his start in the Milan youth system and has spent the last four seasons with Napoli. This talented midfielder joined Montreal in December and looks to make a difference right away.
Eric Alexander: Alexander is another player that has bounced around MLS. At 26, Montreal is his fourth club in five years with MLS. With a lot of potential and needing a home, Alexander could be hit or miss, but he has seen steady play time wherever he has been.
Victor Cabrera: On loan from River Plate, this young Argentine defender joins a much improved Impact defense. Young, talented, and full of promise, Cabrera will add depth and athleticism in the back.
Donny Toia: Toia was a homegrown player with Chivas that Montreal snagged in the dispersal draft. He is the second player pulled from the Chivas roster to help bolster the Impact in 2015.
Eric Kronberg: An experienced backup with the athleticism to start, this former SKC goalkeeper will be eager to prove he can start.
Ambroise Oyongo: Another young defender with lots of potential Oyongo is a risk, but one that will likely pay off in the long run. Listed as a left back, he has spent time in the midfield and will be a versatile addition to the Impact.
Roster Losses
Marco Di Vaio: The Impact star forward retired after the 2014 season. His production dropped off from 2013 to 2014. The loss of leadership will be felt most.
Futty Danso: Danso has been a solid MLS defender, but the new signings show why he was released.
Matteo Ferrari: At 35, Montreal opting to decline his option is no surprise. Much like Danso, the new talent in the back leaves no place for an aging star.
Troy Perkins: Having trouble landing a starting job, Perkins was release after a short stay in Montreal. Four goalkeepers in Montreal show a definite desire to upgrade and Perkins wasn’t in the plans.
Heath Pearce: Another mediocre defender from Montreal, the Impact waived him in hopes of revamping the defense for 2015.
Felipe Martins: Traded to NYRB for Oyongo, Alexander, an international roster slot, and the top spot in the allocation order. This is a definite loss for the squad, but a necessary one for Montreal as they rebuild for 2015.
Along with those mentioned, Montreal declined most player options that came up in 2014.
Potential Lineup
Evan Busch will return as the starting goalkeeper, but his defense will have a completely new look with all the new additions. The midfield is also looks vastly improved even with the loss Martins to the Red Bulls. Donadelo and Reo-Coker can hold while the familiar faces of Ignacio Piatti, Justin Mapp, and Dilly Duka push the attack. Oduro should be eager to prove he can put up numbers with the best of them while playing the feature forward.
If CONCACAF Champions League is any indication of what is to come in 2015, Montreal may open the season with this lineup:
Busch
Corera – Soumare – Ciman – Toia
Reo-Coker – Donadelo
Mapp - Piatti – Duka
Oduro
Season Outlook:
Montreal will be looking to make the playoffs in 2015. The squad is vastly improved and the weak defense from 2014 has been completely overhauled. The Impact is banking on a lot of potential talent that will make or break their season. If everyone lives up to their potential, Montreal could lock up a playoff berth quite easily. If they don’t, 2015 will be another long season.
Early Schedule
Montreal will be tested early this season. In the opening month, they will face DC United at RFK Stadium and the New England Revolution in Boston two weeks later. The Impact will end the month at home where they will host MLS newcomers Orlando City SC.
While a rough opening three games, the playoff hopefuls managing more than three points would be a spectacular start to the season.
New Look Montreal Impact
With familiar names like Bush, Piatti, and Mapp leading the way, Montreal looks to be headed for a major turnaround season after overhauling the entire roster. With the potential for eight or nine new faces in the starting lineup, Montreal laid it all on the line for 2015. After allowing 58 goals in 2014, Montreal completely changed their defense. The new defense is set to lead the charge to the playoffs.