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Montreal Impact Should Be Optimistic Ahead of the 2015 MLS Season

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By @DFresh39

2015 Montreal Impact Preview

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

After a long season in 2014, the Montreal Impact are still searching for their identity. Their moves have done little to inspire hope in the fanbase ahead of the 2015 MLS season. The only way the team can turn around a pessimistic fanbase will be to string together quality results in the beginning of the season. Of course they may have already started to get the fans back after a dramatic last-minute goal by Cameron Porter made the Impact just the third MLS team to beat Mexican competition over two legs in the CONCACAF Champions League.

After enduring a tough season, the all-time leading scorer in franchise history, Marco Di Vaio, retired. The team then traded Felipe Martins to further increase the rift between President Joey Saputo and the fans. Once the dust settled, the roster makeup began to make sense. Still the moves made over the winter do not compare well to others in the Eastern Conference.

One of the biggest issues for Montreal last season was an aging defense. Belgian first division veteran Laurent Ciman was signed in January as a designated player at center back. Bakary Soumare will be Ciman’s partner as he joins his third team in three years. Another newcomer in the back line is Ambroise Oyongo, who is better known for his attacking prowess from the outside back spot. Oyongo is currently behind Donny Toia on the depth chart.

Montreal have also changed goalkeepers as Troy Perkins was replaced by Eric Kronberg. He will battle long-time backup Evan Bush for the starting job. Bush has been vital in CONCACAF play and is slowly claiming the job.

The midfield got an overhaul as well with veteran Nigel Reo-Coker coming over in the Re-Entry Draft. Maxim Tissot or Marco Donadel will join Reo-Coker in covering for the back four. The hope is that some combination of those players work well enough together that designated player Ignacio Piatti can get forward to spur the attack. Piatti has deceiving speed and excellent control when on the ball.

The rest of the midfield will be a rotation with Calum Mallace, Andres Romero, Dilly Duka and Justin Mapp. Duka looks ready to show consistency but will need to get up to full fitness. Mapp continues to be solid, not flashy.

The departure of Di Viao and Martins means that all of the focus falls on Jack McInerny. He is still only 22 years old but has been inconsistent. Montreal acquired veteran Dominic Oduro to take some pressure off McInerny, and Porter has already made his mark as a rookie.

It is hard to grasp this team ahead of the season. They have a chance to create a foundation early in the season with many of the same 12 or 13 players contributing. Given their recent history, the more likely outcome for the Impact is that they are in a state of flux with a revolving door at several positions. This will lead to many of the defensive issues that killed the team last year. Also, if McInerny or Oduro cannot produce consistently, Montreal may run out of options once the rookie wall catches up to Porter.

Still, the performance in the CONCACAF Champions League shows enough promise to change this season from a drag to a stepping stone for the future.

2015 prediction: 10-12-12, 42 points, Seventh in the East

Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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