The 2016 Montreal Impact season will open its first doors on January 26 when they open their training camp. After a successful 2015 season, in which the Impact reached the final of the Champions League, acquired the MLS Defender of the Year in Laurent Ciman, signed world superstar Didier Drogba and reached the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals; the 2016 Montreal Impact needs to exceed its results from 2015.
The Impact will need set their needs and goals for the upcoming season before stepping out onto the pitch for their season opener on March 6 in Vancouver. Here are just a few of those wants and ambitions for the 2016 Montreal Impact.
2016 Montreal Impact Needs and Goals
The Return of Didier Drogba
The Didier Drogba saga continues between Montreal and his former club of nine seasons, Chelsea FC. Chelsea has approached the Ivorian for an assistant coach position under interim manager Guus Hiddink. Rumours started to swirl in mid-December, when Drogba made a visit to Stamford Bridge and started to spend more time with the Blue Devils management. Initially, the Impact made an announcement, via Twitter, denying all allegations.
The rumour about Didier Drogba is unfounded. No contact has been made with the club or him. #IMFC
— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) December 18, 2015
Two days later, Hiddink publicly said that he wants Drogba as an assistant coach and that they have entered negotiations. On Monday, the interim boss of the West London club said that Drogba’s contract with the Impact must be respected. There is one year remaining on his contract.
The Impact needs to do everything in their power to keep the 37-year-old striker on their squad for this upcoming season. After making his debut for Les Onzes Montréalais on September 5, Drogba scored 11 goals in 11 games. He slingshotted the Impact to a 7-2-2 record with him, and 15-13-6 overall, good enough for third in the Eastern Conference.
Drogba not only produced on the field, but allowed the Impact to sell out in four of the last five regular seasons played at Saputo Stadium. The Drogba Effect drew fans towards the team in a traditional hockey market and increased the club’s popularity in the multicultural metropolis.
The team also increased season ticket sales solely because of the number eleven and many of the season ticket holders are expecting him to return to Montreal next season. Owner and President Joey Saputo needs to use all his power to get his prized possession back for one more season.
Improving Discipline
If the Impact was to have a team party on themes of their 2015 season, their main colours would be yellow and red. Marco Donadel led the league in yellow cards with 13 and collected two reds. Ambroise Oyongo also earned two reds and a single yellow. Midfielder Andres Romero and Ciman were both shown eight yellows, with the latter receiving three reds; co-leading the league with Jamison Olave of Real Salt Lake.
Ciman and Donadel were both making their debuts in the league and had to adjust to the physical style of play of American soccer, compared to their former leagues of the Belgian Pro Leagues and Serie A. Both seemed to fit well by the time the fall rolled around and were playing at their best. Donadel was especially effective during the playoffs and cemented his spot on the starting eleven. Ciman cleaned up his act and won the Defender of the Year award.
Montreal needs to stay disciplined in 2016 if they want to return to the playoffs and make an impact on the league. Luckily for head coach Mauro Biello, Donadel is a replacable piece with depth in the midfield, Ciman, however, not so much.
Utilization of Young Players
The 2016 Montreal Impact squad will be filled with young prospects that are ready to make the jump to the starting line-up.
26-year-old Wandrille Lefèvre and 22-year-old Victor Cabrera were stellar as center backs with Ciman in 2016 and only have room to grow for this season. Cabrera was on loan from River Plate and Montreal is looking to retain his services moving forward.
Fullbacks Eric Miller, Donny Toia and Oyongo have an average age of 23-years-old and will compliment newly re-signed 31-year-old Hassoun Camara well on the flanks. 23-year-old Maxim Tissot, who can play both at the midfield and fullbacks positions, saw limited playing time in 2015 but has been called up on multiple occasions to the Canadian national team. The Impact could utilize his talent with a limited number of defenders in 2016.
The midfield is veteran dominated, with an average age of 27-years-old and will give little playing time to the young Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé and Kyle Bekker. However, in a long season that spans across a warm summer, Biello will need to give as much rest to the veterans as possible and let the inexperienced players see some playing time.
Should Drogba return, the Impact would have three of their five strikers under the age of 23. Cameron Porter, Anthony Jackson-Hamel and Romario Williams will likely see a lot of playing time, even with Drogba on the team. The 37-year-old will not be able to withstand the North American heat in June, July and August for 90 minutes and the rookies can do real damage. Porter had a bright start to his professional career before going down with a torn ACL last March. Should the inexperience fail to find the back of the net, MLS veteran Dominic Oduro can step in and score timely goals, as he showed at times last season.
Success in the Box Office
In order for the 2016 Montreal Impact to have success in the box office, they will need success on the field. In order to have success on the field, they need success in the box office and their fans behind them. It’s a vicious cycle seen in championship cities like Montreal, where fans only pay to watch winning teams (see Montreal Expos). The atmosphere at Saputo Stadium is unique and entertaining when full and the home team is winning. The Montreal Impact braintrust will want exactly that from March through the end of their season.
The 2016 Montreal Impact will need the return of Didier Drogba, improved discipline, the utilization of young players and success in the box office in order to return to their 2015 winning ways.
Main Photo.
