PREVIEW – The CF Montreal season preview looks at the offseason changes, Montreal young guns, offence, and predictions. The Montreal-based club will look to accomplish what they didn’t last year by making the playoffs and trying to win an MLS championship. Montreal will also look to retain their Voyageurs Cup, which they won last year in the Canadian Championship.
The CF Montreal 2022 Season Preview
What happened last year
Les stats contre @OrlandoCitySC.#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/GuyCGK4NNW
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) November 7, 2021
Montreal was one win away from making the postseason and ironically against a team in Orlando City that had previously beaten in their other three meetings last season. It ended with the team losing the last game of the year at home and going into an early offseason.
Offseason changes
With the disappointment, it seemed like big changes were coming in La Belle Province with Rudy Camacho heading to France and a couple of players not receiving qualifying offers at first it looked there could be an overhaul. That didn’t happen but instead, there are some strong additions to the club.
First of all, on the defensive line, Montreal acquired Alistair Johnston from Nashville SC in exchange for one million dollars in salary allocation and a promise of 10 percent if he was sold elsewhere. Johnston is reunited with Samuel Piette and Kamal Miller who all play for Canada.
Rudy Camacho did indeed decide to stay and it gives the team some familiarity on the backline that has looked more solid than ever. Finally, they added some additional firepower when they signed Kei Kamara to make due for the key injuries to Mason Toye and Ahmed Hamdi.
Montreal young gun
Ismaël Koné est Montréalais.
Le milieu de terrain Ismaël Koné signe son premier contrat professionnel avec le Club >>> https://t.co/ByptI0bn2t
Midfielder Ismaël Koné signs his first professional contract with the Club's first team >>> https://t.co/onI0pY3Ais#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/FSz6PKphZs
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) August 13, 2021
One young kid to look out for this season is Ismael Kone, he really showed he has a lot of talent and will look to learn and grow and look for Wilfried Nancy to integrate him more in the starting lineup or off the bench when needed.
Will the back line hold up
The defence has looked more solid than ever which gives the team optimism barring any major injuries they should be considered a tough wall to break down for opposing teams.
Can the offence stay consistent?
If Montreal didn’t have Hamdi and Toye on the injured list they would have a powerful line with the likes of Romell Quioto and Kei Kamara who should make a great addition to the team and some added scoring with a player who has scored more than 100 goals over his 15-year career.
My season prediction of the CF Montreal season preview
« On veut montrer notre compétitivité »
Notre animatrice @paquettecath s’est entretenu avec @victorwanyama avant notre match face à Orlando. 🎙️@BMOfr #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/X0GSKK3qVg
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) February 27, 2022
Over the last couple of seasons, I have seen a trend where the team starts really well usually in the top five a couple of weeks in the season, and then around the midpoint take a nosedive and put more added pressure on waiting till Decision Day to decide their fate.
It happened last year and the year before except that two seasons ago under Thierry Henry they made the playoffs before exiting the playoffs in the first round. I honestly feel like this season is going to be a very good year and one where I think they will make the postseason.
As far as they go is a question still to be asked and we will have to wait and see how the season unfolds in Montreal who will open the season on Sunday, February 27 on the road against the team that eliminated them last year Orlando City FC, which they lost 2-0.