Hello one and all,
One of the first things I noticed about Montreal upon my arrival is that everything is much bigger than in Europe. In France, there are many smaller streets, while there are many larger avenues over here. There are many things to see and do in Montreal, no matter what the weather is like. There are also many activities for children and I am pleased to share these opportunities with my family and my daughter.
I am reassured that I can continue to speak French and that most people will understand me. In training with the team, most of the conversations take place in English, but because there are a number of Francophones on the team, some of the Anglophone players have begun using French expressions.
Since our arrival in Montreal, the club has helped make our integration into the team as smooth as possible. We can count on support from many dedicated people who are always available to give a helping hand, answer questions, or help resolve problems.
I think North American soccer is starting to resemble the game as it is played in Europe. The style and tactics are becoming more and more similar. The rhythm and level of play have also become more intriguing. Soccer here is based much more on group schemes than in Europe. The playing styles of the teams I played for in Europe were very individualistic. There were certain players who could change the outlook of a game, but here, the whole is more important. The entire squad needs to work hard, in unison, to obtain positive results.
I’ve also noticed that there is never much downtime in the North American game. Even when the defenders are moving the ball from one side to the other, they are under heavy pressure. I was accustomed to a playing style that would allow us more time to prepare and create the play.
Here with the team, we must also adapt to certain situations and factors that may influence our game. For example, road matches are very different here than in Europe. In France, trips never surpassed two hours, while here, travelling is much longer and the playing conditions vary a lot. The temperature, humidity, field, and stadiums differ from one city to the next. These are things we have to make a note of during our pregame preparation.
I’ve also observed in Montreal that the Impact fans are really behind us and will support the team through thick and thin.
I have nothing but good things to say about this city and my experiences here thus far. I hope that we can continue to play well in order to make the playoffs and you never know what may happen after that…
Richard Pelletier #6
