It’s still early, but the Impact is eight points in front of the playoff line
The month of May has just begun, but it’s already time to assess the Montreal Impact’s season until now. The first ten games of the season have come and gone and Montreal has proven to be a force in the East, currently occupying first place alongside D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union, all three with 17 points, and all of this accomplished after playing eight games on the road, need we remind you. While certain Eastern Conference “heavyweights” have had slow starts to the season, notably in Atlanta and in New York, the Impact, on its end, is developing confidence and a winning mentality, and this despite the absence of one of the league’s most decisive players, who can change a game with one moment of magic, Nacho Piatti.
If certain players have stood out through their individual performances, we’ve seen the Impact win games through the strength of its teamwork; other than the anomalies in Kansas City and Philadelphia, Montreal has only conceded four goals in eight games, something reflected in the individual stats of many players. Goalkeeper Evan Bush is in a tie for first leaguewide with five clean sheets; midfielder Saphir Taïder is fifth in MLS for shots on target with 11, and eighth for chances created, with 21; defender Bacary Sagna is fourth leaguewide for aerial duels won, with 39, and fifth for duels won, with 71; midfielder Samuel Piette has recovered the ball 89 times, good for sixth in the league.
As such, the Impact Media team has scoured North America, but not really, to give you a bit of an overview of the forces in the East.
- Philadelphia Union, 17 points 10 games
The Union has taken advantage of the return of David Accam and of a homogenous group, with many attacking contributors, to have a good start to the season, but their young defense is susceptible of having off games. Philadelphia does, however, have a favourable schedule in the coming weeks, and those points will be crucial as competition stiffens for them mid-August.
Upcoming games: v NE, @ TFC, v SEA, v POR, v COL
- D.C. United, 17 points in 10 games
Is the Wayne Rooney effect starting to dissipate in Washington? His sidekick last year, Luciano Acosta, has just a goal in seven games; Rooney, on his end, has one goal in five games. More worrying than the dynamic duo’s offensive issues is D.C. United’s form at home: Audi Field doesn’t have the same aura it did last year and Ben Olsen’s men have just two wins after five games, although they’ve set things straight on the road after managing just one win away in 2018.
Upcoming games: v CLB, v SKC, @ TFC, @ HOU, @ NE
- Montreal Impact, 17 points after 10 games
With already as many points away from home as it had during the entire 2018 season, the Impact finds itself in an excellent spot. By Wednesday, Montreal will have already played more than half of its road games and will now be able to take advantage of playing at Stade Saputo 15 more times from now until the beginning of October. The team’s defensive performances are reassuring after two potholes, as defined by head coach Rémi Garde, in Kansas City and in Philadelphia. With the return of Nacho Piatti on the horizon, the rhythm set since the beginning of the season may accelerate.
Upcoming games: v NYCFC, @ RBNY, @ FCC, v NE, @ LAFC
- Toronto FC, 13 points in 7 games
The new Argentine Designated Player Alejandro Pozuelo has taken the MLS by storm since his arrival, with four goals and five assists after five games, but his partner in crime Jozy Altidore is now sidelined with a hamstring injury and in just one game without him, Pozuelo was left off the scoresheet. Toronto’s challenge over the next few weeks will be to figure out how to be effective without the American, something Greg Vanney couldn’t figure out last year.
Upcoming games : @ ORL, @ ATL, v PHI, v DCU, @ RSL
- Columbus Crew SC, 13 points in 10 games
After a flying start to the season, things have certainly settled down. Since the Crew’s visit to Stade Saputo on April 13, it’s lost three times, including twice at home, scoring just once. First in the East quickly turned into fifth, and Caleb Porter’s honeymoon phase is most definitely over. With star goalkeeper Zack Steffen departing for Manchester City this summer, the defense will undergo major transformation, and up front, Gyasi Zardes can’t do it all alone, while Federico Higuain, despite his class, doesn’t produce like he used to.
Upcoming games: @ DCU, v LAG, v LAFC, @ MNU, @ COL
- Orlando City SC, 12 points in 9 games
The Lions flash their sharp teeth at times, but their start to the season remains inconsistent. Designated Player Nani produces a goal per game on average, whether scoring it himself or providing the assists, but they’ll need to find a defensive game plan and apply it consistently, something that’s become a priority for head coach James O’Connor.
Upcoming games: v TFC, @ ATL, @ SEA, v FCC, v LAG
- New York City FC, 12 points in 9 games
Saturday’s visitors to Stade Saputo won their first game in 2019 two weeks ago and have somewhat found their bearings since then, notably thanks to the arrival of Héber, who made his debut against the Impact in the beginning of April. Since then, the Brazilian has two goals and two assists in five games. He may have been the missing ingredient in Domè Torrent’s recipe, but goalkeeper Sean Johnson still faces too many good opportunities each game, and a decisive attacking team will know how to take advantage of that.
Upcoming games: @ IMFC, @ LAG, @ CHI, @ CLB, v FCC
- Chicago Fire, 9 points in 9 games
What is the Fire’s game plan? Chemistry seems difficult to achieve for a team with so many dangerous offensive pieces and a certain Bastian Schweinsteiger in the line-up, but they’re content trying their luck with long balls instead of building play from the back. Other than a four-goal breakthrough against the Rapids, still without a win this season, the Fire has scored two or more goals just twice this season, accumulating just one point from both these meetings.
Upcoming games : @ LAFC, v NE, v MNU, @ SJE, v NYCFC
- New York Red Bulls, 8 points in 8 games
The Red Bulls won their first game in a month and a half, doing so without Designated Player Bradley Wright-Phillips, injured, although it was far from convincing against FC Cincinnati. That being said, there are certain distractions in the locker room, notably Kaku, who hasn’t hidden his frustration of finding himself in New Jersey, and who will be once again suspended for Saturday’s game against the LA Galaxy. There’s still time to turn the tide, but the Red Bulls need to find their wings, and quickly.
Upcoming games: v LAG, v IMFC, @ DAL, v ATL, v VAN
- Atlanta United, 8 points in 7 games
The defending champions are in trouble, although there are many factors contributing to this slow start to the season: Miguel Almiron’s departure for Newcastle, an MLS Cup final played in December, the club’s participation in the Concacaf Champions League and the arrival of a new head coach. The Five Stripes aren’t playing badly and hold on to the ball better than anyone in the league, although they can’t convert this enormous possession into something dangerous in the final third.
Upcoming games: @ SKC, v TFC, v ORL, @ VAN, @ RBNY
- FC Cincinnati, 8 points in 10 games
Welcome to MLS, Cincinnati. The new guys have scored once in their last seven games and the absence of Designated Player Fernando Adi, injured and then suspended by the league after driving while under the influence, hasn’t helped the team’s arrival to the big leagues. Their chances of qualifying to the postseason will be slim, although they’re dangerous at home in front of their big and noisy crowd.
Upcoming games: @ SJE, v IMFC, @ ORL, v RBNY, @ COL
- New England Revolution, 8 points in 10 games
Season after season, it’s more of the same in the Boston suburb. Things are still quite difficult for Brad Friedel’s men in 2019 and the arrival of Carles Gil hasn’t had much effect until now for the Revs, who currently sit in the East’s cellar. They concede almost two goals per game, Gillette Stadium can’t be described as a fortress, and the Boston representatives don’t usually travel well.
Upcoming games: @ PHI, @ CHI, v SJE, @ IMFC, v DCU
