Football Season Guide

Montreal Impact missed out on a playoffs spot in Remi Garde's first season in charge of the club, falling four points short of the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference thanks to a poor first half of the season. With the players urging the club not to make wholesale changes, Montreal have kept it fairly quiet during the off-season and have retained most of their first choice players. Just three have left the club who had been regulars last season though the biggest of them being Alejandro Silva who has been sold to Olimpia. Rod Fanni and Matteo Mancosu are the two other first choice players leaving during the off-season and Montreal have reacted by finally bagging a reliable goalscorer in Max Urruti, with the attacker arriving on trade from FC Dallas. He will be joined in the attack by fellow new signing Harry Novillo who is expected to man the right flank and form part of an attacking triumvirate that includes Ignacio Piatti. Barring the two new faces, the lineup will be bearing a very familiar look when Montreal kick the campaign off and Garde will look to ensure his side does not repeat the mistakes from last season and get off to a good start that could help them emerge as genuine challengers for a top six finish in the Eastern Conference.