Football Season Guide

Montreal Impact managed to just about squeeze their way through into the playoffs last season despite a disappointing campaign that saw them end the season with their worst points per game stat in last six years. Montreal's preparations for the new season were thrown off track following coach Thierry Henry's resignation to be with his family and the club reacted by promoting Wilfried Nancy, which will be his first job at a senior level. Montreal have looked to overhaul their attack during the off-season, bringing in a number of new faces, the biggest of them being Djordje Mihailovic who comes in with a big price tag and is expected to take over the creative duties. Montreal have also signed Norway international Bjorn Johnsen while Erik Hurtado and Sunusi Ibrahim arrive to improve the depth up front. Other major signings include Aljaz Struna, Kamal Miller and Zorhan Bassong. With regards to departures, Bojan was released at the end of last season though Anthony Jackson-Hamel is a surprising departure with the attacker having put up some decent displays when given the chance. Max Urruti is the biggest name to leave the club after failing to make the striker position his own while Jorge Corrales, Jukka Raitala, Rod Fanni and Shamit Shome are some of the other departees who had been in and around the lineup last season Should the new signings click then Montreal have built up a decent roster but much will depend on their defensive abilities which could prove to be a major stumbling block to their aim of making it to the playoffs this season.