Armchair Analyst where every MLS team stands with their No.9
''Bojan Krkic? Maxi Urruti? Other? – Montreal Impact (Team Commitment Level = Ever-changing + Expectation Level = Chaos): Thierry Henry's got a team and a roster in flux. Thus far, between MLS and CCL play, they've taken the field five times. In four of them they've played a 5-4-1, with Krkic as a false 9 twice, Urruti as a true-ish 9 once and Anthony Jackson-Hamel as a true target forward once. One time they played a 3-5-2 – that came in their only outing with newly arrived DP d-mid Victor Wanyama – with Urruti up top with Romell Quioto. That also happens to be the only game of the five they've lost. If I were a betting man, I'd bet on Urruti and Krkic getting multiple run-outs together as a striker pairing in that 3-5-2, even if it ends up looking more like a 5-3-2. But there are a half-dozen wingers on this team who get benched by that formation, and it's not like Bojan or Urruti have the scoring records in MLS or elsewhere to justify building the lineup around them. It's a weird roster. Everything's in play.
''Other Options: Jackson-Hamel is a true target forward who's never been consistent enough to earn starter's minutes, and Quioto, as mentioned, can play as a second forward. I suppose guys like Lassi Lappalainen and Orji Okwonkwo can as well, though we haven't seen it yet.''
''Anyway, did I mention that Montreal have a DP slot open? You should know that: Montreal have a DP slot open. That's why they're in this bucket.''
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''The biggest story of Montreal’s offseason was the hiring of Thierry Henry as head coach after a third straight playoff-less season. But it also came with some question marks, given the former New York Red Bulls striker struggled at Monaco during his managerial debut. Any concerns have been assuaged so far, with Henry pushing Montreal into the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals and beginning the MLS campaign with a bang.''
''Weeks 1 & 2: Fueled by their CCL success, Montreal had a 1W-0L-1D record in MLS play before the season was suspended. It started with a 2-1 win over New England at the Stade Olympique that included a splendid Maximiliano Urruti chip over Matt Turner to snag three points. Urruti stayed red-hot with a brace during a 2-2 draw at Dallas in Week 2, though Montreal were left disappointed after surrendering a two-goal lead.''
''Early MVP: If you picked Urruti as your early-season MVP for the Impact, please stand up. Odds are that few anticipated that the Argentine striker would have three goals through two games — he had four all of last season — but he raced out to lead the Impact’s attack.''
''Projected XI: (3-4-2-1, left to right): Diop, Waterman, Binks, Fanni, Corrales, Wanyama, Piette, Brault-Guillard, Bojan, Taider, Urruti
''Tournament Prospects: Montreal surprised plenty of neutrals during the season’s early goings, so the pause came at an inopportune time. Although that presents a challenge, the Impact could be an underdog side for a knockout-round run. Seeing Toronto FC in their Group C should provide some sparks, along with a rematch against the Revs.''
