MONTREAL — Like a lot of rookies in Major League Soccer, Montreal Impact midfielder Blake Smith has had to patiently bide his time.
Selected eighth overall in January’s MLS SuperDraft, Smith has seen limited action in his freshman season, appearing in 13 league games (all as a substitute) and racking up just 229 minutes of playing time.
However, the 22-year-old native of Texas has managed to make an impression in a limited role for Montreal, scoring two goals — including an injury-time winner against Kansas City a few weeks ago — and has consistently provided coach Marco Schällibaum with a dynamic attacking option off the bench.
Smith earned his first start in last week’s CONCACAF Champions League match against CD Heredia, a contest that saw him subbed out after 80 minutes, but not before carving out the Impact’s best scoring chance in a 1-0 loss.
Montreal fans have been calling for the lively Blake, a product of the University of New Mexico, to get more starts and they may soon get their wish.
"Not far away, I think… I’m happy with him because when I first saw him compared to now, he’s made a lot of steps forward," Schällibaum told sportsnet.ca when asked how close Smith was to becoming a starter.
Citing Thierry Henry and Brazil’s Ronaldo as his soccer idols, Smith believes he needs to get mentally tougher and grow in confidence in order to make the jump from substitute to starter.
"Marco and I have talked about it several times, especially recently. He’s said that I’m not far off from cracking the starting 11. Mentally, I’m a little behind, but I’ve been working on things and hopefully I’ll get my chance soon," Smith said.
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Assistant coach Mauro Biello has been impressed with Smith’s work ethic, but said the rookie midfielder needs to gain a greater tactical awareness and make the most of his playing opportunities.
"He brings an energy level and that spark you sometimes need off the bench. He’s got tremendous pace and a very good left foot, and he’s been able to show it in the moments when he’s got in games," Biello explained.
"He’s still in a development phase where he needs to grow a little bit more tactically, and gain experience and mature as a player. But I think his progress has been good."
That being said, Smith has shown a lot of maturity, hasn’t sulked over his limited playing time, and has done his best to maintain a positive attitude.
"It’s not easy being used as a sub. You never know when or if you’re going in, and what the coach is thinking for the game. You’re warming up with the mentality that you’re going to play, and you’re just as mentally prepared as the players who start," Smith said.
"But there’s also the possibility you might not play, so it’s a stressful time and you can’t let that defeat you. You have to keep pushing, and working hard and use that as motivation to find yourself and get into the starting roster."
In four seasons with New Mexico, Smith scored 13 goals and registered 19 assists in 68 games. It was his ability to score and create that attracted Montreal’s attention, and after they met with the midfielder at the MLS Combine in January ahead of the draft, the Impact were convinced he could help them.
"We tracked him at New Mexico. He’s a good student of the game. He’s a bright kid. He’s eager, he’s ambitious," Biello said. "It’s the profile that we look for in (college) players. When we had our meeting with him at the combine, we thought he had the right mentality and right approach for someone who was going to grow within this club."
What’s been the biggest difference between MLS and college soccer?
"The guys here are all established, and you have to come in every day and work hard. You can’t afford to have an off day here. That’s something completely different from NCAA. It was easier then, and now it’s a difficult challenge with very little room for error," Smith offered.
Smith has also had to adjust to living in a metropolis like Montreal, a city that is bigger and more culturally diverse than his hometown of El Paso. Smith has tried to best to assimilate, and is even taking French lessons.
"Living in Montreal has been very different, but it’s been fun. This culture is different from Texas, with a different language. I like new experiences and I’m enjoying it," Smith said.
"A few of the guys on the team and I are taking French lessons, and are trying to learn the language. It’s not as easy as I thought it would be but I’m trying my best to fit in and make this place somewhere I can call home."
