It’s not panic time just yet in Montreal, but almost.
On Sunday, the Montreal Impact extended their early season losing record to 0-3-0, with a 2-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders at the Olympic Stadium.
Aside from the poor result, the Impact’s performance didn’t exude much encouragement either.
Negative: Tactics
The Impact almost seemed caught off guard by the way Seattle lined up in the game, which was quite a different look from the Sounders’ previous two matches. With Brad Evans injured, Clint Dempsey suspended and coach Sigi Schmid dropping Marco Pappa to the bench, the Sounders lined up in a 4-3-3 which at times transformed into a 4-1-4-1.
Sitting in front of the Seattle back four, Osvaldo Alonso did a good job at marking Felipe out of the game, especially in the first half. Montreal’s Brazilian playmaker was forced to drift into wider positions in the second half away from Alonso, but that left Andrew Wenger often isolated in the attack.
Collen Warner played once again on the outside of midfield in order to help defend against DeAndre Yedlin and Seattle’s wide play down the ride-hand side. Warner took up a similar position last week in Houston, which worked well. Against the Sounders, however, he wasn’t very effective, especially offensively. Many times he received the ball in dangerous attacking positions, but as a defensive midfielder, he just doesn’t have the qualities to create opportunities or score goals himself. As a result, he ruined many potentially dangerous situations.
Klopas’ second-half changes were disappointing. His first move was subbing Heath Pearce into the game for Jeb Brovsky, but with the Impact down by two goals, switching fullbacks really wasn’t the most pressing need.
He waited until the 78th minute, 20 minutes after Obafemi Martins doubled the Sounders’ advantage, to bring on Santiago Gonzalez, who was the only forward available on the bench. But it was always going to be difficult to salvage anything at that point, so late in the game.
Moreover, Gonzalez came on for Hernan Bernardello. With Patrice Bernier already having been subbed off, taking off one of the few players that can deliver a quality ball into the box, especially on set pieces, made little sense.
Positive: Justin Mapp
Just like last season, Justin Mapp has been one of the Impact’s most consistent players so far this year. On Sunday, he was the team’s most lively player, providing outlets in transition, taking players on in the final third and delivering numerous dangerous balls into the box, but his teammates were never really on the same page.
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Negative: Santiago Gonzalez
The Impact’s new Uruguayan forward hasn’t seen much action so far this season as he’s been limited to late game appearances off the bench, as was the case against the Sounders. Therefore, it’s difficult to ascertain his abilities. But given Klopas’ obvious hesitancy in getting him involved in games, you start to wonder whether the 21-year-old is actually any good.
Positive: Defensive performances
On the whole, the Impact defended quite well, limiting the Sounders to only four shots in the game. Matteo Ferrari was particularly good, rarely putting a foot wrong through the 90 minutes.
Other than an error in the second half which gifted the visitors their second goal, Eric Miller had another solid performance as well, though Pearce may start in his place next week in Philadelphia.
Negative: Attacking woes
Montreal was simply woeful in the final third. There were enough scoring opportunities in the second half for a rout, but the Impact wasted one opportunity after another. They did have their share of bad luck, since Seattle had two goal-line saving clearances, but their lack of cutting edge was on full display.
The Impact need new players—if that wasn’t already clear before the season started, it is now.
Positive: Di Vaio returns
The good news for the Impact is that Marco Di Vaio will be available next week in Philadelphia after serving his three-match suspension. His return will provide a much needed confidence boost. Hopefully, for the Impact’s sake, he still has goals in him.
Nick Sabetti is a Montreal-based writer. Follow him on Twitter.