The Montreal Impact head in to 2019 knowing this is Ignacio Piatti’s last season with the club and last chance to win it all with the man that has given his best years to them. The pressure is surely on and the club has made several key moves to boost the squad. Defense still remains a question for, what is widely considered, the best counter attacking side in MLS. 

Tactics & Key Players  

2019 will be Remi Garde’s second season in charge of the Impact and he should be looking to secure a playoff spot this year.  

 

Goalkeeper: Evan Bush may not get the accolades he deserves, but he is the foundation at the back for Montreal. Through all the ups and downs, Bush puts in one quality performance after another that also lights up the fantasy scoresheet.  

Center Backs: The biggest issue for the Impact is going to be picking a center back pairing that will be effective in MLS against the best teams. Victor Cabrera was once a top choice, but failed to impress in 2018. Any of the men on the roster could lock down the job and two need to step up soon.  

Wing Backs: Wingback is not as big of an issue for Montreal as the CB problem. EPL veteran Bacary Saga brings some impressive credentials with him and Daniel Lovitz has taken the other starting spot.  

Midfielders: Fans of Montreal are well aware of Samuel Piette and Saphir Taider and how dominant they can be in the league. Adding Michael Azira to the team could be just the boost needed to call this midfield elite. While in Colorado, Azira helped build an impressive 2017 run in the West from one of the weakest sides in MLS. His transfer to MNUFC coincided with a sharp decline in form for the Rapids. His ability to transition will work nicely in the counter attacking system.  

Wingers: There is not enough that can be said of Ignacio Piatti and what he has done in Montreal. The Argentine has cemented his status at the best to ever play for the club, but he’s lacked support from his opposite number. 2019 brings Harry Novillo to the roster. If he can contribute early, Montreal will be successful.  

Forwards: Montreal has struggled to find the proper complement to Piatti and their number two player, be it Taider or Blerim Dzemaili before him. 2019 sees a major change up top with the addition of Maxi Urruti. Urruti has shown flashes of brilliance amid lackluster performances in key games for Dallas. Not having to shoulder the load as Piatti and Taider run the show could be the relief he needs to clear his head and get out of the slump.  

Notable Changes  

The presence of a creative speedy forward like Urruti will bring a new element to the Impact. If he can work off Piatti and open up lanes, this team will be as clinical as ever in transition and climb the ladder in the east.  

Fantasy Expectations  

Montreal is nicer to fantasy managers than many other teams. Their quantities are known and the key points getters are easy to find. Piatti and Taider are the obvious standouts when given a favorable offense versus defense matchup. Evan Bush remains a quality goalkeeper candidate week in and week out. He seems to excel when playing the stronger offensive teams as he faces more shots and has a greater chance of racking up the bonus points.  

Maxi Urruti remains the lone mystery for managers. Give him a few weeks to see a sample, but if he gets hot, he’s worth riding through that streak. Urruti tends to score in bunches.