CF Montreal | A workforce not so thin

CF Montreal players are in a boat. Four players fall in the water, who is left? Well, several more crew members.

What’s left of the alternative band Panic! at the Disco bowed out last week. However, the atmosphere is still alarmist when it comes to Montreal training for the next season. Admittedly, important elements have left the ship, but there is room for new blood among the helmsmen.

As of this writing, eight players who formed last year’s typical starting XI have returned. Other additions or departures could be made by the MLS transfer window deadline of April 24. Regardless, CFM should field a competitive team in 2023.

Guardians

The starting goaltender position caused quite a stir last year as James Pantemis and Sebastian Breza swapped the title a few times. It was ultimately Pantemis who won the fight and was the go-to keeper for the playoffs. His triumph finally pushed Breza to the exit door.

Breza belongs to FC Bologna, so the CFM did not make an offer to obtain his services this season. The Canadian jailer was also loaned out again, this time to Carrarese Calcio 1908, in the Italian third division.

The position of second was filled internally. After a two-year internship with Valor FC of Winnipeg, in the Canadian Premier League (PLC), Jonathan Sirois is expected to get a few starts this season. He was dominant in his first season in PLC, where he was voted the best goaltender on the circuit and, ironically, replaced Pantemis within the Manitoba club. Despite a second season with five fewer starts, it wouldn’t be surprising to turn to him if things go sour with Pantemis.

American Logan Ketterer will remain the club’s third goalkeeper.

Defenders

In theory, the CFM will offer a defense similar to that of last year. With the exception of the replacement of Alistair Johnston by Aaron Herrera at the right-back position, it will be a cut and paste. The head coach of the Montrealers, Hernán Losada, even confided last week that he wanted to renew a defense with five players. This was the basic recipe for the success of the CFM under the orders of Wilfried Nancy.

Johnston was a key cog in the Montreal team, thanks as much to his combativeness in defense as to his offensive contribution. He has four goals and four assists, and those will be big shoes to fill. However, don’t leave Herrera out of the equation. “It’s the best shot of the off-season,” reported expert J. Sam Jones, from the MLS website.

The team was even looking for reinforcements at central defender George Campbell, a 21-year-old American. To see what his role will be and if his right leg injury suffered during Tuesday’s training is serious. In fact, he is dependent on the fate of Kamal Miller.

The Canadian international dreams of exile on the Old Continent and he even said “not knowing” if he will end the season in Montreal. Since the transfer window ended Tuesday evening in the majority of European championships, it’s a safe bet that Miller will start the season in the city of the bagel. In short, Olivier Renard played a step ahead with the acquisition of Campbell.

Otherwise, nothing new under the sun. Lassi Lappalainen should occupy the left lane while Joel Waterman and Rudy Camacho will probably find their place among the central hinge.

Midfielders

The return of Victor Wanyama, who had declared that the year 2022 would be his last with the CFM, is possibly the best news of the off-season for the Montreal eleven. The Kenyan exudes confidence and is one of the best defensive midfielders on the Garber circuit. He is also one of the most consistent.

Wanyama and Samuel Piette, who share the role of co-captain, will pilot the midfield for one more season. The departure of Ismaël Koné will allow other young people to take the lead and glean a few minutes. Egyptian Ahmed Hamdi, promising Nathan Saliba and newcomer Ilias Iliadis will compete for a bigger role in the middle.

As we progress through the field, this is where the question marks appear. The sale of Djordje Mihailovic raises questions. Can one of Matko Miljevic or Sean Rea emulate Mihailovic? Time will tell.

Nevertheless, Rea will be an interesting option going forward. Thanks to a brilliant season with Valor FC, he was awarded the title of best Canadian under 21. He also finished first in the league in assists.

Attackers

There’s Romell Quioto and the others. And that’s the main thing.

Quioto is one of the best-kept secrets in MLS, having been CFM’s top scorer for the past three seasons.

Who will play supporting roles? We will find out as the season progresses, but Chinonso Offor, Sunusi Ibrahim and Mason Toye all have free rein. Toye was particularly decisive in his first season with the CFM in 2021, rattling the strings seven times in 14 games. The 2022 season has been more complex for the American, who only hit the mark twice, bothered by injuries.

And we must not immediately dismiss Kei Kamara. The Sierra Leonean could potentially play the season with the Bleu-blanc-noir after revealing on Tuesday that he “will honor his contract”, despite his request to be traded. He came in very handy last calendar and could do the same if things fall into place.

An acquisition in the team’s offensive third wouldn’t hurt. Especially since the team traded Joaquín Torres, who had a unique profile as a good dribbler and catalyst.

CFM will likely navigate troubled waters at the start of the season, looking for the right combination, but should steer clear of the shallows.