Storylines est totalement abasourdi par ce qui se passe à Montréal. There are some crazy changes going on up in Quebec right now; are you all seeing this? The club formerly known as l’Impact dé Montréal is back at it again, but this time they aren’t changing their name or crest.
While we’re here, why did they ever change that snowflake logo? That thing was the bee's knees, and I don’t say that lightly. I guess the fleur-de-lis is alright, but I always think of the Big Easy when I see that. If you’re gonna have a generic circle logo, at least throw some Celine Dion lyrics and a big ‘ol pile of poutine on it so we know who the heck you are.
No, this time around, the changes are on the team sheet and in the league standings. The team’s old moniker appears to have officially died with the departure of all of Montréal’s impact players this past offseason, and the club’s performance has taken a significant plunge following their incredible 2022 campaign.
With 65 points, 20 wins, and 63 goals scored, Club dé Foot Montréal was flying last year. They finished the season just two points off of Supporter’s Shield winners LAFC, securing the number two seed in the Eastern Conference in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. A 3-0 loss to NYCFC saw them crash out in the conference semis, but hope and momentum remained on their side after such a promising year.
As they probably say in French, though, toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin. All good things must come to an end, some much quicker than others.
The ensuing summer from hell likely left soccer fans across Quebec in need of a private room to blast Simon and Garfunkel. Oh, darkness, you are indeed a comforting friend. Prepare yourself for the Montréal Overhaul.
In 2022, Kei Kamara and Djordje Mihailović each scored nine goals for Le CFM, with the Sierra Leone international adding seven assists to boot. Youngster Ismaël Koné was one of the league’s most promising talents, drawing interest from across Europe alongside fellow Canadian international Alistair Johnston.
In the span of just a few weeks, Montréal fans watched Mihailović, Koné, and Johnston leave the club for “greener pastures.” If that wasn’t already enough to have them crying in their pillows, the following departures of Kamara and Head Coach Wilfried Nancy were surely the straws that broke the proverbial camel’s back and got the waterworks started.
Sacrebleu, fans de Montréal. Toutes mes condoléances.
When the dust settled, the remaining roster was a shell of the impressive 2022 side that shocked the league. Without the players that made the magic happen, the load was always going to be too much for Romell Quioto and 2022 MLS All-Star Kamal Miller to carry on their own.
Despite not even being at the halfway mark of the 2023 season, Le CFM has accumulated nine losses, which is already as many as they had through all of 2022. The club has slipped right back into mediocrity, fighting for the playoffs and desperately seeking to be relevant in the league. They currently have the worst goal difference (-12) in the East, second only to LA Galaxy’s -13 in the league as a whole.
I’m getting deja vu… Is Thierry Henry in charge again? He’s a certified legend of the game, but his stint in the 514 didn’t quite go to plan.
To add insult to injury, fans had to watch club captain Kamal Miller head to Inter Miami via trade just before the deadline. While Caleb Duke and Ariel Lassiter were a good return package and could certainly help the team, the loss of a fan favorite and Canadian international is never good for morale.
The Loons are currently just a single point ahead of Montréal, so perhaps I’ve been a bit tough on them. However, MNUFC is seventh in the Western Conference, while their Canadian rivals are currently tenth in the East. It pays to be in the West this year, eh? A few results could easily reshape the season of either team, for better or worse. The only thing I’m sure of ahead of this match is that this is nowhere near the same Montréal side that climbed the standings last year.
MATCH INFO
CF Montréal vs. Minnesota United FC
Stade Saputo | Montreal, Quebec
06.10.2023 | MLS Game #17
6:30 p.m. CT (MLS Season Pass, 1500 ESPN)
