Competition for role in CF Montreal attack heats up as season opener nears

CF Montreal had one of the crucial deadly assaults in Major League Soccer final season, ending fifth in objectives scored en route posting to the third finest document within the league.

After shedding one of many driving forces behind that assault when midfielder Djordje Mihailovic left for the Netherlands with no clear alternative, competitors is heating up in coaching camp to see who will fill the void.

With final yr’s main scorer Romell Quioto clearly high canine, the likes of Mason Toye, Sunusi Ibrahim, Kei Kamara, in addition to newcomers Chinonso Offor and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint all have a declare for that second spot.

“I feel it’s wholesome. Any time you’ve gotten competitors throughout the workforce, it pushes everyone to attempt to be higher,” Toye stated Thursday from coaching camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “We all wish to play however there’s solely a specific amount of subs we now have so it’s going to make the coaching much more aggressive.”

Besides Quioto’s 15 objectives on the season and a further 9 from Kamara, Montreal’s striker corps struggled to seek out any sort of constant type. Between accidents and runs of poor type, there was a necessity for reliability off the bench.

“It’s a new coach (Hernan Losada) and a new system so we have to work together in order to get those results,” stated Sunusi, who solely featured as an alternative six instances in MLS, mustering a single shot. “In my two seasons with the team, I’ve learned a lot and I’m still learning every day.”

Adapting to a brand new attacking philosophy has its challenges. While Quioto has excelled since shifting from his pure left wing place to striker since becoming a member of Montreal, that’s not at all times the case when a participant is utilized in a brand new function.

Joaquin Torres, the technically good left-footed winger, was unable to adapt his recreation and noticed his minutes plummet final season beneath Wilfried Nancy, culminating in a transfer to the Philadelphia Union this low season.

“As a professional player or just somebody in a job, you get asked to do certain things and play in certain positions and you just have to make the best of those opportunities,” stated Toye, who additionally prefers taking part in on the left aspect of the pitch. “I just want to help the team in any position they play me in. I may be subconsciously more comfortable on a specific side. Wherever I’m placed I just have to do better this year.”

There is optimism throughout the membership that the membership’s offensive output won’t take successful regardless of some notable departures. However, that’s closely reliant on vital steps ahead being made by final yr’s supporting solid.

The majority of final yr’s highest-scoring defence has stayed collectively, with a powerful alternative for Alistair Johnston being present in Aaron Herrera, however there are nonetheless too many query marks surrounding an untested and injury-prone attacking corps.

Montreal has two remaining video games earlier than they kick off their season in 9 days. They will journey to St. Petersburg so as to play each the Colorado Rapids reserve workforce in addition to the Tampa Bay Rowdies from the USL on Feb. 18.

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