Montreal MLS roster discussion

[phil7777]

http://www.rds.ca/impact/chroniques/327996.html

I'm a fan of the Gerba that came in fit and motivated to score 13 goals in the second half of two seasons ago. But I guess we've only seen evidence of that Gerba a few times here and there over his career. Still, with his knack for the net, the only reason they wouldn't keep him around even as a super sub must be that they are planning to bring in multiple strikers of a higher pedigree, which is encouraging from a club perspective. However it's too bad that they won't be Canadians.

I hope you're right about the high-profile strickers. Man I'd like to see Didier Drogba in MTL... especially since I don't think Anelka will happen.

[Opie]

Instead of trying for an older high profile striker, I hope MTL looks to a much younger player. The league has a new rule where young DPs who are 23 and younger cost much less against the cap than the $335,000 cap hit older DPs cost. For a few million you can buy a top flight prospect and pay him anything you want. That means you can spend that money elsewhere. Either in two solid players making 75k or a very good player making 150K. Unlike the older DP, that young player also has market value and could be sold down the road.

But does Montreal have the scouting in place to find such players? Either DPs or normal Canadian and foreign roster players?

[Keano]

But does Montreal have the scouting in place to find such players? Either DPs or normal Canadian and foreign roster players?

Traditionally an NDS-led Montreal scouting tactic has been to essentially ask current foreign Impact players to recommend their crappy friends from back home. With the glaring exception of Leonardo DiLorenzo, still no idea how they pulled that one off.

I think most of us expect that to change in a major way now that he's no longer officially running the show. Marsch already did a trip in England talking to big name players and now they are in South America scouting (one would think) more the type you are referring to.

[Alberto7]

Traditionally an NDS-led Montreal scouting tactic has been to essentially ask current foreign Impact players to recommend their crappy friends from back home. With the glaring exception of Leonardo DiLorenzo, still no idea how they pulled that one off.

Di Lorenzo was spotted by NDS during a scouting trip to South America in January 2006. The Impact press release from March 29, 2006 includes the following bit:

Di Lorenzo, a left-footed, offensive midfielder, was spotted by Impact head coach Nick De Santis during a scouting trip in Argentina, last January. He signed a one-year deal with a one-year option, to become official pending international clearance.

The Impact have gone on scouting trips before and have also signed players that trialed with them during their European training camps. Not perfect but ok for USL/NASL. They definitely need a lot more scouting for MLS.

[Kurosawa]

The Impact have gone on scouting trips before and have also signed players that trialed with them during their European training camps. Not perfect but ok for USL/NASL.

Stefano Pesoli is one of the best example of that. Severino Jefferson and Felipe Pastel are the worst example of that.

[Keano]

Di Lorenzo, a left-footed, offensive midfielder, was spotted by Impact head coach Nick De Santis during a scouting trip in Argentina, last January. He signed a one-year deal with a one-year option, to become official pending international clearance.

I have read this before... I still don't know how they pulled it off.

[Keano]

And for the Billy's Blackberry tactic, Camara would be the good example and everyone else the bad example

[Opie]

I wonder if the Impact are interested in Etienne Barbara? Not a sexy name from abroad, but he was by far the top player in the NASL this year. He will be heading to MLS next season with talk he might want to follow Rennie to Vancouver and that Chicago has some interest. He wouldn't cost that much.

Unlike Gerba, I think he would do well in MLS since he is a strong forward who can dribble and make players around him better. He was often marked by two to three men and still destroyed the league.

[Keano]

I wonder if the Impact are interested in Etienne Barbara? Not a sexy name from abroad, but he was by far the top player in the NASL this year. He will be heading to MLS next season with talk he might want to follow Rennie to Vancouver and that Chicago has some interest. He wouldn't cost that much.

Unlike Gerba, I think he would do well in MLS since he is a strong forward who can dribble and make players around him better. He was often marked by two to three men and still destroyed the league.

Not sure... we are allowed to poach one player from any NASL club and I'd rather it be a quality CB or a DM since those are easier to find among lesser professional ranks, and instead attract better players than Barbara from better leagues to play offensively

[Mr.Caca]

As he counts as a foreign player, I would say no.