Ahead of Sporting KC's trip to Montreal on Saturday, SportingKC.com caught up with Voice of the Impact (on TSN 690), Rick Moffat. Live coverage of Saturday's match starts at 6:00 p.m. CT (kick off at 6:30) on 38 the Spot & SKCTV.
How would you assess Montreal’s season up to this point?
Expectations were raised so much by Drogba’s arrival and their deepest-ever playoff run last November. I think fans assumed 2016 would be a goal-fest. Yet the attack has been sporadic. The club hasn’t won 2 games in a row for 2 months. Let’s call it consistently inconsistent.
How will the absence of Laurent Ciman (with Belgium at Euro 2016) affect Montreal’s defense for Saturday’s match?
Laurent’s teammates are so proud of him being with Belgium and especially getting into the starting XI for their tournament opening game. Thankfully Wandrille Lefevre (born in France but now capped internationally for Canada) is coming into his own, and has been a solid under-study to the MLS Allstar. Wandrille has even perfected Ciman’s signature sliding tackles. Like #23 he’s also dangerous on set pieces, but now I’ve said too much.
Midfielder Ignacio Piatti is expected to return to the starting lineup (from an injury) on Saturday. How important of a player is Piatti for Montreal and what makes him one of the best attacking midfielders in MLS?
Piatti is so creative he’s contending for the Golden Boot even while his chemistry with Drogba continues to bubble and Piatti may not even have found his best position yet. He’s played a few games at the central attacking midfield role but mostly on the wing. Some games he seems like he can dribble around anyone and everyone. Kyle Bekker referred to him as “Noodle Legs” earlier in the year and it seems appropiate. At least Piatti’s hand surgery shouldn’t affect his fitness.
Who are some under the radar players (outside of Drogba, Oduro, Piatti) to watch for Saturday’s match?
I love the energy Lucas Ontivero brings. I don’t know if they watch the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character in Argentina, but the young DP runs like it. He’s only scored one goal but struck the goalpost in two early season games, had two great chances in Columbus last weekend and is just getting used to MLS and his teammates.
What are your general thoughts on Saturday’s match? Any players or match-ups you’re interested to watch?
Justin Mapp refused to get into any trashtalk or even emit the softest of chirps against his former club on The Impact This Week, TSN690’s weekly show about the club. He’s classy and liked in Montreal for being a skilled winger who battled so much injury adversity. Impact captain Patrice Bernier says facing SKC is his favorite roadtrip, for the passion of the fans and because the Impact have usually found a way to get results. Hopefully some SKC players will put Montreal at the top of their list for favorite roadtrip city to visit.
