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A rundown of the Montreal Impact's roster as it currently stands
Three months before their inaugural MLS season kicks off, take a look at how the Impact's team is shaking up.
Nov 29, 2011 12:06:00 PM
By Seth Vertelney
As their MLS debut grows ever closer, the Montreal Impact have finally started assembling a roster of players. With last week's Expansion Draft and several trades behind them, the league's 19th team can finally examine a roster with several names at each position, though there are many spots still yet to be filled. Ahead of the MLS SuperDraft, international signings, and almost certainly more trades, here's how the Impact's roster currently shapes up.
Goalkeepers: Donovan Ricketts, Evan Bush
The Impact showed they weren't afraid to invest big when they not only sent allocation money to the LA Galaxy in exchange for Ricketts, but also absorbed the Jamaican's nearly $200,000 in annual wages. If Ricketts is healthy, he's undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in MLS, but injuries have been an issue for the 34-year-old. Ricketts went down in 2011 and never regained his starting position back after Josh Saunders deputized superbly. If the Jamaican international plays most of the Impact's matches, his exorbitant salary will be worthwhile. However, his health is far from a certainty, so his acquisition has to be classified as a risk.
The team is also expected to sign Bill Gaudette, who was a member of the Impact's NASL side in 2011. The 30-year-old spent time with the Columbus Crew between 2005 and 2007, and should be an able backup to Ricketts. Bush could also be in the mix for the second goalkeeper role, as he filled in well for the injured Gaudette in 2011, earning a MLS deal in the process.
Defenders: Josh Gardner, Zarek Valentin, Nelson Rivas, Bobby Burling, Tyson Wahl, Hassoun Camara
The Impact did well to find a starting-caliber left back in the Expansion Draft when they selected Gardner from Columbus. The Impact have even amassed a bit of depth at the position with Wahl, acquired from Seattle for allocation money. The 27-year-old proved a capable backup with the Sounders, showing the ability to hit a set-piece in the process.
The center back position appears to be the thinnest on the entire roster at this point. Rivas certainly has the pedigree to be a solid MLS defender at 28 years of age, and boasting experience with Italian giant Inter. The Colombian does have some bust potential though, with injuries sapping much of his effectiveness during his stint in Italy. Rust will definitely be a factor also, as Rivas has been without a club since August. Burling, the club's other center half, has outstanding size at 6-foot-5, but showed he's better suited to a backup role during his time in San Jose. Montreal's center back spot will definitely be addressed before kickoff in 2012.
Valentin can play center back also, but is best utilized at right back, where his natural attacking qualities can be best exploited. In a surprise move, Chivas USA left the fourth pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft exposed for the Expansion Draft, and the Impact predictably jumped at the chance to snag the U.S. U-20 international. Camara made the jump from the Impact's NASL side after a solid 2011 season, and can play both defense and midfield.
Midfielders: Bryan Arguez, Jeb Brovsky, Justin Mapp, Gerson Mayen, Sanna Nyassi, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Collen Warner, Davy Arnaud
The Impact have targeted central midfield in the early phases of their roster-building process, and Monday's trade for Arnaud added even more depth to the position. The Impact hope the former Sporting KC captain can have a similar impact to that of Jack Jewsbury with the expansion Timbers last year. Ubiparipovic excelled with the Impact in NASL last season, and showed the ability to be a solid creative midfielder in MLS during his stint with the Red Bulls. Warner is another attacking option, who showed flashes in limited playing time during his first two MLS seasons with Real Salt Lake.
Arguez, Brovsky and Mayen all figure to be fighting for playing time as backups. Plucked from Fort Lauderdale of the NASL, Arguez is only four years removed from playing in the Bundesliga as a 19-year-old, albeit just one game. He could be a nice sleeper if he's able to adjust to MLS. Mayen and Brovsky are young, but haven't yet proved they have the ability to stick around long-term in MLS. Brovsky has a better shot to have a role with the expansion side, due to his ability to play defender as well as midfielder.
On the flanks, Mapp has often cut a frustrating figure during his MLS career. His left foot has never been in doubt, but after an auspicious beginning to his career which saw him touted as a future U.S. national team star, he's been inconsistent, and has drifted in and out of too many games. Nyassi's pace can't be disputed and when he's on, he can be a highly dangerous right winger. His decision-making has been subject to question, however. Both Mapp and Nyassi are potential starters, but Montreal will add more depth on the flanks before March.
Forwards: Justin Braun, Brian Ching
Now here's where it gets interesting. After Ching declared he would retire if selected by the Impact in the Expansion Draft, Montreal, of course, took Ching with the first pick. The Impact are still expected to trade Ching back to Houston, but Ching's declaration he wouldn't play for Montreal completely backfired. With the knowledge both Ching and Houston would be desperate for a move to be reunited, the forward's trade value for Montreal increased, and so too the chances the expansion franchise would take him.
Possessing prototypical size and speed, Braun has all the tools to be a top-caliber forward. Despite scoring 17 goals in the past two seasons, Braun never endeared himself to the Chivas USA hierarchy, and found himself benched in favor of Alejandro Moreno and Juan Pablo Angel during the latter stages of 2011. At 24, he still has the potential to be one of the best strikers in MLS, and should start from day one in Montreal.
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Goalkeepers: Donovan Ricketts, Evan Bush
The Impact showed they weren't afraid to invest big when they not only sent allocation money to the LA Galaxy in exchange for Ricketts, but also absorbed the Jamaican's nearly $200,000 in annual wages. If Ricketts is healthy, he's undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in MLS, but injuries have been an issue for the 34-year-old. Ricketts went down in 2011 and never regained his starting position back after Josh Saunders deputized superbly. If the Jamaican international plays most of the Impact's matches, his exorbitant salary will be worthwhile. However, his health is far from a certainty, so his acquisition has to be classified as a risk.
The team is also expected to sign Bill Gaudette, who was a member of the Impact's NASL side in 2011. The 30-year-old spent time with the Columbus Crew between 2005 and 2007, and should be an able backup to Ricketts. Bush could also be in the mix for the second goalkeeper role, as he filled in well for the injured Gaudette in 2011, earning a MLS deal in the process.
Defenders: Josh Gardner, Zarek Valentin, Nelson Rivas, Bobby Burling, Tyson Wahl, Hassoun Camara
The Impact did well to find a starting-caliber left back in the Expansion Draft when they selected Gardner from Columbus. The Impact have even amassed a bit of depth at the position with Wahl, acquired from Seattle for allocation money. The 27-year-old proved a capable backup with the Sounders, showing the ability to hit a set-piece in the process.
The center back position appears to be the thinnest on the entire roster at this point. Rivas certainly has the pedigree to be a solid MLS defender at 28 years of age, and boasting experience with Italian giant Inter. The Colombian does have some bust potential though, with injuries sapping much of his effectiveness during his stint in Italy. Rust will definitely be a factor also, as Rivas has been without a club since August. Burling, the club's other center half, has outstanding size at 6-foot-5, but showed he's better suited to a backup role during his time in San Jose. Montreal's center back spot will definitely be addressed before kickoff in 2012.
Valentin can play center back also, but is best utilized at right back, where his natural attacking qualities can be best exploited. In a surprise move, Chivas USA left the fourth pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft exposed for the Expansion Draft, and the Impact predictably jumped at the chance to snag the U.S. U-20 international. Camara made the jump from the Impact's NASL side after a solid 2011 season, and can play both defense and midfield.
Valentin | Chivas USA could rue letting him go in the Expansion Draft
Midfielders: Bryan Arguez, Jeb Brovsky, Justin Mapp, Gerson Mayen, Sanna Nyassi, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Collen Warner, Davy Arnaud
The Impact have targeted central midfield in the early phases of their roster-building process, and Monday's trade for Arnaud added even more depth to the position. The Impact hope the former Sporting KC captain can have a similar impact to that of Jack Jewsbury with the expansion Timbers last year. Ubiparipovic excelled with the Impact in NASL last season, and showed the ability to be a solid creative midfielder in MLS during his stint with the Red Bulls. Warner is another attacking option, who showed flashes in limited playing time during his first two MLS seasons with Real Salt Lake.
Arguez, Brovsky and Mayen all figure to be fighting for playing time as backups. Plucked from Fort Lauderdale of the NASL, Arguez is only four years removed from playing in the Bundesliga as a 19-year-old, albeit just one game. He could be a nice sleeper if he's able to adjust to MLS. Mayen and Brovsky are young, but haven't yet proved they have the ability to stick around long-term in MLS. Brovsky has a better shot to have a role with the expansion side, due to his ability to play defender as well as midfielder.
On the flanks, Mapp has often cut a frustrating figure during his MLS career. His left foot has never been in doubt, but after an auspicious beginning to his career which saw him touted as a future U.S. national team star, he's been inconsistent, and has drifted in and out of too many games. Nyassi's pace can't be disputed and when he's on, he can be a highly dangerous right winger. His decision-making has been subject to question, however. Both Mapp and Nyassi are potential starters, but Montreal will add more depth on the flanks before March.
Nyassi | Could start for Montreal at right midfield
Forwards: Justin Braun, Brian Ching
Now here's where it gets interesting. After Ching declared he would retire if selected by the Impact in the Expansion Draft, Montreal, of course, took Ching with the first pick. The Impact are still expected to trade Ching back to Houston, but Ching's declaration he wouldn't play for Montreal completely backfired. With the knowledge both Ching and Houston would be desperate for a move to be reunited, the forward's trade value for Montreal increased, and so too the chances the expansion franchise would take him.
Possessing prototypical size and speed, Braun has all the tools to be a top-caliber forward. Despite scoring 17 goals in the past two seasons, Braun never endeared himself to the Chivas USA hierarchy, and found himself benched in favor of Alejandro Moreno and Juan Pablo Angel during the latter stages of 2011. At 24, he still has the potential to be one of the best strikers in MLS, and should start from day one in Montreal.
Follow SETH VERTELNEY on
or shoot him an email
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