The common theme that we kept hearing from the coaches and players leading up to the game Saturday night was luck. A desperate cry for luck and for that lucky bounce to go their way. They had also repeatedly said how important a win was for the team to bounce back from what has been a terrible season so far. The score finished in a tie with the Lions finishing the game down to 10 men and yet still managing to challenge Montreal until the very last minute. It was a game filled with bad luck that did very little to motivate the faithful fans that this team is on the verge of a big breakthrough in the near future. Personally, after watching this match, I don’t believe CF Montreal is a team that’s far from reaching it’s potential, but this is currently a puzzle that is halfway built. You know when you’re working your way through a puzzle, and you have those 10 pieces that you just can’t find…. Are they under the couch? Did the dog eat them? Is it in your pocket? Is it in Europe? Are they in the MLS? Is it in your squad? It’s a puzzle that is weirdly built, but that’s somehow coming together. This puzzle is being put together by so many people, and no one knows who put what piece and at what point, and some people even quit or were kicked out midway through that puzzle. Why is this puzzle taking so long to come together. The crowd watching these people put the puzzle have stuck around to watch them finish it, but they are growing impatient. Anyways, I think I’m making my point? Who the hell is going to find the missing pieces, and when?
With the MLS transfer window closing this week, it felt like this could be an opportunity for a lot of these players that might be ready to jump ship for their own personal reasons. Players like Sunusi Ibrahim, Bryce Duke, Mahala Opoku would have been expected to be given this chance in this game but instead we only saw Duke start, Ibrahim sub late in the game, and Opoku out of the game sheet. You have to question how many of these players have quit on the club and have stopped showing any effort in practice that doesn’t convince Marco Donadel to give them a chance come gameday. These are the pieces that don’t fit the puzzle regardless how much you push it down between two pieces, no matter which way you turn it, it just doesn’t fucking fit!!!! (excuse my language, I get angry doing puzzles). I digress, lets get into the game, what do you say?
Attacking Front
It’s getting more difficult to justify Prince Owusu’s performance. The theme around the team these past few weeks since Donadel took over is “we are so close, but we need some luck”, and we see that in full display when you see Owusu play for this team. He is very skilled with the ball and is very smart when building up the play and distributing the ball, but the problem is his decision making I front of the goal. You almost want to put the blame on his confidence going down with every passing game, but the truth of the matter is that he simply needs help. I think he is feeling an enormous amount of pressure to score at any cost without much help around him. I simply don’t think he has the level or confidence to be able to do that now. Giacomo Vrioni’s impending return from injury is becoming even more important as the club seems to be losing control of this season quickly. Saturday night, we saw an Owusu that was tired mentally, not just physically (because he looked exhausted after halftime) but mentally he seems to have given up in certain aspects of his game that we saw early on during the season. Owusu clearly needs some time away from the starting lineup to get his groove back. He was clearly frustrated last night by David Brekalo, who was clearly on a mission to push his buttons and throw him off his game. I saw a very bad technical game, something that I had pointed out was one of his fortes the first few games of the season. The last thing Montreal needs is the starters starting to doubt themselves and, in the case of Owusu (who is leading the MLS in offsides), a very technically advanced player that needs a push. I think someone needs to tell Owusu to go back to the basics and stop overthinking his every action. Owusu ended the game with 15 possessions lost, 4 of 14 in duels, 53% accurate passes (!!!), 5 fouls, and 2 offsides in 31 touches. Those are not the stats of someone who believes in their ability. That’s someone who is clearly doubting themselves during 90 minutes of play.
Bryce Duke, who only played 45 minutes, played the kind of game we’ve come to expect from the attacking midfielder. He seemed to have picked up an injury early on in the game but preferred to continue playing through it, but when the injury is impacting your play and that of your team you need to realize that you might be better off giving your place to another person that is fully fit? Many people, including I, have given up on the Duke project with this club. He is clearly talented but has failed to impact the game on a consistent basis that makes teams fear him. He seems a bit slow with his passes and doesn’t bring the creative vision that a natural number 10 like himself should have, and also, he is constantly easily beat out physically by opponents. On Saturday, Duke failed to impose himself in the game and make an impact enough to increase his already disappointing tenure with CF Montreal. He finished the game 0 for 2 in crosses, 0 for 2 in successful dribbles, and 2 of 4 in ground duels with 29 touches. Once he was replaced by Caden Clark, the difference was remarkable.
On the left winger position, Montreal lined up Dante Sealy who seems to be their only solution to a natural left winger (refer back to puzzles example) and he had one of his worse games to date in my honest opinion. In the post-game press conference, he said that the staff had assigned him to man cover Alexander Freeman all game which could have to do with his sub-par offensive output which again failed to impact the game. Sealy clearly is a speedy winger that can easily beat defenders, hes also fearless in front of the goal and wont hesitate to shoot from a distance if it feels right to him. The less fun part about him us what he does when he’s not shooting or dribbling past defenders. As I mentioned last week, his first touch at times seems heavy which will lead to turnovers and his crossing ability is starting to become a liability to this team. They’re not crosses that are weak, instead they are way too strong and float above everyone which kills a play instantaneously. He was 1 of 8 in crosses and 0 of 1 in long balls with 2 shots on target and 1 shot off target, 0 of 1 in successful dribbles, 5 of 13 in duels won, and once again the most mortifying stat 18 possessions lost!. Last week he had 25 so there’s an improvement but it is still worrisome. Yes, I believe he has the tendency to hold on to the ball too long at times which causes him to lose possession. He did have a decent defensive performance with 1 clearance, 2 interceptions and 2 tackles and managed to keep Freeman at bay.
The child prodigy Hennadii Synchuk was lined up as a right winger and gave the home crowd the kind of excitement that they hadn’t seen since the Ignacio Piatti days (yes, I said it). And no, in no way, shape, or form am I saying that he will reach those levels, but he definitely brought that excitement. He was speedy, daring, creative, and up for any challenge that Orlando City threw his way to the point that he might have picked up a knock like Orlando did to who again? Anyways I digress. The team clearly wanted the ball to go to his side to move the team up field. He was 3 for 3 in successful dribbles, 7 of 10 in ground duels, 1 of 1 in long balls, 89% of accurate passes, and 10 possessions lost with 37 touches in 70 minutes. I mean these are numbers from an 18-year-old in his 1st MLS start and 2nd overall game coming back from an extended injury. He displayed flashes of what he can do with the right pieces around him, and no I don’t believe Dawid Bugaj is necessarily the piece you want to complement him with. He struts the field confidently and seems to bring a certain kind of confidence in his ability and game to the winger position. Oh, I’ve also been told that he already speaks basic French (enough to get him by in the field with his colleagues).
Midfielders
Has Samuel Piette lost his step? I know it’s not what the avid fan wants to hear, but I really don’t believe I’m seeing the version of Piette we’ve gotten used to seeing the past years. He is very talented at what he does, which is to play a defensive midfielder that connects the attack with the center backs but with very little distance between the two. On Saturday, it seemed like Piette was being asked to play a bit higher up the pitch than we had seen the past few weeks, and it was noticeable that this wasn’t his preferred role. He’s usually assigned to help Nathan Saliba to push up the field and do less running, but this time around it seemed like the roles were reversed and I don’t think it was the best formula to get the best out of Piette. Let’s be real, as talented as Piette is as a defensive midfielder he isn’t the speediest when coming back from the counterattack and has limited offensive creativity. For a team that needs more creativity in the final third, pushing Piette higher up the pitch was not the solution. What’s your solution Andy? Piette needs to be benched. And I’m not saying that as a punishment, but he needs to take on the role of an impact sub. Natha Saliba should be taking his role and allowing some for the more creative midfielders to do the work up field. Is that complimentary midfield in the current squad? No. Montreal will need to find a natural creative deep playmaker before this season gets out of hand. Piette ended the day with 82% passing, 3 of 4 long balls, 6 of 9 ground duels, and 10 possessions lost, 1 offside (which cost the team their only goal scored) and had a very strong defensive outing with 2 clearances, 3 interceptions, 4 tackles, and was dribbled past once.
Nathan Saliba was one of the only players on Saturday night with a performance worthy of praise. He was all over the field for the full 90 minutes and seemed to finally be getting back in the form that fans had gotten use to seeing him the past few season. He was assertive with the ball and made it a point to dictate the tempo of play. He even contributed a bit offensively, but similar to Piette it doesn’t seem to be his natural instinct. At 21 years old, Nathan Saliba needs to have standout performances every game if hes to take the next step in his career. Saliba finally played at the level he was expected to be at since the start of the season. He was place in a lower role which allowed him to focus on his defensive duties and building up from the back. These kinds of performances in midfield could be game changing, which is what we saw on Saturday, but I insist he needs a creative offensive minded midfielder that will take that pressure off that phase of his game. He finished the game with 1 key pass, 92% accurate passes, 0 for 1 crosses, 1 for 2 in long balls, 1 shot off target and 7 possessions lost with 59 touches in 90+ minutes. I remember a particular play in the first half where he dribbled past two Orlando defenders and left the standing surprised of the opening Saliba found between them and then he went on to pass the ball to Petrasso on the left. The point is the Saliba we saw Saturday night was a lot more confident and daring on the field. At this point, it’s all about consistency for him and clubs will start calling rapidly.
The Back Four
Let’s talk about the defenders
On the left, Montreal lined up Luca Petrasso who continues to show progression with every passing game. He won’t be your elite left back anytime soon but he’s learned to do the job very well and has shown consistent performances. His improving crossing ability is in full display as he was one of the only CF Montreal players creating opportunities with his very accurate crosses in the box. He’s also had a very smart defensive approach where he doesn’t place himself in risk of fouls. He chooses where to place his aggressiveness and on Saturday night chose to show it on the offensive end. He ended the night with 87% accurate passes, 0-1 crosses, 1-2 long balls, 6 of 7 in duels (!!!!), 3 for 3 in successful dribbles, and 10 possessions lost with 68 touches in 90+ minutes. His missed long passes and crosses were not entirely his fault because they were accurate, but no one had their finishing touches boots this weekend.
At left center back there was Joel Waterman back to his more natural position as opposed to right back last week. Waterman does his job right and defends properly which is what you’ve come to expect of him, but is he a game-changer? No. When we talk about the philosophy of CF Montreal, they are a club that prefers to develop talent and sell. But in the case of Waterman, who recently signed a new contract, he seems to be just fine with doing what is required of him as a center back in this role and leaving any improvisation to his partner. Waterman had some remarkable stops throughout the game and his importance to this backline was once again confirmed. This is not so much of a critique but a setting of expectations for the 29-year-old CPL product. He won’t be your solution to your problems, but he will do all the dirty work to help you get there. He finished the game with 1 clearance, 1 tackle, 2 times dribbled past (!!!), 0 for 1 crossing, 2 for 9 long balls (!!!), 1 of 3 in ground duels, 89% accurate passes, and 9 possessions lost with 71 touches. These stats show me someone that was kind of forced to push the ball forward at times and did not have much success connecting with his teammates. Not all his fault, but definitely makes you wonder if maybe someone like Fernando Alvarez would be a better fit in that role when you are pushing to score.
At right center back, there was George Campbell who this time could be seen playing a little higher up the pitch as we had seen a lot last season. This was a position that left the backline very vulnerable in 2024 and made it easy for opposing teams to go on the counterattack and score goals. It didn’t happen Saturday night (luckily) but there were moments again where Campbell could be found out of position running back to defense. Hes been performing excellently as a deep back who was solely focused on locking down assignments but there was more of an offensive push during this game. Campbell also has a very interesting vision from the back to create something on offense and seems to have quickly built a rapport with Synchuk on the right side. And if both can stay healthy this season, that side could turn lethal IMO. He clearly dominates the opponents when it comes to aerial duels clearly knowing how to use his body to beat out anybody that tries to get in his way. His stock continues rising and he is a player to watch until the summer transfer window closes. He finished the game with 2 clearances, 1 blocked shot, 1 tackle, 9 of 13 long balls (!!!), 4 of 7 in duels, 1 shot on target, 2 fouls, and 14 possessions lost with 104 touches. This right side will be something to keep an eye on how it progresses during this season. It could be a crucial part of CF Montreal’s success going forward.
On right back we had Dawid Bugaj having his first start since 2024. This was a sight of relief to see someone play his natural position as opposed to testing out a center back. Bugaj is a 20-year-old defender that has always performed underwhelmingly at his precious clubs and has found it difficult to find consistent minutes in Montreal. On Saturday night we finally got to see the kid from Poland for 87 minutes while playing in the most productive side of the game. Did he impress? No, not really. It felt like we were watching a player that had his head on a swivel and was watching the plays go around him. On defense he struggled to contain Angulo who was a constant threat with his ability to cut inside and on offense he seemed to not understand the flow of the game. I’m not saying this game is one and done for Bugaj, I still believe he should be given more chances to really prove his value especially in this new formation, especially given that there isn’t another natural right back in the team, so competition is thin. He finished the game with 2 clearances, 1 interception, 4 tackles, 1-time dribbled past (felt like a lot more), 88% accurate passes with 0 for 2 crosses, 4 of 5 in ground duels (!!!), 6 possessions lost with 41 touches in 87 minutes. Again, I don’t think his performance deserves a benching, but it was rough start and if the club really wants to see a return on their investment, they will need to give him more chances to prove himself.
Goalkeeping
Jonathan Sirois’ role has massively reduced in these past few weeks as he is being more positioned to play a defensive role instead of being heavily involved with the defenders and midfielders. Essentially, he is no longer a sweeper keeper which might be a relief to him as he’s never hidden the fact that this was a position he needed to learn and was slowly changing his style. During the week, soccer insider Cesar Luis Merlo reported that a new goalie is on his way to Montreal. 20-year-old Thomas Gillier on loan from Bologna FC which to me means there will be heavy pressure from the sporting side to develop him and make him a starter the next seasons. This is a very loud message to Sirois and his future with the club. Now more then ever Sirois needs to string in good performances with the club to give himself a shot with the Canadian Men’s National team as the World Cup inches closer. I fear that Sirois has plateaued with Montreal, and he might need a change of scenery for him to see his full potential (yes, similar to Maxime Crepeau and James Pantemis). In Saturday’s game vs. Orlando, Sirois played a decent game where he did his job to the best of his ability but again doesn’t impact the game more than his saves. Trust me, I understand we can’t take these saves for granted, but if this team wants to start creating more chances and increase their offensive output then it starts from the goalie position and Sirois has simply not shown to have that kind of ability to dictate the game from that end. I believe that he got an incredible ability to make incredible saves, in fact spectacular saves that has saved this team from complete collapses in season past. But now, when it comes to taking that next step and being an elite MLS level goalkeeper, Sirois still has a long way to go and there’s not enough of challenge in this current roster to push him to show the best version of himself. Sirois needs to improve, and he needs to improve quickly, most importantly on his long distribution.
The Subs
The most impactful substitute of the night was Caden Clark who came in to replace an injured Bryce Duke and the difference was remarkable. Clark brought instant energy to an attack that seemed fatigued after 45 minutes. He brought a tenacity that the front needed to challenge Orlando defenders and give them something to think about as they tried to come away with the upset, even with 1 man down. Clark has show that he can be creative and effective on and off ball that brings a different dynamic to this offense. The only problem is that it always looks like he’s a one man show, nobody in that front matches his energy or vision for that attack. His talent on the field is undeniable and he continues to show flashes game after game, but he simply isn’t a lone playmaker like some of the greats in this league. He needs help. This is evident. He needs a striker that understands his tendencies while giving him space to explore the spaces. Defenders are simply not scared of players like Duke, Owusu, or Sealy. When Clark is on the field teams are simply focusing their attention on him and not allowing him to operate freely since they know the rest of those players that I mentioned are not a threat. What Josef Martinez found with Clark last season was a match made in heaven. Two players that understood what the other wanted and performed it perfectly. Clark simply hasn’t been able to find that spark with any of the offensive players and in some sense seems to have regressed in his progress that we saw last season and has shown some heavy flaws in front of goal. He finished the game with 89% in accurate passes, 0 for 2 in crosses, 0 of 1 in long balls, 3 shots on target (!!!), 1 big chance missed, 2 of 3 ground duels, 4 possessions lost, 2 interceptions with 19 touches in 45 minutes. These are very efficient stats and someone that was clearly trying things throughout the game but didn’t have much to show for it. Benching him isn’t the solution but at this point its kind of hard to understand what to do with him because if you pair him up with the same players his confidence will start getting affected. No bueno for anyone.
Tom Pearce came in to play the last 20 minutes of the game to play as a left winger and he did very Tom Pearce things. Constant crosses into the box, good ones at that but to no avail as once again the attacking players were missing their finishing boots. It’s hard to really define what is going on with the Pearce situation. He’s a starter then a sub and then he’s off the game sheet for a few games and then he comes in for limited minutes and does the one thing he is know for. Is there the potential to see more from Pearce? Is that the only use he ahs for this club? Crossing the ball when a score is needed? We haven’t seen enough of him to really see what some of his flaws are because in past performances he’s simply done what everyone expects of him, cross balls into the box, take corners, and take free kicks. Those are not bad things to do but it definitely limits his profile at 27 years old. He finished the game with 5 of 5 accurate passes, 2 of 9 crosses, 1 big chance created, 0 for 1 in ground duels, and 8 possessions lost with 16 touches in 20 minutes.
Victor Loturi and Sunusi Ibrahim both entered at the 87th minute and didn’t impact the game much as they both came in crunch time where they either scored, assisted, or did nothing meaningful. Saturday night ended up being the third choice for both as Loturi finished with 80% passing accuracy, 0 for 1 in crosses, 0 for 1 in aerial duels, 2 possessions lost with 9 touches in 10 minutes. In case of Sunusi, he finished with 50% in accurate passes, 1 of 2 in aerial duels, 1 possession lost with 2 touches in 10 minutes.
Conclusion
All in all, it’s getting harder and harder to believe this team has the pieces to complete the puzzle and lead this team to earn trophies. The truth of the matter is that this squad is composed of pieces that simply don’t mesh together and don’t complement each other well enough to cover each other’s deficiencies and win games. If last year was supposedly a transition year, what is 2025? When did the transition stop? Or did we start a new one and no one got the memo? The transfer window closes on the 23rd and it’s crucial for CF Montreal to be active during that period before it becomes too little too late for this team to salvage their season. CF Montreal still came out with 1 point on Saturday night vs. Orlando but it’s not okay. Home games should be automatic wins for this squad, but they simply can’t seem to figure each other out. Every game becomes a must-win from here on out and that is simply undeniable. This a hole that this squad dug itself on and the coach and players keep saying that they just need luck and that they are “this close” for things to start clicking. Define “this close” Marco Donadel. How long do the CF Montreal fans need to wait to get there?
Andy's Impact Zone 
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