Klopas plumbs roster’s depth
Holds back Brovsky in favour of Pearce, brings in Bernier late
It
was a bold move by a new head coach. On Saturday, Frank Klopas kept left fullback Jeb Brovsky on the bench the entire game at Philadelphia. Patrice Bernier, a midfielder and the Impact’s captain, replaced Collen Warner in the 74th minute.
With the return of striker Marco Di Vaio and midfielder Andres Romero from suspension, Klopas now has some depth with which to work along with some options at his disposal.
At the same time, by failing to utilize two of the Impact’s stalwarts, the new coach clearly displayed who’s in charge.
“It was a tough decision to take as a coach, but for me that day ... you have to look out for the team,” Bernier said following the team’s lengthy practice Wednesday morning at Collège Marie-Victorin — a session that stretched beyond two hours.
“I can look back and say I’m not yet what I was last year or the year before. I’m behind, I won’t lie,” added Bernier, who’s coming off knee surgery and missed a large portion of training camp. “Of course, I’d love to go out there and play.”
Brovsky, like Bernier in his third season with Montreal, wasn’t made available to the media on Wednesday. For that matter, Klopas also failed to talk, replaced by assistant coach Mauro Biello.
“That’s part of being a professional and having to deal with different moments,” Biello said. “Sometimes you deal with moments that may not go your way. It’s about being strong in those moments, to continue to work hard and be ready when that opportunity comes again.
“Bernier’s a very important player on this team,” Biello continued, “someone who didn’t have a full preseason. We want to make sure he gets back to the rhythm and the physical capacity he’s accustomed to.
“We’ll continue to tinker and find the right formula for games.”
Brovsky was replaced by American Heath Pearce, the 29-year-old veteran who joined the Impact when it shifted its training base to Florida. Pearce has played in Major League Soccer with FC Dallas, Chivas USA and New York, but is coming off hip surgery last July to replace a torn labrum. He made his Montreal debut against the Union.
“It’s been really tough watching, but there was kind of a method to the madness,” he admitted. “Obviously, as much as I hate watching any game at any point, it was probably for the best to get my strength and fitness up to play out- side back in this league.
“It was frustrating but necessary.”
Pearce will get the opportunity to face his most recent team, the Red Bulls, when Montreal plays host to New York Saturday at
Olympic Stadium (4 p.m., RDS, TSN Radio 690). The Impact, at 0-3-1, still is seeking its first victory this season, but plays four of its next five at home, including two indoor games before, weather permitting, it moves outside to Saputo Stadium later this month.
Biello said the coaches addressed the upcoming schedule during Wednesday morning’s team meeting.
“It’s important to build this confidence, to get wins at home and start moving forward,” he said. “The first one is always the hardest. If we can get that first one, there’s a pretty good team here that’s ready to take off.
“We want to put our stamp on the season.”
The Impact, effective at home last season, was blanked, 2-0, by Seattle almost two weeks ago at Olympic Stadium, although Montreal dominated play, controlling the possession most of the match.
The cloud that has hung over this club much of the season, if not totally lifted, has at least shifted somewhat after the Impact’s come-from-behind 1-1 tie at Philadelphia. Montreal displayed its mettle in battling back and overcoming tremendous odds under cold, wet and rainy conditions.
Despite being down a man following the ejection of Andrew Wenger in the 75th, the visitors continued to battle, Di Vaio scoring the tying goal six minutes later. The Impact now hopes it can build on that momentum.
The players and coaches believe the character displayed in that match will augur well as the team forges ahead.
“To be honest, it’s the 75th minute, you take a red card and you’re down 1-0,” Bernier said. “Your confidence isn’t great and you’re telling yourself this is going to be a long 15 to 18 minutes. We fought through and got a goal.
“If we can play like that, 10 against 11, why can’t we play like that for 90 minutes, 11 against 11? I’m pretty sure we have a very good team that can tally points at home and get results on away trips.”
The upcoming stretch of games, according to Ber- nier, “can be something we build off, get some points, get some confidence. We’re in a period now where, if we do it right, we’re back in it.”
And if it doesn’t, the Impact might slip into a valley from which it never escapes.
While Montreal leads the MLS in shots taken (70), few of them (22) have hit the net. Creating opportunities is an optimistic sign, but the team lacks finish.
“We’re creating chances. Now we have to put the ball in the net,” forward Felipe said. “We’re a little unlucky, but I think everything will come.
“Marco’s come back. That’s going to help the team a lot.”