Impact, McInerney must sink or swim
Striker says being ‘ too comfortable’ could be behind Porter playing first
In many ways, Jack McInerney is beginning to discover, it can be both a blessing and curse to be regarded as a scorer in professional soccer.
“Sometimes you build yourself up and, when you don’t score for one or two games, everyone turns against you,” the 22- year- old Impact striker said following Wednesday’s practice at Olympic Stadium.
“That’s how the life goes. All I can do is get on the field and make up for it.”
It caught most people by surprise last week, when rookie Cameron Porter, a third- round draft choice, started over McInerney in the opening leg of the Champions League semifinal against Costa Rican side Alajuelense. McInerney dressed for the game but never left the bench.
And then, when the Impact returned to Major League Soccer action against New England — and although it was less than 72 hours following Montreal’s 2- 0 victory — McInerney again found himself on the outside. However, only 20 minutes in, he replaced Porter after he suffered a serious knee injury.
The team announced Tuesday night Porter had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, requires surgery and will miss the remainder of the season. Indeed at this point, there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready for training camp in 2016, the injury requiring nine to 12 months to heal.
While other options exist, including Dominic Oduro or first- round draft choice Romario Williams, it seems the Impact has little choice but to sink or swim with McInerney for now. In two games this season, including one start, McInerney has yet to score in 141 minutes. Indeed, Montreal is one of the few MLS teams still seeking its first goal.
McInerney reiterated Wednesday, just as he stated last week, frustration is starting to creep into his game. “When you’re not on the field it gets to you. But I’ve been through this before. Eventually, I’ll get my turn. I’ve learned that before. I need to take my frustration out on the field,” he said.
While McInerney undoubtedly is frustrated, he realizes he alone is at the root of the problem. He admitted his lack of intensity probably has played a part in head coach Frank Klopas’s decision to play Porter ahead of him.
“There’s been a bit of slacking on my part,” McInerney revealed. “Maybe it’s being a little too comfortable.”
McInerney was acquired i n an early- season 2014 trade from Philadelphia, where he had a goal and assist in four starts. He was brought in knowing he wouldn’t dislodge veteran striker Marco Di Vaio, but with the realization he provided a viable second offensive option. And when Di Vaio decided to retire following the year, it was assumed McInerney would inherit the role. Instead, those close to the team would argue McInerney has displayed an inability, for whatever reason, to capture the position. Porter, while still learning, was simply more effective.
McInerney admitted he had to push himself last season to earn minutes and might have become too complacent this year. In 26 games in 2014, including 21 starts, he scored seven goals and an assist.
“Right now it’s a little different situation. I haven’t been in a scenario where I thought I was the go- to guy. Maybe that’s some of the reason why I haven’t been performing. Maybe Frank just doesn’t feel I’m a good fit,” said McInerney, with 32 goals and five assists in 123 MLS career games.
“I never know what the coaching staff ’s thinking, obviously, with what’s happened before,” he added. “If ( Klopas) calls my name, I have to go out there and prove myself. But it’s out of my hands.”
If Klopas, who doubles as the Impact’s director of player personnel, has any concerns with McInerney’s level of play — or attitude — he has emphatically denied it.
“I was always happy with Jack. I’ve never been disappointed,” Klopas said. “He has worked extremely hard. He took the off- season seriously and checked in on a regular basis. There was never an issue.
“But with every game, we needed something different. It’s not that he can’t provide that. Sometimes players go in and out of form. It’s good to have depth, and it’s important the players understand. At those moments when we played Porter, he felt sharper. We needed someone who was better in the air, maybe physically much stronger at that time. Every game’s different.”
Even before Porter’s serious injury, Klopas claimed it was his belief the team required another experienced forward capable of producing offence. With the second window of opportunity in which to sign European players not yet available that, for now, would mean the Impact might explore trade possibilities within MLS — but only if it makes sense over the long- term, Klopas stressed.
Meanwhile, he believes the team has the necessary depth to remain competitive. Indeed, Montreal was missing Ignacio Piatti, Dilly Duka, Bakary Soumare and Justin Mapp, who’s already injured, against New England.
“It’s just Justin and Cameron. It happens with every team. Seasonending injuries are terrible for the players ... but we have depth on the team. We showed that the last game. It wasn’t all because of injuries. We rotated certain guys,” Klopas said.
“The nucleus of the team’s going to stay the same. We’re not going to rotate 10 guys. We’re not Real Madrid yet.”
Notes: The Impact has decided against loaning Williams to the Jamaican national team. ... Both Victor Cabrera and Andres Romero were kept out of Wednesday’s workout with bruised heels that aren’t considered serious.
I was always happy with Jack. I’ve never been disappointed. He has worked extremely hard. FRANK KLOPAS