The Montreal Impact continued to shape their roster on Monday, signing a player who is no stranger to the club.
The Impact signed Canadian international Patrice Bernier, a 32-year-old midfielder who previously played for the club from 2000-2002. Bernier, who was born in Quebec and resides in Montreal, will vie for a starting spot on the team.
Bernier had spent the last nine years of his playing career in Europe, plying his trade for clubs like Kaiserslautern, FC Nordsjaelland and Lyngby BK. He has also appeared 46 times and scored twice for Canada since making his international debut in 2004.
Per MLS and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
What do you think of Montreal acquiring Bernier? Do you see him earning a starting role?
Share your thoughts below.
Not sure it has much to do with inferiority as much as it does with the “draw” that USMNT players might have…
The 3 Canadian teams still have 16 US teams to play home and away. I also think it has more to do with helping US nationals get back home, even tho at times it seems like it lingers, the allocation order allows them to sign with the league 1st and then the teams at the top have a choice. Hell the ones at the bottom too, they just have to trade up?
…yawn…
If I understand this correctly the allocation order only applies to usmnt players not Canadian international players, but Canadian teams are inlcuding in the allocation order for former usmnt. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense unless they are mls is assuming Canadian internationals inferior?
As a Houston fan I think Hainault, while a tall dude who is fairly composed and OK going forward, is really too slow for the prime defensive directive. There were games like Chivas and KC he got his lunch eaten. From that perspective, I wish Boswell and he found homes elsewhere. We could move Taylor in with Cameron and sign some wingbacks. Though I personally think Ching is too far over the hill for us to bother — and would prefer mucho cap room to play with — if getting him back for a victory lap is the exchange for slomo Hainault, I could live with it (and we could fill the cap room in 2013). The fanboys in town don’t seem to realize the titles ended when the Boswell and Hainault moves occurred.
But that’s me. Kinnear I expect to be stubborn and to likely withhold Hainault at all costs. I think his hand may be forced as the season approaches, just as it was with some of his spring signees last year, eg, Oduro, Watson, Taylor. But until then he probably thinks Montreal can sweat.
X factor: what if Montreal deals Ching on? I don’t know what cap situations are like but maybe if they shipped him back Stateside away from the Bradley legacy, he has a tougher decision to make. Ching did go to Gonzaga, played in LA and SJ…..
Not a lot of options – Hainault has been mentioned already. Olivier Ocean, who is a leading scorer in B2 in Germany is another. The remaining francophones aren’t really up to MLS standard.
Wonder if the Impact fans will push the team to sign more local Francophones like the Montreal Canadien fans always want there team to do.
Saputo $ < Shanghai Shenhua $
Hainault? He’s with Houston right now.
Unless you’re assuming Houston will eventually cave and give him up to get Ching.
they’ve gotta have at least three, hainualt, sutton, and this guy.
Bernier > Anelka
But I guess it’s the same as American hockey teams with almost entirely Canadian and International rosters…
Starting role? Yep. He’s a stud for the national team when he wasn’t injured.
So now they have 2 Canadians out of the 22 currently on their roster?