Coming off the first Major League Soccer playoff appearance in team history, The Montreal Impact have a new head coach, a new captain and are looking to build on their success. Cheap Nike Jerseys . TSN soccer analyst Noel Butler tells you everything you need to know about the 2014 Impact, while TSN soccer analyst Jason deVos tells you how they will succeed or fail during the new campaign. Noel Butler: Even with little turnover to the playing squad the off-season was far from quiet down Saputo Stadium way. In mid-December the Impact finally announced it had not exercised Marco Schällibaums option and that ex-Fire head coach, Frank Klopas would take over. Klopas inherited a squad of 21 returning players and by the time camp opened in late January that numbered had been enlarged to 28. Those additions included defender Eric Miller, who was selected 5th in this years SuperDraft. Then came the news Nelson Rivas had signed a new contract - the Columbian missed the entire 2013 campaign. Just before the club departed for the Disney Classic two more recruits were added. Attacking midfielder Andrés Romero, a player who showed much promise in early 2013, returned on another season long loan. Plus the club announced the signing of 21-year old Uruguayan striker, Santiago González. Bonus to those off-season moves evolves round two signings from last July. Hernán Bernadello, the clubs second designated player, was limited to only eight MLS appearances last season. Disrupting and orchestrating as he goes, Bernadello will sit in front of a defense which looked far from sure of itself during the pre-season. The other is central defender Adrián López, who is yet to feature in a league match. A torn ACL, occurring during a collision in training, ended the 27-year old Spaniards season. A fully fit López will feel like a new signing for the club. The move to hire as an assistant coach a defensive specialist, in Nikolaos Kounenakis was further enhanced with the announcement Alessandro Nesta had been added to the backroom staff. Nesta has officially joined as a consultant, tasked to analyze video. Much has been made of the fact Marco Di Vaio will miss the opening three matches. It could have been far worse. For most of last summer it seemed one of the leagues best performers in 2013 would not return for 2014 at all. Di Vaio will not score as freely as he did in 2013. Someone then who must shoulder more responsibility and finally return the faith shown in him by the club, is Andrew Wenger. Appearing in 24 league matches in his second season as a professional it still remains a complete mystery how the first overall pick in 2012s SuperDraft only tallied a solitary goal over that span. The 23-year old must display a more ruthless streak in front of goal. Berniers appointment as captain is the greatest testament any MLS club could make. A local product who commands the respect of teammate and opponent alike, Bernier reflects the very best for an organization entering its 21st season as a professional soccer club. When appointed, Klopas stated his philosophy has always been to look at the long run. Even in a league where parity prevails, only the most optimistic of the Impact faithful can realistically expect an immediate return to the playoffs this season. In a conference which includes the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup winners, then factor in the wholesale changes and upgrades in Toronto, there can be no denying Klopas has his work cut out to build on 2013s achievements. TSN Soccer analyst Jason deVos weighs in on how the Impact will succeed or fail during the 2014 season. Jason deVos: Montreal Impact will succeed if… …they find a partner for Matteo Ferrari at the back, and get goals from anyone not named Di Vaio. With the retirement of Alessandro Nesta (who has moved into a consultancy role with the club), Montreal need to find a starting centre back to partner Ferrari. Every indication was that this player would be Nelson Rivas, but his horrendous injury history has continued this season, and he looks unlikely to be fit to start the season. Wandrille Lefèvre has looked capable in pre-season, and he will likely get the first opportunity. If that fails, expect right fullback Hassoun Camara to slide inside. Up front, Marco Di Vaio is suspended for the first three games, due to his red card in the 2013 MLS Cup playoff loss to the Houston Dynamo. He will continue to score goals for the Impact, but it is supplemental scoring that is a concern for new head coach, Frank Klopas. No other player came close to hitting double digits last season, and unless that is rectified in 2014, Di Vaio will come under immense pressure to continue finding the back of the net. Montreal Impact will fail if… …any of their key players go down with lengthy injuries or suffer a poor run of form. The likes of Ferrari, Di Vaio, Hernan Bernardello and new skipper, Patrice Bernier must remain fit and available if the Impact are to succeed this season. The Impact have problem areas in their team - their entire left flank being one of them - and they simply cannot afford to have the spine of their team go missing. If any of their key players struggles with injury or form, there are very few like-for-like options available. The one with the most pressure on his shoulders is last years leading scorer, Di Vaio, whose 20 goals were the reason that Montreal made the playoffs. If anyone can handle that pressure, though, it is the Italian. If only the Impact could find another like him. 2013 finish: 14-13-7 (fifth in Eastern Conference). Lost to Houston in Knockout Round. Whos In?: F Santiago Gonzalez (transfer from Sud America). Whos Out: M Davy Arnaud (traded to D.C. United), M Paolo DelPiccolo (option declined), D Alessandro Nesta (retired), M Maximiliano Rodriguez (option declined), M Sinisa Ubiparipovic (option declined), D Zarek Valentin (transfer to Bodo/Glimt). SuperDraft: D Eric Miller (1-5), MF George Maliki (2-37). Fake Jerseys Online . The Thunder earned the Game 1 win with a 100-86 victory Saturday night. Oklahoma City dominated the first half and led by 22 at the break, but saw its lead shrink to just two points in the fourth quarter. Cheap Custom Jerseys . With the Pirates in the thick of the race in the NL Central, the timing couldnt be better. Liriano struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings to win consecutive starts for the first time this season and Pittsburgh beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Tuesday night. https://www.fakejerseyswholesale.com/ . -- Washingtons Bradley Beal seemed to make every shot he took in setting a career high with 37 points.TORONTO – The absence of Jose Reyes from manager John Gibbons lineup is forcing the skipper to do some less than desirable juggling. The star shortstops injury has been mitigated, somewhat, by the surprising offensive contribution of his replacement, Jonathan Diaz, but the bottom of the order remains subpar in an offence heavy division. Then theres the number two spot in the order, vacated by Melky Cabrera, whos moved into Reyes leadoff role. Colby Rasmus has occupied the bridge to Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion since Tuesday night in Tampa Bay. Hes off to a slow start this season with just two hits in 22 at-bats (.090), striking out at a 40 per cent clip (10 times in 25 plate appearances). The sample sizes are small and the Blue Jays believe Reyes will return on April 16, the day hes eligible to come off the disabled list, or soon after. Still, manager John Gibbons has considered something he did last year for part of the time Reyes was down, bumping up Bautista and Encarnacion in the lineup. "We thought about it," said Gibbons. "Right now we want to kind of split the lefties up as much as possible, as far apart as we can. Colbys had some success in that two-hole in the past. Right now, the way hes swinging its not ideal but, like I said, I think hes close." For his career, Rasmus has struck out in 24.2 per cent of his plate appearances. Thats not an ideal number for a top of the order guy and its why the Blue Jays, when healthy, dont use him there. "Hes going to strike out," said Gibbons. "Thats the kind of player he is. Hes going to have some strikeouts. But I think hes real close." "I dont ever like living with strikeouts," said hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, who says he speaks to Rasmus daily. "I think theres a way to patch things up, patch up holes and get yourself into a position with a mindset and an approach to where it gives you a better chance to barrel it up and not be vulnerable in certain counts, certain pitches, certain locations." It may surprise you to learn Rasmus has played more games batting second, 239 times in his career, than in any other spot in the order. It isnt close, either. Hes hit fifth 138 times, his second-most frequeent spot in the order. Cheap Jerseys. Rasmus former manager, Tony La Russa, often hit him second. Those two are linked for their infamous falling out, although that wasnt related to Rasmus spot in the lineup. Seitzer is working with him on an adjustment related to where Rasmus hands start when the pitcher comes set. Previously, Rasmus had been starting his hands away from his body, effectively out and over the plate. He now starts with his hands closer to his body. "Hes not comfortable with it because its new," said Seitzer. "He hit all winter and all spring and I kind of had to let him go with his thing, getting to know him and getting used to him and then seeing what happens once the season starts. Were working on making adjustments. Hes just got to get himself in good position to give himself the best chance." The hitting coach wants the player to see the adjustment through. "I dont care where guys start their hands as long as they get to their launch position in time, on time, every time. Thats the only chance you have to hit big league pitching," said Seitzer. HAPPS REHAB START J.A. Happ was scheduled to make a rehab start for the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays on Saturday evening, weather permitting. Happ is on the disabled list, back dated to March 26 so hes eligible to return on April 10, with back inflammation thats plagued him since early in spring training. ROSTER MOVE The Blue Jays designated right-hander Jeremy Jeffress for assignment after Friday nights game. The intention was to recall Chad Jenkins from Triple-A Buffalo. In fact, the Bisons had issued a press release to that effect. Turns out Jenkins isnt eligible to join the Blue Jays until April 10 because, as a player optioned to the minor leagues, hes required to spend 10 regular season days in the minors. In Jenkins place is Marcus Walden, whose contract was purchased and the player added to the 40-man roster. Walden, a 25-year-old right-hander, was a ninth round selection of the Blue Jays in the 2007 draft. To be clear on the option rule: there is an exception to the 10-day window for players recalled due to injury. Erik Kratz is an example. He was recalled when J.A. Happ was placed on the disabled list. ' ' '