Howard Webb: Video Review & PRO presentation - Montreal

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PRO GM Howard Webb

Via MLS and Montreal Impact Communications:

Montreal media covered a presentation by Professional Referee Organization General Manager Howard Webb on Sept. 29, 2019, as Webb discussed the progress made in the Video Review realm. Coverage included the following:

Pro Soccer USA: Howard Webb, PRO testing new VAR technologies with cautious mind: CLICK HERE

Radio-Canada: Howard Webb: Officiating improves in MLS (in French): CLICK HERE

Journal de Montreal: MLS aims at improvement (in French): CLICK HERE

Soccer Today! Podcast with Kevin Laramee and Duane Rollins: CLICK HERE

KAN FC LE Podcast: Table Ronde Howard Webb (audio): CLICK HERE

98.5 Sports: Review decisions, Impact, goal-line technology and more (in French): CLICK HERE

TVA Sports live interview: Montreal vs. Atlanta: CLICK HERE

TSN Radio live interview: Montreal vs. Atlanta: CLICK HERE

Q&A with former U-20 MNT defender Eric Miller of Montreal Impact

Former U-20 MNT defender Eric Miller

I had a chance to catch up with former U.S. Men's National Team defender Eric Miller, who was picked No. 5 overall by the Montreal Impact in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. Here is a snippet of what he told us at ussoccer.com:

ussoccer.com: How do you feel your MLS Combine went, and did that solidfy your stock heading into Draft Day?
EM: "I think the Combine went pretty well for me, personally. I think I might have actually boosted my stock a little bit there. I don't think I was incredibly strongly rated after our college season at Creighton didn't go as well as we would have hoped, and I think after playing fairly well at the Combine, I may have moved up a little bit on some draft boards."

ussoccer.com: Even though you did not play in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and had an injury in qualifying, what was last year like playing with that particular group?
EM: "The U-20 experience was still phenomenal. I played in games in the Milk Cup and Toulon Tournament against some really great players, and we had so many great experiences. The CONCACAF final in front of 55,000 fans, making a lot of great friends, and getting a jersey with my name on the back are definitely some of my personal highlights, but there are too many to name. Tab Ramos and the whole staff were so professional. I learned more in that 18-month cycle than I did in the rest of my career, probably."

For the full interview, visit ussoccer.com.

Here is our sitdown from 2013, when the U-20s were competing in the Toulon Tournament in France in preparation for the U-20 World Cup:

Fire roster untouched in draft

Justin Mapp -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Any concerns over losing a portion of the Chicago Fire's roster were put to rest as the Montreal Impact made 10 selections outside of the Fire's unprotected player pool during Wednesday's MLS Expansion Draft.

Former Fire midfielder and Impact head coach Jesse Marsch inherits a franchise that selected former Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching with the top pick in the draft. Despite reports that Ching said he would retire if selected in the expansion draft, the Impact took him No. 1 anyway.

The Impact's third selection was former Fire midfielder Justin Mapp out of the Philadelphia Union. Mapp started in 24 of 29 games this past season, tallying three goals and four assists.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Marsch named Impact head coach

Former Fire midfielder Jesse Marsch
-- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Former Chicago Fire midfielder Jesse Marsch was named the Montreal Impact's head coach on Wednesday as the team prepares for its first MLS season in 2012.

"It's an honor to be named the first head coach of the Montreal Impact in MLS," Marsch said in a release. "It's a great opportunity to establish something special. There are good soccer people in this organization that are committed to doing things the right way. My time in MLS and with the U.S. National Team exposed me to this game at the highest level. We will be committed to the process of becoming a winning team."

Klopas says Fire not focused on coaching search: With Montreal taking care of its coaching situation for next year and the Vancouver Whitecaps announcing this week the hiring of Martin Rennie, all eyes are on what the Fire's coaching situation will be for 2012. Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said following Wednesday's training that it is not even a topic of discussion right now as the Fire are looking to dig out of its last-place position in the Eastern Conference with a 2-7-13 record.

"We need to focus on the next 12 games and the [Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup] semifinal here," Klopas said. "Obviously that's our main focus. When that's over, then we'll look at the next step, the next thing."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.