The Montreal Impact were oh-so-close to qualifying for the MLS playoffs in 2018, but they ended up missing out and had their season cut short for a second year in a row.

This was supposed to be a season of transition for the Impact under first-year coach Remi Garde. Considering how things started out for the club – earning just 12 points from its opening 15 matches – Montreal had a pretty solid campaign.

Early season injuries to the defence meant the club had to make emergency signings. In the summer, a deal to sign experienced forward Jimmy Briand fell through at the last minute. But despite all of its challenges throughout 2018, the Impact still came within one game of qualifying for the post-season.

However, now the preparation for 2019 begins, and there are some areas of weakness that need to be confronted. Here are the five things that Montreal needs to address this off-season.

Sign a goal-scorer

Perhaps Remi Garde’s best accomplishment of 2018 was guiding this team to within one win of a playoff spot despite the lack of scoring from the team’s strikers.

Matteo Mancosu, Anthony Jackson-Hamel and Quincy Amarikwa contributed a combined six goals. Saphir Taider, the team’s second-leading scorer, had seven. Fellow midfielder Ignacio Piatti was, by far, the top producer with 16 goals. He also collected 13 assists.

It’s not like the Impact didn’t try to sign a player. The Briand deal was imminent. His late demands in negotiations ultimately led to the transfer collapsing. Amarikwa was acquired from the San Jose Earthquakes shortly thereafter.

Amarikwa’s hold-up play is excellent, which allowed Piatti and Alejandro Silva to thrive in open space. However, when Montreal’s wingers were shut down and Taider had little freedom, no one else was able to finish scoring opportunities.

Piatti actually outperformed his expected goals, which is common for quality players. Golden Boot winner Josef Martinez was also very clinical in front of goal. But that only reemphasizes the need for a goal-scoring striker in 2019.

Bring in a faster central defender

Rod Fanni was a revelation at centre-back for the Impact this season, as he and Rudy Camacho formed a solid partnership after Zakaria Diallo tore his Achilles tendon.

However, Diallo is 32 years old and coming off a serious injury. Fanni will be 37 in June and isn’t very quick. Camacho doesn’t have much pace, either. This was a major weakness for the Impact when they lost their shape.

In the 5-0 loss to D.C. United on Sept. 29, Camacho lost D.C. United’s Luciano Acosta far too easily and couldn’t recover in time.

Both Camacho and Fanni were caught out in the second half of that match as well.

This was also the theme in the Impact’s loss to Toronto FC on Aug. 25.

Yes, the Impact lost their tactical shape and that left their centre-backs exposed. But one has to imagine that a centre-back who has quicker reactions would’ve dealt with the danger.

Montreal probably doesn’t need to look far to find another centre-back. Thomas Meilleur-Giguere was on loan with the USL’s Ottawa Fury this season and earned 27 appearances.

The only problem attribute for Meilleur-Giguere is his one-on-one defending. His body positioning is off and he was caught flat-footed at times.

However, he has the pace and reads the game well.

Remi Garde’s coaching staff can provide the necessary tweaks to Meilleur-Giguere’s skill set and find their centre-back solution in-house. Otherwise, there is always the international market.

Give Samuel Piette some extra cover

Few players were as influential as Samuel Piette for the Impact in 2018. He’s brilliant at pressuring the ball, recovering possession and starting counter-attacks.

However, because Piette goes searching for the player in possession, sometimes he pushes out of position and leaves crucial spaces completely open for the opposition.

Signing another deep-lying midfielder to shield the defence would allow Piette to push up on occasion without having to worry about leaving the defence exposed.

Tactical discipline

Remi Garde’s counter-attacking system took shape in June and was a major factor in the Impact’s upturn in form. But the aforementioned loss of their disciplined shape led to some lopsided defeats.

A full pre-season to enhance the system will be welcomed by the coaches and players. Now that Garde has a clear style implemented, it should mean that Montreal will hit the ground running in 2019.

Start looking at a Piatti replacement

Ignacio Piatti has long been linked with a return to Argentine club San Lorenzo. Back in May, Impact owner Joey Saputo even mentioned that Piatti wasn’t untouchable.

The team’s form dramatically improved after those quotes emerged, but even amidst another fantastic year for Piatti, the San Lorenzo rumours won’t die down.

Piatti teased a potential return to his former club earlier this month.

Piatti: "I want to tell the @Sanlorenzo fans that I will be at Leandro Romagnoli's tribute match. I am grateful that he invited me. I am happy to go back to San Lorenzo. Glad to come back to a stadium that offers me so many beautiful memories." — Juan G. Arango (@JuanG_Arango) October 17, 2018

Piatti: "I want to tell the @Sanlorenzo fans that I will be at Leandro Romagnoli's tribute match. I am grateful that he invited me. I am happy to go back to San Lorenzo. Glad to come back to a stadium that offers me so many beautiful memories." — Juan G. Arango (@JuanG_Arango) October 17, 2018

Perhaps Jeisson Vargas was signed for this very reason. The Impact might already know what will transpire at the end of 2019 with Piatti’s future. However, they need to increase Vargas’ workload next season so he will be ready to carry the burden, if that’s the plan.