John Porter
@forwhomthebell.bsky.social
Englishman writing about CF Montréal. Check out my blog about all things L’Impact: https://forwhomthebell.substack.com
Finally, here’s my take on CFMTL’s difficult 2025 season! No huge surprises here but it felt therapeutic to write! Here’s to better days ahead! #CFMTL
open.substack.com/pub/forwhomt...
open.substack.com/pub/forwhomt...
CF Montréal 2025: The Big Review
CF Montréal’s Annus Horribilis in Focus
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Finally, here’s my take on CFMTL’s difficult 2025 season! No huge surprises here but it felt therapeutic to write! Here’s to better days ahead! #CFMTL
open.substack.com/pub/forwhomt...
open.substack.com/pub/forwhomt...
Hmm… more coaching changes, reminicent of pre 2025 season under Courtois… interesting to see if Donadel’s eventual successor will be among the new staff! www.cfmontreal.com/nouvelles/cf...
www.cfmontreal.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Hmm… more coaching changes, reminicent of pre 2025 season under Courtois… interesting to see if Donadel’s eventual successor will be among the new staff! www.cfmontreal.com/nouvelles/cf...
A bad end to a dire season.I’m going to do a post season debrief on my blog and will boil it down to three areas:the biggest disappointment (player), the biggest positive (player) and Marco Donadel, is he really the man?In the meantime, interested to hear the verdicts of my Montréal comrades! #CFMTL
October 22, 2025 at 5:24 AM
A bad end to a dire season.I’m going to do a post season debrief on my blog and will boil it down to three areas:the biggest disappointment (player), the biggest positive (player) and Marco Donadel, is he really the man?In the meantime, interested to hear the verdicts of my Montréal comrades! #CFMTL
Woken up to the new club launch and looks like the new outfit is borrowing the name of the former Canadian Soccer League club, Montréal Supra (1988 to 1992). Clever use of heritage to draw in some of the original club’s fans I guess… #noussommesCFMTL
September 25, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Woken up to the new club launch and looks like the new outfit is borrowing the name of the former Canadian Soccer League club, Montréal Supra (1988 to 1992). Clever use of heritage to draw in some of the original club’s fans I guess… #noussommesCFMTL
So it looks like the CPL is finally arriving in Quebec. With the possibility of a team in Montréal, right on CFMTL’s doorstep, how do you feel about this, amis de Montréal? Is this good competition for attention or another headache for the CFMTL’s hierarchy ahead of a huge 2026 season? #CFMTL
September 24, 2025 at 6:28 AM
So it looks like the CPL is finally arriving in Quebec. With the possibility of a team in Montréal, right on CFMTL’s doorstep, how do you feel about this, amis de Montréal? Is this good competition for attention or another headache for the CFMTL’s hierarchy ahead of a huge 2026 season? #CFMTL
What a difference the following would make: a new DP central midfielder, an announcement of a proper MLS Next Pro team and the appointment of an experienced MLS coach. Without any of these I just feel we’re drifting, and drifting nowhere in particular. #CFMTL
September 22, 2025 at 9:34 AM
What a difference the following would make: a new DP central midfielder, an announcement of a proper MLS Next Pro team and the appointment of an experienced MLS coach. Without any of these I just feel we’re drifting, and drifting nowhere in particular. #CFMTL
Another poor result for CFMTL. These defeats are hammer blows to belief in the Donadel mission and the direction of the overall organisation. My gut still doesn’t believe in either… Another season of this would be unthinkable. #CFMTL
September 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Another poor result for CFMTL. These defeats are hammer blows to belief in the Donadel mission and the direction of the overall organisation. My gut still doesn’t believe in either… Another season of this would be unthinkable. #CFMTL
Been away on holiday in a very blustery but beautiful Norfolk and only managed to see #CFMTL’s highlights against St Louis. Didn’t look too pretty. How bad was it??
September 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Been away on holiday in a very blustery but beautiful Norfolk and only managed to see #CFMTL’s highlights against St Louis. Didn’t look too pretty. How bad was it??
When I’m not scribbling my thoughts about the mighty #CFMTL, I also write about French football. I was so pleased to see my short piece on Rennes’ away kit (2010-11) published in the latest @wsc.co.uk, a fantastic football magazine in England. Merci WSC!
September 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM
When I’m not scribbling my thoughts about the mighty #CFMTL, I also write about French football. I was so pleased to see my short piece on Rennes’ away kit (2010-11) published in the latest @wsc.co.uk, a fantastic football magazine in England. Merci WSC!
My late take on the TFC draw: frustrated about conceding so late and so soon after taking the lead… Argh!!! Overall, a decent showing though. The glimpse of Ivan Jaime was exciting, finally an attacking player with X factor! Im feeling a strange sense of optimism about next season… 🙏🙏🙏#CFMTL
September 4, 2025 at 8:53 AM
My late take on the TFC draw: frustrated about conceding so late and so soon after taking the lead… Argh!!! Overall, a decent showing though. The glimpse of Ivan Jaime was exciting, finally an attacking player with X factor! Im feeling a strange sense of optimism about next season… 🙏🙏🙏#CFMTL
Some big decisions being made at CFMTL! Waterman out after 6 seasons and Clark next out the door by all accounts. CFMTL comrades, what do we make of these moves?! Is this the shake up we need?? #CFMTL
August 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Some big decisions being made at CFMTL! Waterman out after 6 seasons and Clark next out the door by all accounts. CFMTL comrades, what do we make of these moves?! Is this the shake up we need?? #CFMTL
So, Vilsaint out and Longstaff in. Shame it never quite worked out with Vilsaint but his injuries were frustrating! Longstaff was a big prospect with Newcastle and was highly rated. Not the creative 10 we need though. Do we have the better deal? I think we do…. 🙏#CFMTL
August 14, 2025 at 7:24 AM
So, Vilsaint out and Longstaff in. Shame it never quite worked out with Vilsaint but his injuries were frustrating! Longstaff was a big prospect with Newcastle and was highly rated. Not the creative 10 we need though. Do we have the better deal? I think we do…. 🙏#CFMTL
Despite the loss the big positive was the determination and resilience shown despite being a man down. Gillier also looked good. I’m cautiously optimistic going into the Atlanta game but would like to see some thoughtful new player acquisitions to fill those problem areas (ie attacking midfielder)
August 8, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Despite the loss the big positive was the determination and resilience shown despite being a man down. Gillier also looked good. I’m cautiously optimistic going into the Atlanta game but would like to see some thoughtful new player acquisitions to fill those problem areas (ie attacking midfielder)
The final Leagues Cup was another disappointing affair. Again, it finished with CFMTL not getting what they deserved. Waterman’s ill-discipline is becoming a problem, maybe it’s a result of growing frustration around his and the team’s performances.Yet CFMTL still did enough to force pens #CFMTL
August 8, 2025 at 6:27 AM
The final Leagues Cup was another disappointing affair. Again, it finished with CFMTL not getting what they deserved. Waterman’s ill-discipline is becoming a problem, maybe it’s a result of growing frustration around his and the team’s performances.Yet CFMTL still did enough to force pens #CFMTL
I’ve been watching a rerun of Montreal v TFC from 2015 on AppleTV and it’s interesting to see just how much experience and quality there was in the team: Drogba, Ciman, Piatti, Oduro, Donadel, Reo-Coker, Bernier, Bush. Granted it’s ten years ago but what a difference! #CFMTL
August 4, 2025 at 7:20 AM
I’ve been watching a rerun of Montreal v TFC from 2015 on AppleTV and it’s interesting to see just how much experience and quality there was in the team: Drogba, Ciman, Piatti, Oduro, Donadel, Reo-Coker, Bernier, Bush. Granted it’s ten years ago but what a difference! #CFMTL
Disappointing result for CFMTL. I thought we deserved to at least take the game to pens. How did Owusu’s strike stay out?! Escobar definitely has a lot of promise, will be interesting to see how he develops. Game underlined how we really do need some experienced reinforcements though #CFMTL
August 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Disappointing result for CFMTL. I thought we deserved to at least take the game to pens. How did Owusu’s strike stay out?! Escobar definitely has a lot of promise, will be interesting to see how he develops. Game underlined how we really do need some experienced reinforcements though #CFMTL
Post Revs match thoughts: a very pleasant surprise away win! Revs have been struggling but didn’t see that coming with so many absentees. Superb team performance, big chapeau to Waterman in particular. Vrioni again a no-show… this guy owes us when he does get on the pitch #CFMTL
July 28, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Post Revs match thoughts: a very pleasant surprise away win! Revs have been struggling but didn’t see that coming with so many absentees. Superb team performance, big chapeau to Waterman in particular. Vrioni again a no-show… this guy owes us when he does get on the pitch #CFMTL
I wasn’t able to watch the Union game (not helped when Apple TV gave away the final score when I tried to watch the game the following day!). What did my CFMTL friends make of our performance? #CFMTL
July 19, 2025 at 7:39 AM
I wasn’t able to watch the Union game (not helped when Apple TV gave away the final score when I tried to watch the game the following day!). What did my CFMTL friends make of our performance? #CFMTL
Check out part 1 of my exploration of Montréal’s first pro football team, introducing Montréal Olympique! open.substack.com/pub/forwhomt... #CFMTL
The Short and Violent History of Montréal’s first Professional Football Team (Part One)
Montréal’s football love story began 54 years ago with Montréal Olympique, a short-lived outfit that grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons in NASL
open.substack.com
July 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Check out part 1 of my exploration of Montréal’s first pro football team, introducing Montréal Olympique! open.substack.com/pub/forwhomt... #CFMTL
Could we see the best version of Waterman soon with Campbell’s exit? Opportunity for him to step up as a leader for a team that needs direction. Hard to know where this takes CFMTL but I guess every game is a preseason now although that would be helpful if we knew who was coach next season!! #CFMTL
July 15, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Could we see the best version of Waterman soon with Campbell’s exit? Opportunity for him to step up as a leader for a team that needs direction. Hard to know where this takes CFMTL but I guess every game is a preseason now although that would be helpful if we knew who was coach next season!! #CFMTL
Thoughts post Orlando: a surprisingly good performance that got the draw it deserved! Synchuk was enterprising and Loturi was, again, immense with his work rate and energy. Herbers made a difference and Escobar also showed glimpses of promise 👍 I thought Waterman had his best game for a while.#CFMTL
July 15, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Thoughts post Orlando: a surprisingly good performance that got the draw it deserved! Synchuk was enterprising and Loturi was, again, immense with his work rate and energy. Herbers made a difference and Escobar also showed glimpses of promise 👍 I thought Waterman had his best game for a while.#CFMTL
So, CFMTL comrades, where does the club go from here?? Season over? Is this a preseason now for next year now? Personally think a new permanent coach needs to be lined up/secured asap. Need a more able coach to get something out of this squad/future squads #CFMTL
July 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
So, CFMTL comrades, where does the club go from here?? Season over? Is this a preseason now for next year now? Personally think a new permanent coach needs to be lined up/secured asap. Need a more able coach to get something out of this squad/future squads #CFMTL
CFMTL’s shopping list: a right footed winger, an attacking central midfielder, another defensive/box to box midfielder (can’t rely on Piete and Loturi all season long), a right back (depth needed), another striker (I’m not convinced we can rely on Vrioni) #CFMTL
July 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
CFMTL’s shopping list: a right footed winger, an attacking central midfielder, another defensive/box to box midfielder (can’t rely on Piete and Loturi all season long), a right back (depth needed), another striker (I’m not convinced we can rely on Vrioni) #CFMTL