MLS: Bush looking to make an impact after patient journey with Montreal.

A goalkeeper’s life can often be defined in black and white terms; goal or save, hero or villain and there is little room for grey on that scale. “You’re either patient or you’re playing. There is no in between,” says Montreal Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush.

The 29 year old has seen both ends of the spectrum during his professional career. “The majority of goalkeepers don’t play a ton when they’re younger and when you latch onto a starting role it’s typically hard to lose it unless you have bad performance after bad performance,” he explains.

That situation certainly applied to Bush early in his professional career as he struggled to become a starter. Sampling the duality of playing and watching in equal measure it bred a necessity for patience and maturity, as well as a willingness to see the bigger picture. “As much as I didn’t want to be patient at times the options weren’t always there to move on,” Bush says.

Operating with such perseverance can be hard for someone that has loved the game from a young age. He began playing in the local YMCA league as a child and mention of it it brings back fond memories. “It was full of kids that were picking grass and flowers but I didn’t care, I was just so excited to be playing soccer,” he enthuses.

When his parents tried to introduce him into another activity - swimming - he rebelled. With two older sisters that are keen swimmers it would be fair to think it ran in the family. “I remember they put me into practice one time and I swam one lane of the pool got out and said I am never doing that again,” Bush says laughing.

Dabbling in baseball, basketball and football (he was the kicker for his high school team), his first love remained soccer. Eager to play the game professionally in the United States he first tried to crack Major League Soccer. “D.C. United invited me into camp and a week in I figured my best situation was going to be as a third goalkeeper on the team,” he recalls. “I moved on from there and I went to a second division team and they offered me the chance to stick around but not as a starter. I went to Seattle [Sounders] and it was around the time Kasey Keller was there. No way I was going to get games ahead of Kasey Keller at that time. I didn’t want to lock myself into a situation with one of those teams where I was just there to be there.”

Instead Bush wanted to develop and test himself with professional matches and the pressure that came with them. After evaluating his options in Major League Soccer, he accepted he would need to drop down a level or two, which had its drawbacks. “Financially it wasn’t the best route to go as the second division at that time in terms of salary – this was six years ago – wasn’t great,” he explains.

Yet in making that financial sacrifice he gained something far more valuable. “I was in a situation where the team relied on me, the club relied on me, and I think it furthered my career more than if I’d just been in training with an MLS team,” he says.

It was beginning of what was a nomadic existence for the 29 year old. He played in three different states for four different teams between 2007 and 2011. However such was the fragile existence of clubs in the lower leagues at that time, Bush saw two of his employers - Cleveland City Stars and Baltimore Crystal Palace - fold. “I never thought to go back and get an office job,” Bush says. “If anything my ambition was to go back to college and become a coach. I was playing with house money at that point as I didn’t have many responsibilities.”

Even with such an optimistic outlook it was tough to ignore the obstacles. In early 2011 he was offered the chance to remain in the North American Soccer League with the Montreal Impact. A fantastic opportunity it meant time away from his then fiancée. “She couldn’t get a permit to work up there [in Montreal] with me. I told her that for what I wanted to do with my career if Montreal was a way to get there then I had to test it out as I knew they were going into MLS. I spent the first year in Montreal by myself then we got married that December and she moved up in January to be with me.”

Holding a strong bond with wife Colleen, breaking-up was never an option. “I think I had to keep it [the relationship] in perspective a bit,” he says. “When you play in MLS or North America you’re not making enough money so once you’re done you’re going to retire off it. You have to make sure that the rest of your life is still there when you’re at the end of your career. I didn’t want to throw away all my relationships to chase a dream. I needed to balance those things and I think I a struck a balance in that.”

However even with his partner beside him, life with his new team wasn’t always perfect. His first two seasons in MLS saw him play just 180 minutes as he conceded four goals. ‘Frustrating and infuriating’ is how he describes being second and at times third choice goalkeeper on the Impact roster.

Asked what has changed to facilitate his move to starting goalkeeper he replies: “I don’t think much has changed to be honest with you I just think I’ve been given an extended shot. I’m always someone that prepares myself regardless of whether I’m number one, two, or three [on the team]. Not changing my mentality of approach was key as it meant I wasn’t going into foreign territory.”

Now with a dash of stability to his life (Bush has been in Montreal for almost five years ), the Ohio native appreciates not every player is so lucky. “That’s the ongoing joke with [my wife] her and me,” he explains. “Every room-mate I’ve had has been traded or released and every friend she’s become close to has been traded or released. I’m still trying to find out which one of us is the bad apple.”

Asking whether his wife is banned from hanging out with Didier Drogba causes Bush to laugh, although it may be unwise to tempt fate. The Ivorian has been in scintillating form since arriving in Montreal. Contributing twelve goals, his overall play has helped push the team into the play-offs where they hold a 2-1 first leg lead against Columbus Crew SC.

However for Bush something else has stood out about Drogba. “He’s come here to win and win every week,” Bush says. “It’s never more evident than when we’re celebrating after a win. He’s the first guy to lead the cheers and unite the group. Once you see your most expensive player doing that everyone has to follow order.”

Eager to heap praise on the team’s star striker, he also notes the influence of interim head coach Mauro Biello. “I’ve known Mauro for five years and I know what he’s like as a person and that’s translated to who he is as a coach,” he says. “He doesn’t get too high or too low with things. He doesn’t show his emotions and I think that helps guys have confidence on the field and on the ball.”

That same emotional tranquility is evident in Bush and it comes through most when he talks about his journey to Montreal. Nothing is overstated with the 29 year old and you sense a maturity beyond his years that his teammates no doubt benefit from. “I try to be mature but I don’t always succeed,” he says laughing.

Now eager to continue his run in the starting XI and build something special in Montreal, Bush may have had to wait for his moment, but he seems destined to make the most of it.