OT: USA-Belgium Poll

Who does Poch substitute in for Balogun?


  • Total voters
    14

RUChet

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2023
2,180
2,676
113
Poch has an important decision to make for Monday’s match vs. Belgium.

Does he replace Balogun with another striker such as Pepi or Wright and keep the same formation?

Or does he go with a “false 9” setup and put Tillman, Reyna, Pulisic, or somebody else there and substitute a non-striker in like Reyna, Zendejas, Weah, or Aaronson?

I’m leaning towards him going with false 9 and running the offense thru Pulisic.

My vote is he puts in Reyna as he’s gotten the most PT and Weah has performed poorly.

But, if he goes with a striker, I’d like to see Wright as Pepi has been a non-factor.
 
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UMRU

All-Conference
Sep 19, 2006
7,765
4,091
113
Why mess with a formation that is working? I think he goes with Pepi. Geo, in his limited minutes, has been rough (other than the killer goal, of course). He also is such a hothead - not what this team needs.
 

Krup062

Sophomore
Jul 2, 2025
128
159
43
Poch has an important decision to make for Monday’s match vs. Belgium.

Does he replace Balogun with another striker such as Pepi or Wright and keep the same formation?

Or does he go with a “false 9” setup and put Tillman, Reyna, Pulisic, or somebody else there and substitute a non-striker in like Reyna, Zendejas, Weah, or Aaronson?

I’m leaning towards him going with false 9 and running the offense thru Pulisic.

My vote is he puts in Reyna as he’s gotten the most PT and Weah has performed poorly.

But, if he goes with a striker, I’d like to see Wright as Pepi has been a non-factor.
I was really surprised how easily Pepi was pushed off the ball by Turkey, which is not as physical as some of the other European teams.

I would love to see him give Wright a chance. He has been thriving in the Championship, which if anything is more physical (while less skilled) than the Premier League, and would likely hold his own against the Belgium back line.
 

RUChet

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2023
2,180
2,676
113
I was really surprised how easily Pepi was pushed off the ball by Turkey, which is not as physical as some of the other European teams.

I would love to see him give Wright a chance. He has been thriving in the Championship, which if anything is more physical (while less skilled) than the Premier League, and would likely hold his own against the Belgium back line.
I agree. I did vote Reyna as I think Poch may go false 9 thing thru Pulisic or Tillman with Reyna in for Balogun but if he doesn’t, I think Wright gets his chance with Pepi as Super sub
 
Jan 10, 2026
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