I feel like the U.S always puts up Gorst and SVB up early against Europe's best players where it's 50/50 who wins and if they lose it starts to look terrible for America.
Most pool captains seem to have the convention to put out their best players first. When I played in a team if we knew our opponents were better we'd always put out our weaker players first, it's basically a free hit, let the opposition waste their best players playing guys that weren't likely to win anyhow. Then have our best players playing players they could actually beat. If your poor players cause an upset you can win, and even if they don't you have a good chance of getting a draw. Best way to play it when your outgunned IMHO and I'm always amazed the U.S never takes that approach at the Mosconi. Wonder if Johan will see the strategy differently.
My best guess is that Johan won't see it differently.
When the opposition consists of five players that are all formidable, it makes no difference.
Looking back, 2025 Team Europe consisted of:
Filler, the best 9ball player in the world
Shaw, the best player at the Mosconi Cup of this generation of players
Labutis, who had won the Hanoi Open weeks before the Mosconi and was in great form
Neuhausen, who came in on fire with second in Hanoi and first at the Peri
Alcaide, who always plays well at the Mosconi and who had won the Philippines Open weeks before the Cup
All of them were in great form, so the team did not have even one weak link. I don't think changes in the matchups would have made even the slightest bit of difference.
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