He's capable and might play better after the break than Shane. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and welcome him back. If he doesn't make it, he doesn't make it.
Myself, I like a good comeback story and I will be rooting for him.
Bergman will play WNT events in 2026
- Thread starter SA96
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Myself, I like a good comeback story and I will be rooting for him.
Nobody cares about any of that at this point. Everybody deserves a second chance
No offence to you, but we didn't loose the Mosconi Cup because we had old worn out players. We lost Mosconi Cups many times due to inexcusable mistakes.
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
Agree 100%
We make inexcusable mistakes because our players aren’t of the same pedigree. Talent is honed and ours is left wanting by comparison. You practice to minimize your mistakes. They don’t just “happen to you”.
And to your point at this point he can't make it any worse!! We should lose with some new players, maybe the change might bring a win. Lets add Bergman and Josh Roberts, its time for something different.
Just curious about how many people say he is better than Shane after the break. Is that saying that if he broke better he would be world champion and a 5 time US open champion as well? If that was all that needed to improve in his game he should have done that years ago.
I'm a huge fan of his talent. I watched him play as a kid in the 18u championships against players like Morra. I remember him in action against Oscar in both of their prime and they were pretty close after multiple sets of 9 ball and 8 ball. Action is not tournaments and is a different mindset. When playing solid he's arguably the second best current US player, but we shouldn't kid ourselves as if the world tour players are that weak. I would take probably 50 guys over 800 fargo over him in a tournament. Kyle Amaroto is an 806 and I think he's a favorite over Bergman in tournaments and action as an example.
I'm a huge fan of his talent. I watched him play as a kid in the 18u championships against players like Morra. I remember him in action against Oscar in both of their prime and they were pretty close after multiple sets of 9 ball and 8 ball. Action is not tournaments and is a different mindset. When playing solid he's arguably the second best current US player, but we shouldn't kid ourselves as if the world tour players are that weak. I would take probably 50 guys over 800 fargo over him in a tournament. Kyle Amaroto is an 806 and I think he's a favorite over Bergman in tournaments and action as an example.
Didn't Frost used to bail on matches for off site action? The euros should post flyers with legit external action.
You can put me in that camp.
Justin often reached the late rounds at several major championships and got around to beating most of the superelite at some point, but his break was so weak that he couldn't beat the top guys in the late rounds. He was, in my opinion, the best American defensive player since Nick Varner and he kicked as well as anybody, too. As a tactician, meaning pushouts, effective use of two-way shots, and general downside management, he was also as good as anybody. His speed control was elite, too, as he was one of the elite one-pocket players in the world. His runout skills were elite, but a bit below those of Shane.
So, yes, I think if he'd had Shane's break in the days when a very strong break was enough, he would have won a few major championships. Still, it is a big "what if" when you ask what might have been if a very weak breaker had the best break in the world.
Developing an elite break is much more difficult than you suggest, and many that have tried and tried to do so have been unable.
It's anybody's guess whether Justin has these aforementioned skills after more than five years without competing at the highest level. As an outsider looking in, I'd say I hope so, but it seems unlikely.
Coaches and Captains are completely different animals.
The Broncos have a team Coach.
Ships have Captains.
Coaches are waaaaaaaaaaay better at handling one team against another.
Captains just tell you, and you do it.
I'd prefer seeing a great Coach.
Nick Varner in his youth had a great coach, not a great player help him evolve.
The red raider coached JJ in his youth.
The Broncos have a team Coach.
Ships have Captains.
Coaches are waaaaaaaaaaay better at handling one team against another.
Captains just tell you, and you do it.
I'd prefer seeing a great Coach.
Nick Varner in his youth had a great coach, not a great player help him evolve.
The red raider coached JJ in his youth.
To be fair to Tyler, this a huge fluke him playing so poorly
Ditto. Yes, he had a very disappointing Mosconi Cup, but one poor effort should not define him.
Other than Fedor and Shane, neither of whom won a WNT major in 2025, Tyler was the only American that medaled in a 2025 WNT major. He got bronze at the UK Open, including a win over Filler in the quarterfinals. If there are three automatic Mosconi qualifiers for Team USA in 2026, Tyler might well get the third one.
You're saying Bergman might play better than Shane after the break? In what universe? Ultimate Pool?
Cause it can't be 9/10ball on a 9ft table.
Idk man, Styer (791) just recently lost to (739) Jeremy Long 6-11 in a Matchroom 9Ball tournament.
If you're having a hard time falling asleep, I highly recommend watching Styer's pace around the table. Count how long each of his innings take without a shot clock in effect. It's excruciating and to me displays a lack of confidence.
Seems like he's having trouble shaking off those "flukes". Hopefully he can bounce back, but this is not the type of player that would thrive in the MC. He needs to speed up his game...A LOT. For himself, and for fans that like to watch pool.
At least I'll give credit to Bergman because he still thrives at Ultimate Pool with a short shot clock by speeding up his game.