Haji Wright has chance to find himself as starting striker

........yes. Yes he does.

Did everything you could do right today without scoring a goal. Did all that unappreciated stuff off the ball that I didnt see pre Qatar. Different player. Happy he didnt go to Dubai.

 

Like I said, it's quite amazing to finally see this team play with a 9 who can not only press some, but also win the occasional 50/50 ball and successfully hold it up. That makes the game a whole lot easier.

 

hmmmm. Didn't think he was that great TBH. 4 (or maybe 6) way open competition for sure.

 

"Great" is a great overstatement. He was consistently useful. That's not something that we've consistently been able to say about any of our 9s, though the picture is looking a lot better now.

But I still don't think there's a clear first choice if Balogun isn't on top of his game. There's a bit of a dogfight for who deserves starts, and who deserves rosters. There are more than three contenders who aren't all that far apart. Balogun, Pepi, Wright, Sargent, Vazquez, Pefok...

 

Pirate of the Caribbean Slander!

 

Wright was better than Balogun in both matches, for what it’s worth.
I was not expecting much from him as a sole nine but when the ball came to him, it stuck and allowed the team to progress. Balogun was poor in this aspect, not to mention I thought his runs were scattershot, but I digress.
And he did it with a defender all over his ass like a true number nine. I’m impressed.

 

We don't have international quality strikers but Haji may be as close as we get.

 

Haji made an impact, and had his first stent with the national team, in which he seem to fit. I agree it’s a four- or five-way race to the Copa. Balo, Pepi, Sarge, Haji, and maybe Vasquez. Gregg has a tough call when all are healthy. The ability of Haji and Sarge to play wide might give them an edge, though if rosters are 26 who know?

 

Haji played well. He didn't get a goal, but he did a lot of the little things that created space for others.

 

Scored again for Coventry today. 14th league goal, 16th in all competitions.

 

Wright's advantage over the other competitors in the US #9 race is the fact that Coventry City has been able to often slot him on the left and let him run and work the outside. This type of skillset is always going to be a useful option as a second striker in a one striker system like Berhalter's to crack a set defense in CONCACAF play, especially since he's 6'3" and comfortable with the ball and with physical play.

The role Eddie Johnson filled in 2013 was somewhat similar.

 

EJ was much more athletic and Wright is way smarter.

 

Not sure about smarter but much more skilled. GAM didn't start playing until 9 and it showed. He was mostly an incredible athlete. Had he been raised in Brazil at that time ...

 

EJ lack of soccer IQ was unique for a player of his level.

 

Haji Wright earned an assist in a substitute appearance on Saturday with a nice, low cross to Pepi in the final minutes of the match.



Despite being a peripheral figure at the Copa America - something that can happen in a 26 player squad that sees a group exit - Wright has had a successful year with the US.

In something that is meant to be a compliment, though perhaps a touch backhanded, IMO Wright in 2024 has moved ahead of Julian Green in the ranks of the least accomplished US World Cup goalscorer of the modern era. His World Cup goal and his 2024 Nations League semifinal contribution probably accomplished that by itself, but Wright's latest appearance points to his continued relevance with the US.

 

Wright is pretty much the #2 LW behind Pulisic unless Luca Koleosho commits... next would probably be Kevin Paredes.

 

Wright has scored mucho goals and played in better leagues than Green for years now?