USA have most dangerous team in years

OLD NO 9

OLD NO 9

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Nikos – USA have most dangerous team in years, Greek star warns European team-mates of American danger.

Greek star warns European team-mates of American danger
Nikos Ekonomopoulos has sounded a warning to his PartyPoker Mosconi Cup team-mates – USA will be the most dangerous they have been for years in Blackpool.

Having qualified through the rankings the Greek star will be playing in his second Mosconi Cup this December 1-4, having been on the winning side at York Hall in 2012, and he harbours fond memories of that tournament.

However, this time he is expecting a tougher Team USA than the one he faced two years ago.

“Playing at the Mosconi Cup in 2012 was the best experience I ever had in my pool career,” he said. “Playing at the York Hall in front of our fans was amazing and it was a feeling that is almost impossible to see in any other pool event.

“Ever since, my goal is to participate as many times as possible in my career and I'm very excited that I made it this year. I strongly believe that this year's Mosconi will be the best ever with a crowd so much bigger than previous years.”

“I believe this year's USA Team is more dangerous for us than previous years. It is a younger team and I believe they will bond better together, as in the past that was their weak point. After last year's result, they can only do better and they don't have much to lose.”

“I really like our chances. European level is very high and you can see that just by looking at the players that are not part of this year's team. Every year, no matter who is playing, we are bonding very well with each other and that is the key in such a team event.

“We have a great coach and some of the world's greatest players that give confidence to the less experienced ones. Whatever our odds though, we have to prove ourselves on the table once again.”
 
Van Boening – USA Are A Real Team Now
American star ready to avenge last year’s Vegas defeat

Shane van Boening says the ‘negative energy’ surrounding Team USA last year has been dispelled by new captain Mark Wilson, and ‘The South Dakota’ kid believes his team are ready to win back the PartyPoker Mosconi Cup in Blackpool.

America suffered a record 11-2 defeat to Europe in Las Vegas 12 months ago, triggering the appointment of Mark Wilson. He has taken full charge of every aspect of the team, including selection, and has been working with his charges throughout the year to build a side capable of securing USA’s 12th Mosconi Cup.

Van Boening is the only member of last year’s defeated side who travels to Blackpool and he is joined by Corey Deuel, John Schmidt, Justin Hall and Justin Bergman in the team.

The US Open and PartyPoker World Pool Masters champion says the squad has come together well and believes their positive energy will help land them the trophy next week.

“It is an honour to be picked to play the Mosconi Cup this year,” said Van Boening. “It will be my eighth appearance. I have been playing well all year so hopefully I can take that momentum and pass it on to my team-mates. The team has been playing well and I am looking forward to playing with the squad.

“I trust Mark. He picked the team and I believe that we have a great chance. The important thing is to have good team chemistry and play together and help each other out.

“It is important that we are working together and that is what Mark was looking for. We need to get along, play well together and have a good chemistry.

“The team chemistry wasn’t there last year. Some of the players didn’t get along, we weren’t supporting each other and we had a lot of negative energy. It will be different this year.

“We have new players and they have been playing well all year. Justin Bergman has had a good year and Justin Hall did well at the US Open. I am looking forward to playing with the new team members.

“The European team played well last year and they were dominant. I wasn’t really too happy about that but I think it will be different this year.

“All five members of Team Europe are playing well but my team, if we build the chemistry and get along, can overcome Europe and take the trophy home.”
 
Not looking forward to the never ending posts in january discussing why we lost and how as usual were a group of individuals instead of a team.. lol
 
trob said:
Not looking forward to the never ending posts in january discussing why we lost and how as usual were a group of individuals instead of a team.. lol
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That's the spirit, keep that positive energy flowing.

Go USA, GO USA, GO USA
 
I think the most dangerous thing about this team is that no one has a clue how this is going to play out because of the new dynamic and either new players to the MC or players we have not seen much of in recent times.

In years past Team Europe knew what they were getting for the most part. They knew SVB was dangerous and that he would require top play to beat, they knew Rodney and Archer were old school successful pros whose best years were behind them and that they would draw on old experience but not have that peak firepower they once had. They knew Earl had a huge gear but also that one miss at the wrong time would set him off and give their player the advantage.

This year Team Europe has two known entities they are going up against. SVB is of course going to be the same as always, a tough draw and require a peak performance from any one of them to get wins.

Corey Deuel is the older experienced pro who is simply not the player he used to be and Team Europe will aim to take advantage of his recent semi-retired state, but Deuel has a very good personal record at the MC and knows what to expect. Also despite Deuel not playing much anymore he is one player who normally shows strong personal belief in his abilities. This is a guy who can be pretty much out of the picture and then suddenly end up in the finals of the US Open, only getting stopped by a red hot Darren Appleton. Corey has a high level he can draw upon when he is feeling right and if he plays at that level he is as good as anyone on either team TBH.

With Schmidt they actually do not know what to expect. The guy is mostly retired from pro pool, but he has a high gear and loads of experience and knowledge in a vast array of different games. With Schmidt you have to wonder if the lack of competitive play will hurt him under the lights and pressure of the MC, or will he be shooting like a born again rookie with the feeling of "nothing to lose"? He will likely either play terrible or phenomenal and it will all likely depend on how he comes out of the gates in the early matches. Schmidt needs to do his best to keep his cool, if he shows emotion and the fans sense it and go after him to fan the flames he is doomed.

Bergman? He is a rookie, but one with a lot of battle hardened road experience and he seems to be champing at the bit for this chance to show the world his game and what he is made of. With his gambling experience I am guessing under the lights and pressure of Blackpool there is a good chance he will shock a lot of people who have never heard of him. BUT... this is going to be a whole new world of pool for him and we don't quite know how it will affect his game, elevating it to a new height or will it be too much? No one knows. I am guessing of all of the American players he will be a fan favorite for the Euros, he has that grinder, fighter spirit that the Euro fans taking a break from soccer brawling for a weekend appreciate.

Hall. Here is a guy that on paper should not really be there. He is not a major tournament player and is relatively unknown to the world. He has never been under the type of pressure he is going to experience there, has never really topped a major field to win or played in a TAR event like Bergman has to draw upon. How will he react? He is a complete dark horse IMO and may rise to the occasion but I am guessing this is a weak link that Team Europe will try their best to exploit. I am guessing he is going to be the personal favorite target for the fans in England, they always have one player they really go after and Hall has to do his best to avoid letting that take over.

It is a very interesting USA team and it can really go either way this year. In the last few years Team USA was a known entity and the weaknesses and semi-retired state of the team was known and obvious and they were the clear underdog. I still think Team USA is the underdog this year, but things are not quite so clear and this is more of a dark horse USA team that might have some surprises in store.
 
Celtic I don't find much fault in your analysis, but I think some of the Euros are well aware of both Bergman and Hall.
 
OLD NO 9 said:
Celtic I don't find much fault in your analysis, but I think some of the Euros are well aware of both Bergman and Hall.
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I think their being aware of Hall is actually a detriment. I do think that they will overall attempt to go on the attack with regards to Hall. They know him, but unfortunately for him he is the guy someone like Appleton or Nikos or Boyes would think themselves a favorite against if they drew him in the US Open or a regional event they might be attending. Hall simply does not have the wins to scare them as much as anyone else on Team USA, they know him, and they know what he has accomplished in pool for the most part (not a lot when compared to most of the players on Team Eupore). As good as he might be Hall is in some pretty stellar company going into this event, and his own resume looks to fall a little flat and everyone knows it.

With Bergman they are going to be more wary. Bergman has some big wins under his belt this year for quite a lot of cash and he is one of those guys that has shown he can get it done when the pressure is at it's highest at the end of a tournament when the money jumps get huge for each placing. Bergman has proven of late he likely belongs playing in the upper echelon events. He is a guy I have long thought should be getting out there into the international competitions and honing his game with the best in the world and trying to snap off a major event.
 
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Van Boening needs to lead by example, something he certainly didn't do a year ago, despite being the undisputed best player on the 2013 team. Shane is just 9-9 in Mosconi singles, and he needs to get out of his rut.

What's exciting about this team is the two young guys, Bergman and Hall, coming off rock solid performances at the US Open just over a month ago. Still, unless Shane delivers, their best efforts won't be enough.

I am not sure what to expect from Deuel and Schmidt, but with their experience, they can be steadying influences on the team.

As Shane goes, Team USA will go. Over the past two Mosconi Cups, we've seen Archer (2012), Feijen (2013) and Souquet (2013) all go undefeated in one of the events. That said, I believe Shane WILL deliver, and if and when he does, his teammates will feed off of it.

Team USA can win this. Will they? Tune in Monday. Can't wait!

Good luck to Shane, Justin B, Justin H, Corey and John. Go get 'em.
 
Its even money!

Im a gambler, I bet on gamblers, the team has gamblers..., I like their chances
 
Europe is pretty shrewd tactically LOL
Like the Presidential candidate sending his deputy or runner to talk up the chances of the other side to give impression that he is worried and feeling vulnerable. The mind games have started
One thing for sure as mentioned earlier USA is unknown quantity this year and a dark horse:)
 
After talking with Bergman I'm really excited I've never seen him so focused or in the zone like he is I think were gonna see some monster play from him as he feeds off pressure. And I have too say at the pre black pool event I got too see hall play in person for first time and the kid can flat out play I think he's gonna surprise some and john if he plays like he did at the pre party event were gonna be fine and see some amazing pool. GO USA :thumbup:
 
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