If I was Mark Wilson... (mosconi strategy)

D

drv4

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Right now I'd focus on four things
1. The Break (duh)

2. The lag... alternate break race to 5, winning the lag seems like a huge advantage. My goal would be to win 4 of 5 lags a day with 3 being acceptable. I'd have players lagging 100 shots to start and finish every practice session and have them betting on lags every day.

3. Team Chemistry... again none of this is rocket science, but I'd be trying to get everyone to focus on being an underdog and embracing that role. Playing with an edge. Feeling like it's the 5 of them versus the world. I don't want loose and carefree, I want a laser focus, any shot could be there last shot to take in their career type edge. Make them feel like if they lose they aren't getting their 10,000 dollar consolation fee. When they win a match shake their opponents hand and then play it up to the crowd. Be cocky and confident. Respectful but with an arrogant American edge.

4. Lastly, but most importantly, I'd focus on winning day 1. I don't think we have won a session in the last three mosconi cups. We won the team match last time and were so close to jumping up 2-0 but fumbled away the first doubles match. I'd tell my team right now the order they are shooting in the team match. Then go sky and Justin in the first doubles match. Shane in the first singles, then Shane and Rodney in the second doubles. Then throw Dechaine in the last singles match. Tell him he's our anchor, he's our gun, be prepared for Feijen. Dechaine is a lone wolf, so let the lone wolf hunt for that last point. Tell Dechaine don't come back to the hotel without securing that point. I'd make sure everyone now knows the lineup for days 1+2 and tell them to start to visualize their victory.

C'mon team USA, this is the year we shock the Euros.
 
drv4 said:
Right now I'd focus on four things
1. The Break (duh)

2. The lag... alternate break race to 5, winning the lag seems like a huge advantage. My goal would be to win 4 of 5 lags a day with 3 being acceptable. I'd have players lagging 100 shots to start and finish every practice session and have them betting on lags every day.

3. Team Chemistry... again none of this is rocket science, but I'd be trying to get everyone to focus on being an underdog and embracing that role. Playing with an edge. Feeling like it's the 5 of them versus the world. I don't want loose and carefree, I want a laser focus, any shot could be there last shot to take in their career type edge. Make them feel like if they lose they aren't getting their 10,000 dollar consolation fee. When they win a match shake their opponents hand and then play it up to the crowd. Be cocky and confident. Respectful but with an arrogant American edge.

4. Lastly, but most importantly, I'd focus on winning day 1. I don't think we have won a session in the last three mosconi cups. We won the team match last time and were so close to jumping up 2-0 but fumbled away the first doubles match. I'd tell my team right now the order they are shooting in the team match. Then go sky and Justin in the first doubles match. Shane in the first singles, then Shane and Rodney in the second doubles. Then throw Dechaine in the last singles match. Tell him he's our anchor, he's our gun, be prepared for Feijen. Dechaine is a lone wolf, so let the lone wolf hunt for that last point. Tell Dechaine don't come back to the hotel without securing that point. I'd make sure everyone now knows the lineup for days 1+2 and tell them to start to visualize their victory.

C'mon team USA, this is the year we shock the Euros.
Click to expand...
Good game plan.

But...

Billy Incardona and Earl should be the captains.
 
There is no question that the lag is huge in these matches.i do agree 100 percent on them practicing these extensively.we look nonchalant lagging and the euros win (75 percent or so) and the matches follow suit. The lag is not that critical in races to 9or 11 and especially not that important in gambling "ahead" sets.but in these races to 5 they are the single most important part of these matches.
 
jayburger said:
There is no question that the lag is huge in these matches.i do agree 100 percent on them practicing these extensively.we look nonchalant lagging and the euros win (75 percent or so) and the matches follow suit. The lag is not that critical in races to 9or 11 and especially not that important in gambling "ahead" sets.but in these races to 5 they are the single most important part of these matches.
Click to expand...

It would be interesting if AtLarge had lag stats and stats on percentages of who won hill/hill games (breaker or incoming player) in the previous few mosconi cups.

I would have a Mosconi cup lag tourney this week with my players. Race to 5 lagging. Get them in the mindset that the lag is important and critical to winning.

Another idea is I would bring in some short stops/A players and have doubles matches with two mosconi team members versus a mosconi cup member matched with an A player (let's say 650-700 Fargo). We did well in doubles last year but this i feel like would make the person paired with the non-pro bear down. I elevate my game when playing with a weaker teammate. During the mosconi cup someone will miss some shots and not carry their weight and this will train the other partner to pick them up.

I dunno, I'm just thinking outside the box. This teams needs something to change.
 
Last edited:
With the high quality of players in the Mosconi Cup, there is no need to offer advice in the doubles matches. Discussion & suggestions just detract from the shooter's concentration, and consume the clock time needlessly.
 
Pacecar said:
With the high quality of players in the Mosconi Cup, there is no need to offer advice in the doubles matches. Discussion & suggestions just detract from the shooter's concentration, and consume the clock time needlessly.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. Really liked how SKy last year would tell his partners just shoot your shot, don't worry about me. Unless you have a history of playing with each other like sky and Bergman, just shoot, you can hit every shot.
 
There's really not much point practicing the lag on a table that different from what they will he playing on. I don't think they have access to a Rasson table so they are out of luck.

Mark Wilson's best strategy is to just let then play. There's really not much he can do to change the outcome so just help the players have a good time and enjoy the process.
 
BasementDweller said:
There's really not much point practicing the lag on a table that different from what they will he playing on. I don't think they have access to a Rasson table so they are out of luck.

Mark Wilson's best strategy is to just let then play. There's really not much he can do to change the outcome so just help the players have a good time and enjoy the process.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree. The TV table is always faster than practice tables, the point is to make the lag a competitive thing. It's a mindset.

I disagree that the captain has little affect on the outcome. Team Europe has had a plan every year. The laissez faire attitude just doesn't work. We need a specific plan.
 
BasementDweller said:
Mark Wilson's best strategy is to just let then play. There's really not much he can do to change the outcome so just help the players have a good time and enjoy the process.
Click to expand...

Yeah? How's that been working out for us these past couple years?
 
Mark jokes (serious joke?) that in the far east countries that take billiard training a bit more serious than we, Wednesday is Jump Cue day. I think that would be solid advice in training (maybe too late?).

Jump Cue Day
Lag Day
Bank Day
Break Day

Distracted by Chickens and Roosters Day...
 
drv4 said:
It would be interesting if AtLarge had lag stats and stats on percentages of who won hill/hill games (breaker or incoming player) in the previous few mosconi cups. ...
Click to expand...

Regarding lags:

2015 -- Cup won by Europe 11-7


  • • Each team won 9 lags.

    • The team that won the lag won the first game 9 times (4 by USA, 5 by Europe).

    • The team that won the lag won the match 10 times (4 by USA, 6 by Europe).

    • In the 8 hill/hill matches, the team that won the lag won the match 6 times (3 by each team), and 4 of the 6 were by B&R in the final game.

    The team that won the first game (8 by USA, 10 by Europe) won the match 9 times (3 by USA, 6 by Europe).

2014 -- Cup won by Europe 11-5


  • • USA won 2 lags, Europe won 14.

    • The team that won the lag won the first game 13 times (2 by USA, 11 by Europe).

    • The team that won the lag won the match 9 times (0 by USA, 9 by Europe).

    • In the only hill/hill match, Europe won the lag and the first game (by B&R) but lost the match.

    The team that won the first game (5 by USA, 11 by Europe) won the match 6 times (0 by USA, 6 by Europe).

2013 -- Cup won by Europe 11-2


  • • USA won 4 lags, Europe won 9.

    • The team that won the lag won the first game 6 times (1 by USA, 5 by Europe).

    • The team that won the lag won the match 7 times (0 by USA, 7 by Europe).

    • In the 4 hill/hill matches, Europe won all the lags and 2 of the matches (one by B&R in the final game -- 9-ball on the break).

    The team that won the first game (5 by USA, 8 by Europe) won the match 6 times (0 by USA, 6 by Europe).

So 13 matches have gone to a hill/hill game over the past 3 years, and the breaking side (winner of the lag) won 8 of those games.
 
I didn't think it was a big deal on the breaks, but damn the data makes the case.

Nice job Atlarge.

Ken
 
Am I the only one who thinks that the captain on the Mosconi Cup are just for the show?

I mean, what possible tip has Marcus Chamat to give to World Champions like Appleton, Feijen, Ouschan etc?? He just comes after every rack to say "nice shot!"...
 
AlienObserver said:
Am I the only one who thinks that the captain on the Mosconi Cup are just for the show?

I mean, what possible tip has Marcus Chamat to give to World Champions like Appleton, Feijen, Ouschan etc?? He just comes after every rack to say "nice shot!"...
Click to expand...

Matchroom would gain huge production value with Earl as the American captain.

Bad business giving Mark the job.
 
drv4 said:
Right now I'd focus on four things
1. The Break (duh)

2. The lag... alternate break race to 5, winning the lag seems like a huge advantage. My goal would be to win 4 of 5 lags a day with 3 being acceptable. I'd have players lagging 100 shots to start and finish every practice session and have them betting on lags every day.

3. Team Chemistry... again none of this is rocket science, but I'd be trying to get everyone to focus on being an underdog and embracing that role. Playing with an edge. Feeling like it's the 5 of them versus the world. I don't want loose and carefree, I want a laser focus, any shot could be there last shot to take in their career type edge. Make them feel like if they lose they aren't getting their 10,000 dollar consolation fee. When they win a match shake their opponents hand and then play it up to the crowd. Be cocky and confident. Respectful but with an arrogant American edge.

4. Lastly, but most importantly, I'd focus on winning day 1. I don't think we have won a session in the last three mosconi cups. We won the team match last time and were so close to jumping up 2-0 but fumbled away the first doubles match. I'd tell my team right now the order they are shooting in the team match. Then go sky and Justin in the first doubles match. Shane in the first singles, then Shane and Rodney in the second doubles. Then throw Dechaine in the last singles match. Tell him he's our anchor, he's our gun, be prepared for Feijen. Dechaine is a lone wolf, so let the lone wolf hunt for that last point. Tell Dechaine don't come back to the hotel without securing that point. I'd make sure everyone now knows the lineup for days 1+2 and tell them to start to visualize their victory.

C'mon team USA, this is the year we shock the Euros.
Click to expand...
Anyone else really like this dechaine "lone wolf" concept?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top