I won’t argue that there’s a fine line between insanity and intellectual brilliance. Ha haOn the other hand, it was absolutely insane of you to suggest it.
Mosconi Cup Team - USA
- Thread starter dardusm
- Start date
David vs. Goliath, except David doesn't have a slingshot or a rock. On paper this is the worst mismatch ever in the MC. The only thing I can say is for Team USA to practice their lags to gain any little advantage possible. The second thing I would focus on is push-out strategy. Many games are determined by who makes the first ball after the break. That's about it, the only areas where proper preparation can make a difference. It is a very short race and anything can happen. Every once in a while a .750 will beat an .800, especially in a short race. My best guess is the final score will be 11-4. I hope I'm wrong.
telinoz
Registered
That is a sound prediction I feel.
I realize the USA vs. Europe angle but it's so obvious that we're outgunned that I wonder what happened to Barry's idea of a Europe vs. Asia match up. At least that wouldn't be a whitewash as this likely will be. Let's just admit it America sucks at world class pool. Only Shane can qualify as a World Class player. The rest of them wouldn't make Europe's "D" team. As Dandy Don use to say "Turn out the Lights the Party's Over." Jay's 11-4 seems about right to me.
i think they put "the reyes cup" on hold when the USA won two years in a row. known in europe as the kazakis years..
Europe has some crushers for sure. But anyone can win a race to 5. These team events are all about momentum and maybe USA can get hot.
I’ll certainly be making a sweat bet at some point though.
Europe has some crushers for sure. But anyone can win a race to 5. These team events are all about momentum and maybe USA can get hot.Windows WIDE open
I’ll bet America +6
I’ll certainly be making a sweat bet at some point though.
The chicken little, sky is falling bunch never acknowledges that EVERY AMERICAN on our team is more than capable of running a rack of 9 ball. This is not winner breaks where you might not even get a shot at the table.i think they put "the reyes cup" on hold when the USA won two years in a row. known in europe as the kazakis years..
Like Jay points out, win a few lags and even if you hold serve so to speak, you will be breaking for the win. Play a great pushout on a unlucky break and you never know. Styer just beat Europe's best player 9 (Filler) in the later rounds of a major tourney. Sky has beaten him several times in previous MC's. Earl has won more than anybody and still has a gear high enough to compete with most. SVB is the reigning World Champion.
Underdogs, yes. But I reckon our boys will show up and do us proud. Might even shock the world and win over some of the US fans that keep pointing out how terrible they are. GO U.S.A!
In my writeup of the 2018 Mosconi Cup, I reckoned that Team Europe had brought its "C" game. If they bring it again this year, Team USA has a chance. If they bring their "B" game, I don't think Team USA can win. I'm sure Team USA will make the usual mistake of featuring Shane more than any other player despite the fact that Skyler has outperformed him at the Mosconi year after year. If Team Europe brings its "A" game, we're looking at a massacre.
No doubt, we'll hear the annual cry of "anyone can win a short race," but the Mosconi is a marathon, not a sprint, and winning the race to eleven match wins is very difficult.
I'll go out on a limb and say that Earl will win a match in singles as well as one in doubles, but it won't be enough. I'm predicting Europe 11 USA 6.
No doubt, we'll hear the annual cry of "anyone can win a short race," but the Mosconi is a marathon, not a sprint, and winning the race to eleven match wins is very difficult.
I'll go out on a limb and say that Earl will win a match in singles as well as one in doubles, but it won't be enough. I'm predicting Europe 11 USA 6.
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Indeed so, sir.
This is very true. A few years ago when Sky jumped in the box and brought down Filler and after he won his 2nd MVP, , I felt it was a "passing of the torch" so to speak. I believe we would actually get a better version of SVB if he played fewer matches. He just seems so TIGHT at the MC.
I wonder if their is a correlation between winning the team point at the beginning and winning overall? The US side needs to get some rolls, or at the very least not have luck run against them.
This has been mentioned already, but the USA needs to win the lags. Breaking first is a big advantage in short races to 5 and alternating breaks. Then If the match goes hill/hill, having the break for final game is a blessing.
Oh... making balls on the break and getting a second shot helps too!
The one thing I will add to the conversation.... I think the USA would be greatly benefited by a soft table......The easier the better......Obviously team Europe is significantly favored and significantly better than team USA in terms of talent..... much the same way that Steph Curry is a better shooter than Nick Van Exel was....... So if they had a three point competition (a fairly difficult shot) Nick has really almost NO chance.... if they back up 10 feet behind the three point line and compete (a much harder/farther shot) Nick has NO chance because of the increased difficulty which will highlight Steph's advantage...... but.... if they have a lay up competition or free throw competition....... the easier shots obviously.... the skill level won't show as much (even though it still clearly exists).... and Nick has a better chance.... the easier the shot the more fluke luck, bad bounces, etc.... come into play.............
Obviously in my scenario, a normal cut table we have little chance, a really tough table our chances go down dramatically because their skill level will shine...... but on a softer table where run outs are easier and balls go in with less accuracy.. I think our chances to win go up.
I would also note, that yes, tight tables at time can get into anybody's head, and a weaker player may get lucky and win some games because the stronger player hangs some important balls (and nerves kick in etc)......... but with the team that Europe is fielding, I don't expect that to be the case, this is a really steady talented group. If they had brought Fedor instead of their weakest player, this may be the most talented team to ever play in the Mosconi Cup in my opinion.
Clearly, this is true. In fact, the pockets were like buckets in 2018. Here's an excerpt from a post I made in the thread about the 2018 Mosconi Cup.
if you looked at the TPA's alone, you'd think that the players at the 2018 Mosconi shot the lights out .... and you'd be wrong. These were the easiest conditions I've ever seen at a major pro event. For both sides, numerous balls not struck especially well were dropping and minor errors in position play could be more easily erased by the pocketing of some shots that would usually be considered chancy.
At the 2018 Mosconi, soft equipment erased some of the advantage enjoyed by the European cueists, who obviously were straighter shooters and better position players than their American counterparts.
My advice to Jeremy would be to have all his players work on their lag for at least an hour or two on the practice tables there. Of course as I write this the other side can read too. Second would be to spend time working on the best push out strategy after the break. The push out comes into play on almost half the racks! I wouldn't waste too much time working on partners strategy, just tell them to play like they are playing position for themself. If I were ever the Captain of the U.S. squad my strategy would be less is more. You can't teach someone to be a better pool player in a few days, no matter how much you try. At best you can show them one or two things that might help them during the course of a match, or not. My best advice is there now for everyone to see.
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midnightmark
Registered
What other countries ? NOT A FAIR COMPARISON . USA has 330M people. Germany about 80M, ENG about 65M people.
Remember Spain has RUIZ and Alcaide.
Poland has Zelinski and another guy who I can't spell.
OK SVB is solid. Oscar 2nd ? Maybe we should team up with CANADA. (John Morra)
Either way USA is falling behind. European team is scary strong.