very good post. from someone unbiased. and "spot-on"! interesting....
PL <---- biased.
An American disgrace
- Thread starter bowiebill
- Start date
very good post. from someone unbiased. and "spot-on"! interesting....
PL <---- biased.
I'm not sure that these two points make sense, because this year's USA team members are all extremely experienced in tournament play; they weren't just drawn from "the gambling ranks." Most of them may have done a lot of gambling in their early years in pool, but they all have demonstrated many times that they also have the mindset needed for success in tournaments. Nor do I see how shortstops would play better from a tactical standpoint. And are you saying Europe is using shortstops in the Mosconi Cup? I think not.
The real problem to me is that Team America needs to build toward something. In the end, though they meant well, I think Matchroom hurt America's chances by having the 2013 team chosen on something other than merit.
Team USA consisted of three players that are past their prime (Archer, Strickland, Morris) and one who has had two bad years in a row in competition (Hatch). Personally, I'm tired of praying that these guys can turn back the clock and find their form of days gone by.
The only positive is that the thirty year old Van Boening played fine and is now a year wiser as far as this event is concerned. Shane will likely be on at least nine of the next ten Team USA squads. ... but Team USA needs an infusion of youth, and, to be honest, I hope young guys who shoot straight like Justin Hall, Jeremy Sossei, Brandon Shuff, Jesse Engel, Billy Thorpe, Mike Dechaine, Hunter Lombardo, Tommy D'Alfonso, Dan Mastermaker and Skylar Woodward start to replace old timers whose days have passed. Once some of these guys play and get used to the pressure of the Mosconi, it will pave the way for the future success of Team USA.
America needs to build for the future if it hopes to be competitive anytime soon. I'll be rooting hard in 2014 for the youth movement, so America can start building for the future.
Nonetheless, if the criteria for making the team are stated explicitly and one or more old timer(s) play well enough to earn a spot, they belong on the team.
Team USA consisted of three players that are past their prime (Archer, Strickland, Morris) and one who has had two bad years in a row in competition (Hatch). Personally, I'm tired of praying that these guys can turn back the clock and find their form of days gone by.
The only positive is that the thirty year old Van Boening played fine and is now a year wiser as far as this event is concerned. Shane will likely be on at least nine of the next ten Team USA squads. ... but Team USA needs an infusion of youth, and, to be honest, I hope young guys who shoot straight like Justin Hall, Jeremy Sossei, Brandon Shuff, Jesse Engel, Billy Thorpe, Mike Dechaine, Hunter Lombardo, Tommy D'Alfonso, Dan Mastermaker and Skylar Woodward start to replace old timers whose days have passed. Once some of these guys play and get used to the pressure of the Mosconi, it will pave the way for the future success of Team USA.
America needs to build for the future if it hopes to be competitive anytime soon. I'll be rooting hard in 2014 for the youth movement, so America can start building for the future.
Nonetheless, if the criteria for making the team are stated explicitly and one or more old timer(s) play well enough to earn a spot, they belong on the team.
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Being Canadian and thus having no dog in this fight I would add that USA did not get the rolls. If you look at whole thing and count them off the table seemed to be rolling one way.
Did the Europe team play better...absolutely (it's always easier when positive things keep happening)
The Break was a fickle beast. Quite often when Europe didn't make a ball the USA had nothing. Go watch the whole thing. The ratio was off the chart. Europe was left with a lot of Cosmo racks after the break. it was freaky. Almost ball in hand shape.
When the Americans fluked a ball they had nothing positive to work from. Europe on the other hand almost always on the next ball.
In the end the balls know who is playing better. It's almost magic.
Did the Europe team play better...absolutely (it's always easier when positive things keep happening)
The Break was a fickle beast. Quite often when Europe didn't make a ball the USA had nothing. Go watch the whole thing. The ratio was off the chart. Europe was left with a lot of Cosmo racks after the break. it was freaky. Almost ball in hand shape.
When the Americans fluked a ball they had nothing positive to work from. Europe on the other hand almost always on the next ball.
In the end the balls know who is playing better. It's almost magic.
There is great truth in this observation.
reply to orig post
PRO's winning tourneys are different than short-stops or A+ winning. The latter bunch know how to grind, aka use tactical advantage.
Granted, I noticed the European team was getting the benefit of the rolls. Thing is: The matches weren't even close to consider the weight rolls played in most matches. TEAM USA was out classed! <----- hated to admit that !
Concerning the break,... that table was wikkkkkked !!!
You are right I did not state my point clearly. (most understood what I was trying to say.)
PRO's winning tourneys are different than short-stops or A+ winning. The latter bunch know how to grind, aka use tactical advantage.
sjm;4486388[B said:
Granted, I noticed the European team was getting the benefit of the rolls. Thing is: The matches weren't even close to consider the weight rolls played in most matches. TEAM USA was out classed! <----- hated to admit that !
Concerning the break,... that table was wikkkkkked !!!
You are right I did not state my point clearly. (most understood what I was trying to say.)
PRO's winning tourneys are different than short-stops or A+ winning. The latter bunch know how to grind, aka use tactical advantage.
Granted, I noticed the European team was getting the benefit of the rolls. Thing is: The matches weren't even close to consider the weight rolls played in most matches. TEAM USA was out classed! <----- hated to admit that !
Concerning the break,... that table was wikkkkkked !!!
Those are some good observations. I'm not sure I would say the Team USA was "out-classed"; rather, I'd say they were NOT PREPARED.
For a team event like the Mosconi Cup, the players need to bond as a team, and this did not happen with Team USA. As I have stated previously, the Americans seemed to look at this year's Mosconi Cup as a social event on their social calendar. Win or lose, they get paid.
The Europeans came to win. They bonded together, had good direction from their team captain, and came prepared to do exactly what they did.
For the folks saying that Mika, Darren, Niels, Ralf, and Karl can kick any American's put on a field of tournament blue, I say hogwash. Every single one of them has lost to an American. The difference between the Mosconi Cup and other competitions is that Team Europe, to their credit, had one goal in mind this year in Vegas: WIN! Team USA didn't have as stong a will to win because, if they had, they would have practiced together and been a team unit. This didn't happen, unfortunately.
Congraulations are in order fro Team Europe for an excellent display of team unison in the biggest pool competition of them all. Bravo!
After this year's extravaganza, I hope whoever is chosen the next time to represent America that they learn from this year's fumble. :wink:
Pathetic Shark
Banned
Those are some good observations. I'm not sure I would say the Team USA was "out-classed"; rather, I'd say they were NOT PREPARED.
For a team event like the Mosconi Cup, the players need to bond as a team, and this did not happen with Team USA. As I have stated previously, the Americans seemed to look at this year's Mosconi Cup as a social event on their social calendar. Win or lose, they get paid.
The Europeans came to win. They bonded together, had good direction from their team captain, and came prepared to do exactly what they did.
For the folks saying that Mika, Darren, Niels, Ralf, and Karl can kick any American's put on a field of tournament blue, I say hogwash. Every single one of them has lost to an American. The difference between the Mosconi Cup and other competitions is that Team Europe, to their credit, had one goal in mind this year in Vegas: WIN! Team USA didn't have as stong a will to win because, if they had, they would have practiced together and been a team unit. This didn't happen, unfortunately.
Congraulations are in order fro Team Europe for an excellent display of team unison in the biggest pool competition of them all. Bravo!
After this year's extravaganza, I hope whoever is chosen the next time to represent America that they learn from this year's fumble. :wink:
Man for man, Europe is FAR stronger. All else is mere delusion.
Pathetic Shark
Banned
Okay, I'll play. Yes, results do speak for themselves, Pathetic T.
