Idea's for a picking Mosconi Cup players for next year

[Slasher]

Send the ladies team

 

[benjaminwah]

The problem is complacency. $10,000 per player for the losers. Make that $0 and see who wants to play. Those will be playing for the right reason.

Ban DeChaine please!

Stop with the blaming the tables and the opponents. The scratches and missed shots are painful. These are fantastic players that just aren't playing fantastic. No sense of urgency. Go watch Johnny Archer vs Earl Strickland on YouTube. One of my favorite all time matches, like two young hungry lions going at it. They had that sense of urgency that these guys do not.

 

[Celophanewrap]

I think they should be picked based on an AZBilliards poll. That would be awesome.


Freddie <~~~ what could go wrong?

Trump would be on the team.

I may be wrong, but I get the distinct feeling that these guys aren't all friends. If you look at the Euros it looks like they all enjoy spending the time together. What if you picked 5 guys that are friends and have a chemistry. Maybe you don't all 5 of the best players, but you get the 5 that play best together.

 

[Arete]

I don't believe basic skills are the problem. The issue is the format and setting.

Do you really think the Euros do anything better than the Americans when it comes to basic skills? They execute better, have a better attitude and manage mistakes better in the cup format. Thats why they win.

You think Shane working on his position play or break will make him better at playing in the Cup? The problem is not that the US lacks technically skilled players.

I agree that there needs to be some method to select a final team from a pool of qualified players.

Awesome post!

 

[Bank it]

I think they should be picked based on an AZBilliards poll. That would be awesome.





Freddie <~~~ what could go wrong?

Clearly it's almost impossible to do worse than they are now, well unless they lost EVERY match. Just sad

 

[Bank it]

Yes, I think it's basic skills. Bergman needs to develop a better break. His break is not world class. Dechaine must address his weak defensive and kicking skills, which are not world class. Sky needs to kick better and pocket better if he is to succeed. All of these need to learn to utilize two ways shots the way Europe does. Fine players all of them, all capable of high finishes in top events, but they don't win those events because their skills are not comparable to the elite Europeans and Asians.

To me, decision making is a basic skill, and it is in this area where we are far weaker than Europe and Asia.

Europeans have slightly better fundamentals, but the edge is small.

Yes, Shane has little to work on, although his defense and tactics are only ordinary. Of course, his pocketing and breaking may be the best in the world. His patterns are better than they used to be, but they could be a little better still.

Through day 2, Team USA had more break and run games than Europe, but in the racks where both teams shot, we were manhandled, as our tactical play (defense/kicking/two way shots) is so far below that of Europe.

Yes, the gap in skills is a problem.

Interesting post, especially regarding decision making & execution of safety's. Stu do you think perhaps American players lag behind Euros/Asians in this regard due to their more offensive approach to the game? It seems to me American players are more likely to take risks, flyers than Euros/Asians who just play safe unless it's a high percentage shot. Similar to golfers who choose to try to clear over a water hazard by going for it versus laying up.

 

[Poolmanis]

European are used to have tournament structure Double Elimination/(last 16 or 32 or 64)Single Elimination. It makes players to play sharp.
Also it takes away a lot of risky play.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[Prey]

It is time for team North America versus Europe. :thumbup:

 

[ribdoner]

Interesting post, especially regarding decision making & execution of safety's. Stu do you think perhaps American players lag behind Euros/Asians in this regard due to their more offensive approach to the game? It seems to me American players are more likely to take risks, flyers than Euros/Asians who just play safe unless it's a high percentage shot. Similar to golfers who choose to try to clear over a water hazard by going for it versus laying up.

over the coarse of the competition they euros took as many, if not more, flyers than our guys, the difference is they made more

 

[garczar]

Regardless of who is chosen, they need to choose the team earlier and get them playing together on a fairly regular basis. Takes time to go from lone-wolf to teammate.

 

[realkingcobra]

I called it out before, and I'll say it again, it's the mind set of the players. Players that have a gambling mind set start out slower in short races than players who have learned to put everything they've got in the short races, that also causes them to fade in longer races when gambling, which is why they're not really known to gamble. It's the quarter horses against the thoroughbreds....only, it's a 200 yard race....not a mile or more!!!

 

[JAM]

I called it out before, and I'll say it again, it's the mind set of the players. Players that have a gambling mind set start out slower in short races than players who have learned to put everything they've got in the short races, that also causes them to fade in longer races when gambling, which is why they're not really known to gamble. It's the quarter horses against the thoroughbreds....only, it's a 200 yard race....not a mile or more!!!

There's a bit of truth to that.

 

[murdoc23]

Great event, great demonstration of skills. Here are just a few of my suggestions to make it even better.

- Get some qualifying doubles events.
- Team North America vs. Europe vs. Asia (Continent / World event)
- Modernize it to 10 ball rather than 9 ball.
- Play on a Chinese table? The really tight, snooker pocket table. (not sure what the proper name is)

 

[realkingcobra]

Great event, great demonstration of skills. Here are just a few of my suggestions to make it even better.

- Get some qualifying doubles events.
- Team North America vs. Europe vs. Asia (Continent / World event)
- Modernize it to 10 ball rather than 9 ball.
- Play on a Chinese table? The really tight, snooker pocket table. (not sure what the proper name is)

Instead of making all those changes....why not just say team Europe has to play one handed and team USA gets to use both hands!!

 

[sjm]

Interesting post, especially regarding decision making & execution of safety's. Stu do you think perhaps American players lag behind Euros/Asians in this regard due to their more offensive approach to the game? It seems to me American players are more likely to take risks, flyers than Euros/Asians who just play safe unless it's a high percentage shot. Similar to golfers who choose to try to clear over a water hazard by going for it versus laying up.

Tough to say, but.....

The second best tactical nine ball player ever (Efren obviously the best) was Nick Varner and, given how much success he had, it baffles me that no American plays the Varner style of nine ball. It does seem, as you suggest, that the US plays a more daring type of pool than both the Europeans and the Filipinos, but all the evidence in front of us says that this is not working. Guys like Jeremy Jones and Shannon Daulton play patient pool, and both are fine players, but they are both past their primes and my concern is for the younger American players.

The only player on the 2016 Team USA who is as disciplined as Team Europe and the Filipino players was Justin Bergman. Billy Thorpe plays that way, too, and his spot on Team USA can't come soon enough.

 

[hang-the-9]

What idea's do any of you have for picking the American team? I've put down an idea that I had. It will be interesting to see what Match Sports does for next years team.

Take the top 10 point finishers from the qualifying cup points events. After the US Open, have a Mosconi cup style event using the top 10 players to create 2 teams. One team will have seeds 1, 3, 5, 10 and 7 the other team seeds 2,4,6,8 and 9. Have them compete with one another in a similar format as the Mosconi cup. Everyone plays a team, singles, and double match. Winning players get a point, winning team gets a point, and winning doubles partners each get a point. The team that wins the competition gets an additional point. The top 4 will make the team with one Captains pick. You earn your way into the competition and those that cope the best will make the team.

Europe team, they pick the 6-10th best players.

US team stays as is.

Table should be 4.5 - 4.25 inch pockets, call shot, no jump cues, 9 has to drop last. That would make it more of a pro level game.

 

[realkingcobra]

There's a bit of truth to that.

Keith in his day had a better chance of picking off the winner of a tournament....than he had of winning the tournament then looking for who to play

 

[JAM]

Keith in his day had a better chance of picking off the winner of a tournament....than he had of winning the tournament then looking for who to play

There's definitely a whole lot of truth in that statement! :thumbup:

 

[strmanglr scott]

I've been watching a lot of MC matches over the last year. Something I never did before, just pro pool in general, I've been watching more.

The title of this post has an underlying claim, that who we sent wasn't our best. You guys know the players and system way better than me.

What I have come to learn, team Europe is more disciplined, know defense and use it far better, better cb speed and control and the obvious are better at making the shot.

They play a calmer more calculated game.

 

[dkleather]

I know this is probably an idea right out of left field but why not pick the five American players who are best at 9 ball on a 9ft table under the conditions the Mosconi Cup is played under.