Johan back at 2026 Mosconi Cup Healm

[Badpenguin]

Delusional. If that's the case, then ANYONE under Johan's coaching is exceptional. Nothing can prevent Tyler from dogging those 9ball's like he did last year. That's all his own doing, NOT lack of coaching.

Seems like you're trying to make excuses for last year's performance.

Hunter Lombardo under Johan's coaching is a world-beater I guess.

None of the 10 people who end up competing in the MC are really _that_ far apart in skills as far as shot making, pattern recognition, cue ball control, etc. They can all probably run 5 packs at the practice table on the MC equipment. Having proper mental coaching, discipline, and practice routines, that is a different story. People probably do perform much better under him. Gorst, for example, relied on him like he was his mother when he won his world championship. Even with his "perfect" fundamentals, Gorst was struggling and grinding because what goes on in his head. Performance can be dramatically affected by a good coach.

 

[jbart65]

Non-playing captains is dumb.

They are not captains, they are coaches, regardless of the title used. Coaches don't play in any other major sport, either.

 

[Kris_b1104]

None of the 10 people who end up competing in the MC are really _that_ far apart in skills as far as shot making, pattern recognition, cue ball control, etc. They can all probably run 5 packs at the practice table on the MC equipment.

I disagree. You can't convince me that Thorpe and Styer are close to Filler/FSR/Shaw/Albin in skill level and with enough coaching, can perform the same as them. They've been on the scene for over a decade and have yet to prove themselves of that type of caliber.

The only time I've ever seen Tyler run a 5-pack was against a 741. I've never seen Billy do it. So your claim is pure speculation. Billy's shot-making and cue ball control is worlds apart from the best Euro players. I will give Sky credit as I have him above the other 2 I mentioned.

And the MC isn't even about who can play the best on the practice table equipment or who can run packs, it's about who has HEART under the most intense, pressure-filled situations. And unfortunately, many are lacking in that department and succumb to the bright lights.

Sure, you can say Gorst relied on Johan for a period of time, but Johan can't make the balls for anyone. The player still has to perform.

 

[sjm]

And the MC isn't even about who can play the best on the practice table equipment or who can run packs, it's about who has HEART under the most intense, pressure-filled situations. And unfortunately, many are lacking in that department and succumb to the bright lights.

As somebody who attends nearly every Mosconi Cup, I do not agree with this.

What makes the Mosconi different from every other event is the screaming fans who are loud while a player is at the table, and sometimes even when they are over the shot.

Some have a very hard time adjusting to an environment in which they do not have the usual opportunity to concentrate on the job at hand. Others struggle to deal with the excessive negative feedback that must be endured from time to time. I'll put Gorst in this category. Fedor has as much heart as anybody, but that doesn't get you to the finish line at the Mosconi. The dynamic and the vibe are different than at any event in the history of pro pool. A couple of players that I've spoken with over the years how told me flat out that they found adjusting to the crowd situation to be very difficult.

The player who seems least affected by the boisterous ways of the Mosconi crowd is definitely Jayson Shaw, who is in the conversation with guys like Archer, Feijen and a couple of others for best ever player at the Mosconi.

 

[Kris_b1104]

As somebody who attends nearly every Mosconi Cup, I do not agree with this.

What makes the Mosconi different from every other event is the screaming fans who are loud while a player is at the table, and sometimes even when they are over the shot.

Some have a very hard time adjusting to an environment in which they do not have the usual opportunity to concentrate on the job at hand. Others struggle to deal with the excessive negative feedback that must be endured from time to time. I'll put Gorst in this category. Fedor has as much heart as anybody, but that doesn't get you to the finish line at the Mosconi. The dynamic and the vibe are different than at any event in the history of pro pool. A couple of players that I've spoken with over the years how told me flat out that they found adjusting to the crowd situation to be very difficult.

The player who seems least affected by the boisterous ways of the Mosconi crowd is definitely Jayson Shaw, who is in the conversation with guys like Archer, Feijen and a couple of others for best ever player at the Mosconi.

That's basically saying the same thing as I did, an intense pressure filled situation. Having heart in a tournament is different from having heart in an exhibition where all eyes are on you. The crowd participation is implied in the intense and pressure statement. It's the same on an amateur level where guys can play great in a tournament but start dogging it when they gamble and all eyes are on them.

The crowd situation isn't the only thing that affects the MC players, but it is a big component of it. Other things include the bright lights, being streamed internationally, the pressure of teammates relying on you, the pressure of representing your country, the short race to 5, etc. I can go on and on. Some players can handle it and others can't. But it's not just the crowd alone.

Sure, the finals of a WPC has a lot of pressure, but there isn't nearly as many variables at play like at the MC.

 

[sjm]

That's basically saying the same thing as I did, an intense pressure filled situation. Having heart in a tournament is different from having heart in an exhibition where all eyes are on you. The crowd participation is implied in the intense and pressure statement. It's the same on an amateur level where guys can play great in a tournament but start dogging it when they gamble and all eyes are on them.

No, we are not saying the same thing.

Heart is not the deciding factor in who can play when faced with the systemic interruption that is not found in any other pool tournament of the year. Crowd noise, which in the case of the Mosconi might be termed crowd sharking, does not add pressure but merely decreases concentration in a way with which some can and some cannot cope.

The crowd situation isn't the only thing that affects the MC players, but it is a big component of it. Other things include the bright lights, being streamed internationally, the pressure of teammates relying on you, the pressure of representing your country, the short race to 5, etc. I can go on and on. Some players can handle it and others can't. But it's not just the crowd alone.

Sure, the finals of a WPC has a lot of pressure, but there isn't nearly as many variables at play like at the MC.

I agree that Mosconi pressure is different, and the atmosphere is definitely different. but there's less pressure at the Mosconi than at a WPC. Play bad at a major and you don't get paid at all and you lose money due to your expenses. A guarantee of a $20,000 payday and expense paid for every Mosconi participant offers a safety net not found in other events. Also, the Mosconi is for those who have had a good year in competition, the ones who are less dependent on the $20,000 difference between winning and losing.

I strongly agree that the race to 5 format adds some pressure. The importance of every shot is magnified. For this fan, the short race format is the very best thing about the Mosconi.

 

[jbart65]

You can't convince me that Thorpe and Styer are close to Filler/FSR/Shaw/Albin in skill level and with enough coaching, can perform the same as them. They've been on the scene for over a decade and have yet to prove themselves of that type of caliber.

Thorpe is a cut below the top U.S. players, no doubt.

Styer, in my opinion, has all the tools to be a top 25-50 player globally. He does have great fundamentals. He tries his hardest. He is very conscientious.

I think he has fallen short on the mental side. His decision making is not elite and he sometimes tries to baby his position with disastrous results. Last year, he talked too much trash in the Mosconi presser, and the pressure got to him. He just needs to shut up, focus and play.

If he was the fifth best U.S. player, I'd be fine with that. What we need is Sky to play at the Mosconi like he did the last time Johan was coach, and to find that fourth guy.