Just read on FB Johan will be back as coach for the MC this yr
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And no qualifying points events at all this year.
All the players will be hand picked by Johan
Did he ever have an interview after last year's loss? I was curious what his thoughts were.
Johann was interviewed just after the MC, by American Billiard Radio.
He said “I feel lost”. He thought the team was not ready for the pressure. When asked if he would captain again, he was noncommittal. He said the Americans are spending their time gambling and playing too many bar box tournaments. Meanwhile the euros were playing 9 ball on 9 foot tables with top flight equipment every other week. Oscar echoed a lot of this in his interview.
Johann seemed to think he can have the team better mentally prepared next time, but he didn’t know how to fix the other problems.
http://www.americanbilliardradio.com/listen/
December episode
Interview starts at 4:40
... All the players will be hand picked by Johan
Yup. Interesting (from Matchroom's announcement):
"In a bid to return the famous trophy to American soil Ruijsink will employ a new selection policy for 2018. The Dutchman will select an initial squad of players to work with throughout the year before selecting his final five for London in the autumn. Ruijsink will name his initial wider squad in due course and players may join or leave the team at any stage prior to the final line-up being announced."
Yup. Interesting (from Matchroom's announcement):
"In a bid to return the famous trophy to American soil Ruijsink will employ a new selection policy for 2018. The Dutchman will select an initial squad of players to work with throughout the year before selecting his final five for London in the autumn. Ruijsink will name his initial wider squad in due course and players may join or leave the team at any stage prior to the final line-up being announced."
This is a very big positive.
If he's smart, Johann will measure the skills of each player in the key areas of the game as well as review the use of those skills in Mosconi Cups past: a) the break, b) pocketing, c) pattern play, d) defense, e) kicking/jumping and f) strategy and two way shots. He could then advise them of where development is needed. Those who don't do anything to develop the skills in which they are advised of deficiency should have it count against them when the final selections are made.
Making the players more accountable for managing their own development in areas of deficiency would be a new approach, an approach whose time has come. Displaying the exact same weaknesses year after year is a Team USA problem that, in my view, remains unaddressed. Team USA will have to do a lot more than shoot straighter to be successful.
Yup. Interesting (from Matchroom's announcement):
"In a bid to return the famous trophy to American soil Ruijsink will employ a new selection policy for 2018. The Dutchman will select an initial squad of players to work with throughout the year before selecting his final five for London in the autumn. Ruijsink will name his initial wider squad in due course and players may join or leave the team at any stage prior to the final line-up being announced."
Skills needed should include winning the lag and safety play.
Johann was interviewed just after the MC, by American Billiard Radio.
He said “I feel lost”. He thought the team was not ready for the pressure. When asked if he would captain again, he was noncommittal. He said the Americans are spending their time gambling and playing too many bar box tournaments. Meanwhile the euros were playing 9 ball on 9 foot tables with top flight equipment every other week. Oscar echoed a lot of this in his interview.
Johann seemed to think he can have the team better mentally prepared next time, but he didn’t know how to fix the other problems.
http://www.americanbilliardradio.com/listen/
December episode
Interview starts at 4:40
I thought Mark Wilson did something similar his first year.