Mark Wilson Stands Down as Mosconi Cup Captain

I don't know Mark from Adam, and he is probably a great guy. But I don't understand the people that say that he did a great job. The only thing that matters and how to judge something like this is by performance and the record of the team.

Here is something to think about. If individually we have players on the USA team that can beat any of the Team Europe players playing head to head in other types of tournament and gambling formats, then it appears that the coach did not properly prepare the team to play in the MC format. This is the simplest and most straighforward way that I can explain it.

Honestly, I could care less about how much the teammates high five and hug each other, as I feel that winning is the best way to improve the comradery. I guarantee you that if USA was winning, they would look like the best of buddies.

I think that a new coach might be the only way at this point that could possibly turn things around. IMHO
 
No Fault of the Coach Mark Wilson. The players we have had the last couple years are more than capable of Winning. They just played Horrible by Their Standards. If they played like they normally do i think we would have Won. They had plenty of chances this year. They missed 3 times as many shots i would guess. And Bad safety play led to other losses. I don't care what anyone says they are as Talented as any 5 in the World.
 
No Fault of the Coach Mark Wilson. The players we have had the last couple years are more than capable of Winning. They just played Horrible by Their Standards. If they played like they normally do i think we would have Won. They had plenty of chances this year. They missed 3 times as many shots i would guess. And Bad safety play led to other losses. I don't care what anyone says they are as Talented as any 5 in the World.
That's the point. If the players can beat the Team Europe players in other formats, then WHY are they missing shots and playing bad safeties only in this format?

EDIT: I think that in this high pressure format, a sport's psychologist type might help more than anything. And we all heard Mark say at the beginning of the tournament that they will, "Just try not to suck". I'm no psychology expert, but I would think that this type of attitude is exactly the wrong type of perception that the coach should be communicating to the players if they want to win.
 
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Next years captain does not matter, the players do.

It is past due that Matchroom admits the USA cannot do it alone and and least adds Canada to create Team America so that Alex and Morra can get on the team.

Team America would "still" be an underdog but at least they could have a chance of making the match close and a glimmer of hope in squeeking off an upset win.

You take off the USA's weakest link and add Alex, one of the best 9-ball players on the planet and you suddenly have a way stronger team and i think it may help SVB shoot way better to have a player like Alex in the mix who can share the "best player on the team" pressure SVB always carries into the event every year.
 
We can only hope that the next coach of Team USA presents American pool to the world with the class and dignity that Mark Wilson always did. Personally, I think it's a very tall order.

Thanks for all your hard work, Coach Wilson.

My thoughts too.

But I also agree, sometimes it isnt the coach but the system needs a change.

I cant believe that US cant dominate the Mosconi.

Ken
 
... They missed 3 times as many shots i would guess. ...

The ratio of misses was more like 3:2 than 3:1, i.e., something like 50% more rather than 200% more. But that result naturally leads one to ask why did Team USA miss more often. Did they just feel more nervous? Are they simply poorer cueists than Team Europe, with weaker fundamentals? Perhaps some of that. But, as sjm has pointed out so well, the culprits included relative deficiencies in pattern play and defensive play, leading to more difficult shots.
 
We can only hope that the next coach of Team USA presents American pool to the world with the class and dignity that Mark Wilson always did. Personally, I think it's a very tall order.

Thanks for all your hard work, Coach Wilson.

While for the most part I agree with you sir, meaning years one and two under Mr. Wilson, but those opening ceremony remarks of "trying not to suck" didn't exactly exude class or respect in my humble and patriotic opinion.
 
The problem is that each year, the team is different.

Also, the Americans don't seem to like each other. There's a lot of infighting, big egos, and jealousy. And some are just plain tired of the politics and want to shoot pool. Everybody wants to win, but they want to win it on their terms, not as a team.

The coach has already been chosen, and I can predict who it is just by reading this forum in recent times.

The power of the written word.


do we dare say JAY

Archer has greater name recognition, but he might be too close to the players and doesn't have Jay's experience, business acumen or managerial skills

Not to denigrate John, just comparing someone who, imo, would be very good to someone who would be very, very good.
 
We need a Marcus Chamat-type American coach -- not a cream puff, not a retired thoroughbred, and not a silent type.

We need a coach that the players respect.

First and foremost, though, we need a united team.

We need a coach that can get the team fired up.
 
If individually we have players on the USA team that can beat any of the Team Europe players playing head to head in other types of tournament and gambling formats, then it appears that the coach did not properly prepare the team to play in the MC format.

I'm not sure I disagree with the point of your post, but I want to single out this line. Do you really think this is true? Europe has Ouschan, the reigning World Nine-ball Champion; Feijen, World 9-ball Champion two years ago; Appleton, former 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, and Chinese 8-ball World Champion; Shaw, former World Blackball (8-ball) champion.

What tournaments, let alone World Championships, have any of the US players other than SVB won? Dechaine and Bergman are widely considered the next best (after SVB) US players - what have they won? A couple of $2500-added bar table events in the Midwest each year?

I think many of us are in denial about the state of our American players. They're simply not as good as the European players. Coaches, break rules, venues, none of it changes that basic fact.
 
I'm not sure I disagree with the point of your post, but I want to single out this line. Do you really think this is true? Europe has Ouschan, the reigning World Nine-ball Champion; Feijen, World 9-ball Champion two years ago; Appleton, former 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, and Chinese 8-ball World Champion; Shaw, former World Blackball (8-ball) champion.

What tournaments, let alone World Championships, have any of the US players other than SVB won? Dechaine and Bergman are widely considered the next best (after SVB) US players - what have they won? A couple of $2500-added bar table events in the Midwest each year?

I think many of us are in denial about the state of our American players. They're simply not as good as the European players. Coaches, break rules, venues, none of it changes that basic fact.
Fair point. I don't have access to all of the matches where a combination of these players ran into each other in recent tournaments, but I think that even Justin indicated after losing a match that he would play Mark Gray all games every day of his life, or something like that. It seems like the players would agree that it was the format that was the main problem.
 
Fair point. I don't have access to all of the matches where a combination of these players ran into each other in recent tournaments, but I think that even Justin indicated after losing a match that he would play Mark Gray all games every day of his life, or something like that. It seems like the players would agree that it was the format that was the main problem.

So he wants to play #5 on team Europe - at least he's smart enough to pick on last place(not sure how it would work out for him)
Jason
 
So he wants to play #5 on team Europe - at least he's smart enough to pick on last place(not sure how it would work out for him)
Jason
Errr, I though that Mark Gray actually had the BEST stats out of all of the players on his team during the MC? But maybe Gray's snooker form holds up better under this type of pressure...
 
Errr, I though that Mark Gray actually had the BEST stats out of all of the players on his team during the MC? But maybe Gray's snooker form holds up better under this type of pressure...

If you'd like Gray against the rest of his team you've got action
Jason
 
So he wants to play #5 on team Europe - at least he's smart enough to pick on last place(not sure how it would work out for him)
Jason

Bergman has already beat Jayson Shaw in a race to 80, of course he wouldn't be afraid to play Mark Gray.
 
Mosconi cup coach

This should not be a popularity contest.

The coach needs to understand the psychology of winning.
At this level, the players have the physical game - the mental toughness needs to improved.
A coach must be respected, and he must have a hammer.
I think the coach MUST be selected early- and have input (or awareness) of who will be on the US team.
The coach must get the team together for TEAM practice. Plus mandatory breaking drills (9ball on spot).

I've got a few thoughts on this.............

Mark griffin
 
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