Mosconi Cup 06 Predictions
- Thread starter Dazza
- Start date
Solartje said:i can agree with most of the things u said. europe is just a name. im not sure if they have any training at all together. if u play doubles etc u really need good communication etc. in the usa team, well they all speak englishbut in europe thats totally different. i just hope they have some group practices.
i think that a full german team would be the strongest. these guys just seem to have an endless amount of topplayers.
And they have a history of being able to walk in line.. the heads to the same side etc...
Definately USA. No question.
For Europe I think a German/Swedish/Holland team would have been the way to go. However kudos for them trying to get players from all around Europe a chance to participate. Not having Neils back was silly, considering how well he played last year. I never understood why Mika is the constant captain, when I always felt like Souquet seemed like the obvious choice. Oh, and one more comment about having a stronger UK team: you have to remember that the last time they had 5 UK players on the Cup team, they did win. Not that things haven't changed since 1995, but it is still a fact.
As far as America is concerned, I do have a few predictions:
Earl will cause a disturbance. YEAH!
The Rocket will be full of energy. YEAH!
Archer will spot a piece of lint on the floor from across the room. YEAH!
AND John Schmidt will go undefeated. YEAH! GO JOHN!
I love this format.
As far as America is concerned, I do have a few predictions:
Earl will cause a disturbance. YEAH!
The Rocket will be full of energy. YEAH!
Archer will spot a piece of lint on the floor from across the room. YEAH!
AND John Schmidt will go undefeated. YEAH! GO JOHN!
I love this format.
Solartje said:i can agree with most of the things u said. europe is just a name. im not sure if they have any training at all together. if u play doubles etc u really need good communication etc. in the usa team, well they all speak english
i think that a full german team would be the strongest. these guys just seem to have an endless amount of topplayers.
Sols, my friend, you do bring up a great point. Language is a barrier that the Americans do not have to contend with...except for deciphering Earls comments. Go Earl!
I like Europe this year. Any bets?
pharaoh68 said:
Oops, Where is Thorsten? Only the best player in Europe.
Snapshot9 said:
This is such a silly thing to say, I think Engert has over 40 Euro Titles alone, Van Den Berg finished in the top 5 of the 9 Ball WPC, 8 Ball WPC, and US Open last year. Majid has proved himself to be the No1 British player on the Euro Tour, winning his first Euro Title this year and was close to being ranked No1 overall player too.
jay helfert said:
It's funny how the Mosconi Cup is practically the reverse of the Ryder Cup isn't it. On paper Europe should be favourites in the Mosconi but the top players never all seem to perform well at once! Thorsten's record is poor (33% from 9 matches), Thomas Engert's record is very poor (20% from 10). I think that we should start accepting that just as with the Ryder Cup some players should be picked based on their ability to perform in that pressure cooker situation which is different to normal tournament play. Look at Tom Storm's 64% win record for example. He'd definitely be able to do a job for Europe again and Steve Knight has a decent record considering he played in 4 cups (including the 2001 drubbing that ruined every European player's average too). I'd love to see them both back one day.
Thanks,
Chris (Chrstc).
pharaoh68
Banned
TheOne said:If you follow the results in Europe and even the IPT you would probably come to a different conclusion.
Actually no. I wouldn't. You're basing your conclusion on the IPT results. Well, the featured game of the (former?) IPT is 8 ball which is lightyears easier than 9 ball. Now, I don't want to open that debate again as it has been rehashed on this forum many times over but, the truth is that on the whole, 8 ball is a much easier game which is way pros are more likely to string 5 or 6 racks together as has happened in many IPT qualifiers. JMO.
I placed a conservative bet on europe with the virtual bookie. Too close to go all in though.jay helfert said:
I think USA will win because for my money the Europeans have got nowhere near their strongest team out for this event, whereas the Americans look to have it about right.
It'd work much better with more players in each team - a true test of the depth of pool in both the US and Europe.
As for the debate on UK v European players I think a lot of you are unerestimating the potential of the UK boys, but it's an argument that we cannot resolve here. My opinion is that without the IPT the likes of Appleton and Boyes may well play a lot more 9-ball and will be forces to be reckoned with in the future of European 9-ball. I know who I'd rather have my last £10 on in Appleton v Alcaide that's for sure....
It'd work much better with more players in each team - a true test of the depth of pool in both the US and Europe.
As for the debate on UK v European players I think a lot of you are unerestimating the potential of the UK boys, but it's an argument that we cannot resolve here. My opinion is that without the IPT the likes of Appleton and Boyes may well play a lot more 9-ball and will be forces to be reckoned with in the future of European 9-ball. I know who I'd rather have my last £10 on in Appleton v Alcaide that's for sure....
I think Tony Drago would be just perfect for this format...
With or without Niels, Tony and Thorsten, I still go for Europe this year!
With or without Niels, Tony and Thorsten, I still go for Europe this year!
Roy Steffensen said:
Hello,
I'd love to see Tony play too. He was unlucky not to have been picked in 2003 having won the World Pool Masters and reached the semis of the WPC. These days winning the Masters guarantees you a spot I think (like Raj Hundal last year).
I really can't get my "ideal" European team down to 6! I'd want Oliver Ortmann as captain, Ralf Souquet, Tom Storm, Mika Immonen and Steve Knight, but then who to pick out of Thorsten, Tony Drago, Steve Davis, Marcus Chamat, Niels Feijen etc.
By the way I'd love to see a USA team of Kim Davenport, Jim Rempe, Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Corey Deuel and John Schmidt. All my fav US pros from various eras!
Thanks,
Chris (Chrstc).
I think the Americans will likely win, but hopefully it won't be a slaughter like last year. I will however, be rooting for the Europeans since I have a sizeable v-bookie bet on them. Unfortunately, team Europe has one of it's weakest teams ever
I can't believe Hohmann wasn't included yet Engert was picked, in Engert's last Mosconi appearance he didn't win a single match the entire tournament. Also, if you go through the history of the event you will notice that every year Ortmann was selected to the team the event ended up being a dog fight right till the end, I assure you this is no coincidence.
The best chance that Europe has, is that Earl will go off the deep end. The tournament is in Rotterdam so you know the fans will get to him I can't wait for this thing to start!
I can't believe Hohmann wasn't included yet Engert was picked, in Engert's last Mosconi appearance he didn't win a single match the entire tournament. Also, if you go through the history of the event you will notice that every year Ortmann was selected to the team the event ended up being a dog fight right till the end, I assure you this is no coincidence.The best chance that Europe has, is that Earl will go off the deep end. The tournament is in Rotterdam so you know the fans will get to him
I can't wait for this thing to start!
sjm said:
Well... the truth is that the european captain ( Johan Ruijsink) does not make the choices, matchroom does.
Speaking about Sandor Tot. I think he needs to win the WC or else they wil try to figger out a way around him. I think it's called arbitrariness.
Sorry guys but that's the way i see it... after being in the top 3 of Europe a few times he wasn't even invited for the World Pool Masters. I think they are afraid he doesn't look to good at tellivison....