MOSCONI CUP 2023 AZB Watch Party / Master Thread

The mental side is where Europe has the biggest advantage. Sure it helps the euro guys stay relaxed when they know they have 4 other world champions to pick them up if they stumble, but the US squad just folds far too quickly when things go sideways.
 
mattydrva said:
I agree. This time of year, with an occasional exception, I typically wonder if Shane could benefit from some sports psychology of sorts. Something is obviously awry with his thinking when it comes to this event or maybe it's all team competitions. I like to think his mentality is correctable and a coach/therapist more in tune with the mental side of performance could really help. I just don't know how receptive he would be to honest feedback and mental adjustments.

Watching him deliver time and time again under the brightest lights in other tournaments over the many years of excellence it is clear he has immense drive, focus and confidence. He can really rise to the occasion and bring some unreal pool when it counts like few others, excluding Mosconi Cup obviously. That is what makes this so frustrating and confusing. I can't think of a single parallel to his performance issues at MC in other sports.

I'd be pretty surprised if anyone has sat him down with regard to negative body language and its affects on a team. I don't feel his level of negativity (grimacing, slouching, uncommunicativeness, etc., etc.) should be tolerated and somebody should confront him on that though given his status doubt anyone has. Oh well, I still love his game and hope this generational talent figures this (MC performance anxiety) out one day.

Vent over. Let's Go USA!
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I'm telling you...he's an immense introvert....not built for team play.
 
smoochie said:
Europe gets most of the rolls, its truth.....
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That's pool! When you are outplaying your opponent you, on average, get more rolls than them because you are intuitively and instinctively playing two way shots better (most shots in 9 Ball have a two way aspect although this becomes more and more second nature as you improve to the extent that the best players don't consciously think about it). When you are in a slump you get the bad rolls because you are over thinking things compared to your opponents. This is one reason why it's so hard to get out of a slump and you need a few rolls against the tide to turn things around.
 
jalapus logan said:
There is almost certainly no pool player alive that has not experienced exactly this. We've witnessed even pros miss with ball in hand for instance. It happened to SVB yesterday and we will see it time and time again...bet.
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Then you have Filler playing like it's easy. Making balls from everwhere.
 
Did team USA deserve that beating?

As the WPA would say they earned that beating or penalty.
 
justnum said:
Did team USA deserve that beating?

As the WPA would say they earned that beating or penalty.
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Hard to believe Gorst couldn’t get out from where he was in the hill-hill game vs FSR. Not sure what he was thinking from the 6 to the 7 but he just didn’t stroke it.
 
BasementDweller said:
Call me crazy but the whole thing could have turned out differently if Shane doesn't dog that first 9 ball. Even piddly amateur events have this same dynamic -- little mistakes snowball quickly and the thing that snowballs the quickest is the pressure. While one side feels all the pressure building the other side is having the time of their lives. That's actually why I love amateur team events.

Anyway, we would have still been underdogs but 11-8 or 11-9 could have happened.
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I said that early one and agree 100%. That nine ball short circuited Shane's brain and hurt the team who had to watch Team euro smirk and laugh.
 
Hungarian said:
I said that early one and agree 100%. That nine ball short circuited Shane's brain and hurt the team who had to watch Team euro smirk and laugh.
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If it takes something that small to crush them and not have them being able to come back from that...it doesn't say much to their initial confidence. They're professionals, they know all too well to put the misses behind them.
 
ChrisinNC said:
Hard to believe Gorst couldn’t get out from where he was in the hill-hill game vs FSR. Not sure what he was thinking from the 6 to the 7 but he just didn’t stroke it.
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Fedor's Pyramid background might not have the same type of crowds as a US nineball match. Playing for a government mandated coach is a different type of development than a family owned billiard room.

Charlie Williams for Team USA coach. Tell Thor to ask Emily. South Koreans need a face.

His time on the US bar table scene is tame compared to Mosconi.


And he is starting a youtube, a new room and ...

Fedor needs a vacation. Let him lose gracefully. Charlie would know what to do with Fedor.
 
I know US is outplayed....but can't we get one good roll?
Pool is the most brutal game.
Least 3 of 7 wins by Europe on rolls.
 
ChrisinNC said:
Hard to believe Gorst couldn’t get out from where he was in the hill-hill game vs FSR. Not sure what he was thinking from the 6 to the 7 but he just didn’t stroke it.
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I called him an idiot on the first match and every one was crying. I continued to call him an idiot.

Then he proved me right.
 
This is probably the worst era of pool in our history. They have a hard time running out. It’s like wait they will miss and they end up doing it.

The Euros have actual pros. What I remember of past players for the USA. With the Euros it’s like wait watch him run out.
 
The lack of safety play and defense is hurting these guys. They don’t know what to do when it happens to them. I see it a lot in pool rooms too when every other player has a jump cue. Rarely you have safety battles or guys knowing how to kick.

I had a safety battle with a very good player the other night and he said he enjoyed it.

Young players are just so robotic. Make a ball on the break and go from there.
 
Tarheel said:
I think the junior pool scene in the US is stronger than it’s been in several years. Hopefully the money will increase to the point it’s actually a viable career. I’m hopeful.
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Eyeballs are needed.
Every one of us, especially the players, need to use their social media and post constantly, and if they don’t have the time, they need someone on it for them.
Money (sponsors) won’t come unless people are watching.
 
shooter_Hans said:
We lost our hearts. No such thing as American pride.

Just look at our country.

These clowns don't care. It's another weekly tournament to them.

Can someone look up how much they are getting paid for this?
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Hey!
Firstly, how about some respect?

They aren’t “clowns”.
Just because you’re frustrated, or are betting on them, it doesn’t justify you knocking them.

Team USA won in 2009 and then proceeded to lose for 9 years until they won back-to-back.

They have won.
They can win.
You might want to be more than a fair weather fan.
 
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