Definitely.
Mosconi Cup - Your Prediction Please
- Thread starter sjm
- Start date
Definitely.
Filler-Woodward is an even fight
Shaw-SVB is an even fight
Souquet-Hatch goes to Ralf
NVB/Alcaide-Oscar goes to Europe
NVB/Alcaide-Thorpe is an even fight
Shaw-SVB is an even fight
Souquet-Hatch goes to Ralf
NVB/Alcaide-Oscar goes to Europe
NVB/Alcaide-Thorpe is an even fight
I hope you're right Jay. SVB has a closet full of ghosts he need's to erase. Maybe Johan's influence will somehow allow SVB to just get out of his own way and play his usual speed. He's way past due for sure.You left out one very big thing here! The addition of Johan Ruijsink as the Captain of Team USA. He is the real wild card in this situation and I expect to see a very different looking Team USA this year, both in attitude and actual play. I think Johan is the right guy to light the fire in Shane and as Shane goes so goes USA. I believe Ruijsink will find a way to get the most out of the team and produce our first victory in seven years. My prediction - Team USA 11-10 with Shane winning the final match!
Posted on AZ back in 2014/15 that USA would win MC in 2017...
No reason to feel differently!
2017, the year of the Bald Eagle :thumbup:
No reason to feel differently!
2017, the year of the Bald Eagle :thumbup:
Wow! I recall that when I expressed grave doubts about the logic behind the Johann choice, it was to a large extent because I felt he, and anyone else based in Europe, would be hard pressed to properly supervise the kind of preparation by Team USA that's needed for success. If he has them working as hard as your post indicates, then I was wrong, and it bodes well for Team USA this Mosconi.
Of course, talk is cheap and the proof is in the play. We'll see if Team USA has overcome the weaknesses that have been on almost continual display in recent years, particularly in pattern play, defense and kicking. Even more so, however, let's see if Team USA shows the kind of patience at the table with which Team Europe has always succeeded. Let the games begin!
Not hard to figure Kaci and Ouschan would have made a stronger Euro team alongside Shaw and Filler - take your pick for the final Euro player but it would not have been Souquet, if I was choosing, and I know many here would disagree with me on that.
There was a whole lot less obvious choices to choose from for the US, once you get beyond Shane and Sky, and maybe Thorpe. They had to take Hatch because of his ranking and his experience, and Oscar is certainly a solid player with impeccable character who'll be a great teammate, so it would be hard to argue his selection. I don't think anyone would have had a problem if Rodney had been selected either, with his experience and firepower.
The team pressure of this event, combined with the very short race format, make this a very unique event that is hard to prepare for and hard to predict. Every game must be treated like a hill-hill game. I really hope they are playing on a table with no larger than 4-1/4" corner pockets and 4-3/4" side pockets - which I feel would bring more legitimacy to the final outcome.
There was a whole lot less obvious choices to choose from for the US, once you get beyond Shane and Sky, and maybe Thorpe. They had to take Hatch because of his ranking and his experience, and Oscar is certainly a solid player with impeccable character who'll be a great teammate, so it would be hard to argue his selection. I don't think anyone would have had a problem if Rodney had been selected either, with his experience and firepower.
The team pressure of this event, combined with the very short race format, make this a very unique event that is hard to prepare for and hard to predict. Every game must be treated like a hill-hill game. I really hope they are playing on a table with no larger than 4-1/4" corner pockets and 4-3/4" side pockets - which I feel would bring more legitimacy to the final outcome.
No Matchroom event has ever been contested on really tight equipment. For me, it's best that way.
Matchroom does everything right as far as keeping matches exciting and moving along: a) neutral racker, b) inspection of the rack permitted but no reracks, c) pockets that aren't tight, d) shot clock in use in every match, and e) short races.
USA
In a close thriller
The very top pros playing in one of the most prestigious events of the year, playing on a table that does not have tight pockets, makes absolutely no sense to me, even moreso when it's short races. In golf, you don't see the Ryder Cup or the US Open played on anything less than the most demanding of courses and conditions. I understand the short races for excitement and ratings purposes, but that doesn't make it right. It's like the MLB playoffs wildcard game being a one game sudden death affair, just for the made-for-TV drama and ratings, after having survived a 162 game 6 month season to make the playoffs.
Given that the Mosconi Cup is pretty much the only globally televised 9-Ball tournament that is backed by major TV networks (well at least one) they clearly know their audience.
I agree that pro's should play on tighter pockets...but if this is what brings in the viewers then Matchroom clearly feel this is the right blend of luck/entertainment/skill.
Maybe the purists don't like it, but one of the draw's of the Mosconi Cup is probably the luck factor, it creates excitement if nothing else!
Simple math........
I really hope I am wrong on this, but I doubt team USA will be able to compete closely against team Europe. Team Europe just has a lot more professional players to pick from then Team USA.
That gives them the benefit of picking who ever the hot players are in any given year.
The very idea that Team USA can compete against a team made up of players from several countries is out dated.
How many of the Team Europe players live in the U.S. Where is the 9 ball racked at?
Team USA is playing against a stacked deck in my opinion and Team Europe knows this. That boosts their confidence going into the Cup.
I think it would be great to see those chest thumpers competing against a Team Asia.
That would include China, Taiwan and the Philippines. Who do you think would win that Cup?
I really hope I am wrong on this, but I doubt team USA will be able to compete closely against team Europe. Team Europe just has a lot more professional players to pick from then Team USA.
That gives them the benefit of picking who ever the hot players are in any given year.
The very idea that Team USA can compete against a team made up of players from several countries is out dated.
How many of the Team Europe players live in the U.S. Where is the 9 ball racked at?
Team USA is playing against a stacked deck in my opinion and Team Europe knows this. That boosts their confidence going into the Cup.
I think it would be great to see those chest thumpers competing against a Team Asia.
That would include China, Taiwan and the Philippines. Who do you think would win that Cup?
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US 11-9. Hoping for home team advantage.
