Mosconi Cup
- Thread starter Roy Steffensen
- Start date
Fellows,
even if i m from europe- this was day one, wasn t it?
Teammatches like Mosconi-Cup are always a bit different than performing just for yourself-this is another different situation.
I really enjoyed this first day- there was really great pool, and already great drama.
I m just wondering that some ppl already hammering their own team- sure there were 1-2 bad errors.....and? What about the unbelievable shot Ralph Souquet did miss about 1 or 1 1/2 diamond? Nobody really hollered about it.
Stand behind your team and have fun- team spirit is important and you must learn to handle this pressure-even if some of you, that a professional isn t allowed to do such mistakes- they re all humans.
3 more hopefully great evenings will follow,
all the best for both teams,
lg from overseas,
Ingo
even if i m from europe- this was day one, wasn t it?
Teammatches like Mosconi-Cup are always a bit different than performing just for yourself-this is another different situation.
I really enjoyed this first day- there was really great pool, and already great drama.
I m just wondering that some ppl already hammering their own team- sure there were 1-2 bad errors.....and? What about the unbelievable shot Ralph Souquet did miss about 1 or 1 1/2 diamond? Nobody really hollered about it.
Stand behind your team and have fun- team spirit is important and you must learn to handle this pressure-even if some of you, that a professional isn t allowed to do such mistakes- they re all humans.
3 more hopefully great evenings will follow,
all the best for both teams,
lg from overseas,
Ingo
I support Europe but cmon lads, don't be so hard on your Yanky boys
A few balls here and there and it could have been 3-2 USA
USA really did need Hatch on the team instead of Morris
if Europe had Boyes instead of Van de Berg, they would be even stronger
A few balls here and there and it could have been 3-2 USA
USA really did need Hatch on the team instead of Morris
if Europe had Boyes instead of Van de Berg, they would be even stronger
Everyone knew the Europeans would be hard to beat this year. It also seems like team USA is not playing well as a team. They just don't have the same team dynamic the europeans have. But everyone is talking like they played BAD, and I did't see that at all. I saw both teams making exceptional shots, with a few lapses in focus, which of course is to be expected on TV, under the lights, and in the mosconi cup.
I expect team USA to have a better showing tomorrow. They got off to a slow start today, but towards the end of the day they were shaping up. It seems like that table played much faster than any of the players expected. Everyone was over-running position to start.
Both Shane and Mike made significant errors. Mike when he hit the 6-ball, and Shane when missed the 7-ball (in his singles match). If you eliminate those two errors, it's suddenly 3-2 USA. If you look at it like that, how can you say anyone played BAD? That's the kind of pool I want to see, win or lose.
Another thing to consider is that Chris got some pretty fortuitous rolls against Shane. Shane played a couple of good lock-up safes, that Chris managed to execute a hit, and luck into a safe himself. From the same spot Shane wasn't so lucky and ended up leaving straight in pots. That's just the rolls sometimes. (That said, Shane had lots of opportunities to close it out. The safe in the last game when it was hill-hill was poor.)
These guys put a lot of pressure on themselves for this event, possibly even more pressure than any other event. That's where your fundamentals really come into play, and as BasementDweller said, the europeans seem to be more sound in that department.
I expect team USA to have a better showing tomorrow. They got off to a slow start today, but towards the end of the day they were shaping up. It seems like that table played much faster than any of the players expected. Everyone was over-running position to start.
Both Shane and Mike made significant errors. Mike when he hit the 6-ball, and Shane when missed the 7-ball (in his singles match). If you eliminate those two errors, it's suddenly 3-2 USA. If you look at it like that, how can you say anyone played BAD? That's the kind of pool I want to see, win or lose.
Another thing to consider is that Chris got some pretty fortuitous rolls against Shane. Shane played a couple of good lock-up safes, that Chris managed to execute a hit, and luck into a safe himself. From the same spot Shane wasn't so lucky and ended up leaving straight in pots. That's just the rolls sometimes. (That said, Shane had lots of opportunities to close it out. The safe in the last game when it was hill-hill was poor.)
These guys put a lot of pressure on themselves for this event, possibly even more pressure than any other event. That's where your fundamentals really come into play, and as BasementDweller said, the europeans seem to be more sound in that department.
In high pressure match it's definitely not a hanger... for anybody :wink:
The way U.S. played...it is over. Rodney falling on his face. SVB and Dechaine losing a 4-0 lead...and SVB making mental errors in the singles.
Too many small mistakes cost them the cup and on day 1 none the less. It was close up until you lose the chance to make the match close. And now it seems that if U.S. can't win one more. It will be the nail in the coffin.
If anyone feels differently about it then I have $$ waiting to put in action.
jdxprs
Banned
That is a tough shot on any table. In your first Mosconi on brand new cloth, under hot lights the difficulty increases exponentially. I think its a little early to start assigning blame on position or missing balls to anyone. Sometimes you just have to come with it. If you come up short champions turn the page and make the next one. I believe Shane and Mike are both champions and will come back fighting hard.
Way too early to count them out.
Day 1 didn't look good as an indicator. We will see what happens in Day 2.
Its far from over just yet.
I love the advertisment. Really great production. You should be proud of it.
However.....on note of the Mosconi....I was there two years ago and Dennis Hatch would simply not let them lose. Big difference was that year there was no Rodney Morris. And there was Mika. Neither seems to bring their games to the MC. Same with Shane. Looked like a C player last time in Vegas. Big difference is that the Euro's pull for each other, win or lose. US ? Its just another paycheck. Lets hope Charlie can convince them that its more than that and that the balls roll a little funny on day 2. Like last time in Vegas.
tim
You nailed it.. I've not heard too many others say it but Archer was a rock! Both in singles and stepping up for the team match! SVB really did not play up to his level in any of his matches..
Not sure how you can say that Shane looked like a C player 2 years ago in Vegas. He came back in the final day to beat Ralf in their second match to win the title when Europe was coming back strong.
Mika brought his game big time when they won it in Malta, he white washed Earl if I remember correctly.
I think Shane (which IMO is the best player from the US team this year) had a bad day. He made some uncharacteristical mistakes, I simply think he was rattled after that doubles match with Mike. If you look at the fact that a week ago he was playing 9 ball on a tighter Diamond and beat Earl...I dont think he had time to settle in
And I dont think that Charlie is the best pick for team captain. I dont think he has what it takes. The way he was tallking about the chemistry in the team and so on during the doubles match yesterday....pffft, I could captain the team just as well.
Plus I dont think all the players in the US team feel comfortable having him as a captain. Shane for one has already expressed his "displeasure" with that...
I'll buy that...
There's seven doubles matches, so Dechaine will have to play with a partner at LEAST once more, maybe twice.
Smart move today might be to pair Dechaine up with Archer. Archer the veteran can talk the rookie through it (like he did Putnam). Maybe give Archer and Dechaine match #6, and play Dechaine in match #7.
Put Morris and Putnam together in match #8, and play Putnam in #9.
SVB & Morris close the evening in match #10.
"If I were captain :thumbup:..."
Day #2 :
Match 6 Doubles match - Archer / Dechaine
Match 7 Singles match - Dechaine
Match 8 Doubles match - Morris / Putnam
Match 9 Singles match - Putnam
Match 10 Doubles match - Van Boening / Morris
Save Archer's singles game for match #12, when the overall scores may (should ?) be closer, and his potential win can hurt Europe's momentum more. The key will be how USA performs on Day 2, though.
Just my $.02
I must have missed that. What was said by Shane ?
He said something along the lines of "it would be better to have someone from a different sport captaning the team". "Have good coaching skills and stuff"...I feel it was his nice way of saying he doesnt like Charlie
I agree, shane never recovered from being up 4-0 in the the doubles loss. Time to settle in is the one thing nobody really gets to do in this format, so I cant really consider that. The playfield was even. Call it a bad day, but I cant help but feel that earl should have been helping this team. Probably a bad idea but he's one of the best 5 guys we have, and rarely chokes.
Apologies in advance for the multi quote. I think it was Shane's first singles match last time in Vegas. Missed an easy shape on a ball being short. Really was out of sorts early on, just like this year. Mika just gave up last time in Vegas. I talked to him personally. I can guarantee that Neils and Dazza won't give up this year. Time to strap it on.
tim
A soccer Huligan accompanied the European team. He is the one who constantly screamed " Eurub","Eurup", "Eurub" cheering for the Eurabs. The way he has been screaming, I wonder what will happen to his voice by sunday and how that word " Europe" will sound coming from a hoarse voice.
Johny Archer`s wife was the leader of the American side to launch the counter attack slogans on that Soccer Huligan. She asked the spectators to start that " wave" but the spectators did not follow her lead to create a "wave".
There were lots of Brits in the crowd and you can tell they are Brits -each guy carying 2-3 beers in their hands.
Johny Archer`s wife was the leader of the American side to launch the counter attack slogans on that Soccer Huligan. She asked the spectators to start that " wave" but the spectators did not follow her lead to create a "wave".
There were lots of Brits in the crowd and you can tell they are Brits -each guy carying 2-3 beers in their hands.