Snooker
Northern Ireland Open
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Doesn't say much for Lisowski how easily Trump won that final against Wakelin, does it?
If there's a gulf in class, then it's from Trump downwards to all the others right now. But, I agree as above suggests, his real test will be to do it at the WCs. |
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On the subject of Jack, his honesty is very endearing, but I think we're at the stage now (in truth, we're already well past it), where he needs to stop telling everybody else how nervous he gets. It IS a weakness, and it IS holding him back. The whole "will he/won't he" conversation seems to have been going on for decades now, and he doesn't really seem to be any closer to getting the monkey off his back (for all his all-round game has improved). He badly needs a psychologist in his camp if he wants to start winning titles, I would suggest.
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Judd after his shock World championship exit: "I don't think I've ever had a worse run of ball than that. Just everything went his way and that's just snooker sometimes. I'm not that disappointed really. I've nothing to prove and I don't consider this to be that a big tournament really. I was even thinking of not entering and staying home in Bristol to play my xbox. People can talk about Ronnie and Hendry and all their world titles but they never did what I did this season. In my head that makes me the best player ever."
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100% lats. Can't add much to that really. I do remember when Jack reached the final of Gibraltar (i think) and thinking now this has to be his time to get that monkey off his back, only for Judd to bring his A game and blast him off the table 4-0. Just shows you how ruthless Judd can be when he wants to be and Jack really lacks that edge among other things.
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Macaques indeed
 I take the p!ss out of Judd but i've never NOT been a fan, even when he was going through barren spells. Like when he first came on the scene he was winning things, no hanging about, even that world final against higgins, he pushed him right to the end. Always had bottle Judd and lots of it as his hth against Ronnie in particular always showed. He was never afraid of or intimidated by Ronnie, always showed up and gradually even got upper hand on occasion. That always stood out for me. I definitely agree Jack could benefit from a good psychologist, it's crazy if he isn't already tbh, but if you're not born with that attitude, it's hard to inculcate it, especially the older you get. There's lot of Jamie Copes strewn among the rubble of the game.... Fwiw, i do think Stan is the real deal and i definitely see a bit of the young trump in him, just fearless and no respecter of reputation, not afraid to lose. Whether he has as much ability, maybe doubtful, but i think it's the first time since Judd we've seen that kind of attitide in a young player. Pressure doesn't seem to bother him and he's been dealing with it since he was 14. |
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Like most walks of life, the most successful definitely have that ruthless streak. How many thoroughly nice, successful business people are there out there? Not many! As you say, I think it's either something you're either born with or you're not, but you can definitely improve without becoming a complete ar$ehole.
I'm still trying to work Stan out a bit, TBH - I've not followed him as long as you have. I guess to an extent, he's still trying to find himself a bit, too. Maybe it is, as you suggest, that he's possibly not quite as good, raw talent-wise, but he does things that confuse me from time to time, and I thought his game fell apart quite badly against Yuan last week - not the first time - but then I've seen him turn things around, too, like he did against Filthy when getting dry-humped. In snooker terms, he's still a baby, so maybe trying to analyse it too much at this stage is pointless anyway... |
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Agree lats, it's too early for deep analysis. And i wouldn't say i know a lot more than you do, it's just bits I've seen about his attitude, he'll have the odd mare, I've no doubt about that, but overall i see a kid who believes in himself and will keep knocking on the door till he crashes theough it.
I remember actually when i first heard his name. It was on Eurosport during the lockdown when they were talking about the lack of young English talent and Jimmy said something like, "watch out for a kid called Stan Moody, he's only 13/14 but he's a fantastic prospect." There's been 2 kids really hyped up the last few years, Stan and Liam Davies. Everybody thought Davies was the cast iron bet, on the books of Sightright since he was 11, virtually groomed for stardom. But i noticed when it came to big tournaments and the contest for tour cards, Davies just always seemed to come unstuck against an inferior player while Stan just came along and said, fck it, I'm going straight through the door. No hanging or messing around. I honestly didn't fancy him to keep his card first time around, and he has work to do still, but I like what that says about him and it sticks with me. Time will tell as ever, of course. |